The Areca ARC-8050T3U-4A is a compact four-bay desktop RAID enclosure designed for creative professionals and data-intensive workflows requiring high-capacity, reliable storage with enterprise-class performance.
Equipped with four 22TB 3.5-inch SATA III hard drives, the system delivers 88TB of total storage capacity while supporting multiple RAID configurations to balance speed, accessibility, and data redundancy according to specific project requirements.
The enclosure connects via dual Thunderbolt 3 ports operating at 40 Gb/s, enabling fast data transfers and daisy-chaining capabilities, while a dedicated hardware RAID controller manages all RAID operations independently of the host computer’s processor.
Original price was: £ 4,025.00.£ 3,429.95Current price is: £ 3,429.95. | £ 4,115.94 inc VAT
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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-4A is a professional-grade external RAID storage solution engineered for creative workflows involving large media files, including ProRes video, RAW photography, 3D renders, and other bandwidth-intensive applications.
The system combines high-capacity storage with a true hardware RAID controller, eliminating the need for host CPU involvement in RAID operations and ensuring consistent performance during intensive read/write cycles or array rebuilds.
The enclosure houses four 3.5-inch drive bays, each populated with a 22TB enterprise-class SATA III hard drive, delivering 88TB of total raw storage capacity.
The drives operate at 7200 RPM, providing sustained performance suitable for professional video editing, color grading, and other demanding creative applications.
Two Thunderbolt 3 ports provide 40 Gb/s connectivity to compatible host computers, enabling sustained high-speed data transfers required for 4K and 8K video workflows.
The ports support both Thunderbolt 3 protocol and USB 3.2 Gen 2 fallback mode, allowing compatibility with both Thunderbolt-equipped and USB-C-only computers without requiring separate controllers or adapters.
Up to six ARC-8050T3U enclosures can be daisy-chained together through the dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, enabling scalable storage expansion for growing project requirements.
The system features a dedicated single-core 800 MHz SAS RAID-on-Chip (ROC) processor that handles all RAID operations independently, preventing host CPU bottlenecks during array management or drive failures.
Supported RAID levels include RAID 0 (striping for maximum speed), RAID 1 (mirroring for redundancy), RAID 10 (striped mirrors), RAID 3 (striping with dedicated parity), RAID 5 (distributed parity), RAID 6 (dual parity), Single Disk mode, and JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks).
One gigabyte of onboard DDR3-800 SDRAM cache optimizes read and write performance, with configurable cache allocation to prioritize either read-heavy or write-heavy workflows.
A full-sized DisplayPort 1.4 output on the rear panel enables direct connection of external displays up to 8K resolution at 30 Hz, supporting simultaneous 4K input and output workflows without requiring separate display adapters.
This integration streamlines professional video editing setups by consolidating storage and display connectivity through a single enclosure.
The system supports configuration and monitoring through multiple interfaces: a front-panel LCD display, Thunderbolt connection, and a Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port for network-based management.
Compatible with Windows 8 or later and macOS 10.12 or later, the enclosure operates across both platforms without requiring platform-specific drivers or software.
A single 2700 RPM cooling fan maintains optimal operating temperatures within the 32–95°F (0–35°C) range, supporting continuous operation in professional studio environments.
The compact desktop form factor measures 9.1 x 6.5 x 4.8 inches (232 x 165.6 x 123 mm) and weighs 7.9 pounds without drives, enabling flexible placement on desks or equipment racks.
The enclosure supports Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) functionality, allowing hardware-level encryption of stored data without impacting performance or requiring software-based encryption overhead.
| Storage Capacity | 88 TB |
| Included Drives | 4x 22 TB 3.5" SATA III HDD (7200 RPM) |
| Number of Drive Bays | 4x 3.5"/2.5" (supports 6 Gb/s SAS or SATA) |
| Form Factor | Desktop Tower |
| Host Interface | 2x Thunderbolt 3 USB-C (40 Gb/s) |
| Secondary Interfaces | 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 |
| RAID Levels Supported | 0, 1, 10, 3, 5, 6, Single Disk, JBOD |
| RAID Controller Type | Hardware RAID-on-Chip (ROC) |
| I/O Processor | Single-Core 800 MHz SAS ROC |
| Onboard Cache Memory | 1 GB DDR3-800 SDRAM |
| Cache Peak Transfer Rate | 6.4 GB/s |
| Cooling | 1x 2700 RPM Fan |
| Power Supply | 150W AC Adapter |
| Operating Temperature | 32–95°F (0–35°C) |
| Operating Humidity | 5–95% (non-condensing) |
| Physical Dimensions (W x H x D) | 9.1 x 6.5 x 4.8 inches (232 x 165.6 x 123 mm) |
| Weight (without drives) | 7.9 lb (3.6 kg) |
| Weight (with drives) | Approximately 19.8 lb (9.0 kg) |
| OS Compatibility | Windows 8 or later, macOS 10.12 or later |
| Supported Browsers | Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari |
| Security Features | Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) support |
| Daisy-Chaining Support | Up to 6 enclosures via Thunderbolt 3 |
| DisplayPort Output | 8K 30 Hz maximum resolution |
| Warranty (Chassis) | 3-Year Return-to-Base (RTB) |
| Warranty (Drive Mechanisms) | 3–5 Year Return-to-Base (RTB) |
| Status Monitoring | LED Indicator, Front-Panel LCD Display |
| Configuration Methods | Front-Panel LCD, Thunderbolt Connection, Gigabit Ethernet |
| Color | Black |
| Included Accessories | 1x 40 Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 Type-C Cable (1 Meter) |
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.
