The Areca ARC-8050T3U-6 is a professional-grade desktop RAID storage enclosure designed for high-performance workflows requiring fast data access and reliable protection. This six-bay system combines dual Thunderbolt 3 ports with USB 3.2 Gen 2 compatibility, delivering up to 40Gbps transfer speeds for demanding creative and enterprise applications.
Equipped with a dual-core 1.2 GHz SAS RAID-on-Chip processor and 2GB of DDR3-1866 SDRAM cache, the enclosure supports both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch SAS and SATA drives, accommodating capacities up to 60TB when fully populated with 10TB drives.
The system features hardware-based RAID control, eliminating CPU overhead on the host system and enabling seamless array management during drive failures and rebuilding operations.
Original price was: £ 4,075.00.£ 3,399.95Current price is: £ 3,399.95. | £ 4,079.94 inc VAT
In Stock
We pride ourselves on knowing, selling and supporting Areca RAIDs & Controllers better than anyone else in the UK!
All our Areca RAIDs ship pre-configured & tested (RAID5 or RAID6, for Mac or PC). Please allow us 1-2 days to do this for you for free.
Seen a better price elsewhere? Let us know & we’ll do our best so you also benefit from our Areca knowledge, expertise & totally free after-sales support.
– The UK’s Areca RAID Experts!The Areca ARC-8050T3U-6 is a desktop RAID storage solution engineered for professionals requiring high-speed data access without compromising reliability or system performance.
The enclosure integrates a true hardware RAID controller based on the Broadcom 12Gb/s SAS RAID-on-Chip architecture, which independently manages all RAID operations without consuming host CPU resources. This design approach ensures consistent performance during intensive workflows, array rebuilds, and simultaneous multi-user access scenarios.
The ARC-8050T3U-6 provides dual Thunderbolt 3 ports capable of 40Gbps bandwidth, enabling daisy-chaining of additional Thunderbolt peripherals while maintaining full RAID functionality.
A dedicated DisplayPort 1.4 output allows connection of external displays for real-time array monitoring and status visualization, supporting resolutions up to 8K at 30Hz.
The Thunderbolt 3 ports operate in dual-protocol mode, automatically switching between Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 protocols depending on the host computer's capabilities, ensuring compatibility with both Thunderbolt-equipped and USB-C-only systems.
The six-bay configuration accommodates both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch form factor drives, supporting 12Gb/s SAS and 6Gb/s SATA hard disk drives as well as solid-state drives.
When populated with 10TB enterprise-class drives, the system achieves a total capacity of 60TB, with actual usable capacity varying based on selected RAID level and hot spare configuration.
The enclosure supports comprehensive RAID level selection including RAID 0, 1, 10, 3, 5, 6, 30, 50, and 60, as well as Single Disk and JBOD modes for maximum flexibility in balancing performance, capacity, and redundancy requirements.
Advanced features include global and local hot spare support, online RAID level migration, online array roaming, and disk scrubbing with scheduled array verification to maintain data integrity over extended operational periods.
The system supports Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) functionality and controller-level hardware encryption for environments requiring data security compliance.
The dual-core 1.2 GHz SAS RAID-on-Chip processor manages all RAID operations independently, while 2GB of DDR3-1866 SDRAM with ECC protection provides intelligent read and write caching.
Cache allocation is user-configurable, allowing administrators to optimize the read-to-write ratio based on specific workflow characteristics, such as video editing with predominantly sequential reads or database applications with mixed access patterns.
Dual 2700 RPM cooling fans exhaust heat from the rear of the enclosure, maintaining optimal drive temperatures during continuous operation and high-load scenarios.
A 180W power supply provides sufficient capacity for the six-bay configuration with typical enterprise-class drives, with intelligent power management features including scheduled power-on and power-off functions to preserve data integrity during system transitions.
The ARC-8050T3U-6 is optimized for professional video and audio production workflows, supporting simultaneous 4K input and output operations through its Thunderbolt 3 connectivity and DisplayPort output.
The hardware RAID architecture eliminates the performance variability associated with software RAID implementations, providing consistent throughput for real-time media applications and reducing CPU overhead on host systems during intensive editing sessions.
The enclosure operates with macOS 10.12 or later and Windows 8/10 or later when connected via Thunderbolt 3, with full support for Apple M1 silicon-based Macintosh computers.
USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity provides operating system-independent functionality, allowing the device to function with any system supporting standard USB mass storage protocols.
| Product Model | ARC-8050T3U-6 |
| Form Factor | Desktop 6-Bay |
| Drive Bays | 6 |
| Supported Drive Types | 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch 12Gb/s SAS or 6Gb/s SATA HDDs and SSDs |
| Maximum Capacity (with 10TB drives) | 60TB |
| Host Interface | Thunderbolt 3 x 2, DisplayPort x 1 |
| Thunderbolt 3 Bandwidth | 40Gbps |
| USB Compatibility | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (automatic fallback mode) |
| RAID-on-Chip Processor | Broadcom Dual Core 1.2 GHz SAS ROC |
| On-Board Cache Memory | 2GB DDR3-1866 SDRAM with ECC protection |
| Cache Peak Transfer Rate | 14.9 GB/s |
| RAID Levels Supported | 0, 1, 10, 3, 5, 6, 30, 50, 60, Single Disk, JBOD |
| Maximum Stripe Size | 1MB |
| Hot Spare Support | Global and local hot spare |
| Expansion Support | SFF-8644 (2-lanes) |
| Cooling System | Dual 2700 RPM fans |
| Power Supply | 180W |
| Power Consumption (Typical) | Varies by drive configuration |
| Physical Dimensions (W x H x D) | 8.45 x 4.84 x 9.11 inches (255 x 146 x 290 mm) |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs (6.0 kg) |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 40°C |
| Operating Humidity | 5% to 95% non-condensing |
| Encryption Support | Controller-level hardware encryption and SED (Self-Encrypting Drive) support |
| DisplayPort Output | DisplayPort 1.4 (supports up to 8K 30Hz) |
| macOS Compatibility | macOS 10.12 or later, including Apple M1 silicon support |
| Windows Compatibility | Windows 8/10 or later |
| Included Accessories | 1m 40Gb/s active Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) cable |
| Advanced Features | Online RAID level migration, online array roaming, disk scrubbing, array verify scheduling, multiple SSD/HDD disk clone, SSD automatic monitor clone (AMC), bootable drive support |
In general, next working day delivery services (UK Mainland) are available on Areca equipment orders placed before 2pm (subject to stock availability).
We kindly advise you let us preconfigure each Areca RAID (as RAID5, RAID6 etc), so they arrive properly setup, ready to “plug’n’play”.
This is a free service, and takes 1-2 days prior to shipping.
Non-timed deliveries should be delivered between the hours of 9am and 6pm.
Orders placed after 2pm on Fridays and on weekends will be processed as normal the following Monday.
Orders placed on Bank Holidays will be processed the next working day.
If urgent, please call one of our helpful account managers so they may double check everything for you, enabling you to place your order with confidence.
Please note: these product details are for guide purposes only, and may contain errors.
We always recommend double-checking the product specs and features on the the manufacturer website, or contact us if unsure before ordering.
Original price was: £ 5,175.00.£ 4,489.95Current price is: £ 4,489.95. | £ 5,387.94 inc VAT
Original price was: £ 5,775.00.£ 4,899.95Current price is: £ 4,899.95. | £ 5,879.94 inc VAT
Original price was: £ 5,950.00.£ 5,079.95Current price is: £ 5,079.95. | £ 6,095.94 inc VAT
Original price was: £ 6,625.00.£ 5,649.95Current price is: £ 5,649.95. | £ 6,779.94 inc VAT
Original price was: £ 1,925.00.£ 1,479.95Current price is: £ 1,479.95. | £ 1,775.94 inc VAT
Original price was: £ 4,275.00.£ 3,589.95Current price is: £ 3,589.95. | £ 4,307.94 inc VAT
Original price was: £ 5,350.00.£ 4,499.95Current price is: £ 4,499.95. | £ 5,399.94 inc VAT
Original price was: £ 5,725.00.£ 4,799.95Current price is: £ 4,799.95. | £ 5,759.94 inc VAT
Original price was: £ 5,975.00.£ 4,999.95Current price is: £ 4,999.95. | £ 5,999.94 inc VAT
Original price was: £ 6,150.00.£ 5,239.95Current price is: £ 5,239.95. | £ 6,287.94 inc VAT
Original price was: £ 6,800.00.£ 5,799.95Current price is: £ 5,799.95. | £ 6,959.94 inc VAT
