OWC’s new Categorical 4M2 enclosure offers artistic execs USB4 efficiency, sensible cooling, and versatile RAID choices in a compact, near-silent bundle.
Different World Computing (OWC) has launched a brand new Categorical 4M2 enclosure with USB4 assist, improved cooling, and expanded RAID flexibility. It is designed for creators needing quick, dependable exterior storage for duties like 8K video enhancing, multi-camera offloads, and enormous batch processing.
The Categorical 4M2 helps as much as 4 NVMe SSDs in 2230, 2242, or 2280 codecs. It reaches real-world speeds of as much as 3,200 MB/s when related to USB4 or Thunderbolt 3 or 4 ports.
The enclosure options adaptive sensible followers that solely activate underneath heavy hundreds, permitting near-silent operation throughout lighter workflows. Mixed with an aircraft-grade aluminum chassis for passive cooling, the design minimizes thermal throttling and distracting noise.
Expanded RAID assist and Mac compatibility
The brand new Categorical 4M2 helps RAID 0, 1, 4, 5, and 1+0 configurations utilizing OWC’s SoftRAID software program, Apple Disk Utility, or Home windows RAID instruments. These capabilities make it suited to workflows that require high-speed knowledge entry, redundancy, or a steadiness of each.
The enclosure options adaptive sensible followers. Picture credit score: OWC
Mac customers with Apple Silicon or Intel-based programs launched since 2020 will be capable to take full benefit of the enclosure’s efficiency. The system works greatest when related to a USB4 or Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port.
Older Macs with solely USB 3.2 will nonetheless work however at lowered speeds, nearer to 1,000 MB/s. For sure RAID setups or when utilizing 512-byte sector SSDs, macOS 14 or later could also be required.
Pricing & Availability
The OWC Categorical 4M2 is obtainable now for preorder beginning at $239.99. That base mannequin ships as an empty enclosure with no SSDs put in, giving customers full management over the drives they use.
A bundle with a three-year license for OWC’s SoftRAID software program can also be out there for $379.99.
The OWC Categorical 4M2 is obtainable now for preorder. Picture credit score: OWC
The unit helps as much as 4 NVMe M.2 drives in 2230, 2242, or 2280 codecs. OWC recommends utilizing high-performance NVMe SSDs, similar to its personal Aura sequence, which at the moment go as much as 8TB per module.
Bigger capacities are anticipated to be supported as higher-density drives change into out there. Orders positioned now are anticipated to ship the week of July 1 via OWC’s official retailer.