For pros working in the creative fields, a computer's processing power alone is not enough to get the job done. A prime example is the latest MacBook Pro, which, while offering great performance, lacks the PCIe expansion slots necessary to support specialty cards that connect pro video and audio inputs, transcode data, and connect to high-speed storage and networks. Instead of slots, these computers include ultra-high-performance Thunderbolt 3 ports to support peripherals. Sonnet's Echo Express III-D (Thunderbolt 3 Edition) leverages the Thunderbolt 3 ports' PCIe data to connect PCIe expansion slots outside of a computer. This powerful desktop Thunderbolt-to-PCIe card expansion system enables you to connect three professional PCIe cards - including video capture, audio interface, SAS or SATA HBA, 16Gb or 8Gb Fiber Channel, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and RAID controllers - at the same time to any Mac and Windows computer with a Thunderbolt 3 port.
The Echo Express III-D (Thunderbolt 3 Edition) features a 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 interface, which offers double the PCIe bandwidth and connectivity of Thunderbolt 2, and yields up to 2750 MB/s of bandwidth, enabling it to support 4K video capture and processing cards at high frame rates, and 16Gb FC cards and dual-port 10GbE cards at full performance. With the ability to handle multiple demanding, high performance PCIe cards, support for connecting two 4K displays @ 60Hz or one 5K display @ 60Hz, and support for a vast array of Thunderbolt and USB devices, Thunderbolt 3 is a leap forward in every way.