List of the Best Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Cards & Expansion Systems

In recent times, Thunderbolt 3 has evolved connectivity standards and is one of the most spectacular advancements in USB type C technology. Whether you are a computer power user, professional content editor, or gamer, it offers plenty of cutting-edge features.

Thunderbolt 3 is primarily found on Intel-based high-end laptops, whereas some motherboards (Intel) also provide Thunderbolt 3 support. The features like daisy-chaining, theoretical 40 Gbps lightning-fast data transfer speeds (between peripherals, computers, and expansion hubs), support for eGPUs, and dual 4K displays at 60 Hz are a few of the reasons why Thunderbolt 3 dominates.

PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus. It is designed to substitute the older PCI, PCI-X, and AGP bus models.

To summarize, there is a solution that lets you gain the benefits of Thunderbolt 3 and PCIe, i.e., Thunderbolt 3 PCIe card. Thunderbolt 3 PCIe cards are add-in cards that use a PCIe x4 slot in your motherboard to enable Thunderbolt 3 support immediately.

If you use a system that doesn’t support Thunderbolt 3 (AMD) by default, it is highly recommended to use a Thunderbolt 3 PCIe card. You can obtain up to two Thunderbolt 3 ports and other slots based on card type.

Buying Guide for Thunderbolt 3 PCIe cards:

The following factors can help you to choose the most suitable Thunderbolt 3 PCIe card easily:

i. PCI Express Slot:

Suggested in the name, a Thunderbolt3 card offer support to your motherboard through an available PCI Express slot. Make sure your system has a minimum of one available PCIe x4 slot to connect the card. Certain motherboards enable you to secure this card type in an x8/x16 PCI Express slot.

ii. Thunderbolt header:

Every Thunderbolt 3 PCIe cards ship with a system link cable. This cable connects your motherboard to the card through a Thunderbolt header. All those motherboards compatible with Thunderbolt 3 add-in cards should include this slot type. You can’t enable Thunderbolt 3 after connecting it to the PCI Express slot in its absence.

iii. Power Delivery (PD):

One of the prominent reasons behind the choice of these cards is the power delivery. It is an essential requirement for every thunderbolt host. The majority of the featured add-in cards provide 36W of power, whereas some can provide up to 100W.

iv. The size of the PC:

Before buying a Thunderbolt 3 PCIe card, you need to check your computer case to check what openings it comes with. It may have an 80 mm or 120 mm space. You can put a metal bracket over the edge of your serial card inside it. If your PC has a low-profile slot at the rear, you have to use a low-profile card, for example, 80 mm thickness.

v. Number of ports:

Before buying a Thunderbolt 3 PCI card, you need to determine the number of devices you want to connect. It is possible to obtain 8 Serial ports and a combo of Serial + Printer ports. Moreover, the number of ports that you can use relies on the available space on the motherboard and at the rear of your computer case.

Best Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Cards

Image	Product Name	Buy Now
	ASUS Expansion Card ThunderboltEX 3	Check on Amazon
	ASUS ThunderboltEX 3-TR	Check on Amazon
	GIGABYTE Alpine Ridge Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Card	Check on Amazon
	Sonnet Echo III Desktop a 3-Slot Desktop Expansion System (Thunderbolt 3 to PCIe Card)	Check on Amazon
	SoNNeT Thunderbolt 3 Upgrade Card	Check on Amazon
	QNAP Thunderbolt 3 Expansion Card (QXP-T32P)	Check on Amazon
	Asrock Thunderbolt 3 AIC	Check on Amazon

7. Asrock Thunderbolt 3 AIC:

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This AsRock add-in card lets you take full advantage of the cutting-edge Thunderbolt 3 technology. It is compatible with most motherboards equipped with a PCIe express slot and a Thunderbolt header. Moreover, it has already been tested with many other motherboards from various brands.

There is support for Power Delivery 2.0 with a charging power reaching up to 36W. Though this is not the best PD output in the market, it can assist you in powering most peripherals. The card comes with two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a DisplayPort, and a mini DP TBT header. These ports can draw video output from motherboards’ graphic cards.

