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OWC ThunderBay 8 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 Raid Array

BH #OWTB38SRKIT0 • MFR #OWCTB38SRKIT0
26 reviews
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OWC ThunderBay 8 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 Raid Array
Key Features
  • 8 x 2.5/3.5" SATA Drive Bays
  • Thunderbolt 3
  • RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 4, 5, and JBOD Modes
  • SoftRAID Premium Software
Streamline your data storage with the ThunderBay 8 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 Raid Array from OWC. Featuring eight 2.5/3.5" SATA drive bays, this desktop storage enclosure is designed to provide ample storage space or redundancy with support for RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 4, 5, and JBOD modes. Capable of transfer speeds up to 2586 MB/s in RAID 0, the ThunderBay 8 features two Thunderbolt 3 ports that can be used to daisy-chain up to six drives. The Thunderbolt ports can also be used to connect to up to two 4K displays or one 5k display.
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OWC ThunderBay 8 Overview

From Manufacturer

Streamline your data storage with the ThunderBay 8 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 Raid Array from OWC. Featuring eight 2.5/3.5" SATA drive bays, this desktop storage enclosure is designed to provide ample storage space or redundancy with support for RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 4, 5, and JBOD modes. Capable of transfer speeds up to 2586 MB/s in RAID 0, the ThunderBay 8 features two Thunderbolt 3 ports that can be used to daisy-chain up to six drives. The Thunderbolt ports can also be used to connect to up to two 4K displays or one 5k display.

Clad in aluminum, the ThunderBay 8 features a locking front panel and a Kensington Lock slot for physically tethering the storage array. LED indicators on the front panel also provide users with drive status info at a glance. Air-cooled, this RAID array uses a single 92mm fan. The ThunderBay 8 requires no drivers and is plug-and-play with support for macOS 10.13 and later, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2016 and later.

High-Bandwidth Chops
With Thunderbolt 3 offering real-world transfer rates up to 2586MB/s and the ability to RAID together eight SSDs or HDDs, the ThunderBay 8 meets high-bandwidth requirements. You can even configure multiple ThunderBay 8 solutions connected via multiple Thunderbolt 3 ports on your Mac or PC to achieve exponential speed increases.
Monstrous Capacity
Need even more capacity? Daisy-chain up to six of these storage enclosures together. Now you can capture footage from multiple cameras or store libraries of production work with a unified storage solution.
SoftRAID
Now you can quickly access and robustly protect your data with SoftRAID for Mac. SoftRAID allows users to create RAID volumes and helps you through the entire process. With multiple RAID options, you decide what you're using your RAID volume for and how much space to allocate to it, whether optimizing for speed or redundancy.

Please note that this is a 3-year license.

Swap and Identify Drives Easily
The ThunderBay 8 can be used to keep large data sets organized for every project, thanks to its eight hot-swappable drive bays. Whether you're using 2.5 or 3.5" HDDs or SSDs, the drives mount in alphabetically labeled trays for easy identification and are secured by a thumb screw. Or access an extensive collection of drives quickly by creating a drive bullpen with additional OWC drive trays, sold separately.
Safe and Secure
With a locking front panel and security slot on the backside, the ThunderBay 8 is designed to safeguard your data. Plus, with front panel LEDs indicating the status of each drive, you'll know at a glance if your data is secure.
OWC ClingOn-Compatible
Reduce the chance of cable strain and accidental disconnects with the OWC ClingOn. These custom cable stabilizers, available separately, screw into the ThunderBay 8's housing to secure your Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C connections, preventing work session interruption and possible data loss.
UPC: 810586034432

OWC ThunderBay 8 Specs

Key Specs
RAID
Yes: Supported RAID Modes: 0 / 1 / 5 / JBOD
Number of Bays
8x 2.5"/3.5" SATA (Unspecified Version)
Inputs/Outputs
2x USB-C Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gb/s)
Drives
RAID
Yes: Supported RAID Modes: 0 / 1 / 5 / JBOD
Transfer Rates
2586 MB/s (Read/Write in RAID 0)
General
Number of Bays
8x 2.5"/3.5" SATA (Unspecified Version)
Inputs/Outputs
2x USB-C Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gb/s)
Media Card Slots
No
PCI Expansion
No
Software
OS Compatibility
Windows 10
Windows Server 2016
macOS 10.13 or Later
Security
Encryption
No
Security Features
Kensington Security Slot, Lockable Bay Door
Electrical
PSU
1 x 300 W
Physical
Operating Conditions
37 to 67°F / 5 to 35°C
Storage Conditions
-4 to 140°F / -20 to 60°C
Certifications
BSMI, CE, FCC, RCM, VCCI
Cooling
1x 92 mm Fan
Material of Construction
Aluminum
Dimensions
10.24 x 9.45 x 7.09" / 26 x 24 x 18 cm
Weight
16.1 lb / 7.3 kg
Packaging Info
Package Weight
21.26 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
15.8 x 15.4 x 14"

OWC ThunderBay 8 Reviews

Absolutely Brillant RAID!

