Sonnet is shipping its Echo Express (US$599) and Echo Express Pro ($799) Thunderbolt Expansion Chassis for PCI Express (PCIe) e. The two devices enable the use of high-performance PCIe adapter cards with any computer equipped with a Thunderbolt port.
The standard Echo Express supports one half-length (up to 7.75 inches 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, and the Echo Express Pro includes an integrated 150W universal power supply.
Both systems enable the use of compatible full-size professional video capture, audio interface, SAS and SATA HBA, 8Gb Fibre Channel, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and RAID controller cards with iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro computers. Both systems are backed by Sonnet’s Pro Series five-year warranty.
Echo Express and Echo Express Pro require the use of Thunderbolt-compatible PCIe expansion cards. Compatible cards fall into numerous categories including pro audio, Ethernet, Fibre Channel, SAS/SATA RAID controllers, and video capture and editing. The list, which is available on Sonnet’s website, is continually expanding as more cards are tested and certified. For more info go to http://www.sonnettech.com/product/echoexpresschassis.html .