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Questions & Answers

FAQ

What is the total storage capacity of the ThunderBay Flex 8 88TB 8-Bay RAID 5 Array Storage Solution?

The ThunderBay Flex 8 offers a total storage capacity of 88TB, distributed across four 8TB SSDs and four 14TB HDDs.

What are the data transfer speeds of the ThunderBay Flex 8?

The ThunderBay Flex 8 delivers real-world data transfer speeds up to 2,750MB/s, ensuring efficient handling of large files and high-resolution media.

Does the ThunderBay Flex 8 offer RAID options?

Yes, the ThunderBay Flex 8 offers advanced RAID options, managed by SoftRAID, giving users the flexibility to create, manage, and monitor their RAID sets.

What connectivity options does the ThunderBay Flex 8 offer?

The ThunderBay Flex 8 offers multiple connectivity options, including a second Thunderbolt 3 port, USB-C, and dual USB-A ports, providing flexibility for device docking and charging.

Is the ThunderBay Flex 8 expandable for unique needs?

Yes, the ThunderBay Flex 8 is expandable with a PCIe slot ready for additional hardware such as audio/video capture cards, networking, or SSD storage.

Reviews about this item

Review Summary

Select a plan in the Add Protection section above and purchase with this product by clicking “Add to Cart”.

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TRUSTED PROTECTION PLANS, EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE.

Invest In Your Gear and Peace Of Mind!

Accidents happen where life happens. Protect your favorite Adorama products and purchase a protection plan to stay covered from accidental damage, mechanical or electrical failure, and more.

Repair or Replacement

Repair or Replacement

If we can’t fix it, we’ll replace it at no additional cost.

Accidental Damage

Accidental Damage

Protect your product from drops, spills, and more.

Peace of Mind

Peace of Mind

Enjoy your gear without fear. We have you covered!

Malfunction Protection

Malfunction Protection

When regular use of your product over time results in mechanical or electrical failure.

Zero Deductible

Zero Deductible

We will never charge you a deductible after the purchase of a plan.

Customer-Focused Support

Customer-Focused Support

Our claims process is simple & easy and our customer service team is happy to help.

Adorama Protect powered by Extend is available for purchase to customers in the United States. Not available for purchase Internationally or in U.S. Territories.

OWC ThunderBay Flex 8 Specifications

Storage

Storage

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  • Number of Bays

    8

  • Total Capacity

    88TB

  • Total Solution Cache Size

    2048 MB

  • Standard Mechanism

    4x 14.0TB Toshiba MG09ACA Series 7,200RPM Enterprise Capacity Hard Disk Drive with 512 MB cache
    4x 7.68TB Western Digital Ultrastar DC SN640 U.2 NVMe Solid-state Drive

  • Mechanisms Supported

    3.5" SATA drives
    2.5" SATA drives
    2.5" U.2 drives (top 4 bays only)
    NVMe M.2 drives (via U.2 adapter)
    2.5" SAS drives (requires SAS card, not included)
    3.5" SAS drives (requires SAS card, not included)

  • Hot Swap Support

    Yes

  • Hot Plug Support

    Yes

  • Boot Support

    Dependent upon configuration. Independent Mac volumes should boot in most scenarios

  • RAID Capable

    Yes

  • RAID Levels Supported

    RAID 0
    RAID 1
    RAID 0+1
    RAID 4
    RAID 5
    JBOD

  • RAID Features

    Software RAID

Expansion

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  • Expansion Slots

    1x PCIe 3.0 x16 Physical, 4x Electrical, Full-Height, Half-Length, Single-Width

  • Device Ports

    1x Host Port - Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) up to 40 Gb/s (5000 MB/s)
    1x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) Port
    1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Port up to 10Gb/s (1250MB/s) - USB 2.0/3.0 backwards compatible
    2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A Ports up to 10Gb/s (1250MB/s) - USB 2.0/3.0 backwards compatible
    1x DisplayPort Port

  • Memory Card Slots

    1x CFexpress Type B
    1x SD

  • Power Delivery

    2x Thunderbolt 3 Ports (15W, 85W)

Display Support

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  • Display Support

    Up to one 8K display @ 60Hz
    or one 4K display @ 120Hz
    or one 5K display @ 60Hz
    or one 4K display @ 60Hz and one 4K display @ 30Hz
    or one 4K display @ 60Hz
    or one 4K display @ 30Hz
    or two 4K displays @ 60Hz

