As one video so eloquently illustrated, the 2013 Mac Pro from Apple doesn’t give you much in terms of upgrade capabilities. That being said, there is the Thunderbolt port on there. OWC told us at CES that there were some DIY upgrades available and now they’ve come through with the OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual.
This external hard drive enclosure comes with many notable features, including Thunderbolt connectivity to your Mac Pro for max speeds, a dual drive configuration that supports RAID arrays, and up to 10TB of bootable storage. Out of the box, it comes pre-configured in RAID 0 for maximum capacity and performance, but you can change it to RAID 1 for redundancy if you prefer. It supports span and independent modes too. OWC is also tossing in USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt cables as part of the package.
The OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual dual-drive Thunderbolt enclosure starts at $299.99 for the driveless enclosure kit, ramping up from a 2.0TB solution for $429.99 up to a 10.0TB solution for $949.99. Read the full press release below for more details. And yes, the Mercury Elite Pro Dual will work with your Windows PC too.
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OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual with Thunderbolt Technology and Hardware RAID Options Now Available in 10TB Capacity
OWC adds 25% larger capacity choice to Mercury Elite Pro Dual line, which features high-speed Thunderbolt technology, Hardware RAID options, USB 3.0 speed and massive capacity to handle demanding 4K video content. High-speed sustained data rates up to 442MB/s read at 7200RPM are ideal for creative professionals using Mac or PC with Thunderbolt port, including Mac Pro 2013.
Woodstock, IL — May 6, 2014 — Other World Computing, (OWC®) http://www.macsales.com, a leading zero emissions Mac upgrade and storage technology company announced a new 10TB capacity for the OWC Mercury Elite Pro line of dual-bay external high-performance storage solutions, one of OWC’s family of Thunderbolt interface storage products.
High-Performance,Two-Bay Design
The Mercury Elite Pro Dual, which is available in capacities up to 10TB of total storage, adds tremendous storage capacity and throughput to any Mac or PC with a Thunderbolt port. Applications such as A/V post-production, photography, music, graphics, data management, and even Time Machine backups are enhanced with access to data at sustained data rates of up to 442MB/s read, 424MB/s write.
Flexible for Individual Storage Needs
The Mercury Elite Pro Dual supports independent drive access for two installed drives, providing hardware RAID, and is ideal for RAID 0, 1, Span, and Independent (JBOD) Modes. Users can choose the best combination of speed, capacity, and redundancy to meet their workflow needs.
Convenient Yet Flexible Hardware RAID Settings
The Mercury Elite Pro Dual comes conveniently factory set for Plug and Play use in RAID 0 mode, for “striping” data across both drives for the highest speed backup. Users can easily select any of three other modes via a selector switch. Modes include: RAID 1 for writing the same information in real-time for “live activity” data redundancy; Span, which combines both drives into a single volume; and Independent Mode for the most capacity.
Compatible with New and Legacy Macs and PCs
With USB 3.0 and two Thunderbolt ports and high-quality cables included, the Mercury Elite Pro Dual doesn’t require complicated set-up and is ready for Plug and Play use with legacy Macs, the latest 2013 Mac models and PCs. It provides data transfer speeds up to 442MB/s read and can be moved between different systems utilizing its supported interfaces with complete interoperability for maximum data backup performance and flexibility.
Six Prosumer Models Available:
– 2.0TB 7200RPM (1.0TB + 1.0TB) – $ 429.99
– 4.0TB 7200RPM (2.0TB + 2.0TB) – $ 494.99
– 4.0TB HDD/SSD Hybrid (2.0TB + 2.0TB) – $ 579.99
– 6.0TB 7200RPM (3.0TB + 3.0TB) – $ 574.99
– 8.0TB 7200RPM (4.0TB + 4.0TB) – $ 759.99
– 10.0TB 7200RPM (5.0TB + 5.0TB) – $ 949.99
– Add Your Own Drives enclosure kit – $ 299.99
All Mercury Elite Pro Dual solutions come ready for Plug and Play ease of use with interface connecting cables, a $200 retail value disk utility software bundle, and an industry leading three-year limited warranty, which includes free lifetime US-based 24/7 technical support, a 48-hour repair turnaround time, and one year of complimentary Level 1 data recovery service.
“This new 10TB option adds even more value to our best selling Mercury Elite Pro Dual line,” said Larry O’Connor, Founder and CEO, Other World Computing. “With the addition of this 25% larger capacity model with Thunderbolt interface and USB 3.0 technology, the Mercury Elite Pro Dual line continues to deliver best in class performance and reliability.”
Key Mercury Elite Pro Dual Features:
– Mac and PC compatible
– High performance chipset with USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt 1 interfaces
– User selectable hardware RAID Level 0, 1, Span, and Independent/JBOD modes
– Suitable for Audio/Video applications
– 2.8″(W) x 9″(D) x 5.25”(H)
– 5.5 pound weight
– Two HDD or HDD/SSD Hybrid Drives
– Real world data transfer speeds up to 442MB/s read, 424MB/s write
Includes:
– OWC 1.0 meter (39″) Thunderbolt cable, premium quality, certified
– OWC 24″ USB 3.0 cable, premium quality, certified
The Mercury Elite Pro Dual also includes OWC’s exceptional Three Year limited warranty, with typical turn around time of 48 hours or less, and One Year of Complimentary Level 1 data recovery.
Available Immediately
The OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual Thunderbolt devices are available today from OWC and select retailers. For more information, visit:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Thunderbolt/External-Drive/OWC/Elite-Dual-RAID
About Other World Computing (OWC)
Other World Computing has been providing quality hardware products and support to the computer industry since 1988 and features one of the largest online catalogs of computer, iPod, iPhone, and iPad enhancement products through its e-commerce portal www.macsales.com. As a member of the Apple Developer Program, OWC also provides extensive US-based technical support for Macintosh users around the world as well as Internet access via www.fastermac.net and www.owc.net.
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