12.0TB OWC Gemini
Thunderbolt Dock and Dual-Drive RAID External Storage Solution
Mfr P/N: TB3GM000H12 OWC SKU: OWCTB3GM000H12
$8.99 off - Thunderbolt 2 Compatibility Bundle - Add an Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter (APLMMEL2AMA) and save! (Limit 3)
Must purchase with: Apple Genuine Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
Highlights
- Performance storage: up to 562MB/s2
- Fast connectivity: (2) Thunderbolt 3 ports (Thunderbolt 2/Thunderbolt backward compatible1)
- Speed and storage: hardware RAID controller (RAID 0,1, Span or JBOD/Independent)
- Easy camera uploads: frontside SD 4.0 (UHS-II) card reader
- A hub of options: (2) USB 3.2 (10Gb/s) Type-A ports
- Connect to your NAS: 2.5Gb/s Ethernet port
- See work in progress: HDMI 2.1 for adding up to an 8K monitor
- Innergize™ Enabled: custom OWC software for complete health, performance, and field upgrade management when using OWC Atlas Memory Cards with OWC Atlas Card Readers and card reader-equipped products
- 3 Year OWC Limited Warranty
Overview
The Do-It-All Tool for Digital Workflows
With dual drive bays and seven connectivity ports including an SD 4.0 (UHS-II) card reader, the OWC Gemini is the do-it-all tool that will organize your digital life. You’ll have plenty of room to duplicate footage, create and manage archives, or render and process effects. Connect your favorite peripherals via USB ports. Ingest the day’s shoot or drone footage with the frontside reader.
Hardware RAID: Speed, Reliability, Flexibility
The OWC Gemini utilizes hardware RAID to unleash the full potential of two 3.5-inch 7200RPM hard drives or 2.5-inch SATA SSDs. Preconfigured in high-speed RAID 0 mode to deliver maximum throughput from its drives, Gemini offers real-world HDD speeds up to 562MB/s for audio editors/musicians/producers, individual content creators, photographers, small photography studios, and filmmakers working with up to 4K resolutions and compressed codecs. A/V professionals seeking SSDs that start and stay fast over their full capacity can take advantage of the proven reliability of OWC Mercury Extreme SSDs. With sustained RAID 0 speed up to 956MB/s, you can easily handle 8K single and 4K multi sequences, slow motion video, 10 bits footage, and ultra-high-resolution RAW pictures.
If you desire the extra security of mirrored data, you can configure the Mercury Gemini in RAID 1 mode. Need more drive flexibility? Set up a span to combine the capacity of the two drives into one huge volume or use the drives as independent volumes.
Stay Connected to Your Team and Media
The OWC Gemini features a 2.5Gb/s Ethernet port so you can transfer files and work up to 2.5x faster over wired networks and enjoy increased productivity in an IP-based workflow. Great for shared workspaces and workflows, file transfers breeze by quickly so you spend less time setting up and more time getting to work. When it’s time to share your progress, you can use your RAID options to render out working files and a fast connection to post for team and client reviews. It’s also great for sending your files over to a NAS to keep them safely archived.
Gain a 8K Perspective
With a dedicated latest generation HDMI port, Gemini empowers you to add the fresh, crisp perspective of an 8K display to your workflow. Whether in your home office or on a mobile studio job, seeing your work in full detail is just one connection away. Use it to free up your laptop port, so you can dock in and out quickly and stay mobile.
Reclaim Your Desktop
With multi-drive media dumps, controllers, A/V outputs, and a mess of device cables, it can be hard enough to find space for your notebook let alone room to work. OWC Gemini fights the clutter with a single-cable connection that delivers storage, ethernet sharing, charging power, and 8K monitor support while neatly consolidating all your peripheral device cables. Reclaim your workspace and reduce your stress.
Finally, a RAID as Mobile as Your Life
With the built-in hardware-based RAID controller, you get speed and security without being dependent on what operating system you are running. If you work in a cross-platform world, you can easily connect OWC Gemini to Mac and PC using OWC's MacDrive software (sold separately).
From the Rocket Yard Blog
OWC Gemini Makes 3-2-1 Video Archival Easy. Here’s How to Protect Your Files
Pro video teams should always back up at least three copies of their videos in two locations. OWC Gemini makes the process easy. Here are our tips for archival strategy with this all-in-one wonder.
