1 NVMe SSD + 7 HDD Maximum Workflow Configuration
Ingest and edit live on a hyper-fast U.2 SSD or use the drive as a swappable transport for fast lab processing while being able to edit and store entire projects on the ultra-capacity HDD RAID 5 array. Plus, enjoy docking convenience and expand your capabilities by selecting a recommended PCIe card or add your own.
Flex Your Way Through Every Workflow
Whether you call it a workflow workhorse, a productivity platform, or a configurable command center, one description of the ThunderBay Flex 8 says it best. It is a groundbreaking workflow solution for digital imaging, VFX, video production, and video editing professionals from the world's leading Thunderbolt accessory manufacturer.
ThunderBay Flex 8 offers eight drive bays that support a mix of SATA/SAS and U.2/M.2 NVMe drives for virtually limitless storage capacity. Next, there's a plethora of ports including two Thunderbolt 3, one USB-C, and two USB-A for device docking and charging.
See your work in greater detail by adding up to an 8K display via a built-in DisplayPort 1.4 connection. Ingest hi-res images and video via front-side SD 4.0 and CFexpress card readers. And when you want to expand your desktop capabilities, there's a PCIe slot waiting for your specific project needs.
ThunderBay Flex 8 is the one Thunderbolt 3 desktop device that rules them all. With an irresistible economy of scale, this consolidated solution is ideal for anyone waiting for the right moment to invest in Thunderbolt technology.
NVMe. PCIe. What's It Mean to Me?
At the heart of the ThunderBay Flex 8 capabilities are two cutting-edge technology standards: NVMe and PCIe. Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) optimizes the performance of modern flash technology over the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) standard. It enables significantly faster SSD performance with a more direct and optimized path to a computer's processor.
Tying both of these technologies together is the Thunderbolt 3 interface which uses the PCIe bus. This interface offers the fastest data transfers possible on a single cable between computers and peripherals like storage solutions, docks, and expansion devices while also supplying 85W of power to keep your laptop ready to go at a moment's notice.
Muscle-FLEXing Data Performance
Right out of the packaging, the first bay is configured with a U.2 NVMe SSD while the remaining seven bays are configured with high-performance enterprise-class 3.5-inch HDDs. With real-world read/write speeds of 2750MB/s that saturates the Thunderbolt 3 speed threshold, you're ready to handle 4K/8K and even Phantom high-speed files.
Done with the drives but need the docking connectivity?
Eject the ThunderBay Flex 8 drives and any external drives in a single click with the free OWC Dock Ejector app. It ensures all data has been written before any drive is unmounted to protect against data loss. It will even warn you from accidentally ejecting an in-use drive.
- General Information
- Manufacturer
- Other World Computing
- Manufacturer Website Address
- https://www.owc.com/
- Brand Name
- OWC
- Product Line
- Thunderbay Flex 8
- Packaged Quantity
- 1
- Product Type
- Drive Enclosure
- Technical Information
- Number of Hard Drives Supported
- 7
- Number of Hard Drives Installed
- 7
- Total Hard Drive Capacity Installed
- 56 TB
- Number of Solid State Drive Supported
- 1
- Number of Solid State Drive Installed
- 1
- Total Solid State Drive Capacity Installed
- 2 TB
- Maximum Data Transfer Rate
- 40 Gbit/s
- Controllers
- Non-RAID Mode
- JBOD
- Software RAID Supported
- Yes
- I/O Expansions
- Number of Total Expansion Bays
- 8
- Number of 2.5"/3.5" Bays
- 8
- Hot Swappable Bays
- Yes
- Network & Communication
- Wireless LAN
- No
- Interfaces/Ports
- Drive Interface
- Serial ATA
- U.2
- Host Interface
- Thunderbolt 3
- Number of USB Ports
- 3
- Number of Thunderbolt 3 Ports
- 2
- Number of DisplayPorts
- 1
- Software
- Operating System Supported
- Mac OS X 10.15 Catalina
- Mac OS X 11.x Big Sur
- Mac OS X 12.x Monterey
- Mac OS X 13.x Ventura
- Mac OS X 14.x Sonoma
- macOS Sequoia 15.x
- Physical Characteristics
- Color Family
- Black
- Product Color
- Black
- Product Material
- Aluminium
- Cooling Fan
- Yes
- Form Factor
- Desktop
- Height
- 349 mm
- Width
- 149 mm
- Depth
- 390 mm
- Weight (Approximate)
- 14.10 kg