OWC 32TB ThunderBlade X8 Thunderbolt (40Gb/s) NVMe SSD RAID Storage Solution With SoftRAID

Experience colossal capacity, blazing-fast data transfers, and professional-grade RAID management with the OWC ThunderBlade X8. This 32TB Thunderbolt NVMe SSD RAID storage solution combines eight high-performance NVMe drives, a rugged external enclosure, and SoftRAID software to deliver a comprehensive storage powerhouse for editors, studios, photographers, and data-intensive workflows. Whether you’re editing multi-camera 4K projects, archiving large media libraries, or running complex databases, the ThunderBlade X8 is engineered to handle the demands of modern post-production and production environments with reliability and speed.

• Massive 32TB raw storage in an eight‑bay external NVMe RAID enclosure, designed to satisfy long-form video projects, large photo shoots, and archival workflows where capacity matters as much as speed.
• Eight NVMe SSDs work in concert under SoftRAID to provide configurable RAID levels that balance performance and redundancy, offering you the flexibility to optimize for throughput, safety, or a blend of both.
• Thunderbolt 3/4 connectivity delivers up to 40 Gb/s of bandwidth, enabling multi-stream 4K/8K editing, rapid backups, and swift large-file transfers while remaining compatible with a wide range of Macs and Windows PCs.
• SoftRAID software included gives you professional-grade RAID management, disk monitoring, and quick health checks, making it easier to protect valuable data with proactive alerts and robust drive configurations.
• Rugged, aluminum enclosure combines cooling efficiency with a sleek, portable form factor, designed to withstand demanding production environments while keeping drives cool under heavy workloads.

Technical Details of OWC 32TB ThunderBlade X8 Thunderbolt NVMe SSD RAID Storage Solution With SoftRAID

• Storage capacity: 32 TB
• Interface: Thunderbolt 3/4 (40 Gb/s)
• Drive type: NVMe SSDs in RAID configuration
• RAID software: SoftRAID included for flexible RAID management
• Form factor: External RAID storage enclosure
• Operating system compatibility: Mac and Windows via Thunderbolt connectivity

How to Install OWC ThunderBlade X8

• Unbox and place the ThunderBlade X8 on a stable work surface; ensure you have access to a compatible Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 port on your computer.
• Connect the ThunderBlade X8 to your computer using a Thunderbolt cable. For best results, use a high-quality, PCIe‑compliant Thunderbolt cable to maximize bandwidth.
• Power on your computer and launch the included SoftRAID software on your Mac or Windows system to begin RAID configuration and management.
• In SoftRAID, select your preferred RAID level and initialize the drives within the ThunderBlade X8. SoftRAID will optimize the array for performance or redundancy according to your selection.
• Format the resulting volume to your preferred file system (for example, APFS or Mac OS Extended on macOS, NTFS or exFAT on Windows), then mount the volume and begin transferring your data.
• Begin your workflows: perform high-bandwidth media transfers, run large data analyses, or back up entire projects with the assurance of SoftRAID’s monitoring and alerts.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What makes the ThunderBlade X8 suitable for professional workloads? It combines a large 32TB capacity with eight NVMe SSDs in a RAID-configurable enclosure, connected via Thunderbolt 3/4 for high-bandwidth transfers, supported by SoftRAID for flexible, enterprise-grade RAID management and monitoring.
• Can I use this device with both Mac and Windows? Yes. The ThunderBlade X8 uses Thunderbolt connectivity, which is natively supported on modern Macs and Windows systems with Thunderbolt support, and SoftRAID provides cross-platform RAID management where applicable.
• What RAID configurations are available with SoftRAID? SoftRAID enables a range of RAID configurations to balance speed and redundancy. Typical options include fast striped configurations for throughput and mirrored or parity-based arrays for data protection; the exact levels available are provided by SoftRAID during setup.
• Is the device plug-and-play out of the box? The ThunderBlade X8 is designed for straightforward installation: connect via Thunderbolt and run SoftRAID to configure the array, format the volume, and start using it. Some initial software installation is required to fully manage the RAID.
• Is additional software required for usage? SoftRAID is included to manage the RAID and provide advanced monitoring. Depending on your OS, you may also need drivers or supplemental software provided by SoftRAID for optimal compatibility.