Model: OWCTB3F1U0D016
from $1,879.99
Color: 4 x 4TB HDDs
Storage: 16TB
6 configurations available
Configuration tips
Upgrade available
32TB from $2,299.99 (+$420)
The 16TB Flex 1U4 4-Bay Thunderbolt 3 Storage Array from OWC is a flexible storage, docking, and PCIe expansion solution for rackmount use. Compatible with macOS 10.15 to 15, the Flex 1U4 features a storage capacity of 16TB, which is split between 4 x 4TB 7200 rpm SATA 3.5" hard drives. Connectivity to your host system is established using a 40 Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 port, which supports data transfers at up to 5000 MB/s. Daisy-chain five additional devices or add a second display to a second Thunderbolt 3 port, while two 10 Gb/s USB-C ports, three 10 Gb/s USB-A ports, and one DisplayPort 1.4 port provide additional connectivity options. Further expansion, such as audio/video capture cards, 10Gb Ethernet, SSD storage, a hardware RAID, or other I/O card can be realized using the PCIe 3.0 x16/x4 slot.
Only buy HDDs for bulk media storage and backups; never use an HDD as your primary boot drive for Windows. Look for CMR (Conventional Magnetic Recording) drives over SMR (Shingled) for better write performance. Available from $1,879.99.
Mechanical hard disk drives (HDDs) are cheap to own, using a few watts of power while spinning. The main hidden cost is cloud backup subscriptions, as HDDs will eventually fail and data recovery is exorbitant.
Common Failure Modes
HDDs consist of spinning platters and delicate read/write heads, making them highly susceptible to physical shock and mechanical wear. When an HDD fails, it is replaced, not repaired, unless expensive data recovery is required.
Only buy HDDs for bulk media storage and backups; never use an HDD as your primary boot drive for Windows. Look for CMR (Conventional Magnetic Recording) drives over SMR (Shingled) for better write performance.
Mechanical hard drives have moving parts that wear out over time. They typically function reliably for several years before mechanical fatigue sets in.
The OWC 16TB Flex 1U4 4-Bay Thunderbolt 3 Storage Array (4 x 4TB HDDs) is available at bhphoto, starting at $1,879.99.
Mechanical hard disk drives (HDDs) are cheap to own, using a few watts of power while spinning. The main hidden cost is cloud backup subscriptions, as HDDs will eventually fail and data recovery is exorbitant.
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