OWC ThunderBlade X12
80Gb/s Thunderbolt™ 5 (USB-C) NVMe RAID SSD
Up to
6600MB/s
Peak and 5990MB/s Sustained Write
Up to
96TB
Massive Storage Capacity
Versatile
2 Ports
Connect Additional Thunderbolt and USB-C Devices
Purpose Built
RAID 5
Workflow Solution
ThunderBlade X12
Includes SoftRAID Premium — Supports RAID 0/1/4/5/1+0 (10) and JBOD
Portable Production & Editing Perfection
You’ve told us ThunderBlade is the best production drive in the universe. But you needed more. Bigger capacity for massive projects. Breakthrough speed to streamline ingestion and backup times on set. Rock-solid RAID 5 reliability. Oh yeah, and if not too much trouble, make it small enough to still be a shuttle drive.
Thunderblade X12 is the ground-breaking advancement you’ve asked for to make seemingly impossible video workflows fast, simple, and seamless. With up to 6600MB/s peak and 5990MB/s sustained write speeds thanks to its Thunderbolt 5 technology, ThunderBlade X12 doubles the performance of its highly acclaimed predecessor. Up to 96TB of storage – 3x more than previously available – is under your control with SoftRAID Premium, the fastest, most powerful and flexible RAID tool on the planet.
The TL;DR to ThunderBlade X12
It’s the perfect portable solution with the highest performance, efficiency, and dependability for film and streaming service content production as well as cutting-edge multi-cam 4K, 6K, or 8K RAW sequences, 12K RAW video and beyond, or even stereoscopic 360 VR editing.
Breakthrough
Up to 6600MB/s peak speed with blazing-fast 5990MB/s consistent sustained write speed over the entire volume
Silent
Heat dissipating fanless aluminum chassis keeps you working at top speed
Massive
12 NVMe M.2 SSDs for up to 96TB
Informative
Confirm use status instantly via integrated LED
Includes SoftRAID
Robust software for creating, monitoring, and managing advanced RAID sets
Mobile
Compact footprint and custom-fit ballistic hard-shell case make this the perfect shuttle drive
Versatile
Daisy-chain up to five additional Thunderbolt devices or connect a USB-C device or display via the second Thunderbolt port
Certified
Meets Intel Thunderbolt and OWC operating certifications for assured performance and reliability
Stable
Non-skid rubber feet keep ThunderBlade in place while OWC ClingOn secures the included Thunderbolt connecting cable
Worry-Free
3 Year OWC Limited Warranty
Unleash Your Pro Potential
Adaptability is a key component to your filmmaking success. One day, the job may require working on a Netflix documentary with a range of Sony cameras or ARRI Amiras and Alexa Minis. The next, you're diving into narrative content with an ARRI Alexa LF, creating commercial magic with a RED V-Raptor, filming aerials with a RED Komodo-X, or engineering cutting-edge camera arrays for complex VFX projects. Whatever the job throws at you and your team, you will unleash your potential with the ThunderBlade X12.
Built for On-Set Efficiency
When you're on location, speed is everything. Offload your memory cards at breakneck speeds, ensuring no downtime and complete data reliability with RAID 5. Trust in your gear means focusing on the creative process.
Master the Toughest Workflows
From multi-cam sequences and 8K RAW to intricate VFX, this plug-and-play external storage is a powerhouse. It's designed to handle the heaviest data loads and keep you moving, all while being easily transportable.
Rock-Solid Shuttle Drive
In the world of high-stakes production, your shuttle drive needs to be as dependable as the crew. ThunderBlade X12 offers blazing fast, highly reliable data transfer, ready to be shipped safely across the globe without a hiccup.
Pro-Grade Centralized Storage
Keep all your files centralized and at your fingertips for stress-free editing and data management even on the largest projects.
Time Saver Life Changer
ThunderBlade is fervently revered among DITs, production companies, video editors, and creative professionals for good reason. Hailed as the fastest production drive in the universe. Legendary confidence inspiring reliability. Shuttle use ready with a compact footprint and ballistic case.
With ThunderBlade, you don’t merely reduce the time you need to work. You gain precious time back for your personal life. More than anything, people want more time. ThunderBlade isn’t just a drive. It’s a life changer.
Reliability. Efficiency. Transportability.
