OWC Expands Lineup with StudioStack and Mercury Helios 5S

Other World Computing (OWC) has expanded its high-performance connectivity lineup with two significant Thunderbolt 5 releases: the OWC StudioStack, a hybrid storage hub designed specifically for the Mac Studio and Mac mini, and the OWC Mercury Helios 5S, an external PCIe card chassis for compact workstations.

These new devices leverage the massive bandwidth of Thunderbolt 5 (up to 80 Gb/s) to eliminate bottlenecks for creative professionals using the latest Apple silicon and high-end PCs.

OWC StudioStack: The Ultimate Mac Studio Companion

Designed to sit seamlessly underneath a Mac Studio or Mac mini, the StudioStack is the world’s first Thunderbolt 5 stackable hybrid storage solution. It addresses the limited internal storage of Apple’s desktop computers by offering both high-speed NVMe performance and high-capacity HDD archival space in a single footprint.

Key Specifications:

• Performance: Real-world speeds up to 6302 MB/s.
• Hybrid Storage: Supports up to 8 TB NVMe SSD (for speed) and 24 TB HDD (for capacity).
• Connectivity Hub: Adds three Thunderbolt 5 ports and three USB-A (10 Gb/s) ports.
• Design: Aircraft-grade aluminum with a footprint that matches the Mac Studio.
• Cooling: Features a smart, adaptive fan for near-silent operation.

OWC Mercury Helios 5S: Desktop Power for Laptops

The Mercury Helios 5S solves a common problem for modern notebooks and all-in-one PCs: the lack of PCIe expansion slots. This chassis connects via a single Thunderbolt or USB4 cable, allowing users to install pro-grade video capture, 10 Gb Ethernet, NVMe RAID, or audio cards into devices that otherwise couldn’t support them.

Key Specifications:

• Bandwidth: Up to 6000 MB/s for simultaneous read/write.
• Compatibility: Supports half-length, full-height, single or double-width PCIe cards (PCIe 4.0 x4 / x16 mechanical).
• Daisy Chaining: Includes three Thunderbolt 5 ports (with 15 W power delivery) for adding displays or drives.
• Ease of Use: Tool-less installation with captive thumb screws.

Pricing and Availability

OWC will showcase these devices live at Inter Bee 2025 in Japan (Booth #8218) from November 19–21.