Unleash iPad Pro Content Creation Capabilities
For all the power iPad Pro offers, it’s handcuffed by limited internal storage, display size. and a single Thunderbolt port. Gemini transforms the iPad Pro into a complete content creation platform with capabilities that exceed many desktop and notebook computer setups. Offload your internal storage to the multi-terabytes of SSD storage capacity with speeds up to 956MB/s to handle all your Davinci Resolve, Lumafusion, Lightroom, Photoshop, Capture One, and/or Illustrator projects. You’ll see your work easier by adding an external display via the HDMI port. Ingest your camera files with the SD card reader. Share files in a blink on a high-speed network. Connect a mouse and full-sized keyboard with USB ports. There’s even 27W of power delivery to keep your iPad Pro charged and ready for mobile use.
Thunderbolt Made Easy
We make it easy to choose the right gear. Our Thunderbolt Certified products offer the same performance and functionality whether they are Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4. And if you’re rocking a beloved Thunderbolt 2 machine, we offer a certified Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter so you can plug into our universe of award-winning solutions. No hassles, no confusion. That’s the OWC Difference.
Apple Mac models with Thunderbolt 2/Thunderbolt ports can be connected using a certified Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter and a Thunderbolt 2 cable (not included). This configuration provides data transfer at up to 20Gb/s but does not support notebook charging.
Disconnect in One Click
Safely disconnect multiple drives in a single click. OWC Dock Ejector was designed by OWC hardware and software engineers to ensure all data is written before disconnection, saving time and protecting against data loss. It makes losing your hard-earned work a thing of the past.
Disconnect in One Click
Safely disconnect multiple drives in a single click. OWC Dock Ejector was designed by OWC hardware and software engineers to ensure all data is written before disconnection, saving time and protecting against data loss. It makes losing your hard-earned work a thing of the past.
OWC Thunderbolt Cable Included
OWC Gemini 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.
Innergize Your Workflow with Highest Performance and Reliability
OWC Innergize™ is the first stage of the Capture to Completion™ ecosystem of OWC products designed to seamlessly propel professional photographers, videographers, and content creators to the highest level of workflow performance and reliability. This OWC custom-designed app is a complete health, performance, and field upgrade management tool when using OWC Atlas memory cards with OWC Atlas readers and reader equipped products.
Work with Maximum Confidence and Reliability
Health
Over time and use cycles, flash memory does wear out. Innergize verifies and reports the percentage of use life remaining. Now you can work with full confidence your OWC flash memory product will deliver the reliability you can trust.
Sanitize
Writes, deletes, and formatting all take their toll on memory cards. Innergize cleans and restores the flash memory performance of OWC memory cards so you can get the best results on every use.
Field Upgrade
When new cameras or firmware updates to existing cameras are introduced, they may not work properly with flash memory cards and drives. Innergize gives OWC memory card users the ability to quickly upgrade their firmware in the field for full compatibility, additional performance enhancements, and bug fixes for optimal reliability.
- 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.
- 562MB/s write / 562MB/s read peak performance with 2 x Seagate 20TB in OWC Gemini connected to a 16-inch MacBook Pro 2021 (MacBookPro18,1) with 16GB RAM and Apple M1 Pro 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU running AJA System Test (4K-Full resolution, 64GB file size, 16 bit RGBA codec, single file test).
- 956MB/s write / 855MB/s read peak performance with 2 x 4.0TB OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G SSDs in OWC Gemini connected to a 16-inch MacBook Pro 2021 (MacBookPro18,1) with 16GB RAM and Apple M1 Pro 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU running AJA System Test (4K-Full resolution, 64GB file size, 16 bit RGBA codec, single file test).
- 1350MB/s write / 1446MB/s read peak performance with 2 x 1.0TB Western Digital U.2 SSDs in OWC Gemini connected to a 16-inch MacBook Pro 2021 (MacBookPro18,1) with 16GB RAM and Apple M1 Pro 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU running AJA System Test (4K-Full resolution, 64GB file size, 16 bit RGBA codec, single file test).
Includes
- (1) OWC Gemini Thunderbolt Dock and External Storage Solution
- (1) 0.7M (28") Thunderbolt (USB-C) Cable
- (1) External Power Supply and Power Cable
- (1) Quick Start Guide for OWC Gemini
- (1) Support Manual for OWC Gemini
- (1) OWC Dock Ejector for Mac and Windows (software download)
- (1) User Guide for OWC Dock Ejector
- 3 Year OWC Limited Warranty
Specs
Drive Bays
- 2 bays supporting: 2.5-inch SATA drives, 3.5-inch SATA drives, 2.5-inch U.2 drives, 3.5-inch U.2 drives, M.2 drives (with M.2 to U.2 adapter)
Total Capacity
- 12.0TB
Total Solution Cache Size
- 512 MB
Drive Mechanism
- (2) 6.0TB Toshiba MD08ADA Series 7,200RPM Hard Disk Drive with 256 MB cache
- *OWC reserves the right to replace or upgrade to equivalent or better components.
