Akitio Announces the Node Lite Thunderbolt 3 Enclosure

[btarunr]

AKITIO today unveiled their new Thunderbolt 3 PCIe box, the Node Lite. The new Node Lite is an upgraded version of their popular Thunder2 PCIe Box. The Node Lite features PCIe Gen 3, which provides much improved performance when using new PCIe cards such as video capture cards, RAID cards, NVMe SSD storage, 10G and even 40G network cards. The Node Lite is compatible with both macOS and Windows computers, making it the ideal companion for the new 2016 MacBook Pro as well as new Thunderbolt 3 Windows PC's.

The Node Lite features the same compact, tool-less design as the Thunder2 PCIe Box in a stylish new space gray outer case. Inside the case, the Node Lite features two Thunderbolt 3 ports, which can be used to daisy chain other Thunderbolt 3 devices as well as USB 3 Type-C devices. Another new addition is a DisplayPort version 1.2 port which can be used to connect an additional 4K@60Hz monitor.



The Thunderbolt 3 Node Lite combines the full PCIe Gen 3 bandwidth with the 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 interface, which drastically improves the performance of newer PCIe cards. The Thunderbolt 3 / USB 3 Type-C ports on the Node Lite also provide 15 watts of power to help charge the laptop that it is connected to.

"The Node Lite was designed for creative professionals and others who need to use a variety of PCIe cards", said Richard Wright, VP of Sales & Marketing for Akitio. "The revolutionary 40Gb/s bandwidth is essential for many of the new video capture cards as well as new network cards used by professionals in the audio/video, photography and various other creative fields. The strong adoption of Thunderbolt 3 in the latest generation of PCs as well as the new Apple MacBook Pro line-up means that more and more people will be in need of external PCIe solutions such as the Node Lite."

The Akitio Node Lite will be available in late Q2'17 for $269.99.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Caring1]

I was reading about this a couple of weeks ago online on their site, and it appears to be targeted towards the Mac camp due to it's design.

 

[dom99]

design = tick
functionality = tick
price = that's a lot for a metal box with a few connectors

 

[Octavean]

design = tick
functionality = tick
price = that's a lot for a metal box with a few connectors

Agreed but I would modify that to say "that's a lot for an empty box with a few connectors. However, when looking at past Thunderbolt empty boxes the price could indeed be worse. Also note that Thunderbolt (mini DP style) cables used to start at about ~$50 USD but Thunderbolt 3 cables in the USB Type-C form are less then half that price now (about $20) is something of an improvement in price and speed. Still a bit on the pricey side though.

Also note that Thunderbolt is really most useful in small locked down proprietary systems that would otherwise have no access to expansion options.

If someone has a open form desktop system with Thunderbolt 3 + USB 3.1 then chances are fairly good that for expansion they will add an add-in card when needed and just use USB Type-C / USB 3.1.

I have Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.1 in my newest desktop system and I have no pressing need for either.

 

[iBruce]

I might pick one of these up later this year, especially since Akitio went with gunmetal gray, not a perfect match to CaseLabs gunmetal powdercoat, but still much nicer looking that Akitio bare aluminum enclosures. Do have an Intel 750 SSD 400GB that will become available and drop right into this enclosure. Had to add the Asus Thunderbolt 3 expansion card to my R5E10, and hoping Asus adds Thunderbolt 3 onboard capability to the Rampage 6 Extreme in June, since now their Rampage 6 Apex will be the new HEDT extreme overclocking board, maybe they can finally add Thunderbolt connectivity to a Rampage Extreme board, something they've been doing for years (since 2012) with the Maximus Extreme boards.

Maximus V Extreme has Thunderbolt onboard
Maximus VIII Extreme has Thunderbolt 3 onboard

Planned to purchase the Akitio Thunder 3 Quad Mini 4-bay 2.5inch SATA drive enclosure when it launches this summer also in gunmetal gray, but changed my Flexbay configuration around by moving my CaseLabs S8S to an S8 open bench and now have some 5.25in bays to fill up so went with this SuperMicro M14TQC SAS SATA 2.5inch hot swap Mobile Rack. So far populated the rack with two new Samsung 850 EVO SSDs, and running a Samsung 960 EVO M.2 as OS and App drive with AquaComputer kryoM.2 heatsink.
I was weary, a server part from a server company would not mount and connect properly to an enthusiast work rig, but no issues at all with the Supermicro M14TQC, the mounting holes are tapped to fit the CaseLabs FlexBay mounts and single Molex for power and four separate standard SATA data ports on the rear panel. Also the very loud 12,000 rpm fan can be unplugged when using all SSDs for silent operation. Unplugging the fan causes a bright red LED to light up on the front panel, yet the PCB is smart enough to know to turn OFF that Fan Failure LED the next power up cycle. Also, can set the fan to PWM mode or full 12volts, and there's a jumper on the PCB to set a high temp notification alarm and or LED can set to 45C, 50C, or 55C. All these latter functions are for using SAS 12Gb/s HDDs and are unneccessary when using all Solid State drives.

OK, that got a bit off the Akitio NAB Show 2017 topic.

https://www.akitio.com/thunderbolt3-series

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboard-Accessory/ThunderboltEX-3/

http://www.supermicro.com/products/accessories/mobilerack/CSE-M14TQC.cfm

 

[Captain_Tom]

What power supply does this have?

I would honestly consider getting something like this in the future if I could have a 8-hour battery laptop with an i7 that docks into an RX Vega / 1080 Ti when I am not out of the house...

 

[iBruce]

What power supply does this have?

I would honestly consider getting something like this in the future if I could have a 8-hour battery laptop with an i7 that docks into an RX Vega / 1080 Ti when I am not out of the house...

For a full-length 1080Ti, you would need the Akitio Node (full size) enclosure with internal PSU.

https://www.akitio.com/expansion/node




Looks like the Node Lite comes with this 72watt external PSU, same one used with the Thunder 3 Quad Mini


https://www.akitio.com/cables/power-supply-72w


I'd like an Akitio Node Lite with a side window to show off the Intel NVMe inside.

 

[Captain_Tom]

Looks like it comes with this 72watt external PSU, same one used with the Thunder 3 Quad Mini


https://www.akitio.com/cables/power-supply-72w


I'd like an Akitio Node Lite with a side window to show off the Intel NVMe inside.

Yeah still not quite what I want. I would need at least 350w and room for a beefy card for $200.

 

[iBruce]

Yeah still not quite what I want. I would need at least 350w and room for a beefy card for $200.

I edited the post for you.

The full size Akitio Node has a built in 400watt PSU, and can house a large 1080Ti with room to spare.

https://www.akitio.com/expansion/node

...and has a ventilated window of sorts.