**Acadia Thunder 3 RAID Station: A Comprehensive Review**
The Acadia Thunder 3 RAID station is a state-of-the-art external drive enclosure that boasts an impressive array of features and capabilities. One of its standout features is its support for Gigabit Ethernet, which provides fast data transfer rates and reliable connectivity. Additionally, it has a UHS 2 SD card reader, allowing users to take advantage of high-speed storage options.
The RAID station also comes with Thunderbolt 3, which enables the transmission of up to 27 watts of power to compatible devices such as MacBook Pros. This feature is particularly useful for professionals who require a reliable and efficient external drive solution. Furthermore, it features a fan-off switch, making it an excellent choice for voiceovers or any situation where quiet operation is essential.
The device also comes with a display port connection, capable of supporting 4K resolution at 60 Hz. This feature provides users with the flexibility to connect their RAID station to high-resolution displays or monitors. The back of the device houses dual USB ports, which are USB 3.1 Gen 2, and Gigabit Ethernet, as well as dual Thunderbolt 3 ports that can be daisy-chained.
Another notable feature of the Acadia Thunder 3 RAID station is its fan-off switch, which allows users to silence the drive's fans for extended periods of time. However, it is essential to note that this feature should not be used for extended periods with spinning traditional hard drives.
The device also comes with a hardware RAID controller, which enables users to configure and manage their data storage options. The RAID station can house either 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch drives, and the installation process is made extremely easy thanks to thumb screws that allow users to quickly and easily insert and remove drives.
One of the most impressive features of the Acadia Thunder 3 RAID station is its ease of use. The device comes with thumb screws that make it possible to install drives without the need for screwdrivers, a feature that has been greatly appreciated by professionals who have recently installed multiple drives and enclosures.
**Unboxing and First Impressions**
Upon unboxing the Acadia Thunder 3 RAID station, users will find typical packaging materials such as stickers and cable ties. The device also comes with a power adapter and a Thunderbolt 3 cable. Inside the box, the user will find the RAID station itself, which is smaller than expected given its impressive array of features.
A warning message is displayed on the packaging, advising users not to keep the fan-off switch engaged for extended periods (30 minutes or more) and to do so only if using spinning traditional hard drives. This feature is designed to conserve energy and reduce noise levels.
The back of the device reveals dual USB ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, as well as a display port connection capable of supporting 4K resolution at 60 Hz. The hardware RAID controller is also visible on the back of the device.
**Test Results**
To test the Acadia Thunder 3 RAID station, we used Blackmagic Design Disk Speed Test, which provides an accurate assessment of storage drive performance. With two SATA SSDs configured in RAID zero, we observed read speeds around 700 Mbps, with write speeds fluctuating slightly but remaining consistent overall. This is typical performance for a RAID setup using modern storage technologies.
**Conclusion**
The Acadia Thunder 3 RAID station is an exceptional external drive enclosure that offers an impressive array of features and capabilities. Its support for Gigabit Ethernet, UHS 2 SD card reader, and dual Thunderbolt 3 ports make it an excellent choice for professionals requiring fast and reliable data transfer rates. The fan-off switch feature provides users with the flexibility to optimize noise levels during use. The device's ease of use, thanks to its thumb screws installation mechanism, has been greatly appreciated by those who have recently installed multiple drives and enclosures.
Overall, the Acadia Thunder 3 RAID station is a top-notch external drive solution that offers exceptional performance, reliability, and versatility. Its compact design and user-friendly features make it an excellent choice for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhands-on with the QIOs Thunder three raid station and all-in-one Thunder boat three dock that works great with the Mac how's it going ladies and gentlemen boys and girls this is Jack Benjamin with a 9 to 5 Mac we are here talking about the Thunder 3 raid station from McKee do it is a Thunderbolt 3 enabled enclosure it has so many different features on it including Gigabit Ethernet it has a UHS 2 SD card reader which is right here of course you can daisy-chain it Thunderbolt 3 it can provide up to 27 watts of power to your MacBook Pro it also has a fan off switch so great for voiceovers and any sort of thing where you need quiet and of course it is a rate enable - enclosure and it comes with a display port connection as well that can do 4k at 60 Hertz alright so here is the unboxing inside you get the typical stickers and cable ties that you normally get with the key do products and you also have a power adapter and you get a thunder both reak able so here is the raid station it's a little bit smaller than I would have imagined given the amount of features it has built in you also get this little warning message telling you that you don't want to keep the fan off for long periods of time 30 minutes max and definitely you want to do so if you're using spinning traditional hard drives alright so here is the back of the device you have dual USB ports these are USB 3.1 gen2 gibbets per second you have Gigabit Ethernet along with the dual Thunder both reports so you can daisy chain there is a display port connection there's your power connection there's your fan switch and there is your hardware RAID controller right here the little switch that you can adjust using a screw driver so on the opposite end of the Thunderer 3 raid station you have two LED indicators for each drive that you store it inside so one on the left one on the right and then you have your SD card slot this is a u hs2 compatible slot you saw how small this thing is compared to the 2.5 inch SSD you have the thumb screws that make it super easy to remove the cover and even better inside you have thumb screws to install your drive so either if 2.5 inch drives or 3.5 inch drives no screws needed it's all done by out these super handy thumb screws and I just love this is someone who has recently just installed a whole bunch of drives and a whole bunch of different enclosures and had to use a screwdriver I can't tell you how nice this feature is just to be able to insert the drive screw it in and you're done super simple super easy probably my favorite part of