Thunder3 RAID Station macOS and Windows Compatible
The Thunder3 RAID Station 2-Bay RAID Array functions both as a dual-bay storage solution with a hardware RAID controller, as well as a Thunderbolt 3 dock. Users will be able to expand the storage of their compatible Thunderbolt 3 Windows or Mac system with two 3.5" or 2.5" SATA hard drives or SSDs. For those who require performance, the two drives can be striped together as a RAID 0, which provides speed, but no data redundancy. If you are concerned about data redundancy, RAID 1 provides 1:1 drive mirroring, which will cut your overall capacity by 50% and cause performance drops as well. For those who do not require a RAID, JBOD and SPAN modes are also available.
Aside from its storage aspects, the docking capabilities of the Thunder3 allow users to connect additional compatible Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.0 Type-A, DisplayPort 1.2, Gigabit Ethernet, and SD 4.0 UHS-II peripherals. The Thunder3 contains two bidirectional 40 Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 ports, each of which utilizes the reversible USB Type-C connector and also supports 10 Gb/s USB 3.1 and dual-bandwidth DisplayPort 1.2. Additionally, you can daisy-chain up to five devices from a single Thunderbolt 3 port. As one Thunderbolt 3 port is used to interface with your host system, the other is used for daisy chaining. Both Thunderbolt 3 ports support up to 27W of power charging for compatible devices, such as the MacBook Pro (Late 2016).
In addition to its Thunderbolt 3 ports, the Thunder3 has two 5 Gb/s USB 3.0 Type-A ports, which is also known as USB 3.1 Gen 1 and helps maintain compatibility with legacy devices. The DisplayPort allows for a 4K/60 Hz monitor to be connected, network connectivity is achieved using the Gigabit Ethernet port, and the integrated SD 4.0 UHS-II card reader lets you download photos and videos from your digital camera or other device. Included are an external power supply and a Thunderbolt 3 cable, and protection is provided by a limited 2-year warranty.
General Features
- Thunderbolt 3
- Thunderbolt 3 is a hardware interface that utilizes the reversible USB Type-C connector. Doubling the speed of its predecessor, Thunderbolt 3 features a maximum throughput of 40 Gb/s when used with compatible devices. The connector also transmits data via USB 3.1 at up to 10 Gb/s, and dual-bandwidth DisplayPort 1.2 allows you to connect two 4K displays simultaneously. Additionally, you can daisy chain up to six devices from a single Thunderbolt 3 port. The second Thunderbolt 3 port on the Thunder3 RAID Station operates the same as a Thunderbolt 3 computer port by supporting Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1 (10 Gb/s), and DisplayPort devices.
- USB 3.0 Type-A Ports
- The two USB 3.0 Type-A host ports make it easy to connect your USB devices that come with a Type-A connector to your laptop. Instead of buying an adapter or new cables, simply plug your existing USB devices into the Thunder3 RAID Station and you are all set.
- Gigabit Ethernet Port
- The Gigabit Ethernet interface is well-suited for notebooks that require reliable, accelerated access to external storage and networks for I/O demanding applications but typically lack 1GbE connectivity or the capability to deploy an internal PCIe network card (NIC).
- DisplayPort
- The dedicated DisplayPort connector makes it easy to connect an additional monitor to extend your workspace. This video output capability requires a Thunderbolt 3 connection to the computer and will free up the second Thunderbolt 3 port for Thunderbolt 3 (up to 5 daisy-chained), USB 3.1 (10 Gb/s), and DisplayPort devices.
- SD Card Reader
- A card reader for your SD cards exactly where you need it. Plug in your card and backup your media files straight to the external drive.
- Hardware RAID Controller
- With the built-in hardware RAID controller, you can mirror the drives with RAID 1 as a reliable backup for your important data, you can stripe the drives with RAID 0 for optimal performance and maximum speed, or you can select SPAN to combine the drives for extra-large storage capacities.
- OS-Independent RAID Set
- An advantage of the built-in hardware RAID controller is that the RAID set is OS independent, so the storage drive can be moved from one system to the other with ease. Because the RAID set is managed inside the Thunder3 RAID Station, there is nothing else to be set up on the computer.
- 2-Lane PCIe to SATA Controller
- The PCIe to SATA controller makes use of two PCIe lanes. When using non-RAID, this makes it possible for a single SSD to run at full SATA III 6 Gb/s speeds and deliver read speeds of over 500 MB/s.
- Reversible USB Type-C with Power Delivery (PD)
- The Thunder3 RAID Station supports power delivery (PD), providing 27W of power to laptops that support charging from a 9V/3A power source, such as the MacBook Pro (Late 2016). This allows you to recharge the battery even when the laptop is not plugged into any other power source.
- Tool-Less Drive Installation
- For added convenience and flexibility, the Thunder3 RAID Station can accommodate both 2.5" and 3.5" SATA drives. The assembly is completely tool-less, so drives can be easily installed or uninstalled no matter where you are.
- LED Status and Activity Feedback Indicators
- The Thunder3 RAID Station lets you know what's going on at any time. The LED lights on the front indicate the power status and the disk activity and the LED lights on the back will show you the network speed and status when an Ethernet cable is connected. On the front of the Thunder3, a power status LED glows green when power is on and blue when a Thunderbolt link is established, while a disk activity LED glows green during data access and red to alert users to errors an empty drive bays. On the rear of the device, a network speed indicator glows green for 10/100 connectivity and orange for Gigabit connectivity. A network status indicator flows green when a link has been established and flashes green to signal network activity.
