Designed as a high-performance personal data center that offers multiple configuration options to suit ever-expanding storage needs, the OWC ThunderBay 8 Thunderbolt 3 RAID Enclosurefrom OWC ThunderBay 8 Thunderbolt 3 RAID Enclosurecan handle raw, 4K, large format, and VR workflows for photo, film, and video editors. Built with eight SATA drive bays that can handle 2.5" or 3.5" hard drives and SSDs, the ThunderBay 8 delivers sustained data transfer speeds of up to 2586 MB/s and connects to your host Windows or Mac system using a Thunderbolt 3 port, while a second Thunderbolt 3 port can be used to daisy-chain up to six ThunderBay 8 enclosures, or power one 5K / 60 Hz display or two 4K 60 Hz displays. There is also a dedicated DisplayPort 1.2 port that supports a 4K / 60 Hz display. Thanks to the SoftRAID software RAID controller, which is sold separately, the ThunderBay 8 can be configured as RAID 0 for performance, or RAID 1 for 1:1 data redundancy. For those who do not require a RAID, JBOD is available.

SoftRAID works with macOS 10.12 or later and Windows 10 or later. Intel-based Macs require macOS 10.12 or later. M1 Macs require macOS 11.1 or 11.3 and later. SoftRAID is licensed per computer. The SoftRAID serial number will work with both Mac and Windows but can only be active on one computer at a time. Additional seats can be purchased. Additionally, Thunderbolt 2 Macs are supported using Apple's Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter. The ThunderBay 8 may also be configured as bootable on Mac only.

8 x 2.5"/3.5" SATA Drive Bays    2 x Thunderbolt 3 | 1 x DisplayPort 1.2    Supports RAID 0, 1, and JBOD    Software RAID Controller    Sustained Data Transfers up to 2586 MB/s    92mm Cooling Fan    Supports Displays up to 5K / 60 Hz    Windows and Mac Compatible

With Thunderbolt 3 offering real-world transfer rates up to 2586 MB/s and the ability to RAID together eight SSDs or HDDs, the ThunderBay 8's rugged, field-tested aluminum design has the under-the-hood horsepower needed to conquer high-bandwidth requirements. You can even configure multiple ThunderBay 8 solutions connected via multiple Thunderbolt 3 ports on your Mac or PC to achieve exponential speed increases. Whatever your set up, when you're racing against a deadline, the ThunderBay 8 puts you in the winner's circle.

Need even more capacity? Daisy-chain up to six of these capacity behemoths together so you can capture vast amounts of footage from multiple cameras or store vast libraries of production work with a unified and reliable storage solution.

The ThunderBay 8 makes it easy to keep large data sets organized for every project, thanks to its eight hot swappable drive bays. Whether you're using 2.5" or 3.5" HDDs and/or SSDs, the drives mount in alphabetically labeled trays for easy identification and are secured by a thumb screw. If you want the freedom to access an extensive collection of drives quickly, you can create a drive "bullpen" with additional separately-sold OWC drive trays.

With a locking front panel and security slot on the backside, the ThunderBay 8 is like an ironclad vault for your data. Plus, with front panel LEDs indicating the status of each drive, you'll know at a glance if your data is secure.

ThunderBay 8 isn't just about high-capacity, high-performance storage. It's about giving you all the options you need to work at your best. Attach a 5K Thunderbolt display or two 4K displays. Place a USB 3.1 device at the end of a daisy chain. With an extra Thunderbolt 3 port, you have the flexibility to add more devices to your workflow and master any task at hand.

Need more power and protection? SoftRAID is a powerful, intuitive software RAID utility. Multiple RAID levels let you select the RAID level that fits you or your project's needs best. If you need maximum volume capacity, optimum drive performance, data protection, or a combination of attributes, SoftRAID has you covered.

Packed with features like drive validation, verification, and failure prediction, SoftRAID includes features you don't get with hardware RAID. It's like having a datacenter on your desktop. From home users looking to protect photos and documents to professionals needing to protect and quickly access projects, SoftRAID is a good solution.

Start protecting yourself and your data today. Get all of SoftRAID's great disk checking and monitoring features, plus a fast and efficient software RAID. Download and try SoftRAID for free.

Greatly reduce, if not eliminate cable strain and accidental disconnects with the OWC ClingOn. These separately-sold, custom cable stabilizers screw into the ThunderBay 8's housing to secure your Thunderbolt 3 and USB Type-C connections and prevent work session interruption and possible data loss.

Your data is irreplaceable, and OWC takes protecting it seriously. That's why this OWC Solution includes Acronis True Image OEM, a combination backup and anti-malware solution that keeps your data protected from accidents, failures, and malware/ransomware attacks.

Easy

Protect everything - photos, files, applications, systems, and the devices they're on in just a few clicks.

Efficient

Create "set and forget" backups to recover and restore files and folders.

Secure

Stop ransomware and cryptojacking from harming your device data and backup.

Related Questions and Answers

Q: 1. Can I configure my 4 hard drives so that one (my fastest) can be identified independent from the other 3? And then set up the older 3 to function as a single JBOD? Thank you for considering.

A: Yes, you can have one drive as an independent disk, then, from your comments, the other three set up as a RAID 0 array.

Q: 2. Im getting this from singapore, what is the basic warranty for this item? Thanks!

A: Empty enclosures carry a one year manufacturer's warranty.

Q: 3. would these drives work? https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1499412-REG/seagate_st16000nm001g_exos_16tb_enterprise_hdd.html?

A: Yes, the Seagate 16TB Exos X16 7200 rpm SATA III 3.5" Internal HDDs are compatible with the OWC ThunderBay 4 4-Bay Thunderbolt 3 RAID Enclosure.

Q: 4. Is there a way to connect a mac without a Thunderbolt port to this?

A: No, the only connection for any computer to this hard drive is thunderbolt. No other connection.Haile Okbe, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Q: 5. Hi, what is the difference between this OWC Thunderbay 4 enclosure and this other one that you have on your website (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1635299-REG/owc_owctb3ivkit000_thunderbay_4_0tb_4_drive.html/overview) ?

A: BH #OWTB3SRKT0GB comes with the SoftRAID controller software included, while BH #OWCTB3IVKIT0 does not. Apart from this difference they are the same item.

Q: 6. What is the cost to upgrade the softraid to allow Raid 5?

A: You can get this: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1385771-REG/owc_other_world_computing_owctb3srkit0gb_thunderbay_4_four_bay_drive.html

Q: 7. Dose it come with a thunderbolt cable and if so what length?

A: Yes, a 1 meter cable is included.

Q: 8. How much does it cost to How much does it cost to upgrade to "SoftRaid" software to do all RAID configurations?

A: SoftRAID Software would be included with this product.

Q: 9. Will this work with 4 Seagate 22TB IronWolf Pro 7200 rpm?

A: Yes, you can use four Seagate 22TB IronWolf Pro drives in the OWC ThunderBay 4 4-Bay Thunderbolt 3 RAID Enclosure.

Q: 10. Can I have 4x 20tb hard drives as Raid 5 and have a Mac and PC (Windows 11) connected and using the drive at the same time?

A: The OWC ThunderBay 4 4-Bay Thunderbolt 3 RAID 5 Enclosure should be able to support 4x20TB drives in RAID 5, however, it can only be connected to one computer at a time. In order to have the ability to connect to both the Mac and PC simultaneously, you will need a NAS.