Sonnet Echo SE I T5 Thunderbolt 5 Expansion System

About: Sonnet Echo SE I T5 Thunderbolt 5 Expansion System

Laptop and mini computers with Thunderbolt 5 ports offer tremendous processing power, but don’t have the PCIe slots creative pros need for connecting adapter cards to add specialized ports and processing capabilities critical to their workflows. Sonnet offers the ideal solution to overcome this limitation with the Echo SE I T5 Thunderbolt 5 to PCIe card expansion system. This compact, single-slot system — compatible with Apple M series Macs, Intel Macs with Thunderbolt 3 ports, plus Windows and Linux computers with Thunderbolt 5 or 4 or USB4 ports — enables you to easily connect almost any Thunderbolt compatible, non-GPU PCIe card to your computer via an included Thunderbolt 5 cable.

• Adds Connectivity, Improves Capabilities – Connects a high-performance PCIe card to your computer with Thunderbolt ports.
• Thunderbolt 5 to PCIe Device – Provides 6000 MB/s of bi-direction PCIe bandwidth to the installed card.
• Broad PCIe Card Compatibility Support – PCIe 4.0 x8 card slot support one half-length+ (maximum 7.75 inches long), full-height, single-width PCIe card (plus one daughter card). See Sonnet’s PCIe Cards Compatibility PDF.
• Pro Power –  Auxiliary PCIe power connector for a power-hungry card; second Thunderbolt port provides 15W of power to the connected peripheral.
• Compact. Lightweight. Amazing Performance – Small footprint, but large enough to support nearly every Thunderbolt-compatible PCIe card at maximum performance.
• Connect Additional Devices – One Thunderbolt port connects to computer; second port supports daisy-chaining additional Thunderbolt peripheral devices, or connection of a USB device.
• Extremely Quiet – Temperature-controlled, variable-speed fan automatically and quietly cools the card.
• Rugged Aluminium Housing – Provides robust and secure protection.
• Smart Power Management – System powers on/off automatically with the computer; no power switch required.

Pro PCIe Card Expansion

Echo SE I T5 enables you to connect a pro PCIe card — such as video capture and playback; audio interface; SAS, SATA or Fibre Channel host bus adapter; multiport 10Gb or 25Gb Ethernet; or RAID controller — to add the ports and processors your computer lacks. Providing up to 6000 MB/s of bi-directional PCIe bandwidth to the installed card — twice that of Thunderbolt 4 or 3 — you’ll be able to extract even better performance with cards with ultra-high bandwidth requirements when connected to a computer with Thunderbolt 5 ports!

One PCIe 4.0 Slot and Space for a Daughter Card

Sonnet Echo SE I T5 features an x8 PCIe 4.0 slot, and supports a single- or double-width PCIe card. Double-width? Examples include pro video and audio cards like the Blackmagic Design DeckLink 8K Pro G2, which spans two card spaces, or main cards with connected daughter cards that use the neighboring space for additional ports.

Power To Spare

Echo SE I T5 includes an auxiliary PCIe power connector that enables you to use a card that requires extra power such as the AJA Kona 5, Blackmagic Decklink 4K Extreme12G and DeckLink 8K Pro G2, and Deltacast 12G/4C.

Supports Almost Any Thunderbolt-compatible, Non-GPU PCIe Card

Measuring just 3.4 inches wide by 11.2 inches long by 5.8 inches tall, the compact Echo SE I T5 supports cards at a maximum of 7.75 inches long, making it compatible with nearly all Thunderbolt-compatible PCIe 4.0, 3.0, 2.0, and 1.1 cards. Not sure if a card you own or are considering is compatible? We’ve put together a compatibility list that identifies cards that are Thunderbolt compatible and organized by fit and power compatibility with specific expansion systems.

Light. Rugged. Smart.

Echo SE I T5 system’s lightweight, rugged aluminum outer shell securely houses the installed PCIe card. Because it automatically powers on and off with your computer, there is no power switch on the enclosure, ensuring you don’t waste energy by forgetting to turn it off.

