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Since the launch of the OWC ThunderBay desktop storage line in 2014, computer users across the planet have continued to fall in love with it. They embrace its massively powerful RAID capacity and intense performance fueled by time-tested OWC reliability. Its appeal skyrocketed when it was infused with industry-first FLEXibility to create ThunderBay Flex 8.
Whether you're building a server closet backup system, a mobile DIT cart for on-set production, a live performance audio/video rig, or expanding your studio rack infrastructure, Flex 1U4 delivers up to 128TB of flexible storage combined with professional docking and PCIe expansion. All in a single 1U rackmount form factor.
Use SATA/SAS and U.2/M.2 NVMe drives for up to 128TB of capacity and real-world Thunderbolt speeds up to 2,750MB/s. Mix drive types to optimize for speed where you need it and capacity where it counts.
Hot-swappable drive bays let you swap drives quickly and easily when needed. Perfect for backup rotations, capacity upgrades, or U.2 shuttle workflows from set to post.
Utilize U.2 NVMe SSDs as well as the OWC ecosystem of U.2 drives and adapters (U2 Shuttle, U2 ShuttleOne) for incredible speed and flash density per bay. Edit 8K RAW, work with VFX, or run high-demand applications at full speed.
Create, manage, and monitor advanced RAID sets with OWC SoftRAID. Industry-standard RAID 5 protection keeps your work safe and meets production requirements, while RAID 0 maximizes performance for demanding workflows.
Connect keyboards, mixers, cameras, displays, and mobile devices such as tablets with (1) USB-C 10Gb/s and (3) USB-A 10Gb/s ports.
Keep your notebook powered with 85W via the upstream Thunderbolt port1
Connect up to an 8K display to the DisplayPort 1.45
You’ll turn your expandability and connectivity dreams into reality when you add Flex 1U4 to your rack or cart.
When your workflow needs change, the “FLEXpandability” of the OWC Flex 1U4 easily adapts. Add new drives, connect different devices, and install the PCIe expansion card of your choice – like the OWC 10G Ethernet PCIe Networking Card or the blistering fast OWC Accelsior 4M2 SSD for expanded performance storage capacity. By not locking you into an inflexible, single-task design, the OWC Flex 1U4 extends its useful life and maximizes your investment well into the future.
OWC Accelsior 4M2 SSD PCIe card installation in the OWC Flex 1U4
Flex 1U4 is like a bolt-in productivity supercharger for new or existing rack environments powered by a rack Mac Pro, MacBook Pro, or even a Mac mini. Whether you build your own custom drive and card configuration or select one of our convenient ready-to-run solutions, Flex 1U4 is ideal in a wide variety of settings:
Perfect for taming ever-growing collections of digital files with easy integration and future drive capacity and performance scalability.
Adds Thunderbolt speed and swappable drives to server closets, server rooms, or colocation center backup capabilities.
Handles all the storage and peripheral connectivity needs “front of house” pros require for live performances.
Easily fits into mobile DIT carts to ingest footage from high-end cameras and audio devices using RAID protection, plus the PCI slot allows you to install a video I/O card for calibrated monitoring.
Expands storage and connectivity options of fixed racks.
Great for installers creating a high-performance home entertainment server closet.
A hallmark of OWC FLEX technology is the ability to use U.2 NVMe SSDs as well as the OWC ecosystem of U.2 drives and adapters. U.2 NVMe drives are specifically designed to maximize the PCIe bus, and when combined with Thunderbolt, you’ll blast past fast with up to 2750MB/s real-world transfer speed. Whether you use your rackmount setup to complete massive backups faster, stream content during a live performance, edit large format video, or run high transactional and complex calculation applications, you can do it U.2 it with Flex 1U4.
Four drive bays support a mix of U.2 NVMe SSDs for blazing speeds and SATA/SAS HDDs for capacity—up to 2,750MB/s real-world performance. Create RAID 0, 1, 4, 10, or industry-standard RAID 5 with included SoftRAID for proven data protection.
Built-in Thunderbolt docking with 85W notebook charging, USB-C and USB-A 10Gb/s ports for peripherals, DisplayPort 1.4 for 8K displays, and a PCIe x16 slot (x4 lanes) for video capture cards, audio interfaces, or 10GbE networking cards.
Install video capture cards for 8K ingest, pro audio interfaces, 10GbE networking cards, or hardware RAID controllers. One PCIe 3.0 x16 slot (x4 lanes) adapts to whatever your workflow demands.
Works with Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. SoftRAID 8 offers plug-and-play on macOS 14+ without driver installation. Compatible with Thunderbolt 3/4/5 hosts.
Premium construction ensures reliable operation and heat dissipation. Backed by a 5-year OWC Limited Warranty for built-in storage models or a 1-year OWC Limited Warranty for the enclosure only, along with our award-winning customer support.
When you need to move data outside or beyond the local network, Flex 1U4 helps you go with the flow. Thanks to the OWC U.2 ecosystem, moving and sharing data with Flex 1U4 is fast and easy. Swap out and ship a project from field to post in video production workflows. Move backup data to an offline colocation for backup workflows. The combination of Flex 1U4 and the OWC U.2 ecosystem opens a new dimension to data transfer possibilities.
Back row from left to right: OWC Thunderbay Flex 8, OWC Mercury Helios 3S, and OWC Mercury Pro U.2 Dual. Front row from left to right: OWC U.2 NVMe Interchange System and OWC U2 ShuttleOne (2).
Take control of your media workflow with the world’s first 3-in-1 Thunderbolt storage, docking, and PCIe expansion desktop solution. Easily swaps U2 ShuttleOne and U2 Shuttles to/from the Flex 1U4.
Create an external Thunderbolt powered set to post U.2 solution that safeguards your data while lowering shipping costs.
Combine four NVMe M.2 SSDs into the world’s first 3.5-inch U.2 carrier shuttle to create a swappable, massive capacity RAID solution.
Convert an NVMe M.2 “blade” style SSD into a swappable 2.5-inch U.2 SSD with the peace of mind that your drive is protected by the full metal, heat dissipating adapter.
SoftRAID is the world’s fastest and most flexible application to configure, maintain, and protect your RAID volumes on Mac and PC.
Select OWC solutions and enclosures include 3 Years of SoftRAID Premium! See includes section for details.
We make it easy to choose the right gear. Our Thunderbolt Certified products offer the same performance and functionality whether they are Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4. And if you’re rocking a beloved Thunderbolt 2 machine, we offer an adapter so you can plug into our universe of award-winning solutions. No hassles, no confusion. That’s the OWC Difference.
Apple Mac models with Thunderbolt 2/Thunderbolt ports can be connected using an Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter and a Thunderbolt 2 cable (not included). This configuration provides data transfer at up to 20Gb/s but does not support notebook charging.
Flex 1U4 comes complete with hardware for mounting into most racks and cabinets.
OWC Flex 1U4 comes 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.
We understand having confidence in gear reliability is paramount to creative professionals. That’s why OWC Flex 1U4 solutions go through a multi-step performance certification prior to shipping. This ensures they arrive operating properly and immediately ready for demanding use.
Active workspaces expose gear to bumps, shoves, or even the random tail wag from a pet. OWC ClingOn custom cable stabilizers (sold separately) screw into the OWC Dock or OWC Drive housing to reduce – if not completely eliminate – cable strain on Thunderbolt and USB-C connections so you can work with confidence even in the highest foot traffic environments.
