OWC (Other World Computing)
ThunderBay 4 Thunderbolt 3 4-Bay External Drive Enclosure
The OWC ThunderBay 4 is a powerful 4-bay external storage enclosure designed for demanding professional workflows, including multi-stream 4K video editing. It supports both 2.5" and 3.5" SATA drives, delivering impressive speeds up to 1527 MB/s in RAID 0 via Thunderbolt 3. Flexible RAID configurations (0, 1, 4, 5, 10, JBOD) are managed with the included SoftRAID software. Its durable aluminum build features advanced cooling and vibration dampening for reliable operation. Expand your storage by daisy-chaining up to six units, and connect a 4K display via the dedicated DisplayPort.
$549.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.5
/ 5
Category Rank
49
/ 188
#49 in Hard Drive Arrays
Price vs Category Average
-74%
Below average
Number of Bays
4
Who it's for
- High-Speed Thunderbolt 3 Performance
- Versatile RAID Configuration Support
- Daisy-Chain and DisplayPort Functionality
Who should skip it
- Audible Fan Noise Under Load
- High Initial Cost of Entry
- Requires External Power Supply
Key Specs
Number of Bays
4
Material
Aluminum chassis
Operating System Compatibility
macOS, Windows
RAID Support
True
Power Source
AC Adapter
Cooling Method
Fan Cooled
Mounting Type
External Desktop
Max Data Transfer Speed
40 Gb/s (Thunderbolt 3)
Features
- Handles multi-stream compressed 4K video
- Supports 2.5" and 3.5" SATA drives
- Daisy-chain up to six enclosures
- Flexible RAID configurations with SoftRAID
- Oversized fan for quiet, reliable cooling
- Vibration-dampening feet reduce resonance
- Supports external 4K display via DisplayPort
- Robust aluminum chassis for durability
What customers say
Users highly value the OWC ThunderBay 4 for its exceptional build quality and robust performance, making it essential for demanding creative workflows. The sturdy aluminum chassis contributes to reliable heat dissipation. Its Thunderbolt 3 speeds consistently impress, supporting large file transfers and complex editing needs. The flexibility to house four drives with various RAID options is a significant advantage for both speed and redundancy. While the premium price is a noted consideration, most users find the enclosure’s dependability and high feature set justify the investment. It is widely regarded as a reliable, high-performing storage solution for professionals.
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