Model: OWCTB3F81N172
from $8,019.99
Color: 1 x 4TB U.2 SSD, 7 x 24TB HDDs
16 configurations available
The OWC ThunderBay Flex 8 is a high-capacity 8-bay Thunderbolt 3 RAID array, offering a substantial 172TB of storage with a hybrid configuration of one 4TB U.2 SSD and seven 24TB HDDs. Preconfigured in RAID 5 for optimal balance of performance and data redundancy, this aluminum enclosure delivers impressive read/write transfer rates of up to 2750 MB/s. Designed for demanding creative workflows and data-intensive tasks, it features versatile connectivity including two Thunderbolt 3 ports, multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, and integrated media card slots, making it an ideal solution for professionals requiring robust, high-speed external storage and expansion.
Form factor and generation interface dictate compatibility and speed. Prioritize drives with DRAM caches for OS boot drives, as DRAM-less drives can slow down significantly during heavy multitasking. Available from $8,019.99.
Solid State Drives (SSDs) have no ongoing costs and consume minimal power. Their cost of ownership is entirely the upfront price per gigabyte.
Common Failure Modes
SSDs have no moving parts, making them immune to physical shock. Failures occur through flash memory wear-out from writing massive amounts of data or sudden controller death.
Form factor and generation interface dictate compatibility and speed. Prioritize drives with DRAM caches for OS boot drives, as DRAM-less drives can slow down significantly during heavy multitasking.
SSDs have a finite number of write cycles, usually measured in Terabytes Written (TBW). For average consumers, this limit takes many years to reach.
The OWC ThunderBay Flex 8 172TB 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 RAID Array (1 x 4TB U.2 SSD, 7 x 24TB HDDs) is available at bhphoto, starting at $8,019.99.
Solid State Drives (SSDs) have no ongoing costs and consume minimal power. Their cost of ownership is entirely the upfront price per gigabyte.
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