The Thunderbolt 3 ports can only provide video output after you connect the card to your GPU. Make sure you are ready to sacrifice a minimum of one or two DisplayPorts in your GPU if dual monitors are used.

Features:

• Its two Thunderbolt 3 ports support high-resolution displays, daisy-chaining (can connect up to 12 Thunderbolt 3 devices), and other expansion boxes like eGPU and TB3 docks.
• The maximum data transfer speed is 40 Gbps.
• A single 5K display @ 60 Hz refresh rates or dual 4K displays @ 60 Hz can be connected.

6. QNAP Thunderbolt 3 Expansion Card (QXP-T32P):

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This expansion card is designed for TVS-h1688X and TVS-h1288X NAS. It facilitates high-speed data transfer to speed up everyday tasks and applications. Significantly video editing studios can benefit from this card by smoothly transferring, displaying, and editing 4K videos in (near) real-time.

It is possible to use Thunderbolt 4 devices by a NAS with this card when connected through standard Thunderbolt 4 certificated cables or any passive Thunderbolt 3 cables shorter than 0.8 meters.

This QNAP expansion card is well-known for streamlined video editing collaboration. Each team member can centrally store video resources within the same NAS shared folder. Thus, it significantly improves productivity for highly-collaborative projects in multi-workstation environments. A full-height low-profile bracket is included.

Features:

• It comes with two Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type-C) ports.
• PCIe Gen 3 x 4 interfaces are supported.
• Daisy chaining is enabled for up to 6 QNAP Thunderbolt devices.
• A NAS with a Thunderbolt 3 expansion card can be daisy-chained with up to 6 QNAP Thunderbolt devices.
• Other QNAP Thunderbolt NAS and Thunderbolt 3 to 10GbE Adapter (QNA Series) are supported.

5. SoNNeT Thunderbolt 3 Upgrade Card:

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This SoNNeT card is designed for Echo Express III-D & III-R expansion system. An upgraded Echo Express Thunderbolt 2 system can attain bandwidth increment from 30% to 100% when this card is installed.

One port is dedicated for connection to the computer, whereas the second port supports daisy-chaining up to 5 extra Thunderbolt devices. It can connect a single USB peripheral device, one 5K display, or two 4K displays.

If you want to upgrade to a 40 Gbps Thunderbolt 3 system, you can simply substitute the existing Thunderbolt interface board with the upgrade board. Subsequently, your chassis would immediately connect to a Thunderbolt3 equipped PC; no need for an adapter.

Features:

• The maximum data transfer speed is 40 Gbps.
• PC compatibility includes BRD-UGRTB3-SEL BRD-UPGTB3-SE1PC with a Thunderbolt 3 (Windows 10/8/7).
• Mac compatibility includes Mac with Thunderbolt 3 ports, Macs with Thunderbolt 2/Thunderbolt ports with the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter, and macOS 10.12.1+.
• Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports are included.

4. Sonnet Echo III Desktop a 3-Slot Desktop Expansion System (Thunderbolt 3 to PCIe Card):

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If your computer lacks expansion slots, you can connect a maximum of three high-performance non-GPU PCIe cards through the included Thunderbolt 3 cable in this card’s package. Three PCIe 3.0 slots are available, i.e., an x16 plus and two x8 slots. Therefore, this expansion card support three full-height, single-width cards (up to 12.28 inches long) or a double-width card plus and a single-width card.

The broad PCIe card compatibility makes sure this card is compatible with every Thunderbolt 3 compatible, non-GPU card (irrespective of height or length).

Being designed without a Power Switch, this card automatically powers on and off with the connected computer. Thus, it saves energy in the long run—no need to remember turning off the system. The rugged aluminum housing offers secure protection.

