1-800-275-4576
OWC ThunderBay 8
Eight-Bay Thunderbolt (40Gb/s) External Storage Enclosure for 2.5-inch and 3.5-in SATA Drives
Mfr P/N: TB38JBKIT0 OWC SKU: OWCTB38JBKIT0
The Storage Array Built for Creative Pros
- Work faster: up to 2586MB/s1 real-world speed for up to 8K multi-stream video editing and AR/VR workflows
- Work bigger: access, backup, and archive irreplaceable footage, images, and files on either HDD or SSD storage
- Built for RAID: just add your own RAID management software, like OWC SoftRAID; the fastest and most flexible RAID 0/1/4/5/1+0 (10) tool. Also supports Apple RAID and Windows Disk Manager.
- Expansive: daisy-chain up to five additional ThunderBay 8 or other Thunderbolt storage devices via the second Thunderbolt port
- Flexible: mix and match 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch HDDs and SSDs
- 1 Year OWC Limited Warranty
Overview
“Manages large libraries of video and audio production files… outstandingly well after months of constant use.”
macrumors.com“More than enough for editing RAW photos in Lightroom, and… I was really happy to see… it was fast enough to be directly editing 4K video projects directly off the ThunderBay”
Todd Dominey (watch the entire YouTube review)
Pro Storage Built by Creators for Creators
We understand your needs as a creative professional, and we understand that every project is unique. We designed ThunderBay 8 with the speed, capacity, and flexibility to adapt to your evolving needs. Whether you’re changing cameras from a Sony FX9 to a Canon C300 or RED KOMODO, ThunderBay 8 has you covered.
How Much Video Footage You Can Store
|
RAID 0 |
RAID 5 |
|
|---|---|---|
|
XAVC Intra 4K Class 300 |
up to |
up to |
|
ProRes 422 HQ 4K |
up to |
up to |
|
REDCODEC RAW 8K |
up to |
up to |
The Storage Epicenter to Build Your Creative Career
Work Faster
Up to 2586MB/s1 real-world speed for up to 8K multi-stream video editing and AR/VR workflows.
Work Bigger
Access, backup, and archive up to 160TB of irreplaceable footage, images, and files on either HDD or SSD storage.
Built for RAID
Just add your own RAID management software like just add your own RAID management software, like OWC SoftRAID; the fastest and most flexible RAID 0/1/4/5/1+0 (10) tool. Also supports Apple RAID and Windows Disk Manager.
Expansive
Daisy-chain up to five additional ThunderBay 8 or other Thunderbolt storage devices via the second Thunderbolt port.
The Pro Storage Choice
Video Editors, Colorists, VFX Compositors, DITs, Music Artists, and more...
Mac-Ready Across the Board
ThunderBay 8 checks all the functional boxes to make you a more efficient content creator: lightning-fast data access, massive capacity, centralized file location and it works with Macs ( Intel-based as well as the latest Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3/M4 machines) and Windows PCs. What makes ThunderBay 8 the best 8 bay storage solution available is its ability to give you peace of mind your data is safely protected today and tomorrow. Gone is the fear of a costly slow down – or gulp – losing irreplaceable data because you didn’t select the right RAID solution.
The Most Powerful RAID Tool on the Planet.
SoftRAID is the world’s fastest and most flexible application to configure, maintain, and protect your RAID volumes on Mac and PC. OWC enclosures include 3 Years of SoftRAID Premium.
- High-Performance RAID 0/1/4/5/1+0 (10) volumes
- Predictive Health Monitoring proactively notifies of Volume and Disk issues well before failure — provided on your computer and remotely
- Seamless Cross-Platform Sharing with support for Apple-formatted APFS and HFS+ SoftRAID volumes between Mac and Windows at no additional cost
- 35+ Years of Experience of Pro Support to provide peace-of-mind with setup help, ongoing questions, or urgent disk issues
- And many more unique features.
- Learn more about SoftRAID
M1 Macs require macOS 11.3 or later. SoftRAID is licensed per computer.
Daisy-Chain Possibilities
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-C device at the end of a daisy chain. With an extra Thunderbolt port, you have the flexibility to add to your daisy-chain and master any task at hand.
A Data Safe-House
With a locking front panel and backside security slot, the ThunderBay 8 is like a safe house for precious data. Additionally, implementing a redundant RAID setup, such as RAID 5 on SoftRAID, will protect against data loss from disk failure.
Professional Grade = Ready to Work
We understand having confidence in gear reliability is paramount to creative professionals. That’s why every ThunderBay 8 undergoes OWC's multi-hour "burn-in" performance certification prior to shipping. This ensures your ThunderBay 8 arrives operating properly and immediately ready for demanding use.
