Product Manual

Replacing a PCIe Card After Initial Installation
Shut down the computer, and then disconnect the power
cord and Thunderbolt cable from the Echo Module before
opening the chassis and replacing the card; PCIe cards
are not hot-pluggable!
Echo III Module Provides Downstream Power
The Echo III Module can provide up to 15 watts to bus-
powered Thunderbolt peripheral devices, enabling them to
operate without connecting an additional power adapter.
How to Identify Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) Cables
Look for the Thunderbolt icon (
) AND the number 3
on the connector housings to identify these cables. Aside
from Thunderbolt cables from Apple, USB-C cables with
connectors that only have the Thunderbolt icon without
the number 3 may only support 20Gbps speeds, and are
not recommended for use with the Echo Module. Cables
marked with a generic USB icon (
) are NOT compatible
for connecting the Echo Module to the computer.
Thunderbolt 4 Cable Compatibility
You may use Thunderbolt 4 cables with Thunderbolt 4
or Thunderbolt 3 computers and peripherals without any
compromise in performance or functionality.
Not All Mac-Compatible Cards Work With Mac Studio
While this product is compatible with M1 series
processors, not all PCIe cards that work with Intel-based
Macs have M1-compatible drivers. We recommend that
you contact your PCIe card’s manufacturer to verify that
the existing drivers support M1 Macs.
KNOWN ISSUES
Not all PCIe Cards Will Perform at 100%
Thunderbolt 3’s PCIe bandwidth is limited to 2,800 MB/s.
While most cards will operate at full performance, some
may not because they require more bandwidth than
Thunderbolt 3 can provide.
Not All Thunderbolt Cables Deliver Full Performance
Full performance from the Echo Module requires the use
of the included (or comparable) Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps)
cable, or any Thunderbolt 4 cable. When shopping for a
Thunderbolt 3 cable, please be aware that some support
only lower data transfer speeds (20Gbps).
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 computer software updates may also break
compatibility.
TIPS, GENERAL INFORMATION
Keeping the Cards Cool
With its optimized airflow design and temperature-
controlled fan providing cooling at all times, an Echo
Module provides adequate cooling for the installed cards.
Do not operate the Echo Module outside of its enclosure, and
do not block any of the vents! Otherwise, the installed cards
and Echo Module’s components may overheat.
Hot Plugging the Echo Module
When certified Thunderbolt-compatible cards (used with
Thunderbolt-compatible drivers) are installed, you may
connect and disconnect the module while the computer
is on. Of course, if you have anything connected to
the cards, such as storage devices, cameras, etc., follow
proper procedures for disconnecting those devices before
unplugging the Echo Module.
There’s No Need to Unplug the Power Cable
Because an Echo Module 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
The module automatically powers on and off with the
computer to which it’s connected, and its power indicator
only lights when the computer is on and turns off when
the computer is sleeping or powered off.
Connecting Additional Thunderbolt Peripherals
The Echo III Module includes two Thunderbolt ports; the
first is reserved for connection to your computer, while the
second supports daisy-chaining of up to five additional
Thunderbolt peripheral devices.
Using Expansion Cards Without Installing Drivers
Some Thunderbolt-compatible expansion cards, like
Sonnet’s Allegro
™
Pro USB 3.2 PCIe cards, use inbox (built
into the operating system) drivers, and are ready to use
out of the box.
Section 10 – Tips, General Information, and Known Issues
17