By John
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2026-05-11

This is my third OWC Thunderbay 8 RAID purchase from B&H, wanting triplicate redundancy of my 120TB photography and video archive. Never a problem, extremely stable, truly a powerful, fast, brilliant RAID!

Exactly what I need for my one man post production band

By Shane
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2025-08-18

I just love this Thunderbay, I was going to get the Thunderbay 4 but decided to go with the 8 bay as it was 200 off when I purchased and 4 HDD drives to start. I love knowing I will be able to add more storage as my business grows. I am on a m1 macbook pro and with the 4 drives in raid 5 I am getting about 800mbps which should increase with additional drives. Sure it's louder than an SSD but it's not distracting even to my adhd brain. I have had it for a few weeks with zero issues, and coupled with the amphetamine app that has the drive alive feature, I have been able to leave it working in the background uploading my archive to backblaze(huge pro vs going with NAS for me since backblaze unlimited storage doesn't allow NAS but DAS is not in breach of service. which saves me 88 dollars a month so far if I had to go with their ala carte cloud storage). Softraid is easy to set up and yes I don't love that it's pay per year after 3 years but if I decide to not keep using the service, I still have access to all my data. I'll cross that bridge in three years.

See any errors on this page?

This listing shows: SoftRAID XT Software - Can ...

This listing shows: SoftRAID XT Software - Can you tell me how we can download and get a license for it? Since it's included in the purchase. Do we get a license key after purchase? Thanks
Asked by: Clarke
The unit itself will come with a trial version and on the bottom of the unit will be the serial number to activate the trial version into the full version of SoftRAID XT.
Answered by: Daniel
Date published: 2023-07-20

Do I need to fill up all drive slots for it to ...

Do I need to fill up all drive slots for it to function?
Asked by: Daniel
No, you can run as many or as few as you need in any appropriate RAID configuration, or JBOD. Keep in mind that if you want to add more drives to the array later on, you must delete the volume and create a new one. This will destroy the data on that volume.
Answered by: OWC Andy
Date published: 2024-04-29

How much is the SoftRaid XT software?

How much is the SoftRaid XT software?
Asked by: Thomas
It is included with the drive.
Answered by: OWC Andy
Date published: 2020-11-23

Is this unit and software fully compatible with ...

Is this unit and software fully compatible with Mac OS Big Sur?
Asked by: Jamie
Yes, it is compatible, but you will require the Beta version of SoftRAID 6.
Answered by: OWC Andy
Date published: 2022-03-20

Do all drives have to be the same in speed and ...

Do all drives have to be the same in speed and size for the Thunderbay 8 to operated in a RAID5 configuration? Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Asked by: Anonymous
The same speed is an absolute must, but you may go with a drive of the same capacity or higher. Using a smaller sized drive will likely cause a loss of data during the rebuild stage.
Answered by: OWC Andy
Date published: 2022-11-24

Is SoftRaid XT also compatible with Windows? If ...

Is SoftRaid XT also compatible with Windows? If not, what do I need to make it work with Windows? I want to configure this as RAID 5 on a Windows laptop. Thanks.
Asked by: Gary
SoftRAID XT can be downloaded for Windows as well. You can use it with the OWC ThunderBay 8 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 Raid Array with SoftRAID XT.
Answered by: Zev
Date published: 2022-10-25

Does SoftRaid need to be running on every ...

Does SoftRaid need to be running on every computer the Thunderbay gets connected to when in RAID 5 to continue functioning?
Asked by: Gary
No, SoftRAID XT is only required for setting the drive's format and monitoring the drive, however it is not needed to transfer data to and from the OWC ThunderBay 8 8-Bay Thunderbolt 3 Raid Array with SoftRAID XT after it has been setup.
Answered by: Paige K
Date published: 2023-11-12

can I have a mix like 7 in RAID5 and one slot as ...

can I have a mix like 7 in RAID5 and one slot as JBOD and mount as a separate disk?
Asked by: Bengt
Depending on the RAID mode you choose you can use different amounts of drives for different data sets.
Answered by: Reuben K
Date published: 2023-07-23
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