Description
OWC 24TB Mercury Elite Pro Quad USB-C (10Gb/s) RAID Storage Solution With SoftRAID
Introducing the OWC Mercury Elite Pro Quad—a four-bay RAID storage powerhouse designed for professionals who demand speed, reliability, and data security in a desktop form factor. With a total 24TB capacity when four drives are populated, this enclosure is built to handle multi-stream 4K and RAW workflows, expansive photo libraries, and the daily data movement that studios and creative teams rely on. It blends robust hardware with sophisticated software to deliver a storage solution that doesn’t just store media—it actively protects and accelerates it.
At the heart of this system lies a rugged chassis paired with a USB-C 10Gb/s interface, delivering fast, consistent data transfers for demanding workloads. The Mercury Elite Pro Quad is engineered for professional scrutiny: quiet operation, intelligent thermal management, and a design that supports long editing sessions without overheating concerns. The inclusion of SoftRAID software adds a layer of intelligence to your storage, offering features like health monitoring, RAID configuration flexibility, and rapid rebuilds—giving you control, confidence, and visibility over your array health and performance.
Whether you’re building a fast scratch disk for video editing, a robust backup target for your media projects, or a shared storage node for a small team, this 24TB configuration is a practical solution that scales with your needs. Four bays provide room for expansion without replacing your entire system, and the SoftRAID layer enables you to tailor the array to how you work—from RAID 5 for redundancy and efficiency to other configurations that maximize throughput for specific tasks. The result is a flexible, future-ready storage platform that integrates smoothly with both macOS and Windows environments, ensuring that your data remains accessible and protected across workflows and teams.
One of the standout advantages of the Mercury Elite Pro Quad is the seamless blend of hardware reliability and software intelligence. The drive bays are accessible in a straightforward, desktop-friendly layout, making drive installation and maintenance a non-disruptive process. The USB-C interface is designed to be backward compatible with modern laptops and desktops, yet fast enough to support large files and multi-stream media projects with minimal bottlenecks. When paired with SoftRAID, you gain proactive health checks, configurable alerting, and streamlined array management—so you can focus on your creative work rather than data logistics. This synergy between hardware and software is what sets the Mercury Elite Pro Quad apart in crowded external storage categories.
Beyond performance, this enclosure is built for reliability in real-world production environments. Its cooling system helps maintain drive temperatures within optimal ranges, which in turn extends drive longevity and reduces the risk of throttling during long renders or backups. The desktop footprint keeps your workspace organized, and the modular design simplifies future upgrades or drive replacements. For teams and individuals who value data protection as part of their workflow, the combination of a four-drive RAID configuration with SoftRAID monitoring creates a resilient solution that minimizes downtime and preserves access to vital assets when time is critical.
In practice, the Mercury Elite Pro Quad offers a compelling balance of capacity, speed, and protection. The 24TB setup is ideal for high-volume media projects, large asset libraries, and backup workflows where time and reliability matter. Editing crews can offload large camera rips directly to the array, while colorists and post-production teams can work from a central, high-throughput storage pool. The SoftRAID software enhances this experience by enabling precise control over RAID behavior, quick status checks, and easy recovery procedures. For organizations that collaborate across devices and platforms, the cross-platform support ensures a consistent experience—data remains accessible and protected whether you’re editing on a Mac, rendering on a Windows workstation, or sharing content with colleagues across environments.
OWC’s commitment to quality shines through in every aspect of the Mercury Elite Pro Quad. The enclosure is designed to withstand the rigors of on-set use, post-production suites, and busy editing rooms where reliability is non-negotiable. While the drives themselves are user-installed and not included in the package, the system is built to accommodate a range of high-performance SATA drives from leading manufacturers, allowing you to tailor speed, capacity, and redundancy to your budget and needs. And because SoftRAID offers robust management features, you can monitor drive health, receive alerts if temperatures rise or if a drive begins to show signs of wear, and execute safe rebuilds with minimal risk. All of this translates into fewer interruptions, faster project turnaround times, and a storage solution you can trust during critical workflows.
For professionals who demand a scalable, future-proof storage strategy, the Mercury Elite Pro Quad provides a practical path forward. The four-drive design not only delivers ample storage headroom but also enables you to experiment with different RAID configurations as your projects evolve. Whether you’re archiving a growing media library, supporting on-set data capture, or maintaining a high-velocity workflow for post-production, this enclosure brings together the essential ingredients—capacity, reliability, speed, and software-driven control—into a single, cohesive solution. With SoftRAID at the helm, you gain granular insight into the health and performance of each drive, plus the flexibility to adapt your storage strategy without tying yourself to a single hardware RAID paradigm. It’s the kind of versatility that makes it a strong long-term investment for studios, freelancers, and IT departments handling demanding media workloads.
