Skilled’s Ranking
Professionals
- Very quick in RAID 0
- Versatile RAID software program included
- Straightforward SSD set up.
- Runs cool
Cons
- Disappointing efficiency with particular person drives
- No {hardware} RAID
Our Verdict
Absolutely populated in RAID 0, the OWC Categorical 4M2 is a four-slot NVMe/M.2 enclosure that provides a number of capability and superb efficiency. Velocity drops in different configurations–particularly in non-RAID modes.
Worth When Reviewed
$250 with out SSDs and RAID software program; $380 with SoftRAID software program and no SSDs
Finest Costs Immediately: OWC Categorical 4M2 Thunderbolt NVMe enclosure
$249.99
$249.99
The OWC Categorical 4M2 is a quick Thunderbolt 3 enclosure that lets you leverage as much as 4 NVMe SSDs for giant quantities of performance-oriented exterior storage. This may be as particular person drives/volumes, or amalgamated in RAID. (You could provide your personal NVMe SSD modules.)
That’s properly versatile, however RAID is what you can purchase the Categorical 4M2 for. Its non-RAID, single-SSD efficiency was disappointing, nonetheless.
OWC Categorical 4M2: Options and specs
The Categorical 4M2 is a Thunderbolt 3 enclosure with two Thunderbolt 3 ports in addition to a full-sized DisplayPort port. That’s a little bit of a giveaway to the unit’s older design. Inside, there are 4 M.2 slots supporting PCIe 3.0–one other giveaway.
OWC’s web site doesn’t cite any limitations on the capability of the SSDs you possibly can set up, so in the intervening time, you possibly can seemingly stuff this factor to the tune of 32TB.
The enclosure measures simply shy of two.5 inches tall (rubber toes included), slightly over 4.5 inches deep, and virtually 5.4 inches vast. There’s a quite giant fan that you could take away to put in SSDs (our take a look at unit was unpopulated), however it’s a simple deal, and mentioned fan could be very quiet.
As you would possibly guess, an AC adapter is required to energy 4 SSDs. On this case, a hefty 6-amp, 12-volt unit with a coax connector on the drive finish, and a detachable three-prong cable on the opposite.
OWC would possibly’ve been higher off renaming the Categorical 4M2 after the introduction of its a lot sooner, way more versatile (and pricier) Categorical 1M2 cousin. Because the Categorical 1M2 is USB 4, it’s a little bit of a complicated advertising message.
To function the Categorical 4M2 in RAID, you want software program. OWC offers a license for its helpful cross-platform SoftRAID, although the Professional portion that lets you create volumes expires three years from the date of buy. SoftRAID stays purposeful–together with the flexibility to rebuild in case of drive failure–perpetually.
You can too leverage macOS or Home windows RAID to the identical impact, although that kills any cross-platform use. Platform agnosticism is without doubt one of the causes I’m nonetheless a fan of {hardware} RAID.
OWC Categorical 4M2: Velocity and performamce
As I’ve already acknowledged, the Categorical 4M2’s efficiency varies by drive configuration, however all informed, it’s a really quick reader and a quick author–relying on what you examine it to.
It’s not quick in comparison with the Categorical 1M2, which proved quick throughout each bus we tried (5Gbps USB to 40Gbps USB 4/Thunderbolt). We included the 1M2 outcomes to point out you simply how a lot you’re lacking.
We examined on a Mac Studio with Disk Velocity Take a look at and AmorphousDiskMark, however we additionally examined utilizing sister publication PCWorld’s take a look at mattress and suite. On each platforms, we examined the unit as 4 single 2TB SSDs (testing one), a single 8TB quantity in striped RAID 0, and a single 4TB quantity in RAID 1 + 0.
4 2TB, PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs have been employed–every simply able to 5GBps reads and 4GB writes. The outcomes shocked us a bit.
It was the single-drive efficiency that actually shocked us. This can be a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD which is definitely able to outpacing 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3. I can’t say for certain, however the bandwidth is probably going cut up evenly throughout the 4 slots, leaving solely 10Gbps to play with. That’s what the outcomes learn like.
Subsequent up are the PCWorld take a look at outcomes, which largely agree with the macOS testing–quick in RAID 0, quick with slower writing in RAID 1 + 0, and below-average efficiency in non-RAID mode.
Word that to get high efficiency beneath Home windows (examined for the charts), we needed to particularly set the Categorical 4M2’s properties/coverage (the SoftRAID software program warns you about this) to Finest efficiency or write pace in each RAID modes was halved.
CrystalDiskMark 8 Learn efficiency was excellent in RAID 0, and implausible in RAID 1 + 0. RAID write efficiency was good, however as you possibly can see from the 1M2 and Sandisk Professional-G40, hardly excellent.
Once more, the very weak efficiency utilizing solely a single SSD signifies a partial bandwidth allotment. It’s sooner than a tough drive to make sure, however for those who’re trying so as to add 4 separate volumes, you’ll be a lot better off with single-drive enclosures. Until in fact, you’re out of ports–few single SSD enclosures provide pass-thru.
CrystalDiskMark 8 rated random efficiency nearly as good, and that is the one space the place the Categorical 4M2 in non-RAID mode stored up.
Our real-world 48GB transfers mimic the CrystalDiskMark 8 conclusion. RAID 0 is greatest, RAID 1 + 0 subsequent, and single SSD mode the worst.
We’re undecided why RAID 1 + 0 is so gradual writing as there are nonetheless two volumes to shotgun writes throughout, however remember the fact that that is software program RAID that’s on the mercy of your laptop’s CPU. The RAID 0 450GB write time is sweet for an exterior drive. The RAID 1 + 0 and single drive occasions should not.
In complete, we discovered the Categorical 4M2 delivered the learn and write speeds you’re in search of in RAID 0, the learn pace in RAID 0 + 1, however quite weak studying and writing in single drive mode. Moreover, the 4M2 ran very cool in our testing–a number of inner air and the fan noticed to that.
Caveat: RAID 0 affords no fault tolerance. As dependable as fashionable NVMe SSDs have confirmed, if one goes unhealthy, you’ll lose all of your information. We don’t know the way a lot restoration for an SSD RAID setup would value, however it’s unlikely to be low-cost, even whether it is attainable.
Do you have to purchase the OWC Categorical 4M2?
When you plan to totally populate the Categorical 4M2 in RAID 0, go for it. The efficiency will largely reside as much as expectations. Different modes, not a lot. Once more, you is likely to be higher off with a number of single drives equivalent to OWC’s excellent, quick, and tremendous versatile Categorical 1M2.