Features:

• It comes with a 400W power supply and 75W auxiliary power. It saves energy by automatically powering on/off with the computer.
• It supports all non-GPU PCIe 1.1/2.0/3.0 Thunderbolt 3 compatible cards, including transcoding and video capture.
• It can connect to SSD storage, 6 GB or 12 GB SATA or SAS host bus adapter, audio DSP, and other specialty types.
• The dual Noctua fans offer ultra-quiet operation.
• HDX compatibility mode allows the use of a maximum of three Pro Tools.
• A 5K @ 60 Hz display or up to two 4K @ 60Hz displays are supported.
• Windows compatibility includes PC with Thunderbolt 3/Thunderbolt 4 ports, Windows 10 (64-bit Edition Version 1909 or advanced).
• Linux compatibility includes Linux computer with Thunderbolt 3 ports, Linux Kernel 5.0+.
• Mac compatibility includes Mac (M1) with PCIe cards that have M1 compatible drivers, Mac (Intel) with Thunderbolt 3 ports, Mac with a Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt port with an Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter & a Thunderbolt 2 cable, macOS 10.12.6+, and macOS Big Sur compatible.

3. GIGABYTE Alpine Ridge Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Card:

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Daisy-chaining of multiple devices is possible with this Gigabyte PCIe card. The support for DisplayPort 1.2 makes this card a must-have for any enthusiast. Being GIGABYTE Thunderbolt ready motherboards, it can support two displays in 4K resolution @ 60 FPS or a single display in 5K resolution.

Thunderbolt 3 over USB Type-C has innovative industry-first features like Power Delivery 2.0 and the ability to daisy-chain up to 12 devices thanks to the dual USB Type-C™ ports.

Features:

• Dual USB Type-C ports can daisy-chain up to 12 devices.
• The maximum transfer speed is up to 40 Gbps.
• Displayport 1.2 port is capable with 4K video throughout.
• There is support for 5V/3A and 12V/3A power delivery.
• Hardware interfaces are DisplayPort, USB, and Thunderbolt.

2. ASUS ThunderboltEX 3-TR:

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ASUS Thunderbolt EX 3-TR is compatible with ASUS Z490 (Intel 10th Gen CPUs) series motherboards having PCIe 3.0 x4 interface and 4.6 inches x 7.1 inches form size. The pack includes two mini DisplayPort, a 14-1 pin Thunderbolt header cable, and a USB 2.0 cable.

Features:

• The supported hardware interfaces are
  USB, USB 3.1 Type C, USB Type C, Thunderbolt, and USB 2.0.
• Dual Thunderbolt 3 ports (USB Type-C) support up to six Thunderbolt devices in daisy-chaining.
• The maximum transfer speed is up to 40 Gbps.
• DisplayPort 1.4 supports 8K Ultra HD resolution.
• The USB Type-C port supports 100W USB quick charge function.

1. ASUS Expansion Card ThunderboltEX 3:

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This ThunderboltEX 3 expansion card is compatible with Z170 and X99 motherboards. You can upgrade your motherboard in only 3 steps. Firstly, slide Thunderbolt EX 3 into an available PCI-Express 3.0 x4 slot. Now connect the card to the onboard Thunderbolt header through the included system-link cable.

Now connect the included DisplayPort cable to the card and the onboard DisplayPort connector. Finally, turn on your computer and connect your Thunderbolt devices.

The included mini DisplayPort cable can connect graphics output from DisplayPort of the motherboard or discrete graphics card to mini DisplayPort IN port. Asus TB header cable can connect the TB header of the Asus motherboard with the TB header of this card.

Features:

• It supports peer-to-peer 10-gigabit networking that enables instant transfer of files, carries out easy PC migrations, or deploys tiny workgroups with shared storage.
• ThunderboltEX 3 supports the USB Power Delivery specification for fast, high-power charging of up to 36W, and you can even daisy-chain up to six devices from a single port – and our card even includes an additional USB 3.1 Type-A connector for total convenience and compatibility.
• USB Power Delivery is supported for up to 36W charging.
• The maximum transfer speed is up to 40 Gbps.
• A Type-C port supports USB 3.1, Thunderbolt 3, and DisplayPort 1.2
• A secondary USB 3.1 Type-A port is included to provide additional transfer functionality.
• The built-in 1 GB memory size offers lag-free performance.
• With the DisplayPort 1.2 and reversible USB 3.1 Type-C integration, this card offers compatibility with the latest high-speed devices ranging from super-fast external drives to 4K UHD displays.