Our team is filled with creatives highly experienced in all phases of the video production world. We understand your need for more speed and capacity when it comes to making everything from backups to editing faster. ThunderBlade was purposefully built to be the fastest Thunderbolt shuttle and editing RAID SSD in the universe for:
DITs needing to offload memory cards on set at maximum transfer speeds while also having the option to choose RAID 5 reliability for peace-of-mind or production requirements.
DITs and productions needing a blazing fast, highly reliable shuttle drive that can be easily and safely shipped.
Creative professionals working with cutting edge workflows such as multicam sequences, 8K RAW video, and VFX looking for the best possible performance from an easy to transport, plug and play external storage solution.
Remote editors working with cloud-based workflows such as LucidLink which require a high performance cache drive solution to ensure flawless video editing performance.
Professional video editors desiring a seamless editing experience when working on large projects with all their files centralized for easy access.
Unlimited Workflow Possibilities
Working at your best means getting more than blazing through uncompressed high bandwidth content streams with unrivaled speed and reliability. With an extra Thunderbolt port, you have the flexibility to daisy-chain devices and place a USB-C device at the end of your chain to create unlimited possibilities.
When Reliability Is a Requirement
Using RAID 5 with most solutions means giving up precious capacity and taking a big hit on performance. Our 8 drive ThunderBlade model solves that problem by offering the most amount of useable capacity while still offering eye-popping write speeds up to 2464MB/s. Now you can streamline ingestion and backup times on set, edit ultra-high-res multi-cam sequences, and adhere to mandatory requirements (the 3-2-1 Principle) when producing content for large studios such as Netflix.
Which ThunderBlade is Right for Me?
OWC ThunderBlade
OWC ThunderBlade X8
Interface
2 x Thunderbolt 3 (40Gb/s)
2 x Thunderbolt 3 (40Gb/s)
Drives
4 x 2280 NVMe M.2
8 x 2242 NVMe M.2
Capacity
Up to 32TB
Up to 32TB
RAID Support
RAID 0/1/4/5/1+0
RAID 0/1/4/5/1+0
Maximum RAID 0 Speed
2831MB/s Write
2840MB/s Read
2826MB/s Write
2949MB/s Read
Useable RAID 0 Capacity
(using 32TB model example)
32TB
(4 x 8TB)
32TB
(8 x 4TB)
Maximum RAID 5 Speed
2120MB/s Write
2389MB/s Read
2464MB/s Write
2565MB/s Read
Useable RAID 5 Capacity
(using 32TB model example)
24TB
(3 x 8TB with 1 x 8TB used for redundant protection)
28TB
(7 x 4TB with 1 x 4TB used for redundant protection)
Cooling
Silent fanless
Silent fanless
Material
Solid aluminum
Solid aluminum
Key Differences
Smaller footprint, smaller capacity (4TB) model available
Up to 4TB (16.7%) higher capacity in RAID 4/5. Over 16% higher performance in RAID 4 and 5 redundant configurations with Apple Silicon (all M1 and later including Pro / Max / Ultra) machines, improved power connector, LED angle revised to reduce/eliminate on-set light distraction possibility.
2x Faster Multi-Camera Ingest
In the fast-paced, tight-budget world of filmmaking where time is money, every minute saved is critical. Whether you're juggling multiple cameras or offloading a variety of media cards simultaneously, you’ll keep your production running ahead of schedule by ingesting twice as fast with ThunderBlade X12. DITs can now simultaneously ingest multiple media types at full speeds:
• Up to 2 CODEX Compact Drives simultaneously via Thunderbolt at full speeds (ARRI)
• Up to 7 CFexpress Type A 2.0 cards simultaneously at full speeds (Sony FX6, FX3, A7sIII, and more)
• Up to 4 CFexpress Type B 2.0 cards simultaneously via Thunderbolt at full speeds (RED V-Raptor, Komodo-X, Pyxis 6K, Sony Burano, Canon C400, Nikon Z9, and more)
• Up to 10 CFast 2.0 cards simultaneously at full speeds (RED Komodo, BlackMagic Cinema Camera 6K, ARRI Alexa Mini, etc.)
