Thunderbolt 3 to 10 Gigabit adapter for connecting TB3 HDD to my PC.

[andi okem]

I want to connect my thunderbolt3 hdd to my PC. The PC doesn't have thunderbolt port, and the motherboard doesn't have thunderbolt header so no chance to install thunderbolt3 card. The best solution i'm thinking is to add 10gig ethernet on my pc . Then i need a TB3 to 10gbe adapter to connect both devices. Does anyone know any good one adapter or are they even exist ? seems that i can't find one. Sonnettech and ATTO has 10gbe to Tb3 which is the reverse that i need. Those cards are for PC with TB3 and connect to 10gig pheripheral, i need the other way around (reverse) . Does anyone got some information ? or any better solution ?

 

[dark_lord69]

"thunderbolt3 hdd to my PC"
Why did you buy a thunderbolt 3 drive if you don't have a port for it? There's USB 3 and 3.1 those are fast too.

"The best solution i'm thinking is to add 10gig ethernet on my pc . Then i need a TB3 to 10gbe adapter to connect both devices."
That's the best solution you've found but NOT the actual best solution.

"Does anyone know any good one adapter or are they even exist ? seems that i can't find one."
Never seen any in my life....

"any better solution ?"
yep, buy a hard drive with a connector that you actually have.
OR
You could buy something like this:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAD6H5UR9726&cm_re=thunderbolt_3_card-_-9SIAD6H5UR9726-_-Product
This is what 1 reviewer said about this product.
"If you're a noob: RUN AWAY/GET PROFESSIONAL HELP."

 

[andi okem]

@dark_lord69. The thunderbolt 3 drive is fixed because I need r/w speed more than 1GB/s. If there's USB 3 drive can go that high, surely I will buy it. I will use areca 8050t3 12 bay with about 1.7 GB/s read and write speed. The other option is using NAS but the price is twice that tb3 drive. The problem now is choosing motherboard which support tb3, I actually interested in x299 mobo like Asus x299 deluxe with thunderbolt ex3 included. But I read couple of bad review about Intel x299 chipset so I'm thinking to switch option to ryzen 7 and x370 mobo. Then it would be great if I can find the adapter to bridge between the tb3 drive to my PC. The only best option is via 10gig Ethernet which can deliver still high bandwidth. BTW I need 24TB for my work, so ssd is not an options in term of budget.

 

[USAFRet]

The thunderbolt 3 drive is fixed because I need r/w speed more than 1GB/

BTW I need 24TB for my work

What is the specific use case for this speed and size requirement?
Possibly what you seek does not yet exist in the consumer space.

 

[ArtPog]

1. This "thunderbolt3 hdd" you wish to connect. Can I assume you're referring to a USB external HDD with a Type C connector? It would certainly help if you would provide the make & model of this device.

2. If it's what I think it is...does this device contain USB 3.1 Gen 2 capability with a Type C connector?

3. Or is it a USB 3.1 Gen 1 capable device?

 

[andi okem]

@USAFRet and @ArtPog :
This thunderbolt drive is ARECA 8050T3 as i already mentioned in the previous post . Here's the link :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVSwAqXyVc8
http://www.areca.com.tw/products/thunderbolt3.htm

couple of my friend has been using the previous thunderbolt 2 version (8050t2) and the speed is amazing (around 1000MB/s). These T2 drives has been used in couple of POST productions here (color grading and online vfx). Now i want to try the T3 version. Promising speed is more than 1700MB/s on 12bay.

the thunderbolt 3 port phisically is the same as USB type C, but i think i can't just plug any thunderbolt3 ext drive to USB type C in my PC without my motherboard has thunderbolt header. Let me know if i'm wrong please. Now i don't have them yet so i can't do a test. I will be using this drive for 4k movie vfx for Netflix. I currenlty use promise pegasus R6 (https://www.promise.com/Products/Pegasus/Pegasus2) but not enough speed( max. 600MB/s). I need minimum 20TB so i can't use ssd in term of budget.

 

[USAFRet]

I will be using this drive for 4k movie vfx for Netflix.
...
I need minimum 20TB so i can't use ssd in term of budget.

So now we have a potential use case.

This is what I would build:
8 bay NAS box.
7 HDD in RAID 5 or 6.
1 x 1TB SSD for cache drive.
10GBe on the NAS and the workstation(s).

Since this is a moneymaking production system, the cost should be recouped quickly.

 

[ArtPog]

My comment is solely directed with reference to the "Thunderbolt cable" connecting this ARC-8050TC unit and not with the unit itself. I've no experience with that device so I can't comment on the unit itself.

Insofar as the connecting cable, i.e., the "Thunderbolt cable", it's more-or-less common knowledge that the cable was designed for the Apple Mac line of PCs and related equipment. Now we're aware that the connector appears to be a "common" Type-C connector and one might think a compatible connection could be made to a Windows-designed PC motherboard that contains a Type-C port as many of the newer motherboards do. BUT YOU CANNOT MAKE THAT ASSUMPTION.

The thing to do - and it's the ONLY thing for you to do - is simply contact the Areca manufacturer and pose the question as to compatible connectivity. There's no third way, capiche?

I've made it easy for you. http://www.areca.com.tw/support/ask_a_question.asp

 

[andi okem]

I will be using this drive for 4k movie vfx for Netflix.
...
I need minimum 20TB so i can't use ssd in term of budget.

So now we have a potential use case.

This is what I would build:
8 bay NAS box.
7 HDD in RAID 5 or 6.
1 x 1TB SSD for cache drive.
10GBe on the NAS and the workstation(s).

Since this is a moneymaking production system, the cost should be recouped quickly.

Thanks for the input. Yes that's exactly what i want to setup at first but then i try to replace that 8 bay NAS. I'm thinking this tb3 to 10gbe option, if it is available than meaning i can use TB3 raid such as areca. Because that NAS system (like from QNAP) will cost me twice or more compared to ARECA (fyi local price here : areca diskless about $2400 , Qnap NAS diskless $4500). But if this is the only solution than i may have to go to NAS.

The reason to go to TB3 raid compared to NAS is about the price. And also the 8 bay NAS generally won't reach that TB3 speed such as 8050t3 for the double price. The other reason is if i want to upgrade, the tb3 drive is easier to sell compared to NAS.

update :
That first case is that i plan to use ryzen mobo so why there's no thunderbolt3 support and still hope there's tb3 to 10gbe adapter. Now other solution : I may just throw couple of $100 to switch to intel mobo + thunderbolt card (such as asus x99 deluxe II with thunderbolt 3 adapter included) , so fix the linkage problem to the TB3 raid.

 

[andi okem]

The thing to do - and it's the ONLY thing for you to do - is simply contact the Areca manufacturer and pose the question as to compatible connectivity. There's no third way, capiche?

I've made it easy for you. http://www.areca.com.tw/support/ask_a_question.asp

Yes, I have conctacted them couple days ago, i just got a replied , as the conclusion they offer something like this :
You can consider to buy an ARC-1883x (PCIe 3.0 to SAS RAID controller)+ ARC-4038-12 JBOD.

I will check it out today and see how that solution will work for me. Still in contact with them, i will update here if got it solved.