TB5 M.2 NVMe Pegasus5 from Promise Revealed
At Computex 2025 in Taipei, PROMISE Technology introduced the Pegasus5 M8, an NVMe-based RAID storage system built around Intel’s Thunderbolt™ 5 interface. This new addition to the Pegasus5 product line focuses on delivering high-throughput, low-latency performance in a compact form factor tailored for professionals working with data-heavy content. Thunderbolt 5 provides a significant increase in bandwidth compared to previous generations, supporting up to 80 Gbps combined data and video transfer, which the M8 leverages for intensive media workflows. The M8 was presented as part of PROMISE’s wider strategy to address evolving demands in high-resolution video production, AI-assisted processing, and portable high-speed storage. Its debut follows the earlier launch of the Pegasus5 R12 and R12 Pro, which introduced 12-bay and hybrid HDD/SSD tower configurations with RAID capabilities, aimed at larger-scale desktop storage environments.
Promise Pegasus5 M8 Hardware Specifications
The Pegasus5 M8 is a compact, all-flash 8-bay direct-attached storage (DAS) system that exclusively supports M.2 NVMe SSDs. It accommodates both standard 2280-length SSDs and 1.5-inch variants, allowing flexibility in selecting drives based on capacity, endurance, or thermal profile. The system supports a mix of TLC-based drives for high performance and QLC-based drives for increased capacity per dollar, giving users the option to tailor the configuration toward speed, cost-efficiency, or a balance of both. Each M.2 slot is connected via a high-speed PCIe backplane, allowing maximum parallel bandwidth to the controller for simultaneous multi-drive operations.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | 8-Bay Portable NVMe Storage System |
| Drive Support | 8 × M.2 NVMe SSD (2280 and 1.5-inch supported) |
| Interface | Thunderbolt™ 5 (up to 80 Gbps combined bandwidth) |
| Maximum Throughput | Up to 6,000 MB/s |
| RAID Support | RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60 |
| RAID Engine | PROMISE PromiseRAID with NVMeBoost™ acceleration |
| Management Software | PROMISE Utility Pro (macOS and Windows compatible) |
| Power Delivery | Up to 140W passthrough charging (depends on host capabilities) |
| Display Support | Dual 6K or single 8K monitor via Thunderbolt 5 DisplayPort tunneling |
| Thermal Management | Intelligent fan control, internal heat dissipation with SSD thermal pads |
| Power Supply | Internal, 100–240V AC, 50–60Hz |
| Compatibility | macOS 13 and above, Windows 10 and later |
| Dimensions | Not officially disclosed (compact/portable class) |
| Certifications | RoHS, ErP compliant |
The system’s core connectivity is provided by Thunderbolt™ 5, which doubles the baseline throughput of Thunderbolt™ 4. In standard mode, it offers 40 Gbps bidirectional data bandwidth, while the Bandwidth Boost mode enables a combined total of up to 80 Gbps for asymmetric workloads—ideal for video-heavy pipelines. In addition to raw data throughput, Thunderbolt 5 also provides support for DisplayPort tunneling, enabling the M8 to drive external monitors (up to dual 6K or a single 8K display) through the same interface used for data. Furthermore, the port delivers significantly enhanced power, with the system supporting passthrough charging of up to 140W, subject to host-side capabilities and cable specification.
Internally, the M8 leverages PROMISE’s NVMeBoost™ and PromiseRAID™ technologies for RAID management, data acceleration, and system diagnostics. RAID levels 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60 are supported across the full NVMe SSD array, providing a wide range of redundancy and performance configurations. PromiseRAID includes advanced features such as Predictive Data Migration (PDM), which periodically checks drive health using SMART telemetry and reallocates data proactively in the event of early failure indicators. This is paired with real-time monitoring, automatic rebuild processes, and background consistency checks—all accessible via the PROMISE Utility Pro software.
From a thermal and acoustic perspective, the M8 is designed with intelligent fan control that dynamically adjusts based on system temperature, minimizing noise during idle or low-load periods. The chassis incorporates airflow paths optimized for side-to-side or front-to-back movement depending on orientation, and thermal pads are used to dissipate heat from the M.2 SSDs to internal heatsinks. The power supply is internal, auto-switching between 100–240V AC, and the unit includes power-saving features such as host-synced sleep/wake, contributing to energy efficiency in extended deployment. The system is compatible with macOS 13 and later as well as Windows 11.
In the context of the PROMISE Pegasus5 series, particularly models like the R12 and M8 that utilize Thunderbolt™ 4 and 5, it’s important to distinguish between upstream and downstream ports as they serve different roles in device connectivity. The upstream port on a Pegasus5 system is used to connect the storage unit to the host computer—typically a Mac or Windows workstation. This is the primary data pathway through which the system is controlled, data is read and written, and device management is executed.
