Best Thunderbolt RAID systems for iMac Pro of 2017
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Protect your data and maximize performance with one of these Thunderbolt RAID arrays.
If you deal with enormous files on a regular basis or simply want some piece of mind knowing that your data is copied and stored locally, then a RAID array might be a great storage solution. In short, a RAID array is a group of two or more independent hard drives that work together to basically form one super hard drive.
For more info, check this out:
What's a RAID array and why should I get one?
If you're running the new iMac Pro and want to pick up a great RAID system, then check these out!
G-RAID
G-Technology makes excellent hard drives, so it's no surprise that its RAID systems make this list. The G-RAID with Thunderbolt 3 is perfect for your high-performance storage needs. The enclosure features two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a USB-C ports, and an HDMI port that supports 4K at 60FPS, as well as HDR. You get a drive speed of 7200 RPM and transfer rates of up to 500MB/s.
You can daisy chain up to five more of these puppies, and there's a 5-year warranty should you experience any defects.
The G-RAID features two removable drives and starts around $650 for 8TB. You can go all the way up to 24TB for $1600.
G-Speed Shuttle XL
The G-Speed Shuttle XL is for the professional who needs it ALL. It offers 7200 RPM drive speeds and transfer rates of up to 1500MB/s, as well as two Thunderbolt 3 ports. You also get eight removable drives and starting storage capacity is 24TB. It's expensive AF, with a starting price of $2800, and you can go all the way up to 72TB for a whopping $7700.
This definitely isn't a consumer-level product, but if you're opting for the iMac Pro for your business, then this is a huge amount of storage and performance that's nigh-unbeatable. It supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10 configurations.
If you have a power- and resource-hungry workflow, then this might be the solution for you.
PROMISE Pegasus3
Recommended right on Apple's site, the PROMISE Pegasus3 is 12TB of kickapow. It features four drives at 3TB each (also available with four, six, or eight drives) and two Thunderbolt 3 ports, which are backward compatible with older Macs that support Thunderbolt 2 (you just need a 3-2 cable!).
You can daisy chain up to six devices with this system and you can configure it for RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10. At $1500, this is pricey, but you can go with one of the lesser versions if you don't need 12TB.
Glyph Atom RAID SSD
The Glyph Atom is a bit of an outlier on this list in that it's a self-contained RAID 0 solution, so it's all about performance and pretty much not at all about data replication. This drive is already formatted for Mac and fully compatible with Thunderbolt 3.
It's a 1TB solid state drive, making it perfect for smaller projects, with transfer speeds of up to 770MB/s. This portable RAID solution comes in black, white, gold, gray, and silver, and features a rugged enclosure that's designed to be taken on the road with you. It's perfect if you have all your data stored at home but really need to work on that one thing while you're out.
At $430, it's not a bad deal for 1TB, and there's a 2TB version available for $830 if you need more space.
What's your RAID array like?
Do you have a great Thunderbolt 3-compatible RAID system? Let us know in the comments below!
