REAL Thunderbolt 3 PCIe for your Graphics Cards with the Akitio Node eGPU Box

A Cost Effective eGPU External PCIe box for your Graphics Card over Thunderbolt 3

 The Akitio Node Thunderbolt™ 3 eGXF box is a low cost expansion chassis. This is not Akitio’s first entry into the external PCIe market and not their first Thunderbolt 3 unit either. But what makes this new TB3 release so significant is that it is designed to house an external graphics card. Connected to the computer via Thunderbolt 3, the additional GPU power instantly upgrades a regular laptop or a mini PC and makes it possible to do things that would normally require a high-end workstation or gaming computer. For video editors and colorists, the dedicated GPU reduces the time it takes to render the footage, a computer that was not powerful enough for a VR headset is now potentially VR ready and for those that like to play games, these can now run at much higher frame rates than before. Features

• Thunderbolt™ 3 for lighting fast transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps
• 1 PCIe (x16) slot supporting full-length, full-height, double-width cards
• Spacious enclosure for use with standard and large sized graphics cards
• Built-in 400W SFX power supply to provide extra power to GPU
• PCIe x16 slot supplying up to 75W of power
• 4 lane PCI Express 3.0 compliant interface
• Removable back panel for double-width cards
• Carry handle to easily transport the device

Supports standard and large sized PCIe Gen3 x4 cards

 The PCIe (x16) slot accepts full-length, full-height, double-width cards with enough space available inside the enclosure for both standard and large sized graphics cards. The four PCIe Gen3 lanes and the Thunderbolt 3 interface are capable of transfer rates up to 40Gbps, providing enough bandwidth even for the most demanding PCIe cards.

400W SFX PSU

The built-in power supply provides enough power for the AKiTiO Node (~10W) as well as for graphics cards. If the standard 75W through the PCIe slot is insufficient, two extra pairs of 8-pin power connectors are available inside the AKiTiO Node that can be connected to the GPU, providing a total of about 390W.

Thunderbolt™ 3

Thunderbolt 3 brings Thunderbolt to USB-C at speeds up to 40Gbps, creating one compact port that does it all – delivering the fastest, most versatile connection to any dock, display, or data device. In combination with the AKiTiO Node, this makes it possible to instantly upgrade your regular laptop or Mini-PC and achieve a performance that usually requires high-end workstations or specialized gaming computers.

Pricing and Availability of the Akitio Node External GPU Box?

The AKiTiO Node is expected to be available in time for the holiday season 2016 for around £200-250 ex.VAT. Be sure to check the Akitio website for the latest compatibility list for Graphics Cards and host systems..

Model No.	AKiTiO Node Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Card PCIe Expansion Chassis NODE-T3IA-AKTU
Part No.	NODE-T3IA-AKTU (does not include graphics card)
Certifications	CE FCC VCCI Thunderbolt™ technology
Warranty	2-year limited warranty
Case material	SECC sheet metal
Application
RAID mode	Not applicable
Interface/Ports	1 x Thunderbolt™ 3 (USB-C) port 1 x internal PCIe (x16) slot with 4 lane PCI Express 3.0 interface
Data transfer	Thunderbolt 3 up to 40 Gbps
System requirements (PC)	Windows 10 Computer with Thunderbolt™ 3 port Computer must support external GPUs (see compatibility chart)
System requirements (Mac)	Not supported
System environment	Operating Temperature: 5°C ~ 35°C Storage Temperature: -20°C ~ 60°C Relative Humidity: 5% ~ 95% (non-condensing)
Power supply	Internal power supply (UL, cUL, CE, FCC, BSMI, TUV approved) Input: AC 100-240V, 50Hz-60Hz Output: DC +12V/33A
Fan noise level	29.6 dB(A)
Dimensions (LxWxH)	16.85 inches x 5.71 inches x 8.94 inches 42.8 cm x 14.5 cm x 22.7 cm
Package contents	AKiTiO Node with built-in 400W PSU Thunderbolt 3 USB-C cable Setup guide
Carton/Packing	Retail Box Size: 20.24 x 9.72 x 14.37 in. (51.4 x 24.7 x 36.5 cm)
Remarks	The computer must support external GPUs. Not all Thunderbolt 3 computers support external GPUs. If in doubt, please contact the manufacturer of your computer. To prevent damage, always uninstall graphics cards when transporting the device. The monitor, VR headset, Intel® NUC and graphics card are for reference only.