Key Takeaways
1. Peladn has launched the Link S-3 eGPU graphics dock globally, following its debut in China.
2. The Link S-3 features Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, offering up to 80 Gbps bandwidth, while still being compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 devices.
3. Despite the higher bandwidth of Thunderbolt 5, performance may not exceed that of its predecessor or competitors due to existing limitations.
4. The Link S-3 includes additional features like 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, a USB Type-A port, an SD card reader, and an M.2 slot for SSDs.
5. The pricing for the Link S-3 is approximately $337 on AliExpress, but due to US tariffs, it is priced at $460.52 for US customers.
Peladn has just launched its new eGPU graphics dock worldwide, coming after the device’s debut in China nearly a month ago. To summarize, the Link S-3 is the successor to the Link S-2, which was introduced late last year. At that time, Peladn aimed to market the Link S-2 as a budget-friendly option compared to the Minisforum DEG1 (currently priced at $99 on Amazon) since it utilized OCuLink connectivity to connect a desktop graphics card with laptops, mini-PCs, or gaming handhelds.
New Connectivity Features
In a significant change, Peladn has opted for Thunderbolt 5 for the Link S-3, which is intended for devices that can support this newer standard. The Link S-3 should also work well with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 devices, but they’ll be limited to a maximum bandwidth of 40 Gbps. On the other hand, Thunderbolt 5 offers up to 80 Gbps bandwidth, though it still provides the same 64 Gbps to graphics cards through PCIe 4.0 x4.
Performance Expectations
This means that you shouldn’t expect the Link S-3 to outperform its predecessor or the Minisforum DEG1 just because Thunderbolt 5 boasts a higher theoretical peak bandwidth compared to OCuLink. Nonetheless, Thunderbolt 5 does come with various advantages over OCuLink, such as the ability to hotswap connections and transmit more than just video signals.
Additional Features and Pricing
Furthermore, the Link S-3 is equipped with 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet (Realtek RTL8156B), a USB Type-A port (10 Gbps), an SD card reader, and an M.2 2280 slot that can support up to PCIe 3.0 x1 bandwidth for SSDs. Additionally, the Link S-3 can charge a connected device at a power of up to 140 W, surpassing the capabilities of OCuLink graphics docks. Presently, the Link S-3 is available on AliExpress for £253.79/€291.99 (~$337) or CAD$384.38 (~$279). Unfortunately, due to US tariffs on Chinese imports, the price for US customers is set at $460.52.
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