LaCie 8big Pro5 – 32TB

The LaCie 8big Pro5 (SKU: STNC32000400) is a 32TB, eight-bay desktop RAID storage array supplied with eight 4.0TB enterprise-class drives pre-installed. It is engineered for professional creative environments where high sustained throughput is required — including 8K video editing, large-scale media asset management, and complex multi-user studio workflows that demand both performance and data redundancy.

Its hardware RAID controller, multi-port Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, hot-swappable drive bays, and integrated power delivery make it a single-cable centrepiece for demanding desktop studio setups.

Thunderbolt 5 Connectivity and Port Configuration

The Thunderbolt 5 interface supports data transfer at up to 120 Gbps, representing a significant bandwidth increase over previous Thunderbolt generations. In addition to the Thunderbolt 5 ports, the unit includes a USB 20 Gbps port, providing compatibility with a broader range of host systems and peripheral devices within the same studio setup.

Performance Characteristics

With eight drives operating in RAID 0, the 8big Pro5 delivers read speeds of up to 2,800 MB/s, making it capable of handling RAW video editing and large project file transfers without bottlenecking the workflow. These performance figures are made possible by the combination of the Thunderbolt 5 interface's 120 Gbps bandwidth capacity and the hardware RAID controller managing the eight-drive array.

Hardware RAID and Data Protection

The 8big Pro5 implements hardware RAID, supporting levels 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60, as well as JBOD and multi-RAID configurations. This range of RAID levels gives administrators and creative professionals the flexibility to prioritise performance, redundancy, or capacity depending on the nature of the project or the criticality of the stored data. Hot-swappable drive bays allow failed drives to be replaced without powering down the unit, minimising downtime during active production. RAID redundancy, combined with enterprise-class drives across all eight bays, provides a structured approach to safeguarding 8K and high-resolution creative workflows.

Storage Capacity and Drive Configuration

The STNC32000400 is configured with eight 4.0TB enterprise-class drives, yielding 32TB of raw storage capacity. The enterprise-class nature of the installed drives reflects the unit's positioning for sustained, high-duty-cycle professional use.

Power Delivery

Via its Thunderbolt 5 connection, the 8big Pro5 provides up to 140W of power delivery to the connected host device over a single cable. This is sufficient to charge and power laptops and, notably, high-end workstations — removing the need for a separate power supply cable to the host. Single-cable operation simplifies desk and studio cable management whilst maintaining the full data bandwidth of the Thunderbolt 5 interface simultaneously. This power delivery capability is integral to the unit's design as a consolidated single-connection storage and power solution.

Configuration, Management and Monitoring

The 8big Pro5 ships with LaCie RAID Manager software, which provides an interface for initial RAID configuration, ongoing management, and drive health monitoring. Fast setup is a stated design objective, allowing creative professionals to deploy the array and begin workflows without extensive technical configuration time. Drive health monitoring through LaCie RAID Manager gives users visibility into the status of each of the eight installed drives, enabling proactive identification of potential issues before they affect data integrity. The inclusion of Rescue Data Recovery Services is noted, subject to availability by country and applicable terms and conditions.

Expansion and Scalability

Scalability up to 7.68 PB of total storage is achievable in conjunction with Mac Studio, supporting long-term infrastructure growth without requiring host system changes.