Sonnet Technologies has unveiled a suite of Thunderbolt 5 PCIe enclosures designed to enhance the capabilities of Apple’s M4 Mac mini. These new enclosures provide expanded connectivity and performance, catering to professionals seeking to maximize their Mac mini’s potential.
xMac mini (2024+): Modular PCIe Expansion System
The xMac mini (2024+) is a 2U rackmount system engineered to house one or two Mac minis, connecting them to high-performance PCIe cards via Thunderbolt. This setup is ideal for demanding applications such as media ingestion, networking, and SSD storage. Users can pair the system with Sonnet’s Echo II DV or Echo III expansion modules, allowing the installation of various PCIe cards, including digital video interfaces, NVMe SSD storage, and 25Gb Ethernet adapters. The system supports Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 5 connections, with the latter offering doubled throughput when used with compatible Macs. The Echo II DV module accommodates two PCIe cards and connects via dual Thunderbolt cables, ensuring full bandwidth to each slot. For those requiring more connectivity through a single cable, the Echo III module supports three PCIe cards and includes a built-in bridge that intelligently distributes bandwidth across all slots. This modular approach offers flexibility and scalability for professional workflows.
RackMac mini (2024+): High-Density Rackmount Solution
The RackMac mini (2024+) is a robust steel enclosure designed to house up to three Mac mini units side by side in a standard 19-inch rack. Its 2U design features front-to-back airflow, front panel access to power buttons and USB-A ports, and additional internal space for USB SSDs. With a 5.2-inch mounting depth, it is well-suited for mobile racks, edit bays, or server deployments. This space-efficient solution offers physical security and cable management for Mac minis used in production environments.
eGPU Breakaway Box 850ex: Thunderbolt 5 PCIe Breakout Box
The Breakaway Box 850ex is a Thunderbolt 5 PCIe enclosure designed for full-length, full-height PCIe cards. While macOS does not support external graphics cards on Apple Silicon, this enclosure can still be utilized for PCIe expansion for Mac mini, Mac Studio, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro. It offers up to 6,000 MB/s of PCIe bandwidth, accommodating high-performance cards such as digital video I/O, NVMe SSDs, or multiport network adapters. This enclosure is particularly beneficial for workflows that require high-bandwidth PCIe cards but do not rely on GPU acceleration, such as real-time video capture, AI accelerators, or ultra-fast storage arrays.
Pricing and Availability
The RackMac mini (2024+) Enclosure is available for $299.99 but is currently out of stock. It houses up to three Mac mini units in a 2U rackmount chassis with front-to-back airflow and front panel access to ports and power buttons. Sonnet has not yet announced pricing or shipping dates for the xMac mini (2024+) or Breakaway Box 850ex.
Sonnet’s new lineup provides Mac mini users with modular power and flexibility, positioning the mini as a serious contender in modern professional workflows.
