TerraMaster D8: New hybrid drive for fast and affordable data storage

TerraMaster is currently funding a new storage solution, the D8 Hybrid, as part of a Kickstarter campaign. The company is hoping to be able to finance the device in this way, so it is more of a pre-order campaign in disguise, but there is still a certain risk associated with crowdfunding campaigns.

The TerraMaster D8 is a hybrid storage device and a Direct Attached Storage (DAS). This means that it can accommodate mass storage devices in different form factors and therefore at different speeds. Four hard disks or SSDs in 3.5 and 2.5-inch format and four M.2 2280 SSDs can be used. Data can be stored comparatively easily on the hard disks, while the SSDs allow for higher speeds and lower access times. This makes sense, for example, when storing data for a film project on the SSDs for quick editing and then transferring it to the hard drives once the project is complete. 

The 300 x 275 x 186 mm device can be connected to a PC via USB 3.2 Gen 2, which enables a data transfer rate of up to 10 GBit/s. The maximum read speed is said to be up to 1016 MByte/s when using four SATA SSDs in RAID mode and 960 MByte/s when writing. The storage solution can also be used as an extension for an NAS system. Various data systems are supported, so the TerraMaster D8 can be used on both Windows and macOS systems.

The D8 Hybrid has an asking price of $299.99. Delivery is scheduled for July.

A possible alternative: Buy the BUFFALO LinkStation 220 at Amazon.