Nearly Noiseless Operation

Echo Express SE I T5 is engineered for ultra-quiet operation, making it ideal for noise-sensitive environments such as recording studios, broadcast facilities, edit bays, and shared office spaces. Its internal airflow path is optimized to allow the temperature-controlled, variable-speed fan to cool the installed card quietly and efficiently — even under peak load.

Secure Connection for High Performance – Thunderbolt 5 Cable and ThunderLok Included

Sonnet includes a Thunderbolt cable engineered to deliver Thunderbolt 5’s full bandwidth and power delivery performance. The cable is fully compatible with Thunderbolt 5, 4, and 3, and USB4 computers. A Sonnet ThunderLok Thunderbolt connector lock is also included to prevent accidental cable disconnections.

• ThunderLok Advantage: Many Sonnet Thunderbolt products featuring Thunderbolt ports come equipped with threaded mounting holes to securely attach a Sonnet ThunderLok connector lock, preventing Thunderbolt cables from accidentally disconnecting.

Thunderbolt 5 – Tomorrow’s Performance. Today.

Echo SE I T5 is built with the features and quality you expect from a Sonnet expansion system, plus the Thunderbolt 5 interface you need for maximum performance. With 80 Gbps of bi-directional data speed — twice as fast as Thunderbolt 4 — and up to 120 Gbps for higher display bandwidth, you'll revolutionize your productivity.

More Than Just the Fastest External Interface Available

Echo SE I T5 features a dual-port, ultra-high speed Thunderbolt interface that delivers the PCIe bandwidth needed to support most cards at maximum performance. While one port is reserved for connecting your computer; the secondary port enables connection of additional Thunderbolt or USB peripheral devices.

• Connect Up to Five Additional Thunderbolt Devices: The secondary port supports Thunderbolt 5, 4, and 3 peripherals; you can even connect five additional self-powered Thunderbolt devices in a daisy chain.
• Supports 80 Gbps, 40 Gpbs, 20 Gbps, and 10 Gbps USB Peripheral: Connect an ultra-fast USB device to the second Thunderbolt port using the proper cable or adapter.
• Power Peripherals: 15 watts is provided to bus-powered devices requiring extra power through the secondary Thunderbolt port.
• Supports Connecting One 8K Display: Maximize the utilization of one computer Thunderbolt port, connecting the highest resolution display supported by your computer.

Specifications

• Hardware
  • Form Factor: Thunderbolt desktop enclosure
  • External Connectors
    • Two Thunderbolt ports
    • 12V power port
  • Internal Connector: 6-pin Mini-Fit provides power for PCIe cards that require supplemental power
  • Expansion Slot: One x8 mechanical (x4 electrical) PCIe 4.0 [Thunderbolt 5 spec]
  • PCIe Card Supported
    • One half-length+ (maximum 7.75 inches long), single-width, full-height x8 PCIe card
    • One daughter card
  • Power Adapter
    • Universal 60W, 100-240V, 50-60 Hz
    • NRTL Certified
  • Operating Temperature: 0ºC to 35ºC (32ºF to 95ºF)
  • Compliance
    • RoHS 3 (Directive 2015/863)
    • IEC62368-1 and IEC62368-2
  • Warranty: 2-year
  • Dimensions (WxDxH): 3.0 x 11.13 x 5.75 in. (8.5 x 28.3 x 14.6 cm)
  • Weight: 2.5 lbs (1.13 kg)
• Compatibility
  • Mac Compatibility
    • Mac (M series)
    • Mac (Intel) with Thunderbolt 3 ports
    • macOS 14+
    • macOS Tahoe compatible
  • Windows Compatibility
    • Windows computer with Thunderbolt 5 or 4 ports
    • Windows computer with USB4 or USB4 V2 ports(1)
    • Windows 11
  • Linux Compatibility
    • Linux computer with Thunderbolt 5 or 4 ports
    • Linux Kernel 6.1, 6.12
  • PCIe Card Compatibility
    • Click Here for a list of compatible PCIe cards

What's in the Box

• Echo SE I T5 Thunderbolt 5 Expansion System
• Universal power adapter
• Region-specific power cable
• 6-pin to 6-pin auxiliary power cable
• 0.8- meter Thunderbolt 5 cable
• ThunderLok-A connector lock
• Documentation