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Key Features
Compatibility
Product Description
Most external RAID enclosures make you choose: raw capacity, or reliability. The OWC ThunderBay 4 with Enterprise Drives refuses that tradeoff. This is four bays of Thunderbolt 3 storage loaded with 7,200RPM Toshiba enterprise-class hard drives — the kind rated for continuous operation and 600,000 contact start cycles. Pair that with SoftRAID's intelligent RAID management, and you have a storage system that works as hard as you do, for as long as you need it to.
Available from Flexx Memory in 32TB, 48TB, 64TB, 80TB, and 96TB configurations — pre-built, tested, and ready to plug in.
Key Features
- Four hot-swappable bays loaded with enterprise-grade Toshiba 7,200RPM hard drives
- Thunderbolt 3 connectivity: up to 40Gb/s — up to 1083 MB/s read, 1164 MB/s write
- SoftRAID Premium included: supports JBOD, RAID 0, 1, 4, 5, and 1+0
- Default RAID 5 configuration — protects your data while maximising usable capacity
- Hot swap support — swap a failed drive without shutting down
- Daisy-chain up to six units via the second Thunderbolt 3 port
- 92mm low-turbulence fan keeps drives cool under sustained workloads
- Universal auto-switching power supply (100–230V) — no adapter needed for UK or EU
- Kensington security slot, power button, and per-bay activity LEDs
- Aluminium chassis with vibration-dampening drive isolation
- Each unit undergoes OWC's multi-hour burn-in certification before shipping
- 5-Year OWC Limited Warranty
Why Enterprise Drives?
The standard ThunderBay 4 uses desktop-class hard drives designed for occasional home or office use. The enterprise drive models use enterprise-class 7,200RPM HDDs (currently Toshiba MG08-D Series*) — built for always-on, high-vibration, multi-drive environments. They're rated for 600,000 contact start cycles, carry a higher MTBF, and are designed to run 24/7 in a shared enclosure without degrading each other's performance. If you're keeping this unit running around the clock, editing directly off the drives, or archiving irreplaceable footage, enterprise drives are the right call.
* OWC reserves the right to substitute an equivalent or better enterprise-class drive from another manufacturer due to supply availability. Any substitution will meet or exceed the same specifications — same class, same RPM, same interface, no compromise on quality.
SoftRAID: Not Just RAID — Confidence
Every ThunderBay 4 with Enterprise Drives includes SoftRAID Premium (3-year license, per computer). Unlike hardware RAID solutions, SoftRAID gives you full visibility into what your drives are actually doing: real-time health monitoring, drive validation before use, failure prediction, and parity verification. It supports RAID 0, 1, 4, 5, and 1+0 on Mac; RAID 0 and 1 on Windows. If you need to move an array between a Mac and a PC, SoftRAID's built-in MacDrive technology handles it seamlessly. A limited free Standard version is available for basic access after the Premium term ends.
Thunderbolt 3 — Real-World Speeds That Match the Interface
The ThunderBay 4 doesn't use Thunderbolt 3 as a marketing badge. With up to 1083 MB/s reads and 1164 MB/s writes in RAID 0, the 40Gb/s bandwidth is being used. For ProRes 422 HQ 4K editing, XAVCS H.265 multi-stream workflows, or BRAW 6K ingest — this unit handles it. In RAID 5 (which protects your data), you still get the usable throughput to run demanding production workflows without reaching for an NVMe solution.
What's in the Box
- (1) OWC ThunderBay 4 External Storage Enclosure with Enterprise Hard Drives installed
- (1) 0.7M OWC Thunderbolt 3 Cable
- (1) UK Power Cable
- (2) Security Keys for front panel lock
- (1) Quick Start Guide
- (1) 3-Year SoftRAID Premium Licence (printed on device label)
- 5-Year OWC Limited Warranty
What RAID level should I use — RAID 5 or RAID 0?
The ThunderBay 4 ships configured in RAID 5 by default, and for most users that's the right answer. RAID 5 stripes data across all four drives with a parity block, so if one drive fails, your data survives. You lose one drive's worth of capacity (e.g. a 32TB unit gives you ~24TB usable in RAID 5), but you gain meaningful protection against hardware failure. RAID 0 gives you maximum speed and full capacity — but with zero redundancy. One drive fails, everything's gone. For active project storage or a primary editing drive, RAID 5. For a scratch disk or temporary cache where data loss is acceptable, RAID 0.
Why enterprise drives instead of standard desktop drives?
Desktop hard drives are engineered for single-drive environments with light-to-moderate daily use. Enterprise drives are built for multi-drive enclosures where vibration from neighbouring drives is a constant factor. They carry higher MTBF ratings, are rated for 600,000 contact start cycles, and are designed to run continuously without the performance degradation you'd see from consumer drives in a RAID enclosure over time. OWC currently ships the Toshiba MG08-D Series in this configuration, though they reserve the right to substitute an equivalent enterprise-class drive from another manufacturer — same spec, no downgrade. If you're storing irreplaceable assets or running this unit around the clock, enterprise drives earn their price difference.
Can I connect this to my Mac or PC without adapters?
Yes — if your computer has a Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 port (USB-C connector), you connect directly with the included cable. If your machine has Thunderbolt 2 (mini-DisplayPort connector), you'll need a certified Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter (sold separately) — data transfer will run at up to 20Gb/s in that configuration, and notebook charging is not supported. Windows PCs with a Thunderbolt 3 port connect fine; SoftRAID on Windows supports RAID 0 and RAID 1.
