Connect One Full-height, Half-length+ PCIe Card (Plus Daughter Card)

Laptop and mini computers with Thunderbolt 5 ports offer tremendous processing power, but don’t have the PCIe slots creative pros need for connecting adapter cards to add specialized ports and processing capabilities critical to their workflows. Sonnet offers the ideal solution to overcome this limitation with the Echo™ SE I T5 Thunderbolt™ 5 to PCIe card expansion system. This compact, single-slot solution works with the latest Macs, Windows PCs, and Linux computers equipped with Thunderbolt or USB4 ports, letting you connect almost any Thunderbolt-compatible (non-GPU) PCIe card using the included Thunderbolt 5 cable.

Thunderbolt 5 Interface

Pro PCIe Card Expansion
Echo SE I T5 enables you to connect a pro PCIe card — such as video capture and playback; audio interface; SAS, SATA or Fibre Channel host bus adapter; multiport 10Gb or 25Gb Ethernet; or RAID controller — to add the ports and processors your computer lacks. Providing up to 6000 MB/s of bi-directional PCIe bandwidth to the installed card — twice that of Thunderbolt 4 or 3 — you’ll be able to extract even better performance with cards with ultra-high bandwidth requirements when connected to a computer with Thunderbolt 5 ports!

One PCIe 4.0 Slot

and Space for a Daughter Card
Sonnet Echo SE I T5 features an x8 PCIe 4.0 slot, and supports a single- or double-width PCIe card. Double-width? Examples include pro video and audio cards like the Blackmagic Design DeckLink 8K Pro G2, which spans two card spaces, or main cards with connected daughter cards that use the neighboring space for additional ports.

Power to Spare

Echo SE I T5 includes an auxiliary PCIe power connector that enables you to use a card that requires extra power such as the AJA Kona 5, Blackmagic Decklink 4K Extreme12G and DeckLink 8K Pro G2, and Deltacast 12G/4C.

Supports Almost Any Thunderbolt-compatible, Non-GPU PCIe Card

Measuring just 3.4 inches wide by 11.2 inches long by 5.8 inches tall, the compact Echo SE I T5 supports cards at a maximum of 7.75 inches long, making it compatible with nearly all Thunderbolt-compatible PCIe 4.0, 3.0, 2.0, and 1.1 cards. Not sure if a card you own or are considering is compatible? We’ve put together a compatibility list that identifies cards that are Thunderbolt compatible and organized by fit and power compatibility with specific expansion systems.

Light. Rugged. Smart.

The Echo SE I T5 system’s lightweight, rugged aluminum outer shell securely houses the installed PCIe card. Because it automatically powers on and off with your computer, there is no power switch on the enclosure, ensuring you don’t waste energy by forgetting to turn it off.

Nearly Noiseless Operation

Echo Express SE I T5 is engineered for ultra-quiet operation, making it ideal for noise-sensitive environments such as recording studios, broadcast facilities, edit bays, and shared office spaces. Its internal airflow path is optimized to allow the temperature-controlled, variable-speed fan to cool the installed card quietly and efficiently — even under peak load.

Secure Connection for High Performance

Thunderbolt 5 Cable and ThunderLok Included
Sonnet includes a Thunderbolt cable engineered to deliver Thunderbolt 5’s full bandwidth and power delivery performance. The cable is fully compatible with Thunderbolt 5, 4, and 3, and USB4 computers. A Sonnet ThunderLok Thunderbolt connector lock is also included to prevent accidental cable disconnections.

Part Number	ECHO-EX-SE1-T5
Hardware
Form Factor	Thunderbolt desktop enclosure
External Connectors	Two Thunderbolt ports 12V power port
Internal Connector	6-pin Mini-Fit provides power for PCIe cards that require supplemental power
Expansion Slot	One x8 mechanical (x4 electrical) PCIe 4.0 [Thunderbolt 5 spec]
PCIe Card Supported	One half-length+ (maximum 7.75 inches long), single-width, full-height x8 PCIe card One daughter card
Power Adapter	Universal 60W, 100-240V, 50-60 Hz NRTL Certified
Operating Temperatures	0°C to 35°C (32°F to 95°F)
Dimensions (WxDxH)	3.0 x 11.13 x 5.75 in. (8.5 x 28.3 x 14.6 cm)
Weight	2.5 lbs (1.13 kg)
Compliance	RoHS 3 (Directive 2015/863) IEC62368-1 and IEC62368-2
Package Contents	Echo SE I T5 Thunderbolt 5 Expansion System Universal power adapter Region-specific power cable 6-pin to 6-pin auxiliary power cable 0.8- meter Thunderbolt 5 cable ThunderLok-A connector lock Documentation