Larry Jordan recently reviewed the OWC Thunderbay 4 RAID, a powerful four-drive enclosure designed for professionals needing high-capacity, reliable, and fast data management. Pairing it with Seagate Iron Wolf Pro 16 TB drives, Jordan tested this state-of-the-art solution to modernize his workflow and leverage the speed of Thunderbolt 3 technology. Here’s a closer look at its features, performance, and why it’s an ideal choice for upgrading your storage setup.
Exceptional Build Quality and Versatility
The Thunderbay 4 RAID is meticulously crafted, featuring an aluminum chassis and durable drive sleds that ensure longevity. Supporting up to 96 TB of storage, it accommodates both 3.5″ and 2.5″ HDDs and SSDs. Its flexibility extends to multiple RAID configurations, including RAID 0, 1, 4, 5, 1+0, and JBOD (Just a Bunch of Drives), catering to diverse professional needs such as video editing and data archiving.
Buyers can choose between a pre-configured model or an empty enclosure to customize their setup. With Thunderbolt 3/4 connectivity, the unit delivers exceptional speed and features a pass-through port for daisy-chaining up to five devices.
Outstanding Performance
During testing, the Thunderbay 4 exceeded expectations, achieving speeds over 1 GB/second in RAID 0. Jordan praised its straightforward setup process, which takes under ten minutes to mount drives, secure them, and prepare the system for use. Its direct wall plug eliminates the need for bulky power bricks, and it operates quietly aside from the typical hum of spinning drives.
When paired with Seagate Iron Wolf Pro drives, the system demonstrated reliability and efficiency. While one drive arrived defective—a situation quickly resolved by the retailer—all four drives performed flawlessly during extensive testing.
A Trusted Choice for Professionals
For those upgrading from Thunderbolt 2 technology, the Thunderbay 4 offers a noticeable performance boost. Jordan recommends configuring the system with SoftRAID as RAID 5 using macOS Extended (Journaled) to optimize both speed and data protection.
With a long-standing reputation for quality, OWC continues to impress with the Thunderbay 4. Jordan’s personal experience with multiple OWC RAID systems underscores their reliability, even prompting him to pass down an older model for archiving purposes.
Final Thoughts: A Smart Investment in Reliable Storage
The OWC Thunderbay 4 RAID is an exceptional storage solution for professionals requiring high capacity and speed. Whether managing complex video projects or safeguarding important data, this enclosure—when paired with dependable drives like the Seagate Iron Wolf Pro series—offers the performance and reliability needed for demanding workflows.
Read the full review from Larry Jordan HERE