Hot Plug Support
- Yes
Boot Support
- Yes. Boot Camp is not supported.
RAID Capable
- Yes
RAID Levels Supported
- SPAN
- RAID 0
- RAID 1
- JBOD
RAID Features
- Hardware RAID
- Software RAID Capable
Device Ports
- (1) Host Port - Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) up to 40Gb/s (5000MB/s)
- (1) Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) Port
- (2) USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A Ports up to 10Gb/s (1250MB/s) - USB 2.0/3.0 backwards compatible
- (1) HDMI Port
- (1) 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet (2.5GbE) RJ-45 Port
Memory Card Slots
- (1) SD
Power Delivery
- Provides up to 27 watts of power via Thunderbolt 3 to charge or reduce laptop and device battery draw.
Display Support by Port
- Thunderbolt 3 (Titan Ridge): Up to 8K @ 60Hz or 4K @ 120Hz via a native Thunderbolt 3 display or other display that supports USB-C connections and DisplayPort 1.4
- HDMI 2.1: Up to 8K @ 120Hz
Ethernet Speeds (RJ-45)
- 2.5Gb/s (2.5GBASE-T)
- 1Gb/s "Gigabit" (1000BASE-T)
- 100Mb/s (100BASE-T)
- 10Mb/s (10BASE-T)
Jumbo Frame Support
- Yes
Data Rate
- Up to 40 Gb/s
Data Transfer Rate (Maximum)
- Thunderbolt 3 : Up to 40Gb/s (or 5000MB/s)
- USB 3.2 Gen 2 : Up to 10Gb/s (or 1250MB/s)
Chipset / Controller
- Thunderbolt (2): Intel JHL7440
- Media Reader: Genesis Logic GL-3232S
- Ethernet (1): Intel i226
- SATA Controller: ASMedia ASM-1352R
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 12.x Monterey
- macOS 13.x Ventura
- macOS 14.x Sonoma
- macOS 15.x Sequoia
- OWC Innergize is currently supported on macOS version 12.x, macOS 13.7.2 and earlier, macOS 14.7.2 and earlier, and macOS 15.2.1 and earlier. We are aware of an issue in macOS 13.7.3, macOS 14.7.3, macOS 15.3.x, released 01/27/25 that makes OWC Innergize unable to be used with OWC Atlas USB4 and USB-C readers. The Thunderbolt interface equipped OWC Atlas FXR reader remains supported in macOS 15.3.x over USB. Apple has been informed of this issue and we are diligently pursuing a resolution.
PC OS Compatibility
- Windows 10 64-bit Edition
- Windows Server 2016
- Windows Server 2022
- Windows 11
Linux OS Compatibility
- Yes
Mobile OS Compatibility
- iPadOS 15
- iPadOS 16
- iPadOS 17
- iPadOS 18
Other OS Compatibility
- Chrome OS
- ChromeOS 107 or later
Driver Required
- Yes
- Windows 10 and Windows 11 users utilizing the OWC Gemini (2.5GbE) ethernet require a network driver.
- Intel® Network Adapter Driver for Windows® 10
- Intel® Network Adapter Driver for Windows® 11
External Power Adapter
- Yes
Power Supply
- External UL-listed universal auto-switching power supply
AC Input
- 100-240V, 50-60Hz, 2.0A
DC Output
- +12V, 10A
Wattage
- 120W
Cooling
- (1) 60mm 3,000RPM cooling fan
Security Slot
- Yes
Power/Activity LED
- Yes
Housing Color
- Black
Housing Material
- High quality aluminum for optimized heat dissipation
Dimensions
- Height: 14.7 cm (5.8 in)
- Length: 23.8 cm (9.4 in)
- Width: 8.5 cm (3.3 in)
Weight
- 1.6 kg (3.53 lbs)
Certifications
- CE
- FCC
- VCCI
- BSMI
- RCM
- Thunderbolt™technology
RoHS Compliant
- 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
- 19.3dB
- 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.
- Must be connected to host computer via Thunderbolt (USB-C), and cannot be used as a NAS. The Ethernet port provides the host computer with a 2.5GbE network connection over Thunderbolt (USB-C), but it cannot be used to access the drives over the network.