• Up to 5 AXS-A cards simultaneously via Thunderbolt at full speeds (Sony Venice, Venice 2, and more)
• Up to 20 SD UHS-II V90 cards simultaneously at full speeds (Canon C80, C70, Panasonic S5II, GH7, and more)
Plentiful Port Possibilities
You can never have enough ports for connectivity. That’s why the ThunderBlade X12 gives you an extra Thunderbolt port so you can daisy-chain additional Thunderbolt devices and place a USB-C device at the end of your chain to create plentiful possibilities.
Purposefully Built for RAID 5
With ThunderBlade X12, you no longer must sacrifice capacity and performance to achieve RAID 5 peace of mind data reliability. 12 NVMe SSDs and Thunderbolt 5 let you work at the speed of thought with the highest capacity and performance available in a shuttle RAID SSD. Now you can streamline on-set and editing tasks while adhering to mandatory requirements (the 3-2-1 Principle) when producing content for large studios such as Netflix.
Hold at least three copies of all original camera files (OCF) and audio.
Store the OCF and audio copies on at least two different types of media.
Keep at least one of these backups in a different geographical location from the others.
The Most Powerful RAID Tool on the Planet.
SoftRAID is the world’s fastest and most flexible application to configure, maintain, and protect your RAID volumes on Mac and PC. OWC enclosures include 3 Years of SoftRAID Premium.
• High-Performance RAID 0/1/4/5/1+0 (10) volumes
• Predictive Health Monitoring:proactively notifies of Volume and Disk issues well before failure — provided on your computer and remotely
• Seamless Cross-Platform Sharing with support for Apple-formatted APFS and HFS+ SoftRAID volumes between Mac and Windows at no additional cost
• 35+ Years of Experience of Pro Support to provide peace-of-mind with setup help, ongoing questions, or urgent disk issues
• And many more unique features.
M1 Macs require macOS 11.3 or later. SoftRAID is licensed per computer.
Your Preparedness Is Our Passion
Paying attention to seemingly insignificant details that prepare you to work uninterrupted is our passion. Besides keeping ThunderBlade X12 securely in place, the non-skid rubber feet elevate the heat dissipating aluminum housing to prevent thermal throttling. The power cord locking connector keeps you up and running in active workspaces. OWC ClingOn custom cable stabilizers (available separately) screw into ThunderBlade X12 to stabilize your Thunderbolt cable connections. When you’re done and ready to ship it off, the ThunderBlade X12 comes with a ballistic hard-shell carrying case.
Pre-Tested = Certified Ready
Like all OWC storage products, ThunderBlade X12 underwent rigorous development testing processes, including intensive mandatory Thunderbolt certification. Because we understand having confidence in your gear’s reliability is paramount, every ThunderBlade X12 undergoes our rigorous multi-hour "burn-in" performance certification prior to shipping with a Thunderbolt connecting cable. This ensures your ThunderBlade X12 arrives operating properly and immediately ready for demanding use.
Pre-Tested = Certified Ready
Since 1988, our mission has focused on maximizing the usefulness and longevity of your technology investment. Our business operations share that same sustainability commitment. As the first 100% on-site wind powered technology manufacturer/distributor in the U.S., we now generate excess power. 97% of solid waste is recycled. These and other actions have resulted in our headquarters being Energy Star® and LEED® Platinum certified.
Work with Ultimate Confidence
Active workspaces expose gear to unexpected bumps and shoves. OWC ClingOn custom cable stabilizers (available separately) screw into the OWC ThunderBlade to reduce – if not completely eliminate – cable strain on Thunderbolt and USB-C connections so you can work with ultimate confidence even in the highest foot traffic environments.
OWC Thunderbolt Cable Included
OWC ThunderBlade solutions come with a certified 0.7M OWC Thunderbolt Cable. But if your workflow demands a different length to make the connection, OWC Thunderbolt (USB-C) Cables are the perfect choice.
Thunderblade X12
OWC, Trusted by Pros & Enthusiasts the World Over
We build our hardware to the highest standards of reliability and performance. Because 100% reliability is always the goal, we rigorously quality test and back our hardware with a 3 Year OWC Limited Warranty and award-winning customer support.
1. Up to 6600MB/s peak speed and 5990MB/s sustained write speed with a 12TB ThunderBlade X12 connected to a MacBook Pro (16-inch, November 2024) running AJA System Test (4K Full resolution, 64GB file size, 16 bit RGBA codec, single file test).
