Oyen Digital Fortis 5C 5-Bay USB-C (USB 3.2) External Drive Array, Enclosure

I installed two 4TB SSDs and one 2TB HDD into the enclosure with no issues so far... However!... I also tried to install a 12TB HDD but it didn't seem to be supported. The 12TB was detected by Windows but every time I started transferring files to it, the drive would "crash" and the transfer would fail. I tried in two different bays. I ended up hooking the 12TB HDD outside of the enclosure (using a USB-SATA adapter). I couldn't find anything online or in the manual about max TB size, but I would caution that the max for the enclosure may be less than 12TB. Fan might be noticeable for some people, but I don't think it's too loud. Overall I like it, just wish that I could have known beforehand that the 12TB drive wouldn't work. For reference, the exact model of the drive that didn't work is Toshiba N300 Pro 12TB.

The Oyen Digital Fortis 5C is a high-capacity, 5-bay storage enclosure designed for professionals and enthusiasts who need a massive amount of "cold" or "warm" storage without the complexity of a network-attached system. It uses a modern USB-C interface and is built with a focus on ruggedness and heat management. ​Core Design & Connectivity ​5-Bay Versatility: The enclosure features five trays that support both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch SATA hard drives or SSDs. This allows for a mix of high-capacity mechanical drives for archives and fast SSDs for active projects. ​USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2): It utilizes a 10Gbps interface. While mechanical hard drives won't saturate this speed individually, the high bandwidth ensures that the interface isn't a bottleneck when accessing multiple drives simultaneously. ​Rugged Aluminum Build: The housing is made of thick, high-quality aluminum. This isn't just for durability; the metal acts as a massive heat sink to draw warmth away from the drives during long data transfers. ​Individual Drive Control: Each bay has its own power switch. This is a standout feature for power management, allowing you to keep specific drives "offline" to save energy and reduce wear and tear when they aren't needed. ​Performance Review ​The Good ​Independent Operation (JBOD): By default, the system sees each drive as an individual disk. This is ideal if you want to keep different categories of data—such as historical research, financial records, or media—on separate physical platters. ​Superior Cooling: It features a large, rear-mounted cooling fan and an open-ventilation design. Users report that even with five high-RPM drives spinning, temperatures remain well within safe limits. ​Ease of Access: The trays are designed for quick swaps. While it’s intended for permanent storage, the tool-less (or near tool-less) nature of the bays makes it easy to upgrade capacity as your storage needs grow. ​The Not-So-Good ​Software RAID Only: This is a "dumb" enclosure, meaning it does not have a built-in hardware RAID controller. If you want to mirror your drives for safety (RAID 1) or combine them for speed (RAID 0), you must use your computer's operating system (like Disk Management in Windows or Disk Utility on Mac) to manage it. ​Fan Noise: While the cooling is effective, the fan is audible in a quiet room. If you are using this in a bedroom or a very quiet office, you may notice the constant "hum" of the airflow. ​Physical Footprint: Because it houses five drives and a dedicated internal power supply, it is a substantial piece of hardware. It requires significant desk space and a dedicated power outlet. ​The Verdict ​The Fortis 5C is a "workhorse" enclosure. It is built much more solidly than many of its plastic competitors and offers the rare benefit of individual power switches for each bay. It is an excellent choice for organizing large datasets or maintaining a comprehensive backup of all your personal and professional files. ​If you are planning to store high volumes of research or manage your digital life during a move, this enclosure provides a centralized, secure location for your data. Its rugged build also makes it more suitable for transport than more fragile consumer-grade desktop drives.