Sonnet Technologies Shows Thunderbolt 3 and PCIe Solutions

Thunderbolt 3 External Graphics (eGPU) Solution
At BVE 2018, Sonnet Technologies, Inc. will showcase its new eGFX Breakaway Box 650, a Thunderbolt 3 to eGPU PCIe card expansion system designed for large, power-hungry video Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) cards, including the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 and overclocked NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10 series-based cards.

The 650 model enables the use of all GPU cards that support connecting to a computer over Thunderbolt – such as AMD Radeon R9, RX, RX Vega, and Pro WX models and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 9 and 10 series, Titan X and Xp, and Quadro models – with Thunderbolt 3-equipped computers, providing GPU support for computationally intensive applications and games.

Lists of supported computers and GPU cards

Mac- and Windows-compatible, the Sonnet system is a cool and quiet eGFX box, with a built-in, variable-speed, temperature-controlled fan that cools the installed card.

Sonnet will also display two new external graphics solutions, the eGFX Breakaway Puck Radeon 560 and eGFX Breakaway Puck Radeon 570. Compact, these integrated Thunderbolt 3 external graphics processing unit (eGPU) systems are portable and offer users improved graphics performance when used with thin and light laptops.

xMac Pro Server
At BVE 2018, Sonnet will feature the Avid-qualified xMac Pro Server, its rackmount solution with built-in Thunderbolt 2 to PCIe card expansion for the Mac Pro computer. The xMac Pro Server securely mounts the computer horizontally inside a 4U modular enclosure; connects three PCIe 2.0 slots via Thunderbolt technology; and provides space to install additional equipment in two 5.25-inch mobile rack bays. By supporting every Thunderbolt 2-compatible PCIe card available, the xMac Pro Server enables A/V professionals to use the expansion cards they need with the latest Mac Pro computers. Through the installation of optional mobile rack device mounting kits into the xMac Pro Server, users can connect HDDs, SSDs, and other devices to the Mac Pro computer.

Thunderbolt 3 Editions in Echo Express Family
Sonnet will also showcase new Thunderbolt 3 editions of its Echo Express Thunderbolt-to-PCIe card expansion systems. Top-of-the-line Echo Express III-D (desktop) and Echo Express III-R (2U rackmount) systems support the installation of up to three full-length, full-height PCIe cards, and connect them to the computer through a single cable. With the new interface, both systems enable users of Mac and Windows computers equipped with 40Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports to take advantage of Thunderbolt 3’s 2,750 MB/s of PCIe bandwidth to support the demanding, highest-performance adapter cards. Both systems feature a built-in, universal 300W power supply with a 75W auxiliary power connector for installed cards, plus two large, quiet, temperature-controlled cooling fans to enable their use in noise-sensitive environments.

1TB Fusion Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Flash Drive
Sonnet will showcase the new 1TB version of its Fusion Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Flash Drive. The rugged, pocket-sized, SSD storage device features NVMe flash storage and leverages the 40Gb/s bandwidth of its Thunderbolt 3 interface to deliver data transfer speeds up to 2,600MB/s. Designed for pro users requiring performance in a portable storage device, the Fusion Flash Drive is bus-powered and features an aluminum enclosure that cools the SSD and eliminates the need for a fan, enabling silent operation. The Fusion Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Flash Drive connects to any compatible Mac or Windows computer with its 0.5-meter Thunderbolt 3 (40Gb/s) cable.

SF3 Series Pro Card Reader
Sonnet will show its new line of SF3 Series dual-slot Thunderbolt 3 pro media readers. Each SF3 Series reader features a compact aluminum enclosure designed for stacking multiple readers. The SF3 Series – CFast 2.0 Pro Card Reader is bus-powered with no power adapter required, and can ingest files from two cards at concurrent data transfer speeds up to 1,000MB/s. The SF3 Series – SxS Pro Card Reader features dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, can support a bus-powered device (such as the CFast 2.0 reader), and can ingest files from two SxS cards at their maximum supported data transfer speeds.

10GbE Solution
Sonnet will feature its range of 10GbE Thunderbolt adapters and Presto line of PCIe cards, including all-new Thunderbolt 3 adapters. 10GbE solutions enable users to connect their computers via copper or optical cables to high-speed network infrastructure and storage systems using the 10GbE standard. The company’s adapters add lightning-fast 10GbE network connectivity to any compatible Mac or Windows computer with Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt 3 ports. Their performance, compact size, setup, and quiet operation make Sonnet’s adapters suitable for use in a variety of workflows and environments. Sonnet’s Presto cards work with Mac Pro towers, Windows PCs, Linux servers, and Mac and Windows computers with Thunderbolt ports via Thunderbolt-to-PCIe expansion systems.