Areca ARC-8050T5U-8E – Unpopulated
(New Thunderbolt 5 Version)

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Areca ARC-8050T5U-8E – Unpopulated
(New Thunderbolt 5 Version)

Very Fast 8-Bay Thunderbolt 5 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 Hardware RAID Array with Display Port (No Drives Fitted - 3yr Warranty)

The ARC-8050T5U-8E is an 8-bay desktop RAID enclosure exposing SAS/SATA drive connectivity via a true hardware RAID controller and dual Thunderbolt 5 host ports. It includes a full-sized DisplayPort 2.1 output and a 1m 120 Gbps active Thunderbolt 5 cable for immediate connection.

  • Dual Thunderbolt 5 ports with DisplayPort output and USB 3.2 Gen 2 computer-port compatibility.
  • Hardware RAID with on-board SDRAM cache and ECC protection; supports RAID 0, 1, 10, 3, 5, 6, 30, 50, 60, Single Disk and JBOD.
  • Controller-level hardware encryption and SED support for drive-level security.
  • 2 x 2700rpm fans, 300W power supply and whisper-quiet operation for studio use.

Original price was: £ 2,370.00.Current price is: £ 1,899.95. | £ 2,279.94 inc VAT

In Stock / Available

Category: Desktop Hard Drives & RAIDs
SKU: areca_arc-8050t5u_8e
Brand: Areca Technology
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Areca ARC-8050T5U-8E – Unpopulated (New Thunderbolt 5 Version) Product Overview

The ARC-8050T5U-8E is an 8-bay desktop RAID storage enclosure that exposes SAS/SATA drive connectivity through a hardware RAID controller and high-speed Thunderbolt 5 host interfaces. It is intended for professional video and data workflows that demand hardware RAID, on-board cache, and modern Thunderbolt/USB host compatibility.

Designed to sit next to a workstation, the unit combines controller-level features for data protection with Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth and a full-sized DisplayPort output for display routing.


Performance and Controller

Built around a Raid-on-Chip (ROC) storage controller with on-board SDRAM cache and ECC protection, the unit supplies true hardware RAID functionality so parity and rebuild work are handled by the controller rather than the host.


Connectivity

Two Thunderbolt 5 ports provide the primary host connections while a full-sized DisplayPort 2.1 MF video output offers direct display routing from the enclosure.


Thunderbolt Bandwidth

Thunderbolt 5 delivers 80 gigabits per second (Gbps) bi-directional bandwidth and, with Bandwidth Boost, can provide up to 120 Gbps for demanding display and data scenarios.


Drive Support

The 8E variant uses SAS/SATA drive interfaces, accommodating industry-standard SAS and SATA HDDs or SSDs in an 8-bay desktop chassis.


RAID And Data Protection

Supports RAID levels 0, 1, 10, 3, 5, 6, 30, 50, 60, Single Disk and JBOD, with controller-level hardware encryption and support for self-encrypting drives (SEDs).


Management

Configuration and monitoring are available through the front-panel LCD, in-band Thunderbolt management, out-of-band RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet, the firmware web-based McRAID manager and the ArcSAP graphical utility.


Security

Local controller-based hardware encryption supports 128- and 256-bit AES keys or password-based keys, while SED support enables drive-level encryption without OS interaction.


Power, Cooling And Noise

The 8-bay unit is cooled by two 2700rpm fans and supplied by a 300W power supply; intelligent fan control reduces noise to a whisper-quiet level suitable for AV workspaces.


Physical And Expansion

The ARC-8050T5U-8E is a desktop 8-bay enclosure sized for desktop placement and does not provide SAS expansion on this variant.


Compatibility

Computer port compatibility includes Thunderbolt™ 5 and USB 3.2 Gen 2; the unit is designed to work with modern Thunderbolt/USB hosts and supports daisy-chaining up to 10 devices.

Areca ARC-8050T5U-8E – Unpopulated (New Thunderbolt 5 Version) Key Features

  • Eight-bay desktop RAID enclosure designed for SAS/SATA drives, providing high-density local storage in a compact footprint.
  • Dual Thunderbolt 5 ports and a DisplayPort provide high-bandwidth connectivity and a dedicated video output for external displays.
  • Thunderbolt 5 interface delivers 80 Gbps bi-directional bandwidth and, with Bandwidth Boost, up to 120 Gbps for enhanced display performance.
  • Includes a 1m 120 Gbps active Thunderbolt™ 5 (USB-C) cable for immediate host connection.
  • True hardware RAID powered by a Raid-on-Chip (ROC) controller to offload parity and array tasks from the host CPU.
  • On-board SDRAM cache with ECC protection optimises sustained performance and allows read/write cache ratio tuning.
  • Controller-level hardware encryption with support for 128- and 256-bit AES keys or password-based keys to protect sensitive volumes.
  • Supports SED (self-encrypting drives) for transparent disk-level encryption without user interaction.
  • Flexible RAID options including 0, 1, 10, 3, 5, 6, 30, 50, 60, Single Disk and JBOD to match performance and resilience requirements.
  • Management via front-panel LCD, in-band Thunderbolt management, out-of-band RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet and web-based McRAID/ArcSAP tools.
  • Power On/Off controls that can synchronise the unit with host power state to protect data integrity.
  • Whisper-quiet operation using intelligent fan control for low sound levels in audio/video environments.
  • Supports Thunderbolt daisy-chaining of up to 10 devices to extend workflow connectivity with a single host port.
  • 2 x 2700rpm cooling fans and a 300W power supply sized for the 8-bay configuration.

Areca ARC-8050T5U-8E – Unpopulated (New Thunderbolt 5 Version) Technical Specifications

Form FactorDesktop 8-Bay
ConnectionThunderbolt 5 x 2 / Display Port x 1
Host Interface2 x Thunderbolt 5 ports; 1 x Display Port
Display OutputFull sized DisplayPort 2.1 MF video output
Thunderbolt Bandwidth80 gigabits per second (Gbps); with Bandwidth Boost provide up to 120 Gbps
Included Cable1m 120 Gbps active Thunderbolt™ 5 (USB-C) cable included
Storage InterfaceSAS/SATA
RAID Level0, 1, 10, 3, 5, 6, 30, 50, 60, Single Disk, JBOD
Expansion SupportN/A
Cooling Fan2 x 2700rpm
Power Supply300W
On-board CacheOn-board SDRAM Cache with ECC Protection
ControllerRaid-on-Chip (ROC) Storage Controller
Hardware RAIDTrue hardware RAID controller
EncryptionController-level hardware encryption; supports 128- and 256-bit encryption keys using AES or password
SED SupportSED (self-encrypting drives) function support
Management InterfacesLCD; RJ-45 out-of-band Gigabit Ethernet port; In-band Thunderbolt management (ArcHTTP); Web browser-based McRAID manager; ArcSAP
Power On/Off ControlsIntegrated power On/Off controls to turn power in unison with host computer
Whisper-Quiet OperationIntelligent cooling with low sound levels
Sound Pressure Level37 dB
Thunderbolt Daisy-chainSupports daisy-chaining up to 10 devices
Computer Port TypeThunderbolt™ 5 & USB 3.2 Gen 2
CompatibilityWorks with any Thunderbolt 5 | Thunderbolt 4 | Thunderbolt 3 (Mac Only) | USB4 or USB 3.2 Gen 2
OS SupportThunderbolt 5: macOS 15.0 or later & Windows 11 or later ; USB: OS Independent
Physical Dimensions (H x W x D)5.7 x 11.8 x 11.4 in (146 x 302 x 290 mm)
Weight14.9 lbs / 6.8 Kg
XLRN/A

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.

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