Storage company uses Apple’s extraordinary CPU firepower to boost SSD speeds – OWC ThunderBlade X8 is one of the fastest external SSDs money can buy, shame about the 32TB limit
Other World Computing (OWC) has launched a new version of its lightning-fast Thunderbolt shuttle and edit RAID SSD, delivering an even faster experience.
The new ThunderBlade X8 is designed to meet the needs of professionals who require fast data transfers, such as video editors and photographers. Its predecessor, which is still on sale, is considered one of the fastest external SSDs on the market, but the ThunderBlade up to 2826 MB/s.
It provides an increase in capacity and efficiency of over 16% higher performance in RAID 4 and 5 redundant configurations with all Apple Silicon computers (M1 and higher).
Up to 32TB storage
The ThunderBlade
Despite its sleek, rugged design, featuring a high-quality aluminum casing for added durability, the Thunderblade X8 is surprisingly quiet thanks to its fanless, heat-dissipating design. The integrated fin-designed cooling system makes it suitable for on-the-go use and it even comes with a ballistic hard case for transport.
Thunderblade X8 is available in three capacities: 8TB, 16TB and 32TB. The top model offers space for up to eight 4TB 2242 NVMe M.2 drives. While the maximum capacity of 32TB will be sufficient for most users, professionals dealing with massive amounts of data may find this limiting.
βOWC has set a new standard for external drive capabilities with the original ThunderBlade, delivering breakthrough speeds, reliability and rugged transportability,β said OWC Founder and CEO Larry O’Connor.
βThe latest ThunderBlade builds on this legacy and improves performance, total usable storage and even robustness, helping creative professionals achieve even more with rock-solid data protection.β
In terms of price, the Thunderblade X8 is inevitably on the higher side. The 8TB model costs $1,749.99, while the 16TB model costs $2,749.99. Pricing for the 32TB model hasn’t been announced yet, but we expect it to be just over $6,000. The estimated arrival time for this is currently “Spring 2024”.
Pre-orders are now open on macsales.com. The product comes with a 3-year OWC limited warranty.