The Areca ARC-8050T3U-6 is a professional-grade six-bay hardware RAID storage enclosure designed for high-performance video production, content creation, and data-intensive workflows.
Featuring dual Thunderbolt 3 ports with 40Gbps bandwidth and USB 3.2 Gen 2 compatibility, this system delivers enterprise-class data protection with flexible RAID configuration options.
The unit comes pre-configured with six 8TB enterprise-class drives for a total raw capacity of 48TB.
Original price was: £ 3,280.00.£ 2,649.95Current price is: £ 2,649.95. | £ 3,179.94 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.
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– The UK Areca RAID Experts!The Areca ARC-8050T3U-6 is a desktop RAID storage enclosure engineered for professional media production environments where high-speed data access and reliable data protection are critical requirements.
This six-bay system combines enterprise-grade hardware RAID capabilities with modern connectivity standards, making it suitable for video editors, colorists, motion graphics artists, and other professionals working with large media files that demand consistent, high-bandwidth access.
The ARC-8050T3U-6 features dual Thunderbolt 3 ports operating at 40Gbps, providing direct connection to Thunderbolt 3-equipped computers including Mac and Windows systems.
An integrated USB device controller allows the Thunderbolt 3 port to operate in USB 3.2 Gen 2 mode when connected to USB-C computer ports, ensuring compatibility with systems lacking native Thunderbolt 3 support.
A dedicated DisplayPort 1.4 output enables connection of external displays for real-time monitoring of array status and performance metrics, supporting up to 8K 30Hz video output.
The second Thunderbolt 3 port supports daisy-chaining of up to six additional Thunderbolt 3 peripherals, allowing expansion of the storage ecosystem without consuming additional computer ports.
At the core of the ARC-8050T3U-6 is a dual-core 1.2 GHz Broadcom SAS ROC (RAID-on-Chip) processor that handles all RAID operations independently from the host computer's CPU.
This dedicated hardware RAID architecture eliminates CPU overhead associated with software RAID implementations, maintaining consistent system performance during intensive read/write operations and array rebuilds.
The controller includes 2GB of DDR3-1866 SDRAM with ECC protection, providing high-speed cache memory for optimizing data transfer patterns and improving overall throughput.
The unit accommodates six 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch drives supporting 12Gb/s SAS or 6Gb/s SATA protocols, with the standard configuration including six 8TB enterprise-class 7200 RPM SATA drives.
Alternative configurations are available with 10TB drives (60TB total capacity) or other capacity combinations to match specific workflow requirements.
The system supports both HDD and SSD installations, allowing users to optimize for either capacity or performance depending on their primary use case.
The ARC-8050T3U-6 supports ten distinct RAID configurations: RAID 0 (striping), RAID 1 (mirroring), RAID 10 (striped mirrors), RAID 3 (striping with dedicated parity), RAID 5 (striping with distributed parity), RAID 6 (dual-parity striping), RAID 30, RAID 50, RAID 60, single-disk mode, and JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks).
This flexibility allows users to balance performance, capacity, and fault tolerance according to their specific requirements, from maximum performance (RAID 0) to maximum redundancy (RAID 6 with dual-parity protection).
The system is specifically engineered to support simultaneous 4K input and output operations, with the 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 bandwidth providing sufficient throughput for real-time 4K video streaming at high frame rates and bit depths.
The combination of high-speed cache memory and dedicated RAID processor ensures consistent performance during demanding 4K editing, color grading, and effects rendering workflows without introducing latency or dropped frames.
The enclosure features dual 2700 RPM cooling fans that maintain optimal operating temperatures during sustained high-performance operations, with intake and exhaust design optimized for efficient heat dissipation.
A 180W power supply provides sufficient capacity for the six-drive configuration with headroom for peak power demands during simultaneous drive operations.
The ARC-8050T3U-6 can be configured and monitored through multiple interfaces: the Thunderbolt connection, LAN port, or integrated LCD display panel on the front of the unit.
This multi-interface approach allows users to manage the array directly from the device itself or remotely through network connectivity, providing flexibility in deployment scenarios.
The system supports macOS 10.12 or later and Windows 8/10 or later when connected via Thunderbolt 3, with full compatibility for Apple M1 silicon-based Macs.
When operating in USB 3.2 Gen 2 mode, the device is OS-independent, functioning with any operating system that supports USB mass storage protocols.
| Form Factor | Desktop 6-Bay Tower |
| Drive Bays | 6 x 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch |
| Drive Interface Support | 12Gb/s SAS or 6Gb/s SATA HDDs/SSDs |
| Standard Configuration | 6 x 8TB enterprise-class 7200 RPM SATA drives (48TB total raw capacity) |
| Alternative Configurations | 6 x 10TB drives (60TB total raw capacity) or custom combinations |
| Host Interface | 2 x Thunderbolt 3 ports, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 |
| Thunderbolt 3 Bandwidth | 40Gbps per port |
| USB Compatibility | USB 3.2 Gen 2 via integrated USB device controller |
| Daisy-Chaining Support | Up to 6 additional Thunderbolt 3 peripherals via secondary Thunderbolt 3 port |
| RAID Controller | Broadcom dual-core 1.2 GHz SAS ROC (RAID-on-Chip) |
| RAID Levels Supported | 0, 1, 10, 3, 5, 6, 30, 50, 60, Single Disk, JBOD |
| On-Board Cache Memory | 2GB DDR3-1866 SDRAM with ECC protection |
| Cache Memory Clock Speed | 233.33 MHz |
| Cache Memory Data Rate | 1866.67 MT/s |
| Cache Peak Transfer Rate | 14.9 GB/s |
| Expansion Support | SFF-8644 (2-lanes) |
| Cooling System | Dual 2700 RPM cooling fans |
| Power Supply | 180W |
| Power Consumption (Typical) | Varies by drive configuration and operational state |
| 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 | 5°C to 45°C |
| Operating Humidity | 5% to 95% non-condensing |
| Configuration Methods | Thunderbolt port, LAN port, or integrated LCD display panel |
| DisplayPort Output | DisplayPort 1.4 supporting up to 8K 30Hz video output |
| 4K Workflow Support | Simultaneous 4K input/output capable |
| Operating System Support (Thunderbolt 3) | macOS 10.12 or later, Windows 8/10 or later |
| Operating System Support (USB Mode) | OS-independent |
| Mac Compatibility | Full support for Apple M1 silicon-based Macs |
| Included Accessories | 1-meter 40Gbps active Thunderbolt 3 Type-C cable |
| Security Features | Controller-level hardware encryption, SED (self-encrypting drive) support |
| Firmware Updates | Simultaneous firmware update capability for all hard drives |
| EFI Support | EFI Option ROM supported for macOS multi-boot |
| Warranty - Chassis | 3-year RTB (Return to Base) manufacturer warranty |
| Warranty - Drive Mechanisms | 3 or 5-year RTB warranty options |
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.