In short, the Mercury Elite Pro Quad is more than just an external RAID box. It’s a complete storage ecosystem designed to empower creative professionals with fast transfers, resilient protection, and intelligent management. The 24TB configuration, while expansive, remains flexible: you can optimize for capacity, speed, or redundancy by choosing the right mix of drives and RAID layout, all managed through SoftRAID. The result is a streamlined, efficient, and dependable platform that keeps your projects moving forward—so you can focus on creativity, not storage headaches.
- Four-drive external RAID enclosure engineered for professionals, delivering expandable capacity up to 24TB with SoftRAID management for Mac and Windows.
- USB-C 10Gb/s connectivity provides fast, reliable data transfers for 4K workflows, large RAW libraries, and multi-stream video editing.
- RAID 5 configuration for a balance of performance, capacity, and fault tolerance, enabling drive failure protection without sacrificing usable space for media assets.
- SoftRAID software included for advanced RAID management, drive health monitoring, event alerts, automated rebuilds, and easy migration between arrays.
- Rugged desktop enclosure with tool-free drive installation and robust cooling to maintain drive longevity during intensive sessions; compatible with a wide range of professional software and workflows.
Technical Details of OWC 24TB Mercury Elite Pro Quad USB-C (10Gb/s) RAID Storage Solution With SoftRAID
- Drive Bays: 4 x 3.5" SATA internal bays within a desktop external enclosure (drives not included).
- Interface: USB-C with 10Gb/s throughput (USB 3.2 Gen 2) for high-speed transfers.
- RAID and Software: SoftRAID software included for advanced RAID management on Mac and Windows, with support for multiple RAID levels as configured through the software.
- Storage Capacity: Up to 24TB in a four-drive configuration; actual usable capacity depends on drives installed and RAID level chosen.
- Compatibility: Works with macOS and Windows systems when connected via USB-C; supports cross-platform workflows and data accessibility.
- Cooling and Build: Desktop enclosure designed for stable operation and reliable cooling during extended usage.
- Power: Requires an external power supply (as part of the enclosure design); power configuration is determined by the specific package and regional availability.
how to install OWC 24TB Mercury Elite Pro Quad USB-C (10Gb/s) RAID Storage Solution With SoftRAID
- 1. Unbox the Mercury Elite Pro Quad and verify all components. Place the unit on a stable surface near a power outlet and your computer.
- 2. Install four 3.5" SATA drives into the drive bays. Align guides, slide drives into trays, secure them, and ensure proper seating for reliable connections.
- 3. Connect the enclosure to your computer using the provided USB-C cable. Make sure your host computer supports USB-C/10Gb/s networking and that a compatible USB-C port is available.
- 4. Power on the enclosure and launch SoftRAID software on your computer. Use SoftRAID to configure your desired RAID level (for example, RAID 5) and initialize/drives if prompted.
- 5. Format the volume within SoftRAID for the file system you require (APFS, HFS+, exFAT, NTFS, etc., as supported by your operating system and workflow). Begin data transfer or set up your backup and editing pipelines.
- 6. Monitor drive health through SoftRAID’s dashboard and set up alerts to stay ahead of potential failures. Regularly review SMART data and temperature readings to maintain peak performance.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the Mercury Elite Pro Quad include? It is an external four-bay RAID enclosure designed to be populated with user-provided 3.5" SATA drives and paired with SoftRAID software for advanced RAID management.
- Which computers can it work with? The device connects via USB-C and is compatible with both Mac and Windows systems when used with SoftRAID for RAID configuration and management.
- What RAID levels are supported? Through SoftRAID, you can configure several RAID levels (such as RAID 0, 1, 4, 5, and 1+0) depending on your performance and redundancy needs and the number of drives installed.
- Is data protected if a drive fails? RAID 5 offers fault tolerance by protecting against a single drive failure while preserving usable capacity. SoftRAID provides health monitoring and rebuild functionality to minimize downtime.
- Are drives included? No—drives are user-installed. This gives you the flexibility to choose drives that fit your budget, performance requirements, and reliability preferences.
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