CES: Mercury Helios 3S PCIe Card Expansion Thunderbolt 3 Chassis and U.2 NVMe Interchange System From OWC

OWC (Other World Computing, Inc.) announced the availability of the Mercury Helios 3S PCIe card expansion chassis for Thunderbolt 3-equipped Macs and PCs.

It adds an external PCIe slot for quick addition of pro-level PCIe cards, and its dual Thunderbolt 3 ports offers the ability to daisy-chain up to 5 additional Thunderbolt peripherals.

Versatility
Instead of buying an array of function-specific Thunderbolt devices, the Mercury Helios 3S functions like a dock, allowing the use of a multitude of dedicated PCIe cards. Capture high-quality audio with a PCIe audio card and then retask Helios 3S with a PCIe SSD card to edit and archive tracks. Users can swap cards in minutes, adding flexibility to professional-class workflows.

Mercury Helios 3S delivers:

40Gb/s transfer speeds: two Thunderbolt 3 ports
Dedicated DisplayPort 1.4 for adding up to a 8K display
85W of notebook charging power while you work
One PCIe (x16) slot for half-length, full-height, single or double-width cards
Daisy-chain up to 5 additional Thunderbolt devices for pro-class performance
Built to last with rugged aluminum chassis
28.5dB fan for whisper-quiet, distraction-free use
Card installation with no tools required
Locking 12V power connector for secure workflows
Plug and play with no drivers needed and includes Thunderbolt 3 cable
Thunderbolt 3 certified for Mac and Windows

“At OWC, we’ve devoted over 30,ars to helping our loyal Mac and PC customers upgrade, expand and accelerate their machines to keep pace with our world’s ever-increasing demand for computing power,” said Larry O’Connor, founder and CEO, OWC. “The new Mercury Helios 3S is quite possibly the single most versatile tool we have ever developed, giving power users, DIYers and professionals alike the power to use best-in-class processing solutions for virtually any function, including storage, video and audio processing, networking, and more.“

Pro-Level performance cards for every need
Mercury Heios 3S supports a variety of half-length, full-height, single or double-width pro-level PCIe cards from brands like AJA, Apogee, Atto, Avid Pro Tools, Blackmagic Design, CalDigit, HighPoint, Intel, Solid State Logic, Universal Audio, and OWC for dedicated, pro-class performance like:

Video capture
Digital audio
SSDs
40GbE/10GbE network adapters
SAS controllers
Firewire, USB, or eSATA host adapters
U.2 NVMe SSD (with the OWC U.2 NVMe Interchange System)

Capture, stream, and share in seconds
With dual 40Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 ports, the Mercury Helios 3S offers the bandwidth needed to support data-intensive 4K capture cards to speed up diverse video workflows such as vlogging. Boost DAW with external DSP acceleration and run larger mixes with multiple plug-ins. Live stream the action in gaming sessions or share files over a 10GbE or FC network without speed throttling.

U.2 NVMe SSD fast swapability (sold separately)

The company introduces the U.2 NVMe Interchange System, an optional companion to the Mercury Helios 3S that converts it into a swappable U.2 NVMe SSD storage system. It’s For M&E industry professionals seeking performance from U.2 NVMe SSDs, plus easy drive swap convenience in a protective, transportable carrier.

For over 3 decades, the firm has listened to its customers and designed solutions that solved their data-related challenges. This companion to the Helios 3S continues that history with an integrated solution that saves professionals time and money while safeguarding their data.

The U.2 NVMe Interchange System for Mercury Helios 3S features a locking drive bay and drive tray that offers fast and easy access and transport of drives up to 16TB with real-world tested speeds up to 2,631MB/s – over 4X faster than SATA drives. Offload the day’s shoot into the Helios 3S, pull the Interchange System carrier tray out and ship it to post-production in minutes. Besides maintaining your project deadline, you’ll enjoy significant savings vs. shipping a heavy enclosure.

Availability:

The Mercury Helios 3S PCIe expansion chassis is available at the company’s webstore for $229.99.
The U.2 NVMe Interchange System for Mercury Helios 3S is sold separately starting from $69.99.

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