  • Display Support by Port

    DisplayPort 1.4: Up to 8K @ 60Hz or 4K @ 120Hz
    Thunderbolt 3: Up to 5K @ 60Hz via a native Thunderbolt 3 display or 4K @ 60Hz via a Thunderbolt display or a USB-C display adapter

Performance

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  • Data Rate

    Thunderbolt 3: 40Gb/s (or 5000MB/s)

  • Data Transfer Rate (Maximum)

    Thunderbolt 3 : Up to 40 Gb/s (or 5000 MB/s)

Chipset

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  • Chipset

    Thunderbolt: Intel JHL7440
    PCIe Switch: ASMedia ASM-2824
    USB Controller: Genesys Logic GL-3590

Reliability

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  • Contact Start Stops

    Varies depending on drive mechanism installed

Compatibility

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  • Host Port Requirements

    Thunderbolt (USB-C) port (backward compatible with Thunderbolt 2/Thunderbolt)

  • Mac OS Compatibility

    macOS 10.15 Catalina
    macOS 11.x Big Sur
    macOS 12.x Monterey
    macOS 13.x Ventura

  • PC OS Compatibility

    Not compatible with Windows PCs

  • Driver Required

    SoftRAID Only
    The SoftRAID driver is installed within the SoftRAID application.
    For PCIe cards that require a driver, please check the manufacturer web site. Drivers for PCIe cards must be Thunderbolt-aware to function.

  • Supported PCIe Cards

    Supports one full-height, half-length, single-width card (driverless or with Thunderbolt-aware driver). GPUs not supported.

  • Other Requirements

    macOS 10.15.1 or later required.

  • External Power Adapter

    No

  • Power Supply

    Internal UL-listed universal auto-switching power supply

  • AC Input

    100-240V, 50-60Hz, 3.5A-7.0A

  • DC Output

    +12V, 37A

  • Wattage

    450W

Acoustics

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  • Noise

    Varies depending on drive mechanism installed

Environmental

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  • Ambient Temperature

    Operating: 50 Degree F to 95 Degree F (10 Degree C to 35 Degree C)
    Non-Operating: -40 Degree F to 149 Degree F (-40 Degree C to 65 Degree C)

  • Altitude

    Operating: -1,000' to 10,000' (-304.8m to 3,048.0m)
    Non-Operating: -1,000 ft to 40,000' (-304.8m to 12,192.0m)

  • Humidity

    Operating: 8% to 90% non-condensing
    Non-Operating: 5% to 95% non-condensing

  • Shock

    Operating: Varies depending on drive mechanism installed
    Non-Operating: Varies depending on drive mechanism installed

Certifications

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  • Certifications

    BSMI
    CE
    FCC
    RCM
    VCCI

Physical

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  • Housing Color

    Black

  • Housing Material

    Aluminum

  • Cooling

    1x 120mm 1,600RPM Cooling Fan

  • Security Slot

    Yes

  • Security Slot

    Yes

  • Power/Activity LED

    Yes

  • Dimensions (H x L x W)

    13.7 x 15.4 x 5.9" (34.9 x 39 x 14.9cm)

  • Weight

    27.45 lbs (12.4kg)

  • UPC Code

    810100980962

About OWC ThunderBay Flex 8

The ThunderBay Flex 8 88TB 8-Bay RAID 5 Array Storage Solution is a high-capacity, reliable, and advanced data storage powerhouse, perfect for professionals in need of substantial and fast data management capabilities. With a robust 88TB of storage, distributed across four 8TB SSDs and four 14TB HDDs, this solution is engineered to meet the demands of small to medium-sized businesses, creative professionals, and enterprise environments.

Experience unparalleled speed with real-world transfer rates up to 2,750MB/s, ensuring efficient handling of large files and high-resolution media. The ThunderBay Flex 8 is not only fast but also offers a future-ready design. The top four bays are primed for U.2 SSDs, aligning with the emerging storage standards of the media and entertainment industry.

The device's powerfully easy RAID configuration is managed by SoftRAID, allowing users to create, manage, and monitor advanced RAID sets with ease. The second Thunderbolt 3 port offers daisy-chaining capabilities for additional devices or displays, while the USB-C and dual USB-A 10Gb/s ports enable connection to a wide range of peripherals and mobile devices. The DisplayPort 1.4 connection supports up to an 8K display, providing crystal-clear visuals for detailed work.