Chassis or expansion systems:

Image	Product Name	Buy Now
	ASUS Expansion Card for Z170 & X99 Motherboards	Check on Amazon
	GIGABYTE GC-Titan Ridge 2.0	Check on Amazon
	Sonnet Echo Express SEIIIe	Check on Amazon
	SoNNeT Echo Express III-R 3-Slot Thunderbolt 3 Expansion System	Check on Amazon
	Sonnet Echo Express SEL	Check on Amazon
	StarTech.com TB31PCIEX16 Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis	Check on Newegg
	Akitio – T3N2AA0002Y00U Node Duo	Check on Amazon
	Highpoint RocketStor 6661A	Check on Amazon

8. Highpoint RocketStor 6661A:

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This Thunderbolt 3 to PCIe 3.0 X16 expansion chassis transforms your notebook into a compact media workstation. Its compact, lightweight design is perfect for compact mobile computing platforms and workstations. So, you can use it in MacBook Pros, iMacs, and Razor notebooks. With 7 inches of height and less than 3 inches of width, this chassis is compact enough to insert into a laptop bag and still supports full-sized PCIe 3.0 add-in cards.

With this chassis, you can easily install almost any full-length/full-height PCIe 3.0 card (like storage I/O, sound, video, networking). The efficient chassis design makes specific temperature stays within limit during intense workloads. Due to the use of aluminum in manufacturing this chassis and dual ultra-quiet cooling fans, the temperature stays controlled.

The plug-and-play installation suggests that this chassis allows the insertion of any PCIe X4, X8, or X16 card into any Thunderbolt 3 compatible PC & Mac platform through a single cable connection. Examples of compatible platforms are Ethernet, media capture, fiber channel, or external storage/RAID controller cards. It is easy to add or remove PCIe cards with the help of a slidable chassis cover and quick-release thumbscrews.

Accessories packed in are a 40 Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 cable, a power cord, an external power supply, and a quick installation guide.

Features:

• Daisy chaining is allowed for up to 6 devices.
• Thunderbolt 3 ports support data transfer speed up to 40 GB/s.
• The support for NVMe RAID drives offers versatile storage convenience.
• USB/eSATA/Mini-SAS connectivity is supported.
• The supported hardware interfaces are USB, ESATA, SAS, Ethernet, and Thunderbolt.

7. Akitio T3N2AA0002Y00U Node Duo:

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This Akitio card is a Thunderbolt 3 to X2 (half-length) PCIe expansion box. It has enough space for accommodating two half-length PCIe cards. It functions as a plug-and-play expansion kit for Thunderbolt 3 PCs in which installation of an internal expansion card is not supported. Also, it works well for those systems in which there is insufficient space for more PCIe cards.

The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) connection does not just simplify the addition of an external PCIe card but also enables you to carry the device and shift it from one system to another. Large handles are available for portability. Wire mesh panels and onboard fans help in heat dissipation.

With the help of a dedicated DisplayPort connector, it is easy to connect an additional monitor to enlarge your workspace. There is support for power delivery (PD) over USB-C, which provides up to 3A current @ 5V, 9V, 15V, 20V with a maximum 60W power to compatible laptops.

For example, it can deliver power to laptops like the MacBook Pro, which supports charging via the USB-C cable, or some devices like iPad Pro. Hence, you can recharge your battery, although the laptop is not plugged into other power sources.

The included 150W power adapter can be substituted with a 230W power adapter to obtain more power. So, up to 75W of power can be delivered to each slot. The breakaway tab available on the rear panel can be discarded to make an opening to obtain even higher capacity. This opening can be used to directly draw a cable from an extra PSU to the PCIe card.

