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Areca ARC-8050T5U-4A – Unpopulated
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Areca ARC-8050T5U-4A – Unpopulated
Compact 4-Bay Thunderbolt 5 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 Hardware RAID Array (No Drives Fitted - 3yr Warranty). External PSU Version
The ARC-8050T5U-4A is a 4-bay desktop RAID enclosure configured for SAS/SATA drives and dual Thunderbolt 5 connectivity.
It pairs a hardware RAID-on-chip controller and ECC-protected SDRAM cache with controller-level encryption and SED support for secure, high-performance storage.
Management is available via the front-panel LCD, in-band Thunderbolt tools or an out-of-band RJ-45 port for remote administration.
- Dual Thunderbolt 5 ports plus full-size DisplayPort output.
- SAS/SATA-only 4-bay desktop chassis with hardware RAID.
- Controller-based AES 128/256-bit encryption and SED support.
Category: Desktop Hard Drives & RAIDs
Brand: Areca Technology
£ please call for the price
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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.
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Areca ARC-8050T5U-4A – Unpopulated Product Overview
The ARC-8050T5U-4A is Areca's 4-bay desktop RAID enclosure configured for SAS/SATA drives and built for professional video and content workflows that require a compact Thunderbolt 5 storage target.
It combines a hardware RAID controller, ECC-protected SDRAM cache and dual Thunderbolt 5 ports with a full-size DisplayPort output to deliver managed, high-bandwidth storage for Mac and Windows hosts.
Performance And Controller
At the core is a Raid-on-Chip (ROC) storage controller with on-board SDRAM cache and ECC protection to offload parity and RAID computation from the host and to maintain throughput during rebuilds or heavy I/O.
Drive And RAID Support
The 4A variant provides SAS/SATA-only bays and supports a range of hardware RAID levels including 0, 1, 10, 3, 5, 6, Single Disk and JBOD to match performance and redundancy needs.
Connectivity
Two Thunderbolt 5 ports and one full-size DisplayPort are provided on the rear. Thunderbolt 5 delivers up to 80 Gbps bi-directional bandwidth and Bandwidth Boost up to 120 Gbps for display-heavy workflows, and the unit includes a 1m 120 Gbps active Thunderbolt 5 cable.
Security
Controller-level hardware encryption is supported along with SED (self-encrypting drive) functionality; the controller supports 128- and 256-bit AES keys or password-based keys to protect data at rest.
Management
Configuration and monitoring can be handled locally via the front-panel LCD or remotely using McRAID web manager and ArcSAP. The enclosure also provides an RJ-45 out-of-band management port so the unit can be managed without disturbing host access.
Power And Cooling
The ARC-8050T5U-4A uses intelligent fan control (1 x 2700rpm fan) to minimise acoustic impact while maintaining thermal performance and includes power On/Off controls that can mirror host power state for data integrity.
Physical And Deployment
The desktop 4-bay chassis is compact and portable for a workstation environment, with dimensions and weight suited to studio desks and mobile content-creation setups.
Compatibility
The enclosure supports Thunderbolt 5 hosts (macOS 15.3 or above, Windows 11 (23H2) or above), Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 3 (Mac-only) hosts, and offers USB-C compatibility via USB 3.2 Gen 2 when connected to a USB-C port.
Areca ARC-8050T5U-4A – Unpopulated Key Features
- Dual Thunderbolt 5 ports provide high-bandwidth connectivity and a dedicated DisplayPort output for video workflows.
- SAS/SATA-only drive bays configured for the 4A model, supporting hardware RAID levels for data protection.
- Raid-on-Chip (ROC) storage controller with on-board SDRAM cache and ECC protection for sustained performance under load.
- Controller-level hardware encryption with support for AES 128- and 256-bit keys or password-based keys.
- SED (self-encrypting drives) function support to secure data on compatible drives without user intervention.
- Intelligent power On/Off controls to align enclosure power state with the host for improved data integrity.
- 1 x 2700rpm cooling fan and whisper-quiet automatic fan control to minimise noise in desktop environments.
- Compact desktop 4-bay form factor with a full-sized DisplayPort 2.1 MF output for dual 6K display setups.
- Out-of-band management via RJ-45 and in-band management via Thunderbolt using McRAID and ArcSAP utilities.
- Includes a 1m 120 Gbps active Thunderbolt™ 5 (USB-C) cable for immediate connection to compatible hosts.
- Supports USB-C computer port compatibility mode (USB 3.2 Gen 2) so USB-only hosts can access the storage.
- Advanced video-optimised configuration options to tune read/write cache ratios for specific workflows.
- Hard drive firmware update function to update drive firmware on all bays at once.
- Designed to support simultaneous dual 6K in/output workflow for demanding media tasks.
Areca ARC-8050T5U-4A – Unpopulated Technical Specifications
| Model | ARC-8050T5U-4A |
| Form Factor | Desktop 4-Bay |
| Connection | Thunderbolt 5 x 2 / Display Port x 1 |
| Host Interface | 2 x Thunderbolt 5 ports; 1 x Display Port |
| Storage Interface | T5U-4A => SAS/SATA |
| RAID Level | 0, 1, 10, 3, 5, 6, Single Disk, JBOD |
| Expansion Support | N/A |
| Cooling Fan | 1 x 2700rpm |
| Power Supply | 180W |
| Physical Dimensions (H x W x D) | 4.84 x 6.51 x 9.11 in (123 x 165.6 x 232 mm) |
| Weight | 8.0 lbs / 3.6 Kg |
| Sound Pressure Level | 37 dB |
| OS Support | Thunderbolt 5 Host: macOS 15.3 or above, Windows 11(23H2) or above Thunderbolt 4 Host: macOS 14.x or above, Windows 11 or above Thunderbolt 3 Host: macOS 15.0 or above USB: OS Independent |
| Computer Port Type | Works with any Thunderbolt 5 | Thunderbolt 4 | Thunderbolt 3 (Mac Only) | USB4 or USB 3.2 Gne 2 |
| Included Cable | 1m 120 Gbps active Thunderbolt™ 5 (USB-C) cable included |
| Controller | Raid-on-Chip (ROC) Storage Controller |
| On-board Cache | On-board SDRAM Cache with ECC Protection |
| Hardware Encryption | Controller-level hardware encryption; supports 128- and 256-bit encryption keys using AES (a key size of 128, or 256 bits), or password (a variable key size) |
| SED Support | SED (self-encrypting drives) function support |
| Power On/Off Controls | Intelligent power On/Off function for data integrity (power can mirror host computer power status) |
| Management Interfaces | Front-panel LCD; RJ-45 out-of-band management port; in-band Thunderbolt management via ArcHTTP; McRAID web manager and ArcSAP utilities |
| Video Output | Full sized DisplayPort 2.1 MF video output (supports dual 6K display setup) |
| Thunderbolt Daisy-chain | Thunderbolt 5 daisy-chaining allows connection of up to 10 devices |
| Advanced Features | Advanced configuration for video optimized performance settings; Hard drive firmware update all at once |
Areca ARC-8050T5U-4A – Unpopulated Product Downloads
Areca Technology Delivery Information
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.