Sonnet Echo Express SEI, User Manual

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Chapter 5 – Tips, General Information, and Known Issues
Echo Express SE I T3E Can Provide Up to 15 Watts of
Upstream Power
The Echo Express SE I T3E is designed to provide only 15 watts
of upstream power, which is typically insufficient to charge the
connected computer.
How to Identify Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) Cables
Look for the Thunderbolt icon AND the number 3 on the
connector housings to identify these cables. Cables with USB-C
connectors that only have the Thunderbolt icon without the
number 3 support 20Gbps speeds, and are not recommended for
PCIe cards with high bandwidth requirements.
KNOWN ISSUES
Not All Computers’ Thunderbolt 3 Performance is Equal
While the Echo Express SE I - Thunderbolt 3 Edition features a
40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 interface, some computers equipped with
Thunderbolt 3, such as the Dell Precision 3510 and the Alienware
13 R2, use an implementation of Thunderbolt 3 technology
that limits PCIe performance to 20Gbps (up to 1,400 MB/s). The
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports) also
has this limitation in the two right-hand Thunderbolt 3 ports,
while offering full performance from the left-hand ports.
Not all PCIe Cards Will Perform at 100%
Thunderbolt 3’s PCIe bandwidth is limited to 40Gbps. While
most cards will operate at full performance, some may not due
to the fact they require more bandwidth than Thunderbolt 3 is
capable of supporting.
Not All Thunderbolt 3 Cables Deliver Full Performance
Full performance requires the use of the included Thunderbolt 3
(40Gbps) cable, or other 0.5-meter Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps)
cable. 1-meter Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) cables may slightly reduce
performance of cards that depend on very high bandwidth.
Operating System (OS) Updates May Break Compatibility
Specific device drivers that work under one OS version may not work
under a later version. Before updating your computer to the latest OS,
we recommend that you contact your PCIe card’s manufacturer
to verify that the existing drivers work. Note that other software
updates for the computer may also break compatibility.
Some Devices’ Performance May be Affected by Where They
Are Connected in a Thunderbolt Chain
However small, Thunderbolt introduces latency to a device chain.
If you expand with additional Thunderbolt expansion chassis,
you may need to experiment with which cards work better in
chassis closer to or farther from the computer in the chain
TIPS, GENERAL INFORMATION
Keeping the Card Cool
With its optimized airflow design and temperature-controlled fan
providing cooling at all times, Echo Express SE I - Thunderbolt 3
Edition (T3E) provides adequate cooling for the installed card.
Do not operate the Echo chassis with its cover off, and do not block
any of the vents! Otherwise, the installed card and Echo chassis’
components may overheat.
Hot Plugging the Echo Express SE I T3E
When a certified Thunderbolt-compatible card (used with
Thunderbolt-compatible drivers) is installed in the Echo Express
SE I T3E, you may connect and disconnect the chassis while
the computer is on. Of course, if you have anything connected
to the card, such as storage devices, cameras, etc., follow proper
procedures for disconnecting those devices before unplugging
the Echo chassis.
There’s No Need to Unplug the Power Adapter
Because Echo Express SE I T3E automatically powers on and off
with the computer to which it’s connected, there’s no power
switch, nor is there any need to disconnect the power cable
under normal use.
Power Indicator LED Operation
Because the Echo chassis automatically powers on and off
with the computer to which it’s connected, its power indicator
only lights when the computer is on, and turns off when
the computer is sleeping or powered off. Note that the power
adapter’s power indicator remains lit as long as it is connected to
a live power outlet.
Connecting Additional Thunderbolt 3 Peripheral Devices
The Echo Express SE I T3E includes two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)
ports; the first connects it to your computer, while the second
supports daisy-chaining of up to five additional Thunderbolt
peripheral devices.
Using Expansion Cards Without Drivers
Some Thunderbolt-compatible expansion cards, like Sonnet’s
Presto
™
Gigabit Pro PCIe and Sonnet’s Tempo
™
SATA Pro 6Gb
PCIe 2.0 eSATA card, use drivers built into the OS.
Some PCIe Cards May Not Fit in Echo Express SE I
Cards installed into Echo Express SE I must be no more than 7.75
inches (19.7 cm) long.
Replacing a Card After Initial Installation
Shut down the computer, and then disconnect the power adapter
and Thunderbolt cables from the Echo Express SE I T3E before
opening the chassis and replacing the card.
PCIe CARDS ARE NOT HOT-PLUGGABLE!
Never install a PCIe card into Echo chassis while it is connected
to a computer or power outlet! If you do, you risk injury, and
damage to the card, chassis, and computer.
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