Features:

• Two PCIe (x16) slots support two full-height, half-length, double-width cards. These slots offer 25W of power each. (If there is only one PCIe card installed and the power delivery function is unused, the PCIe slot can offer up to 75W of power.)
• There is support for PCI Express 3.0 compliant interface with 2 lanes per slot.
• The second Thunderbolt port can support USB 3.1 (10 Gbps), Thunderbolt 3 (up to 5 daisy-chained devices), and DisplayPort devices.
• The data transfer speed is up to 40 Gb/s.

6. StarTech.com TB31PCIEX16 Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis:

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This expansion chassis is a Thunderbolt 3 to 16 x PCIe system with a PCIe slot and an external PCIe enclosure. It is built from quality aluminum. With the help of this chassis, you can add an extra PCIe card to a Thunderbolt 3 PC. Alternative names of this chassis are Thunderbolt 3 PCIe box and Thunderbolt 3 PCIe enclosure.

The ability to add multiple extended displays makes sure you can work more productively by multitasking faster. Also, it prevents the trouble of constantly relocating several open programs or windows.

Features:

• Thunderbolt 3 support and up to 40 Gb/s bandwidth offer increased productivity. With this bandwidth support of PCIe 3.0 and Thunderbolt 3, you benefit from several of the identical port additions from the PCIe expansion slots of a desktop system.
• The mentioned bandwidth lets you quickly access and edit huge uncompressed files like images and videos. So, this system is perfect for dynamic on-site production.
• It allows you to add an external PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot and a 4K DisplayPort connection to a Thunderbolt 3 MacBook/ laptop.
• Compatible PCIe cards are an SSD, PCIe USB 3.1/3.0/2.0, Fiber or Ethernet, video capture, USB-C, network, FireWire, or eSATA cards.
• The external PCIe enclosure contains a dedicated DisplayPort output allowing you to add an extra display to a desktop PC or laptop. The secondary Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port can help you connect a secondary display.
• The second Thunderbolt 3 port can be used to connect additional DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, and USB devices to your system.
• Up to 6 Thunderbolt, 3 devices can be daisy-chained through which you can expand your workstation as per requirements.

5. Sonnet Echo Express SEL:

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Sonnet Echo Express SEL is a compactly designed desktop Thunderbolt 3 to PCIe card expansion system. It lets you connect any PC with Thunderbolt 3 ports to a low-profile PCIe card. Also, it is possible to connect a PCIe expansion card to PCs without slots. You can use high-performance PCIe cards with a Windows or Mac PC with a Thunderbolt 3 port.

With 4 inches width, 8.4 inches length, and 2.8 inches height, this chassis is perfect for those situations when you need to connect a single low-profile PCIe card. The variable-speed fan is temperature-controlled. It quietly cools down the card. Due to rugged aluminum housing, this chassis obtains robust and secure protection.

The pack includes a 0.5-meter long Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gbps) cable and ThunderLok 3 Thunderbolt connector retainer clip (helps to secure line from unintentional disconnections)

Features:

• The maximum data transfer speed is 40 Gbps.
• The PCIe bandwidth is 2750 MB/s. So, this chassis doubles the performance of the Thunderbolt 2 small package.
• Out of the two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, one port is dedicated for connection to the PC, whereas the second port supports daisy-chaining of a maximum of five additional Thunderbolt devices to a PC.
• With this chassis, you can connect a single USB peripheral device or one 5K display, or up to two 4K displays.
• Energy Saver Mode automatically powers on/off with the chassis.
• Daisy chain port delivers up to 15W of power to connected peripherals.
• Windows compatibility includes PC with Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 ports Windows 10 (64-bit Edition Version 1909 or higher).
• Mac compatibility includes Mac (Intel) with Thunderbolt 3 ports, Mac (M1) with PCIe cards with M1 compatible drivers, Mac with a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 port with an Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter & a Thunderbolt 2 cable, macOS10.12.6+, and
• macOS Big Sur compatible.
• Linux compatibility includes Linux PC with Thunderbolt 3 ports and Linux Kernel 5.0+.

