Tag: Peladn Link S-3

  • Peladn Link S-3: Global Launch of Thunderbolt 5 eGPU Dock

    Peladn Link S-3: Global Launch of Thunderbolt 5 eGPU Dock

    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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    Peladn Link S-3: Global Launch of Thunderbolt 5 eGPU DockPeladn Link S-3: Global Launch of Thunderbolt 5 eGPU Dock

     

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  • Peladn Launches First Thunderbolt 5 eGPU Dock with Expansion Ports

    Peladn Launches First Thunderbolt 5 eGPU Dock with Expansion Ports

    Key Takeaways

    1. Peladn launched the Link S-3 eGPU dock shortly after the Y01 mini-PC with AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU.
    2. The Link S-3 utilizes Thunderbolt 5 technology, offering two ports for connectivity, unlike previous docks that used OCuLink ports.
    3. Thunderbolt 5 theoretically provides 80 Gbps bandwidth, but is limited to 64 Gbps due to PCIe 4.0 x4 pass-through.
    4. The Link S-3 features additional ports including a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, an SD card reader, an M.2 2280 SSD slot, and a 10 Gbps USB Type-A port.
    5. The Link S-3 is available for pre-order in China for CNY 1,599 (about $223) and will start shipping on July 26, with no global release date announced yet.

    Peladn has launched a new device, just a few weeks after introducing the Y01 mini-PC equipped with an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU. To give some context, the Y01 competes with the GMKtec EVO-X2 and similar products. On the other hand, the Link S-3 has a design similar to the Minisforum DEG1 eGPU dock, which is currently priced at $99 on Amazon.

    A Different Approach

    Unlike the DEG1 or the previous Link S-2, Peladn has chosen a unique strategy with the Link S-3. In comparison, the earlier eGPU docks had OCuLink ports that could offer up to 64 Gbps bandwidth, suitable for desktop-grade graphics cards. On the contrary, the Link S-3 uses Thunderbolt 5 technology through two ports.

    Bandwidth Considerations

    In theory, Thunderbolt 5 could deliver a superior bandwidth connection, boasting 80 Gbps compared to OCuLink’s 64 Gbps. Nevertheless, it is important to note that Thunderbolt 5 is limited to a PCIe 4.0 x4 pass-through, which caps the connection at a maximum of 64 Gbps bandwidth. Consequently, latency may still hinder performance when compared to an OCuLink setup.

    The Link S-3 offers additional features that are not present in OCuLink eGPU docks, including a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port that uses Realtek’s RTL8156B chip. Furthermore, Peladn has added an SD card reader, an M.2 2280 (PCIe 3.0 x1) SSD slot, and a 10 Gbps USB Type-A port. The Peladn Link S-3 is available for pre-order in China at CNY 1,599 (approximately $223) and is set to start shipping on July 26. However, there has been no announcement regarding when it will be available globally.

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    Peladn Launches First Thunderbolt 5 eGPU Dock with Expansion PortsPeladn Launches First Thunderbolt 5 eGPU Dock with Expansion Ports
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