the Thunderer 3 rate station these thumb screws outside of the UHS to SD card slot of course so on the rear you have your hardware raid selector so you can use a like a little screwdriver or something to select which mode you want to go in I select it raids zero for the best performance and if you open up Disk Utility you can see that the hardware RAID is configured and we're ready to test this thing out so let's open up Blackmagic disc bead test and let's go down and mosey on down to aqui do open that up click the start button and you can see the right speeds from this raid zero setup we have here so right Spees are gonna be good the read speeds are going to be more consistent right around 700 or so the right to beat seemed to fluctuate quite a bit but it's basically the typical performance you'd expect from two SATA SSDs configured and raid zero okay so now let's talk about that SD card slot because as I mentioned it is a UHS 2 compatible slot which is really really nice if you're using a 5k iMac this makes a great companion because of course the imac does not have a UHS 2 SD card reader so this makes a big difference in both read and write speed as you'll see here in just a second and as we've talked about before in previous videos and of course you will need a u hs2 compatible SD card to take advantage of the speed which is a little bit more expensive but worth the investment if you're doing tons of imports on a regular basis so ladies and gentlemen that has been a look at the Acadia hundred three raid station it's a rating closure and even has a fan off switch that you can use from time to time to keep things really silent so I like this thing what can I say you have tons of ports it's basically a dock and an external drive in one yep dual USB ports gigabit ethernet display port connectivity dual Thunder both three ports a fan toggle and a UHS 2 SD card reader but of course this is a raid enclosure can house - 2.5 inch or 2 3.5 inch drives but the sleeper hit of the Acadia Thunder 3 rate station is how easy it is to install the drives I love that feature folks let me know what you guys think down below in the comments section this is Jeff with 905 Mackhands-on with the QIOs Thunder three raid station and all-in-one Thunder boat three dock that works great with the Mac how's it going ladies and gentlemen boys and girls this is Jack Benjamin with a 9 to 5 Mac we are here talking about the Thunder 3 raid station from McKee do it is a Thunderbolt 3 enabled enclosure it has so many different features on it including Gigabit Ethernet it has a UHS 2 SD card reader which is right here of course you can daisy-chain it Thunderbolt 3 it can provide up to 27 watts of power to your MacBook Pro it also has a fan off switch so great for voiceovers and any sort of thing where you need quiet and of course it is a rate enable - enclosure and it comes with a display port connection as well that can do 4k at 60 Hertz alright so here is the unboxing inside you get the typical stickers and cable ties that you normally get with the key do products and you also have a power adapter and you get a thunder both reak able so here is the raid station it's a little bit smaller than I would have imagined given the amount of features it has built in you also get this little warning message telling you that you don't want to keep the fan off for long periods of time 30 minutes max and definitely you want to do so if you're using spinning traditional hard drives alright so here is the back of the device you have dual USB ports these are USB 3.1 gen2 gibbets per second you have Gigabit Ethernet along with the dual Thunder both reports so you can daisy chain there is a display port connection there's your power connection there's your fan switch and there is your hardware RAID controller right here the little switch that you can adjust using a screw driver so on the opposite end of the Thunderer 3 raid station you have two LED indicators for each drive that you store it inside so one on the left one on the right and then you have your SD card slot this is a u hs2 compatible slot you saw how small this thing is compared to the 2.5 inch SSD you have the thumb screws that make it super easy to remove the cover and even better inside you have thumb screws to install your drive so either if 2.5 inch drives or 3.5 inch drives no screws needed it's all done by out these super handy thumb screws and I just love this is someone who has recently just installed a whole bunch of drives and a whole bunch of different enclosures and had to use a screwdriver I can't tell you how nice this feature is just to be able to insert the drive screw it in and you're done super simple super easy probably my favorite part of the Thunderer 3 rate station these thumb screws outside of the UHS to SD card slot of course so on the rear you have your hardware raid selector so you can use a like a little screwdriver or something to select which mode you want to go in I select it raids zero for the best performance and if you open up Disk Utility you can see that the hardware RAID is configured and we're ready to test this thing out so let's open up Blackmagic disc bead test and let's go down and mosey on down to aqui do open that up click the start button and you can see the right speeds from this raid zero setup we have here so right Spees are gonna be good the read speeds are going to be more consistent right around 700 or so the right to beat seemed to fluctuate quite a bit but it's basically the typical performance you'd expect from two SATA SSDs configured and raid zero okay so now let's talk about that SD card slot because as I mentioned it is a UHS 2 compatible slot which is really really nice if you're using a 5k iMac this makes a great companion because of course the imac does not have a UHS 2 SD card reader so this makes a big difference in both read and write speed as you'll see here in just a second and as we've talked about before in previous videos and of course you will need a u hs2 compatible SD card to take advantage of the speed which is a little bit more expensive but worth the investment if you're doing tons of imports on a regular basis so ladies and gentlemen that has been a look at the Acadia hundred three raid station it's a rating closure and even has a fan off switch that you can use from time to time to keep things really silent so I like this thing what can I say you have tons of ports it's basically a dock and an external drive in one yep dual USB ports gigabit ethernet display port connectivity dual Thunder both three ports a fan toggle and a UHS 2 SD card reader but of course this is a raid enclosure can house - 2.5 inch or 2 3.5 inch drives but the sleeper hit of the Acadia Thunder 3 rate station is how easy it is to install the drives I love that feature folks let me know what you guys think down below in the comments section this is Jeff with 905 Mack\n"