- Requires 2.5Gb/s Ethernet compatible hardware components and cabling (Cat 5e cable minimum, Cat 6 or later strongly recommended).
- OWC ShuttleOne 1 x NVMe M.2 and U2 Shuttle 4 x NVMe M.2 to 2.5-inch U.2 SSD Adapters sold separately. When installing OWC U2 Shuttles, the OWC Gemini is limited to three drives per shuttle with drive capacities of up to 4TB per drive..
- 562MB/s write / 562MB/s read peak performance with 2 x Seagate 20TB in OWC Gemini connected to a 16-inch MacBook Pro 2021 (MacBookPro18,1) with 16GB RAM and Apple M1 Pro 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU running AJA System Test (4K-Full resolution, 64GB file size, 16 bit RGBA codec, single file test).
- 956MB/s write / 855MB/s read peak performance with 2 x 4.0TB OWC Mercury Extreme Pro 6G SSDs in OWC Gemini connected to a 16-inch MacBook Pro 2021 (MacBookPro18,1) with 16GB RAM and Apple M1 Pro 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU running AJA System Test (4K-Full resolution, 64GB file size, 16 bit RGBA codec, single file test).
- 1350MB/s write / 1446MB/s read peak performance with 2 x 1.0TB Western Digital U.2 SSDs in OWC Gemini connected to a 16-inch MacBook Pro 2021 (MacBookPro18,1) with 16GB RAM and Apple M1 Pro 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU running AJA System Test (4K-Full resolution, 64GB file size, 16 bit RGBA codec, single file test).
- Actual display support depends upon computer. Please review the display specifications for your specific computer model to determine the maximum supported resolution, refresh rate, color depth, and number of external displays over Thunderbolt.
- SD cards inserted into the OWC Gemini will not be recognized by Windows Disk Management or applications after being safely removed. Power cycle the entire OWC Gemini by disconnecting the power source. This will allow the OWC Gemini to create a new card session resulting in Windows recognizing the SD card.
- A firmware update is required to use OWC Gemini with OWC Innergize software. Please consult the "Innergize for PC: Firmware Update" or "Innergize for Mac: Firmware Update" guide for download and installation instructions.
Benchmarks
Truth in Numbers: Another OWC Difference
There are many attributes that define “The OWC Difference.” By listing real-world performance tests of OWC solutions, we’re confident you’ll be completely satisfied with your technology investment.
macOS RAID 0 Test Results
Blackmagic Disk Speed Test - Intel
Thunderbolt 3

Blackmagic Disk Speed Test - Apple silicon
Thunderbolt 3

AJA System Test - 4K - Intel
Thunderbolt 3

AJA System Test - 4K - Apple silicon
Thunderbolt 3

Windows RAID 0 Test Results
CrystalDiskMark
Thunderbolt 3

AJA System Test - 4K
Thunderbolt 3

Compatibility & Installation Videos
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
Videos
Learn More
Customer Reviews
Works as advertised. Easy to set up and use
I would recommend this product to a friend!
- Reviewer:Reviewer2299610079
Thank you so much for your amazing 5-star review! We're thrilled to hear that the OWC Gemini is working just as you expected and that you found it easy to set up and use. Your feedback means the world to us, and we're excited that you're enjoying your experience with our products! Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions, comments, or concerns. https://eshop.macsales.com/Service/
Overall I’m really happy with the Gemini. One note, as others have mentioned: it has no sound dampening at all. My Seagate Pro HD is unbearably loud to the point where I can’t use it. Because of that, I’m switching it out with an OWC SSD via the ShuttleOne. So if you are doing sound work / video, I would recommend *not* using a spinning disc drive.
I would recommend this product to a friend!
- Reviewer:GESII
Thank you for your fantastic review of the Gemini! We're thrilled to hear that you're overall happy with it and appreciate your feedback regarding the sound dampening. It's great that you're considering an OWC SSD for your sound and video work—our SSDs are designed to deliver performance and a quieter experience. We’re excited to support you on your creative journey!
I pretty sure it’s broken .. it’s the loudest raid I’ve ever heard .. should have bought a new one .. now I know
- Reviewer:Dmpnyc
Thank you for the feedback on our OWC Gemini. We are sorry to hear that you are not satisfied with the product. One of our representatives has sent you the instructions as well as a courtesy shipping label to return this product so you can purchase a new unit instead. If there is anything else we can do to assist you please let us know.