Can I daisy-chain multiple ThunderBay 4 units?
Yes. The second Thunderbolt 3 port is a downstream port — use it to daisy-chain up to six ThunderBay 4 units from a single Thunderbolt 3 port on your computer. You can also connect a display through the chain. Total bandwidth is shared across the daisy-chain, so RAID 5 on a single unit is the more bandwidth-efficient configuration if you're chaining multiple units under sustained load.
What happens if a drive fails?
In RAID 5, the enclosure remains fully operational with one failed drive — your data is intact and accessible while you replace the drive. The ThunderBay 4 supports hot swapping, so you can remove the failed drive and insert a replacement without powering down. SoftRAID will detect the new drive and begin rebuilding the array automatically, alerting you to progress and completion. SoftRAID's predictive failure monitoring also flags drives showing early warning signs before they actually fail — giving you time to act rather than scramble.
Specifications
| Drive Bays | 4 × 3.5-inch (also accepts 2.5-inch drives without adapter) |
| Available Capacities | 32TB · 48TB · 64TB · 80TB · 96TB |
| Total Solution Cache Size | 1,024 MB |
| Drive Type | Enterprise-class 3.5-inch SATA HDDs, 7,200RPM — currently Toshiba MG08-D Series* |
| Rotational Speed | 7,200 RPM |
| Storage Interface | SATA 6.0 Gb/s |
| Contact Start Stops | 600,000 (enterprise-rated) |
| Host Interface | Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C), backward compatible with Thunderbolt 2 via adapter |
| Ports | (1) Thunderbolt 3 Host Port + (1) Thunderbolt 3 Daisy-chain Port |
| Data Transfer Rate | Up to 40Gb/s (5,000 MB/s) via Thunderbolt 3 |
| Benchmark Read Speed (Max) | Up to 1,083 MB/s |
| Benchmark Write Speed (Max) | Up to 1,164 MB/s |
| RAID Levels Supported | JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 4, RAID 5, RAID 1+0 (Mac); RAID 0, RAID 1 (Windows) |
| Default RAID Level | RAID 5 |
| RAID Management Software | SoftRAID Premium — 3-year licence included (per computer) |
| Hot Swap | Yes |
| Plug and Play | Yes |
| Boot Support | Boot Camp not supported |
| SATA Controller | (1) ASM-1164 |
| Thunderbolt Controller | (1) Intel DSL6540 |
| UASP Support | Yes |
| Power Delivery | Up to 15W per Thunderbolt 3 port (host and device) |
| Power Supply | Internal UL-listed universal auto-switching |
| AC Input | 100–230V |
| Cooling | (1) 92mm low-turbulence cooling fan |
| Security Slot | Yes (Kensington) |
| Power Button | Yes |
| Activity LEDs | Yes |
| Housing | Aluminium — Black |
| Dimensions (H × L × W) | 19.1 cm × 24.5 cm × 13.5 cm (7.5 × 9.6 × 5.3 in) |
| Operating Temperature | 10°C to 35°C (50°F to 95°F) |
| Storage Temperature | -40°C to 65°C |
| Operating Humidity | 8% to 90% non-condensing |
| Operating Altitude | Up to 3,048 m (10,000 ft) |
| Warranty | 5 Years (OWC Limited Warranty) |
* Drive brand and model may vary. OWC reserves the right to substitute an equivalent or better enterprise-class drive due to supply availability. Any substitution will match or exceed the original specification — enterprise-class, 7,200RPM, SATA 6.0Gb/s, same capacity — no downgrade, ever.
Compatibility
Mac — Compatible Models
- MacBook Pro (Late 2016 and later, all models with Thunderbolt 3)
- MacBook Pro (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5 — all models)
- MacBook Air (Late 2018 and later with Thunderbolt 3; all M1, M2, M3, M4 models)
- iMac (2017 and later with Thunderbolt 3; all M1, M3, M4 models)
- iMac Pro (2017)
- Mac mini (Late 2018 and later; all M1, M2, M4 models)
- Mac Pro (2019, 2023)
- Mac Studio (all models — M1, M2, M3, M4 Ultra/Max)
Older Macs with Thunderbolt 2 (mini-DisplayPort) require a certified Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter (sold separately). Data transfer runs at up to 20Gb/s in this configuration; notebook charging is not supported.
PC — Compatible
- Any PC with a Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) port
Operating System Support
- macOS 10.14 Mojave and later (including macOS Sequoia)
- Windows 10 and later (RAID 0 and RAID 1 with SoftRAID)
- Windows Server 2019 and later
Shipping, Returns & VAT
- Free UK Shipping: Delivered in approx. 2 working days
- Express Options: Faster methods available at checkout
- Free Shipping to Ireland: For orders over £100.00
- International Delivery: Times vary by destination; shipped via FedEx or DHL
- 30-Day Returns: Return within 30 days from order date
- UK, Ireland and EU Customers: Free return label provided
- Full Return Policy: Read Here
- Full Shipping Details: Read Here
VAT & Duties Information
UK & EU Customers: The price shown on our website is the final price you pay. No additional VAT, customs duties, or import fees will be charged upon delivery.
Orders are dispatched from Northern Ireland, allowing us to serve customers across the United Kingdom and the European Union without unexpected import charges.
Non-UK and non-EU destinations: Local taxes, customs duties, and import fees may apply and are the responsibility of the recipient.
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Customer Service
Email and chat available 24/7
Free number UK: 08001954072
International: +442838341148
Phone Line Opening Hours
- Monday - Friday: 09:00-17:00
