Node Pro Professional PCIe Thunderbolt 3 Box by Akitio

Akitio has released a larger version of their Node Lite PCIe Box.

Node Pro

The Node Pro is large enough to handle full-length PCIe cards and the built-in 500W power supply is enough to power most PCIe cards on the market.

It was designed to be a companion for professional cards such as the Red Rocket X and other high-end graphics cards.

The Node Pro connects to a Windows or Mac computer via Thunderbolt 3 and upgrades a regular laptop or a mini PC and makes it possible to do things that would normally require a high-end workstation. The Node Pro was designed with professional video editors, colorists and other creative professionals in mind and allows users to connect virtually any PCIe card to their current Thunderbolt 3 system.

The Node Pro features two Thunderbolt 3 ports for daisy chaining additional Thunderbolt or USB 3 Type-C devices as well as a dedicated DisplayPort for connecting an additional monitor. Both of the Thunderbolt 3 ports are capable of providing up to 60W of power (according to the USB-C power delivery spec), that can charge the host computer and/or supply power to the downstream devices. The addition of a pop-out handle on the top of the unit makes the Node Pro portable. The tool-less design makes it simple to open the box and install/replace the PCIe cards.

“The Node Pro was designed primarily for professionals that need to add additional functionality to their current systems and we believe that the Node Pro will definitely help improve the productivity of these creative professionals,” said Richard Wright, VP, sales and marketing, Akitio. “We believe that users want flexibility and the added functionality that the Node Pro provides.“

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Node Pro features:

• Thunderbolt 3 for lighting transfer speeds up to 40 Gb/s

• One PCIe (x16) slot supporting full-length, full-height, double-width cards

• Enclosure large enough for water cooled cards

• Four lane PCIe 3.0 compliant interface

• Two Thunderbolt 3 ports for daisy chaining up to six additional Thunderbolt or USB 3 Type-C devices

• One DisplayPort for connecting an additional monitor

• Removable back panel for double-width cards

• Power Delivery (PD) of 60W in both Thunderbolt 3 ports

• Built-in 500W SFX power supply

The Node Pro will be available in December 2017 for $359.99.