Connect a Low-Profile PCIe Card to Computers with Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 Ports
The latest ultra-light notebooks, small form factor, and all-in-one Mac®, Windows®, and Linux® computers with Thunderbolt™ 4 or Thunderbolt 3 ports are amazingly thin, but there’s nowhere to install PCIe cards. What if you want to add video capture, processing, or connecting capabilities to your computer? Sonnet has the answer — the Echo™ Express SEL is a compact, desktop Thunderbolt™ to PCIe card expansion system that enables you to connect a low-profile PCIe card to your computer via a single Thunderbolt cable.
The Thunderbolt Connection
Plugged into one of your computer’s Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3 ports, this little expansion system supports many low-profile PCIe cards (Thunderbolt-compatible 16Gb and 8Gb Fibre Channel, 25Gb and 10Gb Ethernet, video capture and processing, SAS and SATA host bus adapters, and RAID controllers) through its x8 PCIe 3.0 slot.
Nearly Every Thunderbolt-compatible, Low-profile PCIe Card Supported
The Echo Express SEL accommodates a wide variety of PCIe cards. Do you have a card in mind but aren’t sure it’s compatible? We’ve put together a compatibility list that identifies cards conforming to Thunderbolt technology requirements, and organized by fit and power compatibility with specific expansion systems. See PCIe Cards Compatibility PDF for details.
Smart Design, Inside and OutAluminum Enclosure. Auto Power On/Off.
With a shell crafted of rugged and lightweight aluminum, Echo Express SEL securely houses the installed PCIe card. Inside, the card is protected through the use of a variable-speed, temperature-controlled fan which ensures the card and chassis’ components remain reliably cool. The fan automatically speeds up as necessary to cool the card when it’s hot, and slows down when it’s cool. Since Echo Express products automatically power on and off with your computer, there is no power switch on the chassis, ensuring you don’t waste energy by forgetting to turn it off.
Designed for Low-profile PCIe Cards
Echo Express SEL supports one half-length (up to 6.6 inches long), low-profile, single-width PCIe card; PCIe 4.0, 3.0, 2.0, and 1.1 PCIe 4.0 cards are supported. Many of the most popular Thunderbolt-compatible high-speed networking and storage controller cards are a perfect fit, and even the BlueFish 444 Epoch 4K Neutron video card can be accommodated.
Quiet Please
Echo Express SEL is designed to be ultra-quiet so that it can be comfortably used in noise-sensitive environments. The airflow path within the chassis has been specially designed to enable the fan to quietly and efficiently cool the installed card at all times, even during peak operation.
The Secure Connection for High Performance. 40Gbps Thunderbolt Cable and ThunderLok 3 Included
Sonnet includes a Thunderbolt cable that supports Thunderbolt’s full 40Gbps bandwidth, and is fully compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 3 computers. Sonnet also provides a ThunderLok™ 3 Thunderbolt connector retainer clip that prevents accidental cable disconnections — just slide it over one end of the cable, and then plug in the connector and secure it to the chassis by turning a thumbscrew. Because of its unique design, ThunderLok remains on the cable so it won’t get lost when not in use.
40Gbps ThunderboltFastest External Interface Available
The Echo Express SEL features a 40Gbps Thunderbolt interface that delivers up to 2800 MB/s of PCIe bandwidth, enabling it to support 4K video capture and processing cards at high frame rates, and 16Gb FC cards and dual-port 10GbE cards at full performance.
- Dual 40Gbps Thunderbolt Ports - One port is reserved for the connection to your Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3 computer; the second port enables expansion of up to five additional Thunderbolt peripheral devices in a daisy chain.
- 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 Support - 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 support allows you to connect a USB device to the second Thunderbolt port using the proper cable or adapter.
- Provides 15W of Power - For peripherals requiring the need for extra power, 15 watts is provided to bus-powered devices.
- Supports Connecting One 5K 60Hz Display - Maximize the utilization of one computer Thunderbolt port.
Compatible with Thunderbolt 4 Computers and Apple M1/M2 Series Macs
Echo Express SEL is fully compatible with Thunderbolt 4 computers, including Apple M1/M2 series Macs. Sonnet Thunderbolt expansion systems are purposely designed with a Thunderbolt 3 controller and its four lanes of PCIe (not available in a Thunderbolt 4 peripheral) to achieve maximum simultaneous ingest speeds.
Backward Compatible with Older Macs
No Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3? No problem — the Echo Express SEL is also compatible with Macs with Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt ports when used with the bi-directional Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter and a Thunderbolt cable (both sold separately).
|
Sonnet Technologies Echo Express SEL Specifications |
|
| Mac Compatibility |
Mac (M1/M2 series) with PCIe cards that have compatible drivers
Mac (Intel®) with Thunderbolt 3 ports Mac (Intel) with a Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt 1 port with an Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter plus a Thunderbolt 2 cable (both sold separately) macOS 10.12.6+ macOS Ventura compatible |
| Windows Compatibility |
Windows computer with Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3 ports
Windows 11 and 10 |
| Linux Compatibility | Linux computer with Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3 ports Linux Kernel 5.0+ |
| PCIe Card Compatibility | For a list of compatible PCIe cards, see the following PDF |
|
Hardware |
|
| Form Factor |
Thunderbolt desktop enclosure
|
| External Connectors | Two Thunderbolt ports 12V power port |
| Expansion Slot | One x8 PCIe 3.0 slot x8 mechanical; x4 electrical (Thunderbolt 3 spec) |
| PCIe Cards Supported | One low-profile PCIe card |
| Power Adapter | Universal 60W, 100-240V, 50-60 Hz NRTL Certified |
| Operating Temperatures | 0˚C to 35˚C (32˚F to 95˚F) |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 4 x 8.25 x 2.8 in. (10.3 x 21 x 7.28 cm) |
| Weight | 1.85 lbs (.84 kg) |
| Compliance | RoHS 3 (Directive 2015/863) IEC62368-1 and IEC62368-2 Safety |
- Echo Express SEL Desktop System
- Universal power adapter
- Region-specific power cable for US, Australia, Europe, Japan, Switzerland