The LaCie 16TB 2big Dock 2-Bay Thunderbolt 3 RAID Array (Black) – STLG16000400 is much more than just an external hard drive. It’s a professional-grade desktop storage solution. . This includes videographers, photographers, and graphic designers. The unit combines massive storage capacity with high-speed data transfer. It also features a built-in docking station. This helps centralize and simplify any desktop setup. It’s particularly useful for modern laptops with fewer integrated ports.

Key Features

• Capacity: 16TB (Terabytes) of storage, comprised of two 8TB Seagate IronWolf Pro 7200 rpm SATA III 3.5″ enterprise-class hard drives.
• Form Factor: Desktop 2-bay enclosure designed for stationary use.
• Interface:
  • 2 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C): The primary interface, offering blazing-fast transfer speeds of up to 40 Gb/s (550 MB/s actual throughput). These ports also support daisy-chaining up to five additional Thunderbolt devices (including other 2big units) and can power/charge compatible laptops (up to 27W). They can also connect dual 4K displays or one 5K display.
  • 1 x USB-C 3.0 / 3.1 / 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gb/s): Provides universal compatibility with USB-C devices and computers.
  • 1 x USB-A 3.0 / 3.1 / 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gb/s): A convenient front-facing hub port for connecting USB-A devices like flash drives, cameras, or charging a phone.
  • 1 x DisplayPort 1.4: Allows connection of a high-resolution external monitor (up to 8K @ 30Hz or 4K @ 120Hz).
• RAID Configuration: Features a hardware RAID controller with support for:
  • RAID 0 (Striping): Default configuration for maximum speed and capacity (16TB usable). Data is striped across both drives for faster performance. Note: Offers no data redundancy; if one drive fails, all data is lost.
  • RAID 1 (Mirroring): Provides data redundancy for critical data. Data is mirrored on both drives (8TB usable capacity). If one drive fails, your data is still safe on the other.
  • JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks): Drives function independently, appearing as two separate 8TB drives.
• Configuration and monitoring are managed easily via LaCie RAID Manager software (for Windows and macOS).

Specifications

• Integrated Card Readers: Front-facing slots for direct ingestion of media:
  • • CFexpress Type B
    • CFast 2.0
    • SD Card (UHS-II compatible)
• Performance: Up to 550 MB/s sequential read/write speeds in RAID 0, making it capable of handling demanding workflows like editing multiple streams of 4K or 6K video.
• Drives: Comes with hot-swappable Seagate IronWolf Pro enterprise-class drives, ensuring professional reliability, performance, and easy replacement if needed.
• Cooling: Features an aluminum enclosure for heat dissipation and a thermoregulated Noctua cooling fan for quiet and efficient operation, crucial for demanding professional use.
• Compatibility: Compatible with Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.12 or later, and also supports iPad USB-C connections, enabling direct file management and power delivery. Also backward compatible with Thunderbolt 2 (with adapter) and USB 3.0.
• Warranty & Data Recovery: Backed by an industry-leading 5-year limited warranty that includes Rescue Data Recovery Services. This offers peace of mind by covering one in-lab data recovery attempt in case of accidental data loss due to drive failure or other incidents.
• Adobe Creative Cloud: Often includes a complimentary one-month membership to the Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps plan.

Ideal Use Cases

• Video Editing Workstations: Ideal for storing and editing large video projects, including 4K, 6K, and even 8K footage, benefiting from high transfer speeds and ample capacity.
• Photography & Design Studios: Centralized storage for massive libraries of high-resolution RAW images, design files, and other creative assets, with convenient direct card ingestion.
• Content Creation Hubs: Simplifies desktop setups by consolidating storage, display connectivity, and card reading into a single device connected to a laptop or desktop.
• Data Archiving & Backup: Provides a robust solution for backing up critical project files and entire digital archives with the option of RAID 1 for data redundancy.