2. OWC ClingOn cable stabilizer available separately.
3. Fully certified for use with Macs with Thunderbolt 5/4/3 port and Windows PCs with Thunderbolt 5 port.
Includes
Drive Bays
• 4 bays
Total Capacity
• 2.0TB
Drive Mechanism
• (4) 500GB OWC Aura Ultra IV PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
• *OWC reserves the right to replace or upgrade to equivalent or better components.
Plug and Play
• Yes
Hot Plug Support
• Yes
Boot Support
• Mac Only: Boot volume must be independent from RAID volume. Please consult " OWC ThunderBlade: macOS Boot Drive Setup" for add
Drive Format
• Formatted as 4 disk RAID 0 for Mac. To convert for PC, use SoftRAID for Windows.
Storage Interface
• M.2 NVMe (PCIe 3.0)
RAID Capable
• Yes
Storage Interface
• Yes
Default RAID Level
• RAID 0
RAID Levels Supported
• RAID 0
• RAID 1
• RAID 4
• RAID 5
• RAID 10
RAID Features
• Software RAID
Device Ports
• (1) Host Port - Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) up to 40Gb/s (5000MB/s)
• (1) Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) Port
UASP Support
• UASP (USB Attached SCSI Protocol) is supported
Display Support
• Up to one 5K display @ 60Hz,
• or one 4K display @ 60Hz,
• or one 4K display @ 30Hz
Display Support by Port
• Thunderbolt 3: Up to 5K @ 60Hz via a native Thunderbolt 3 display or 4K @ 60Hz via a Thunderbolt display or a USB-C display adapter
Data Transfer Rate (Maximum)
• Thunderbolt 3 : Up to 40Gb/s (or 5000MB/s)
Benchmark Speed, Read (Max)
• Up to 2719MB/s
Benchmark Speed, Write (Max)
• Up to 2537MB/s
Chipset / Controller
• Thunderbolt 3: (1) Intel DSL6540
Host Interface Requirements
• Thunderbolt (USB-C) port (backward compatible with Thunderbolt 2/Thunderbolt1)
Mac OS Compatibility
• macOS 10.13 High Sierra
• macOS 10.14 Mojave
• macOS 10.15 Catalina
• macOS 11.x Big Sur
• macOS 12.x Monterey
• macOS 13.x Ventura
• macOS 14.x Sonoma
• macOS 15.x Sequoia
PC OS Compatibility
• Windows 10 64-bit Edition
• Windows Server 2022
• Windows 11
Driver Required
• SoftRAID Only
• SoftRAID automatically checks for the latest driver. Launch the app and if displayed, follow prompts to update driver.
Other Requirements
• SoftRAID works with macOS 10.14 or later and Windows 10 or later. SoftRAID is licensed per computer. The SoftRAID serial number will work with both Mac and Windows but can only be active on one computer at a time. Additional seats can be purchased. RAID 4/1+0 (10) are currently Mac only at this time.
Supports OWC ClingOn
• Yes (Learn More)
External Power Adapter
• Yes
Power Supply
• External UL-listed universal auto-switching power supply
• Need an additional power supply? Secondary/replacement power supplies are also available.
AC Input
• 100-240V, 50-60Hz, 2.0A
DC Output
• +15V, 4.8A
Wattage
• 72W
Security Slot
• No
Power/Activity LED
• Yes
Housing Color
• Black
Housing Material
• Aluminum
Dimensions
• Height: 2.9 cm (1.1 in)
• Length: 19.2 cm (7.6 in)
• Width: 12.4 cm (4.9 in)
Weight
• 676.0 g (1.49 lbs)
Certifications
• CE
• FCC
• RoHS
Ambient Temperature
• Operating: 50°F to 95°F (10°C to 35°C)
• Non-Operating: -40°F to 149°F (-40°C to 65°C)
Altitude
• Operating: -304.8 m to 3,048.0 m (-1,000 ft to 10,000 ft)
• Non-Operating: -304.8 m to 12,192.0 m (-1,000 ft to 40,000 ft)
Humidity
• Operating: 8% to 90% non-condensing
• Non-Operating: 5% to 95% non-condensing
Noise
• 0.0dB
1. Thunderbolt 2/Thunderbolt compatibility requires a certified Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 (mDP) adapter and a Thunderbolt 2 cable (not included). This configuration provides data transfer at up to 20Gb/s but does not support notebook charging.