4. SoNNeT Echo Express III-R 3-Slot Thunderbolt 3 Expansion System:

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SoNNeT Echo Express III-R expansion system is well-known for its wide compatibility and quiet operation. It is one of the most silent Echo systems. Variable-speed fans, ultra-quiet and temperature-controlled, aid the natural convection of hot air across the PCIe cards. Moreover, the hot air is vented out of the chassis with decreased air velocity and turbulence. So, the fan noise is minimal.

A universal 300W power supply is included. The included 75W PCIe power connector helps connect those cards that need auxiliary power. Though delivering colossal power, this expansion system is environmental-friendly. It automatically powers on whenever the connected PC powers on or works and automatically powers off whenever the corresponding PC power off or sleep.

Features:

• The 1-meter long Thunderbolt cable supports up to 40Gb/s data transfer speed.
• External connectors include two Thunderbolt 3 ports, and the internal connector is a 6-pin Mini-Fit Jr (delivers 75W power for PCIe cards that demand supplemental power).
• Expansion slots: are a x16 mechanical (x8 electrical) PCIe 3.0, an x8 mechanical (x8 electrical) PCIe 3.0, and an x8 mechanical (x4 electrical) PCIe 3.0.
• This system can support full-length, double-width, full-height, PCIe card and single-width cards or three full-length, single-width, full-height PCIe cards (up to 12.28 inches long). Therefore, this system can support all available macOS- and Thunderbolt 3-compatible PCIe 1.1, PCIe 2.0, and PCIe 3.0 cards.
• The supported hardware interfaces are USB, USB Type-C, Thunderbolt, and Ethernet.

3. Sonnet Echo Express SEIIIe:

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The SEIIIe is a 3-slot PCIe card expansion chassis (Thunderbolt 3 edition). It is smaller than the 3-slot Echo Express III-D (Thunderbolt 3 Edition). But the Echo Express SE IIIe is still big enough to support all available Thunderbolt 3 compatible cards.

With the included Thunderbolt 3 ports, you can connect 3 PCIe cards to any Mac and simultaneously use multiple high-performance PCIe cards. All 3 PCIe slots support Thunderbolt PCIe cards with a length up to 7.75 inches. An Auxiliary PCIe power connector is available to connect a power-hungry card.

The variable-speed fan works quietly to cool down the connected card. The entire system stays protected in a rugged aluminum housing.

The included ThunderLok 3 Thunderbolt connector retainer clip avoids unintentional cable disconnections. Simply slide it on one end of the cable, plug in the connector and then fasten it to the chassis through a thumbscrew.

Features:

• 40 Gbps thunderbolt 3 interface provides 2750 Mb/s of PCIe bandwidth. So, it doubles the performance of Thunderbolt 2.
• PCIe 3.0 slots support a single-width card & one double-width card, or three half-length+, full-height, single-width PCIe cards.
• Of the two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, one port is dedicated for connection to the computer, whereas another supports daisy-chaining.
• An Auxiliary PCIe power connector lets you install a card that needs extra power.
• Daisy chain port delivers up to 15W of power to connected peripherals.
• Energy Saver Mode automatically powers on/off with the computer.
• Windows compatibility includes PC with Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 ports Windows 10 (64-bit Edition version 1909 or higher).
• Linux compatibility includes Linux PC with Thunderbolt 3 ports, Linux Kernel 5.0+.
• Mac compatibility includes Mac (Intel) with Thunderbolt 3 ports, Mac (M1) with PCIe cards having M1 compatible drivers, Mac with a Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt port having an Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter & a Thunderbolt 2 cable, macOS 10.12.6+, and macOS Big Sur compatible.