The downstream port, by contrast, enables daisy-chaining or peripheral expansion from the Pegasus unit to additional Thunderbolt or USB-C devices. This could include external monitors, additional storage devices, or other Thunderbolt peripherals. On Thunderbolt 4-enabled systems like the Pegasus5 R12, the downstream port supports dual 4K or a single 8K monitor, allowing it to act as both a storage device and a hub for display and accessory connectivity. On Thunderbolt 5 systems like the M8 or R12 Pro, this downstream capability is expanded further, supporting higher display resolutions and bandwidth-intensive devices without reducing data throughput to the storage array. This separation ensures consistent storage performance even when other peripherals are in use.
Promise Pegasus5 R12 and R12 Pro Specifications
The Pegasus5 R12 and R12 Pro are tower-based storage systems designed primarily for desktop environments where higher raw capacity and mixed-drive support are required. The standard R12 model features 12 bays for 3.5-inch SATA HDDs, supporting up to 288TB using 24TB drives. It connects via Thunderbolt 4 and provides sequential performance of up to 3,000 MB/s. The unit includes dual Thunderbolt 4 ports—one upstream and one downstream—supporting daisy-chaining and external display connectivity. Internally, it runs on a quad-core 2.2 GHz storage processor with 8GB of DDR4 ECC memory, and supports a wide range of RAID levels including 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60, with optional hot spare functionality. Like the M8, it is managed via PROMISE Utility Pro and includes support for Predictive Data Migration.
| Specification | Pegasus5 R12 | Pegasus5 R12 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | 12-Bay Tower | 12 + 4-Bay Hybrid Tower |
| Drive Support | 12 × 3.5″ SATA HDD | 12 × 3.5″ SATA HDD + 4 × M.2 2280 NVMe SSD |
| Max Capacity | Up to 288TB (12 × 24TB) | 288TB HDD + 32TB NVMe SSD (4 × 8TB) |
| Interface | Thunderbolt™ 4 (40 Gbps), USB4 compatible | Thunderbolt™ 5 (up to 80 Gbps), USB4 compatible |
| Maximum Throughput | Up to 3,000 MB/s | Up to 6,000 MB/s |
| RAID Support | RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60 | RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, 50 (NVMe), full RAID for HDD |
| RAID Engine | PromiseRAID | PromiseRAID with NVMe RAID support |
| Processor | Storage Processor, 4-core, 2.2 GHz | Same |
| Memory | 8GB DDR4 ECC DIMM | Same |
| Display Support | One downstream Thunderbolt 4 port (dual 4K or single 8K monitor) | Thunderbolt 5 display tunneling for multiple 6K/8K monitors |
| Power Delivery | Up to 85W (Thunderbolt/USB4 host) | Up to 140W passthrough charging (host dependent) |
| Management Software | PROMISE Utility Pro | Same |
| Operating Systems | macOS 13 and above, Windows 10 or later | Same |
| Hot Swap / Hot Spare | Supported | Supported |
| Smart Features | Predictive Data Migration, SMART polling, Intelligent cooling | Same |
| Dimensions (mm) | 318 x 227 x 227 | Same |
| Weight | 15.5 kg | Slightly higher (exact value not disclosed) |
| Power Supply | AC 100–240V, 350W | Same |
| Certifications | EMC: FCC, CE; Safety: cTUVus, CB; RoHS, ErP | Same |
The R12 Pro builds upon this foundation by introducing a hybrid 12+4 bay architecture—adding four M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slots alongside the 12 standard HDD bays. This hybrid layout enables users to implement NVMe-based caching or tiered storage to accelerate performance-critical operations while retaining the high capacity of mechanical storage. The R12 Pro is equipped with Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, offering a data rate of up to 6,000 MB/s and compatibility with advanced display and charging protocols. RAID support is extended to NVMe drives, allowing configurations such as RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, and 50 across the SSD layer. The system retains the same internal architecture and management tools as the standard R12 but introduces higher thermal demands and greater performance headroom due to its dual-media architecture.
Who are the Promise Pegasus5 M8, R12 and R12 Pro For?
The Pegasus5 M8, R12, and R12 Pro are each designed to address distinct storage requirements, aligning with varying workflows and user priorities. The M8 is suited for professionals who require high-speed NVMe performance in a compact and portable form factor. Its use of Thunderbolt 5 and full NVMe support makes it particularly effective for high-resolution video editing (4K to 8K), real-time AI model training, and mobile post-production environments. Its small footprint and low-noise design further enhance its usability for users who operate in constrained or shared workspaces, or who regularly travel with their equipment.
The R12 and R12 Pro are more appropriate for stationary, high-capacity storage needs. The R12, with its 12-bay HDD configuration, supports large media libraries and backup repositories, making it suitable for long-term storage in editing suites or enterprise archive setups. The R12 Pro extends this by incorporating NVMe SSD support alongside HDDs, offering tiered storage capabilities that appeal to users who require a balance between high throughput and large volume. This model is targeted at studios or teams managing high-bandwidth workflows such as multi-stream video processing, where simultaneous access to cached and archival data is necessary.
