Echo Express SEL Thunderbolt 2 Expansion Chassis

Use a Low-Profile PCIe Card with Computers Lacking Expansion Slots

Today's ultra-light notebooks, mini, and all-in-one desktop computers now have tremendous processing power—power that many thought would only be possible in full-size workstation or large desktop computers. Smaller in size and more portable, they're very desirable. For pros in the creative fields, processing power alone is not enough. A prime example is the new Mac Pro®. Reviewers love its performance, but make a point of mentioning its lack of internal expansion capabilities compared to the old towers the new model replaces. If you want to add more capabilities, think external—the new Pro is loaded with Thunderbolt 2 and USB 3.0 ports, but it lacks the PCIe expansion slots necessary for you to install specialty high bandwidth NIC cards, or HBAs and RAID controller cards for high-performance storage. With the Echo Express SEL, Sonnet has created a solution that leverages the paradigm shift enabled by Thunderbolt technology, allowing PCIe expansion slots to be connected outside a computer. This very compact desktop Thunderbolt 2-to-PCIe card expansion chassis is ideal for connecting one professional 16Gb or 8Gb Fibre Channel, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, SAS/SATA host bus adapter or RAID controller PCIe card to any Mac® with a Thunderbolt port.

Full Performance in a Small and Light Package

The Echo Express SEL is small, light, and perfect for use in situations where only a single low-profile PCIe card is needed. Measuring a scant 4" wide by 8.4" long by 2.8" tall, the SEL was designed specifically to house one low-profile PCIe card. Many of the most popular Thunderbolt-compatible high-speed networking and storage controller cards are a perfect fit. The SEL's small size doesn't limit its performance; installed in this system, a card will perform the same as when installed in an Echo Express SE II, Echo Express III-D, or Echo Express III-R. And like the other Echo Express models, the SEL includes two Thunderbolt ports to support daisy chaining of up to six devices from a single port on your computer.

Smart Design Inside and Out

Constructed of rugged and lightweight aluminum, the outer shell of the Echo Express SEL securely protects the PCIe card installed inside. The variable-speed, temperature-controlled fan automatically speeds up as necessary to ensure that even a hot-running card and the chassis' components remain reliably cool. Because the fan automatically speeds up and slows down as needed, there is no guesswork in setting a switch position, and no need for tools to change settings. Since Echo Express products automatically power on and off with your computer, there is no power switch on the chassis.

Quiet, Please

The Echo Express SEL was designed to be ultra-quiet so that it can be comfortably used in noise-sensitive environments. The airflow path within the chassis has been specially designed to quietly and efficiently cool the installed card with a temperature controlled, variable speed fan. The SEL is Sonnet's quietest expansion chassis yet.

Designed for Low-Profile PCIe Cards

The Echo Express SEL supports one half-length (up to 6.6"), low-profile, single-width PCIe card. PCIe 1.1, PCIe 2.0 and PCIe 3.0 cards are supported. Do you have a card in mind but aren't sure it's compatible? We've worked closely with PCIe card manufacturers to provide a list of compatible cards on our supporting PCIe Card Thunderbolt Compatibility Chart. The chart provides an up-to-date list of cards that have been tested to be recognized over a Thunderbolt connection and compatible with Thunderbolt technology requirements.

Thunderbolt Cable & Lock Included

Sonnet includes a Thunderbolt cable and lock that secures Thunderbolt connectors⁽³⁾plugged into the Echo chassis. It is easy to install and prevents accidental cable disconnections.