2. GIGABYTE GC-Titan Ridge 2.0:

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This Intel Thunderbolt 3 Certified add-in card presents a simple approach to upgrade GIGABYTE Thunderbolt-ready motherboards with faster Thunderbolt 3 connectivity; no need to upgrade to an entirely new system. Dual Thunderbolt 3 ports support offers the fastest connection to any display, dock, and device.

The transfer speed up to 40Gb/s is found twice faster than Thunderbolt 2 and eight times faster than USB3. The support for DisplayPort 1.4 makes the Thunderbolt 3 interface a must-have for any enthusiast. There is support for two displays in 4K resolution @ 60 fps.

Features:

• The maximum bandwidth is 40 Gb/s.
• DisplayPort 1.4 port offers 4K Video throughout.
• Daisy chaining is possible for up to 12 Thunderbolt devices(6 devices per port); no need for an extra switch or hub.
• PD3.0 standard (up to 100W) is supported.
• The OS support is Windows 10 64-bit with RS3 or later.
• Thunderbolt 3 over USB Type-C supports Power Delivery 3.0.
• The supported hardware interfaces are USB and Thunderbolt.

1. ASUS Expansion Card for Z170 & X99 Motherboards:

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This ThunderboltEX 3 card is compatible with a wide range of Asus Z170 and X99 motherboards. It comes with RoHS certification.

The mini DisplayPort cable can link graphics output from DisplayPort of a motherboard or discrete graphics card to the mini DisplayPort IN port on this card. Asus TB header cable can connect the TB header of the Asus motherboard with the TB header of this card. Other accessories in the pack are ThunderboltEX 3 Thunderbolt/USB adapter and support disc.

Features:

• Data transfer speed is up to 40 Gb/s.
• The host interface is PCI Express 3.0 x4.
• A Type-C port supports Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort 1.2, and USB 3.1.
• The secondary USB 3.1 Type-A port offers additional transfer functionality.
• USB Power Delivery specification is reinforced for maximum 36W charging.
• Connectivity options are a USB 3.1 port and a Thunderbolt port.
• The length is 3.9 inches, and the height is 3.4 inches.

For Users in India:

Sonnet Echo Express SE1:

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ECHO-EXP-SE1-T3 chassis offers full performance despite having a compact and lightweight design. Though it takes up some space on the desktop, it is big enough to support all Thunderbolt-compatible PCIe cards at full performance. This chassis can connect a PCIe expansion card to PCs without slots. You can use high-performance PCIe cards with any Windows or Mac PC with a Thunderbolt 3 port.

Out of the two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, one port is dedicated for connection to the PC, whereas the second port enables daisy-chaining of up to 5 extra Thunderbolt devices to your computer. You can connect a single USB peripheral device or a single 5K display, or up to two 4K displays.

The PCIe 3.0 x8 slot supports a single-width, half-length+ (up to 7.75 inches long), full-height PCIe card.

Features:

• 40 Gbps Thunderbolt 3 interface provides 2750 MB/s of PCIe bandwidth. Hence, it doubles the performance of Thunderbolt 2.
• The mentioned bandwidth allows this product to support 4K video capture and processing cards (at high frame rates), 16 GB fiber channel cards, and dual-port 10 Gbe cards (at full performance).
• Compatible systems are an audio interface, professional video capture, 6 GB or 12 GB SAS/SATA host bus adapter, 10 GB or 40 GB Ethernet, 8 GB or 16 GB fiber channel, or raid controller PCIe card.
• Energy Saver Mode automatically powers on/off with the computer.
• Supported hardware interfaces are USB, SAS, Ethernet, Thunderbolt, and Thunderbolt 3.

Final Words:

Thunderbolt 3 PCI-E is known to be the fastest technology for multimedia sharing. Therefore, Thunderbolt slots are equipped only in a few high-end laptops or monitors. Being an upgrade of Thunderbolt 2, Thunderbolt 3 provides 40 Gbps data transfer speed, four times that of the fastest USB connection. These cards enable the PCIe x4 slot in your motherboard to immediately provide Thunderbolt 3 support.