OWC Drive Dock with Thunderbolt 2 & USB 3.1 Review

A Closer Look.

Before we get to the actual testing, let us have a closer look at the device and its accessories. The included Thunderbolt cable is 1 meter long and a great bonus to get with the device. Most Thunderbolt devices come without a cable and require you to get them yourself.

The included USB cable is a little shorter with just 60cm length. It is a classic Type-B to Type-A cable which is the strongest option. While the large plugs make for a sturdy connection, it also offers compatibility with almost any USB host.

Top of the Drive Dock

The top of the Drive Dock features multi-coloured activity LEDs for each drive and a soft power button for them. The individual power buttons are great as it allows you to turn a single drive on and off as you need to.

Each drive bay is marked with a number, making sure you always know which drive is which.

Rear of the Drive Dock

The rear side has all the connectors. The PSU is built-in which makes the unit a bit heavier. The larger weight makes for a better stand on your desk, and it also delivers a cleaner setup. There is no need for extra power bricks and external PSUs to be located around your workstation with the Drive Dock.

The rear side also features a hard-power button for the entire unit along with the USB 3.1 and two Thunderbolt 2 connectors.

The drives connect to a standard SATA connector inside the unit. You can plug any standard SATA 2.5 or 3.5-inch drives into this unit.

Bottom of the Drive Dock

The bottom of the unit doesn’t feature a lot, but that’s no surprise here. There are a couple of stickers with the product and serial numbers and four small rubber feet. The feet make sure that the unit stays where you place it and also capture some of the vibrations that mechanical drives make.