The Areca ARC-8050T3U-4A is a four-bay desktop RAID storage enclosure designed for professionals requiring high-speed data access and reliable storage protection. Equipped with dual Thunderbolt 3 ports delivering 40 Gbps connectivity, this enclosure supports both SAS and SATA drives while maintaining enterprise-class data protection through hardware-based RAID functionality.
The unpopulated configuration arrives without pre-installed drives, allowing users to select and install their own 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch drives according to specific capacity and performance requirements.
Original price was: £ 1,200.00.£ 899.95Current price is: £ 899.95. | £ 1,079.94 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 ARC-8050T3U-4A is a four-bay RAID storage enclosure that combines high-speed Thunderbolt 3 connectivity with dedicated hardware RAID processing to deliver professional-grade data storage and protection. The enclosure is designed for creative professionals, content creators, and organizations requiring fast, reliable access to large volumes of data without relying on host computer resources for RAID operations.
By utilizing a dedicated RAID-on-Chip processor, the ARC-8050T3U-4A offloads all RAID calculations from the host system, ensuring consistent performance and data integrity while minimizing impact on system CPU utilization. This architecture is particularly beneficial for bandwidth-intensive workflows such as 4K video editing, large-scale data transfers, and continuous backup operations.
The enclosure features two Thunderbolt 3 ports operating at 40 Gbps, enabling rapid data transfer and supporting daisy-chaining of up to five additional Thunderbolt peripherals through the secondary port. The Thunderbolt 3 interface also functions as USB 3.2 Gen 2 when connected to USB-C equipped computers, providing broad compatibility across Mac and Windows systems running macOS 10.12 or later and Windows 8/10 or later.
The single-core 800 MHz SAS RAID-on-Chip processor handles all RAID operations independently, eliminating the performance overhead associated with software RAID solutions. The processor manages RAID levels 0, 1, 10, 3, 5, and 6, as well as Single Disk and JBOD modes, providing flexibility for different data protection and performance requirements.
The four drive bays accommodate both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch form factor drives, supporting 6 Gbps SAS and SATA interfaces. The unpopulated configuration allows users to install drives matching their specific capacity, speed, and budget requirements, whether selecting traditional hard disk drives or solid-state drives for enhanced performance.
The enclosure includes 1GB of DDR3-800 SDRAM cache with error-correcting code (ECC) protection, enabling smooth multitasking and optimized read/write performance during sustained operations. Cache allocation can be configured to prioritize either read or write operations based on specific workflow demands.
A single 2700 RPM cooling fan maintains optimal operating temperatures during extended use, while the 150W external power supply provides sufficient power for the controller and up to four installed drives. The low-noise fan design minimizes acoustic impact in professional studio and office environments.
The ARC-8050T3U-4A is well-suited for video production workflows requiring fast scratch disk access, photography professionals managing large image libraries, content creators performing real-time editing, and organizations implementing automated backup and archival strategies. The hardware RAID architecture ensures data integrity and consistent performance across these demanding use cases.
| Form Factor | Desktop 4-Bay |
| Host Connection | Thunderbolt 3 x 2 / DisplayPort x 1 |
| Drive Bays | 4 x 3.5-inch / 2.5-inch |
| Drive Interface Support | 6 Gbps SAS / SATA |
| I/O Processor | Single-Core 800 MHz SAS RAID-on-Chip |
| On-Board Cache | 1GB DDR3-800 SDRAM with ECC |
| Cache Memory Clock | 100 MHz |
| Cache Bus Clock | 400 MHz |
| Cache Data Rate | 800 MT/s |
| Cache Peak Transfer Rate | 6.4 GB/s |
| RAID Levels Supported | 0, 1, 10, 3, 5, 6, Single Disk, JBOD |
| Expansion Support | None |
| Cooling | 1 x 2700 RPM fan |
| Power Supply | External 150W |
| Physical Dimensions (W x H x D) | 4.84 x 6.51 x 9.11 inches (123 x 165.6 x 232 mm) |
| Weight | 8.0 lbs / 3.6 kg |
| Thunderbolt 3 Bandwidth | 40 Gbps |
| USB Compatibility | USB 3.2 Gen 2 |
| DisplayPort Version | 1.4 |
| Network Interface | RJ45 Ethernet |
| macOS Support | 10.12 or later |
| Windows Support | 8/10 or later |
| Configuration | Unpopulated (no drives included) |
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.