For fast media ingest, the front-side SD 4.0 and CFexpress card readers deliver speeds up to 985MB/s, streamlining your workflow. The ThunderBay Flex 8 is also expandable to meet unique needs, featuring a PCIe slot for additional hardware such as audio/video capture cards, networking, or SSD storage.

This storage solution has been recognized for its groundbreaking capabilities, earning accolades such as the 2020 "Best of Show" Award at Video Edge, a nomination for the 2021 Tech Leadership Awards, and being a 2021 CES Innovation Award honoree.

The ThunderBay Flex 8 integrates cutting-edge NVMe and PCIe technologies, leveraging the Thunderbolt 3 interface for the fastest data transfers and charging power. Out of the box, all eight bays can accommodate SATA 6Gb/s SSDs or HDDs, with the top four bays ready for NVMe U.2 SSDs, setting the stage for the future of storage.

For content creators and video production professionals, the ThunderBay Flex 8 offers a protective and economical post-production solution. The OWC U.2 NVMe Interchange System carrier tray (sold separately) protects the U.2 SSD drive's connector, enhancing drive longevity and safeguarding your investment.

The ThunderBay Flex 8 is a muscle-flexing data performance solution, ideal for handling 4K/8K and Phantom high-speed files. With flexible drive bay configurations and the ability to swap out the built-in SATA drive controller for a SAS controller card, users can optimize their setup for speed or redundancy.

Docking flexibility is at the forefront, with a virtual buffet of productivity-enhancing connections. Power notebooks, connect a variety of devices, and ingest high-resolution media with ease. The built-in DisplayPort 1.4 interface and the ability to daisy-chain Thunderbolt 3 devices further enhance its versatility.

OWC Dock Ejector software ensures safe disconnection of multiple drives with a single click, protecting against data loss. For those with unique needs, the ThunderBay Flex 8's expandability is unmatched, with a PCIe slot ready to accommodate a variety of expansion cards.

Included with the ThunderBay Flex 8 is SoftRAID, offering easy and complete drive management. Create RAID volumes with ease, receive predictive warnings, and enjoy performance that outpaces AppleRAID.

Elevate your workflow with the ThunderBay Flex 8 88TB 8-Bay RAID 5 Array Storage Solution, the first stage in OWC's Capture to Completion ecosystem, designed to deliver the highest level of performance and reliability for professional content creators.

OWC ThunderBay Flex 8 Features

  • Eight Universal 3.5/2.5" Drive Bays: Use SATA/SAS and U.2/M.2 NVMe drives for 88TB of capacity and real-world speeds up to 2750MB/s
  • Future-Ready: The top four bays can utilize U.2 SSDs the emerging M&E industry storage standard
  • Powerfully Easy RAID - Create, manage, and monitor advanced RAID sets with SoftRAID, the world's most advanced RAID management solution with easy setup, e-notifications, and drive integrity monitoring
  • Connect More: Convenient front mounted USB-C and (2) USB-A 10Gb/s ports for peripherals and mobile devices
  • See More: DisplayPort 1.4 for connecting up to an 8K display
  • Fast Media Ingest: Frontside SD 4.0 and CFexpress card readers with up to 985MB/s speed
  • Do More: A second Thunderbolt 3 port for daisy-chaining devices or additional display(s)
  • Play Your Card: PCIe x16 connector/x4 lane slot for audio/video capture, networking, SSD storage, hardware RAID card, or I/O card
  • Ready for Hardware RAID: If you want to use SAS drives and/or encrypt your data for security reasons, we offer Hardware RAID models to meet your needs

Key Features

  • High-capacity 88TB storage solution with four 8TB SSDs and four 14TB HDDs
  • Fast data transfer speeds up to 2,750MB/s for efficient handling of large files
  • Advanced RAID options managed by SoftRAID for enhanced data protection
  • Future-ready design with top four bays primed for U.2 SSDs
  • Multiple connectivity options including Thunderbolt 3, USB-C, and USB-A ports
  • Expandable with a PCIe slot for additional hardware integration

What's in the box:

  • OWC / Other World Computing ThunderBay Flex 8 88TB (4x 8TB SSD/4x 14TB HDD) 8-Bay RAID 5 Array Stora
  • 0.7M Thunderbolt Cable
  • US Power Cable
  • 2x Security Keys for Front Panel Lock
  • Hex Key
  • SoftRAID XT Software
  • User Manual
  • OWC / Other World Computing 3 Year Limited Warranty