OWC Thunderbolt Cable Included
OWC Thunderbolt Pro Dock comes with a certified 0.7M OWC Thunderbolt Cable. But if your workflow demands a different length to make the connection, OWC Thunderbolt (USB-C) Cables are the perfect choice.
Work with Ultimate Confidence
Active workspaces expose gear to unexpected bumps and shoves. OWC ClingOn custom cable stabilizers (sold separately) screw into the OWC Dock or OWC Drive housing to reduce – if not completely eliminate – cable strain on Thunderbolt and USB-C connections so you can work with ultimate confidence even in the highest foot traffic environments.
- Sequential read/write performance with 8 x 2.0TB Mercury Extreme Pro 6G SSD in RAID 0 connected to iMac Pro Late 2017 (iMacPro1,1) with 32GB RAM and 3.2GHz processor running AJA System Test (4K-Full resolution, 64GB file size, 10bit RGB codec, single file test).
Includes
Back to top
- (1) OWC ThunderBay 8 External Storage Enclosure
- (1) 0.7M (28") Thunderbolt Cable
- (1) US Power Cable
- (2) Security Keys for Front Panel Lock
- (1) OWC ThunderBay 8 Getting Started Insert Card
- (1) Support Manual for OWC ThunderBay 8 (Digital)
- 1 Year OWC Limited Warranty
Specs
Back to top
Drive Bays
- 8 bays supporting: 2.5-inch SATA HDDs, 2.5-inch SATA SSDs, 3.5-inch SATA HDDs, 3.5-inch SATA SSDs
Plug and Play
- Yes
Hot Swap Support
- Yes
Boot Support
- Mac only. Boot Camp is not supported.
RAID Capable
- Yes
RAID Levels Supported
- JBOD
RAID Features
- Software RAID Capable
Device Ports
- (1) Host Port - Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) up to 40Gb/s (5000MB/s)
- (1) Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) Port
- Either Thunderbolt (USB-C) port can be used as the host port
Power Delivery
- Thunderbolt 3 ports each provide up to 15W of power to the host computer or attached device.1
Display Support
- Up to one 5K display @ 60Hz,
- or one 4K display @ 60Hz
Display Support by Port
- 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
Data Transfer Rate (Maximum)
- Thunderbolt 3 : Up to 40Gb/s (or 5000MB/s)
Chipset / Controller
- Thunderbolt: (1) Titan Ridge (JHL7440)
- SATA Controller: (2) JMicron (JMS-585B)
MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures)
- Varies depending on drive mechanism installed
Contact Start Stops
- Varies depending on drive mechanism installed
Host Interface Requirements
- Thunderbolt (USB-C) port (backward compatible with Thunderbolt 2/Thunderbolt1)
Mac OS Compatibility
- macOS 10.14 Mojave
- macOS 10.15 Catalina
- macOS 11.x Big Sur
- macOS 12.x Monterey
- macOS 13.x Ventura
- macOS 14.x Sonoma
- macOS 15.x Sequoia
PC OS Compatibility
- Windows 10 64-bit Edition
- Windows Server 2022
- Windows 11
Driver Required
- No
Other Requirements
- SoftRAID works with macOS 10.14 or later and Windows 10 or 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. RAID 4/1+0 (10) are currently Mac only at this time.
External Power Adapter
- No
Power Supply
- Internal UL-listed universal auto-switching power supply
AC Input
- 90-264V, 47-63Hz, 3.5A At 115V, 1.8A At 230V
DC Output
- +12V, 25A
Wattage
- 300W
Cooling
- (1) 92mm cooling fan
Security Slot
- Yes
Power Button
- Yes
Power/Activity LED
- Yes
Housing Color
- Black
Housing Material
- Aluminum
Dimensions
- Height: 18.0 cm (7.1 in)
- Length: 24.0 cm (9.4 in)
- Width: 26.0 cm (10.2 in)
Weight
- 7.3 kg (16.14 lbs)
Certifications
- CE, FCC, VCCI, RCM, BSMI
Country of Origin
- Taiwan
TAA Compliance
- Yes
Ambient Temperature
- Operating: 41°F to 95°F (5°C to 35°C)
- Non-Operating: -4°F to 140°F (-20°C to 60°C)
Altitude
- Operating: -304.8 m to 3,048.0 m (-1,000 ft to 10,000 ft)
- Non-Operating: -304.8 m to 12,192.0 m (-1,000 ft to 40,000 ft)
Humidity
- Operating: 8% to 90% non-condensing
- Non-Operating: 5% to 95% non-condensing
Noise
- Varies depending on drive mechanism installed
- Thunderbolt 2/Thunderbolt compatibility requires a certified Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) adapter and a Thunderbolt 2 cable (not included). This configuration provides data transfer at up to 20Gb/s but does not support notebook charging.
