Today's ultra-light notebooks, mini, and all-in-one desktop computers now have tremendous processing power, power that many people thought would only be possible in full-size desktop computers. Smaller in size and portable, they're very desirable. For professionals in the creative fields, this processing power alone is not enough. You need expansion slots to install specialty cards to connect various video and audio inputs, for processing data, and to connect to high-speed storage and networks. The problem is, only desktop computers (which aren't very portable) have slots, and currently available PCIe expansion for notebook computers has been very limited in performance - until now. If you've got a computer with Thunderbolt technology then the Echo™ Express and Echo Express Pro Thunderbolt™ Expansion Chassis for PCIe cards are exactly what you need.

Sonnet's Echo Express and Echo Express Pro enable you to use high-performance PCI Express® adapter cards with any computer with a Thunderbolt port. Imagine using compatible full-size professional video capture, audio interface, SAS & SATA HBA, 8Gb Fibre Channel, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and RAID controller cards with your iMac®, Mac® mini, MacBook® Air or MacBook Pro; these Sonnet products make it possible!

Expanding Outside the Box

Sonnet harnessed the potential of Thunderbolt technology to enable you to connect high performance expansion cards to computers without expansion slots. Developed by Intel® and brought to market with technical collaboration from Apple®, Thunderbolt technology supports high-performance data services and high-resolution displays through a single, compact port. Based on PCI Express (PCIe) and DisplayPort technologies, Thunderbolt provides support for two channels on the same connector with 10 Gb/s of throughput per channel in both directions. Connected via a Thunderbolt cable (not included), Echo Express and Echo Express Pro, containing one or two expansion slots, respectively, carry the computer's PCIe channel to the slots and passes both PCIe and DisplayPort data through a second Thunderbolt port for daisy chaining other devices.

Smart Design Inside and Out

Constructed of rugged extruded aluminum, the Echo Express' outer shell helps transfer heat away from the cards and securely protects them inside. The top cover slides off to offer quick access to the PCIe slots and enable easy installation of cards. Ventilated front and back panels plus quiet, temperature-controlled fans help keep even the very hottest cards cool; when not needed, the fans slow down to a whisper so you can work without a lot of noise in the background. Echo Express products are enviro-friendly, automatically powering on and off with your computer. To keeps things as compact as possible, universal power supplies are integrated inside the chassis so there're no dangling power bricks.

Standard or Pro

One or two cards, different lengths, different requirements—there's an Echo Express to meet your needs. The standard model supports one half-length (up to 7.75" long), full-height, double-width, x16 (x4 mode) PCIe 2.0 card, while the Pro model supports two standard width, full-length cards, or one double-width, full-length card; both models support an I/O bracket.

The standard model includes a built-in 100W universal power supply; the Pro model includes an integrated 150W universal power supply with a supplemental 75W PCIe power connector. Do you have a card in mind but aren't sure which Echo Express you need? For PCIe card compatibility and more information regarding card length and links to manufacturers' product pages, check our upcoming list of cards that have been tested to be recognized over a Thunderbolt connection and compatible with Thunderbolt technology requirements.