Description
Thunderbolt 3 Upgrade Card for Echo Express SE I and Echo Express SE II
Step Up to 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3
Sonnet designed the Echo™ Express SE I Thunderbolt™ 2 to PCIe card expansion system to be easily upgraded to 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3. Simply replace the existing Thunderbolt interface board with the upgrade board, and then your chassis will instantly support higher performance, and connect to your Thunderbolt computer without the need for an adapter.
Upgrade Instead of Adapting
Why adapt when upgrading offers more? With the Thunderbolt 3 upgrade card installed you get:
- Easy to Install 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 Upgrade Card –
- Replaces Existing 20Gbps Thunderbolt 2 Interface Board
- Improves Performance with High-Bandwidth PCIe Cards –
- Provides 30% More Bandwidth (Up to 1750 MB/s)
- Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports
- Compatible with Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and Thunderbolt/USB4 computers
- ThunderLok™ 3-compatible
- 2-year Product Warranty
- Free Lifetime Customer Technical Support
- Designed in the USA
Thunderbolt 3 Upgrade Card IconSonnet designed Echo™ Express and xMac™ mini Server Thunderbolt 2 to PCIe card expansion systems (plus select Thunderbolt 2 adapters) to be easily upgraded to 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3(1). Simply replace the existing Thunderbolt interface board with the upgrade board, and then your chassis will instantly support higher performance, and connect to your Thunderbolt 3 equipped computer(2) without needing an adapter.
Increased Bandwidth, Better Performance
With a Thunderbolt 3 interface card installed, your upgraded Sonnet Thunderbolt 2 system gains from 30% to 100% more bandwidth for the installed PCIe cards over the original system (see performance Tab for details). Installed in an upgraded system, PCIe cards with high bandwidth requirements, such as 16Gb Fibre Channel and 4K Video I/O cards supporting high frame rates, will be able to perform even better than before(3).
Connect USB Devices, or Displays
Sonnet's Thunderbolt 3 upgrade cards also provide 10Gbps USB 3.1 Gen 2 support, meaning you can connect a USB device to the second port using the proper cable or adapter(5); they also provide full support for connecting two 4K displays @ 60Hz or one 5K display @ 60Hz(6).
ThunderLok™ 3-Compatible
Sonnet’s Thunderbolt 3 upgrade cards support the ThunderLok 3 Thunderbolt connector retainer clip. The ThunderLok 3 (included with xMac mini Server kit; otherwise sold separately) secures the Thunderbolt cable (included with xMac mini Server Kit; otherwise sold separately) to the chassis(7), and is easy to install and use—just slide it over one end of the cable, and then plug in the connector and secure it to the chassis by turning a thumbscrew. Because of its unique design, ThunderLok 3 remains on the cable so it won’t get lost when not in use.
Sonnet Thunderbolt Expansion Partners
Sonnet works closely with the following partners to ensure Thunderbolt compatibility for their products. See the PCIe Card Thunderbolt Compatibility Chart for a list of products that have passed Thunderbolt compatibility testing with Sonnet products.
| Part No. | BRD-UPGRTB3-SE1 / BRD-UPGRTB3-SE2 |
| Warranty | 2-years |
| External Connectors | Two Thunderbolt 3 ports |
| Operating Temperature | 0˚C to 35˚C (32˚F to 95˚F) |
| RoHS Compliant | Yes |
| Package Contents | Thunderbolt 3 upgrade card Documentation |
| Sonnet Hardware Compatibility |
BRD-UPGRTB3-SE1 Echo Express SE I (Thunderbolt 2 Edition) BRD-UPGRTB3-SE2 Echo Express SE II (Thunderbolt 2 Edition) |
| Mac Compatibility |
Mac with Thunderbolt/USB4,Thunderbolt 4, or Thunderbolt 3 ports Macs with Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt ports with the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter macOS® 10.12.6+ macOS Ventura compatible |
| PC Compatibility |
PC with Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3 port(8) Windows® 11 or 10 Windows 11 (Future Release 23H1+required), or 10 |
| Technical Notes |
|
Compatibility
Sonnet Hardware Compatibility
BRD-UPGRTB3-SE1 - Echo Express SE I (Thunderbolt 2 Edition)
BRD-UPGRTB3-SE2 - Echo Express SE II (Thunderbolt 2 Edition)
Mac Compatibility
Mac with Thunderbolt/USB4,Thunderbolt 4, or Thunderbolt 3 ports
Macs with Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt ports with the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
macOS® 10.12.6+
macOS Ventura compatible
PC Compatibility
PC with Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3 port(8)
Windows® 11 or 10
Part No. BRD-UPGRTB3-SEL, BRD-UPGRTB3-SE1
Windows 11 (Future Release 23H1+required), or 10
Part No. BRD-UPGRTB3-SE2, BRD-UPGRTB3-E3,
BRD-UPGRTB3-XM
Notes:
Windows computers require the latest firmware (BIOS) and other drivers to support this product. Check with your computer manufacturer for updated information. Not all Mac-compatible PCIe cards are also compatible with Windows. See the PCIe Card Thunderbolt Compatibility Chart for details.
