TerraMaster D5 Thunderbolt 3 is a professional external case for 3.5 “or 2.5” disks, capable of managing different configurations, even in RAID, via Thunderbolt 3. We have specified professional because there is no doubt that such a technology for price and features is designed especially for a very demanding public both in terms of space and capacity, both of which are fully respected here thanks above all to the support of the Thunderbolt 3 connection.
Thunderbolt D5 Thunderbolt 3, the review
The box as a cradle
The box comes with a good dose of dense rubber inside, designed to protect the case during transport: the powerful external power supply (which must support up to 5 3.5 “disks, therefore a load of important work), a Thunderbolt 3 cable, the Italian power cable, a screwdriver and two bags for the screws to attach the disks, one designed for 3.5 “disks and a second for 2.5” SSDs .
Out of the box, the disk has an austere look, characterized by a satin metal casing, with front and rear in plastic: the extreme similarity to the TerraMaster NAS that we have always reviewed on these pages, the TerraMaster F4–220 and F3–220 is clear right away, so much so that it is difficult to distinguish them from the front (were it not for the number of discs).
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Another curious thing is the presence of a handle at the top, which helps a lot in positioning the case and also when, for any reason, we have to move it to check or attach or release cables.
The handle is fixed and cannot be removed, so it is not possible to place anything substantial on top: however the presence of the handle becomes essential when the case is full of discs and its weight is not irrelevant.
In the back there are the two Thunderbolt 3 connectors, a Display Port connector and two large fans for cooling the disks.
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Preparation
Once the D5 Thunderbolt 3 and the not indifferent power supply were positioned, we moved on to the set-up of the internal disks: for the occasion we used WD Red disks for 6TB NAS and a Kingston DC400 unit as a single disk: a list of compatible drives can be found on the TerraMaster website.
The disk allows RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, JBOD and Single Disk RAID configurations: we opted for a RAID 0 on the three RED disks plus a single volume for the Kingston SSD, a mix to evaluate the terms of both speed and noise of the D5 Thunderbolt 3.
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From the TerraMaster website we have downloaded both the drivers for Mac and the RAID Manager Pro software that allows disk management in complete freedom: RAID Manager Pro is installed locally but is managed entirely via browser.
The software is very detailed and allows considerable operation, with all the possibilities available, even if you need a minimum of knowledge to adapt all the items to your needs but as we said at the beginning, the product is designed for the professional, for the which the parameters are completely normal.
Last note: for operation it is indifferent to use it both horizontally and vertically, but in this second position, we are told by the parent company, the product is less “stable” for a higher center of gravity.
The contents of the package, with the case, cables and a small providential screwdriver.
Road test
The road test, we are happy to admit, gave very good results: the D5 Thunderbolt 3 wakes up with the Mac and goes into standby when you turn off the latter, or when you unplug the Thunderbolt cable, to get back on quickly. as soon as you plug it back in again.
The noise is very low: in fact, removed that of the internal disks which, we remember, varies from model to model, that of the D5 Thunderbolt 3 is limited to only the two rear fans, which are always activated but which, as far as our tests are concerned, do not have never increased the speed even during stressful phases of the discs.
Speed with RED disks in RAID on Thunderbolt 3
The speed is very good, thanks largely to the Thunderbolt connection: during our tests we used both a 2018 Mac mini (with Thunderbolt 3) and a 2015 iMac (with Thunderbolt 2 and an Apple Thunderbolt 2 / Thunderbolt 3 adapter over Thunderbolt 2 cable ) with minimal but still very high performance differences, which you can see in the screenshots below taken thanks to AJA System Test.
It is interesting to note how the three RED mechanical disks (in RAID 0) have reached, and in some moments surpassed the SSD counterpart, a sign that this technology still has something to say beyond the performance / price ratio.
Speed found with SSD on Thunderbolt 3
Versatility
In addition to this, we point out the extreme versatility of the product from the point of view of the possible configurations, a factor not to be underestimated when choosing.
The double Thunderbolt 3 connector on the back allows you to act as a HUB for other Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C accessories: for example we have connected a USB-C HUB (this one) to compensate for the chronic lack of USB-A ports in Macs, where we have connected a hard drive, and the Razer Nommo Pro speakers (via USB-A).
But that's not all: the Thunderbolt 3 connector also allows the connection of an external display, since the Thunderbolt connection also carries the video signal but, ultimately, it was also possible to drive a second display via the Display Port connector on the back. , just above the two Thunderbolt 3 (but only with direct Display Port connector, with a DVI adapter the connection did not work).
Which means that with a simple USB-C HUB (here the best we have found) it is possible to use TerraMaster D5 Thunderbolt 3 as a Dock Station (where to connect mouse, keyboard and display with a single Thunderbolt 3 cable), very convenient for those who have a MacBook Pro.
And with a Thunderbolt 2 cable and Thunderbolt 2 / Thunderbolt 3 adapter use the same principle even on a Mac with Thunderbolt 2.
The extreme versatility of the D5 Thunderbolt 3 is also shown in this graphic: a T3 connector is used for connection to the Mac, the other for connecting to an external display, while the Display Port for a second external display. In practice, the case can also be used as a small desktop dock.
Considerations
More than the NAS brothers, which have also demonstrated quality, the TerraMaster D5 Thunderbolt 3 appears as a well-calibrated professional product able to rival the most famous competitors (which are not even many in the Thunderbolt 3 sector).
The remarkable capacity (5 disks), the extreme versatility given by the two Thunderbolt 3 ports, the satin metal case that looks great next to an iMac or MacBook Pro, as well as the practicality of the various configurations and, last but not least, the speeds access to disks, offers an absolutely interesting and positive point of view.
The price is inviting even if we remember it is to be considered without disks, which must be taken separately: the presence of disks for NAS here in the test is purely indicative, however, as for network disks, also in this case we recommend not skimp on the purchase and take products that live up to expectations.
Pro : • Large capacity • The two Thunderbolt 3 connectors offer considerable elasticity • Attractive price
Versus: • A little austere look • Non-removable handle.
Price: 899.99 Euro (empty, without discs)
TerraMaster D5 Thunderbolt 3 can also be purchased directly on Amazon.it as a Prime product with a small discount on the original price. We used three 6TB WD Red drives and a Kingston DC400 SSD for the test.
The TerraMaster D5–300C USB3.0 (249.95 Euro) and D5–300 Type C (299.95 Euro) models are also available on Amazon as an alternative.