- Intel JHL-6540 chipset supports two 4K displays (4096 x 2160 30bpp @ 60 Hz) or a single 5K display.
- The following Apple silicon M1 and M2 Mac models support a single display over a Thunderbolt port:
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) - MacBookPro17,1
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) - Mac14,7
- MacBook Air (M1, 2020) - MacBookAir10,1
- MacBook Air (M2, 2022) - Mac14,2
- Mac mini (M1, 2020) - Macmini9,1 - The following Mac models provide only partial support for DisplayPort 1.4, including limiting resolution to 5K or 6K at 60Hz. Please review Apple's display specifications for your specific Mac to determine the maximum supported resolution and color depth:
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) - MacBookPro15,1
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) - MacBookPro15,2
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) - MacBookPro15,2
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019) - MacBookPro15,1 and MacBookPro15,3
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) - MacBookPro15,4
- MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) - MacBookPro16,1 and MacBookPro16,4
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) - MacBookPro16,2
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) - MacBookPro16,3
- MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) - MacBookAir8,1
- MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2019) - MacBookAir8,2
- MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) - MacBookAir9,1
- iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019) - iMac19,1
- iMac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, 2019) - iMac19,2
- iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020) - iMac20,1 and iMac20,2
- Mac mini (2018) - Macmini8,1
- Mac Pro (2019) - MacPro7,1
- Mac Pro (Rack, 2019) - MacPro7,1
Compatibility & Installation Videos
Back to top
MacBook Pro
Requires Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) Adapter and Thunderbolt 2 cable.
Requires Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) Adapter and Thunderbolt 2 cable.
Requires Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) Adapter and Thunderbolt 2 cable.
Requires Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) Adapter and Thunderbolt 2 cable.
Requires Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) Adapter and Thunderbolt 2 cable.
Requires Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) Adapter and Thunderbolt 2 cable.
MacBook Air
Requires Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) Adapter and Thunderbolt 2 cable.
Requires Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) Adapter and Thunderbolt 2 cable.
Requires Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) Adapter and Thunderbolt 2 cable.
Requires Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) Adapter and Thunderbolt 2 cable.
Requires Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) Adapter and Thunderbolt 2 cable.
Requires Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) Adapter and Thunderbolt 2 cable.
Requires Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) Adapter and Thunderbolt 2 cable.
Requires Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) Adapter and Thunderbolt 2 cable.
Requires Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) Adapter and Thunderbolt 2 cable.
Mac Pro
Requires Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) Adapter and Thunderbolt 2 cable.
Mac Studio
Mac mini
Requires Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) Adapter and Thunderbolt 2 cable.
PC Compatible
PC must have a compatible Thunderbolt port
Products
Customer Reviews
Back to top
Great deal, fast, perfect for my video editing needs.
I would recommend this product to a friend!
Verified Purchase.- Reviewer:ChuckFloramo
Wow, thank you so much for your amazing review! We're thrilled to hear that OWC products are meeting your video editing needs perfectly. It’s fantastic to know you found a great deal and that our fast service made a positive impact on your experience. Your satisfaction means the world to us, and we can’t wait to continue supporting you in your creative endeavors!
Not happy at all. I like to return it. 1. Software is not included. $80/year 2. Performance is NOT good. 600-700MB/Sec for RAID 5. Should be well over 1000. 3. TB4 cable is too short. Had to buy another one. The hardware quality is good however. Software should nbc included. NOT the baritone which they give for free. Promise hardware includes the software and I get over 1500MB/Sec.
Verified Purchase.- Reviewer:Reviewer2674382148
We're sorry to hear that you're not happy with your purchase. The unit you selected is an 8-bay ThunderBay, not a 12-bay storage system. Additionally, the version you purchased does not include SoftRAID—we offer models with a 3-year SoftRAID license, but unfortunately, the one you selected does not. Regarding performance, speeds can vary depending on the drives used, RAID configuration, and workload. If you're experiencing lower-than-expected speeds, we'd be happy to troubleshoot and help optimize your setup. As for the Thunderbolt 4 cable length, we understand that different setups require different cable lengths, and we do offer longer cables separately. We appreciate your feedback and are happy to assist further if needed. Please contact our support team, and we’ll do our best to help! https://eshop.macsales.com/Service/
I have a couple of these units now, and really like them. They work great and I've had not problems.
I would recommend this product to a friend!
Verified Purchase.- Reviewer:Reviewer4286076110
Thank you for the fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear that you love our RAID enclosures and that they've been working great for you. It's awesome that you have a couple of them now — clearly, you've found the perfect fit for your needs! Your satisfaction means the world to us, and we appreciate your support!
