One Stop Systems ExpressBox 3T-V3 User manual

ExpressBox 3T-V3
Model:EB3T-V3
www.onestopsystems.com
User Manual

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Table of Contents
Preface 5
Advisories 5
Safety Instructions 6
1 Introduction 8
PCI Express Features 8
Thunderbolt Features 8
1.1 Core of EB3T Thunderbolt 3 9
1.2 Parts List 10
1.3 Specifications 11
1.4 Main Components 11
1.5 Parts of EB3T 12
1.6 Thunderbolt 3 card 13
1.6.1 Power and indicator LEDs. 13
1.6.2 J1 connector 14
1.7 Backplane 14
1.7.1 PCIe card Slots 15
1.7.2 J6 15
1.7.3 SW1 switch module 15
1.7.4 SW2 switch 15
1.7.5 JP5 16
1.7.6 J2, J3 and J4 16
1.7.7 J10 16
1.7.8 J11 connector 17
1.8 Backplane LEDs 17
1.8.1 LED1 17
1.8.2 LED2 18
1.8.3 LED3 18
1.9 SLOT LEDS 18
1.9.1 LED5 for SLOT1 18
1.9.2 LED6 for SLOT2 18
1.9.3 LED7 for SLOT3 18
1.9.4 LED8 for SLOT4 19
1.10 Pre-Installation Information 19
1.11 Tools Required for Installation 19
2 Hardware Installation 20
2.1 Installation-Procedures Overview 20
2.2 Open Enclosure 20

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2.3 Remove Card slot Cover 20
2.4 Install PCIe Cards 21
2.4.1 Add-in System Blower (Optional) 22
2.5 Attach Power Cord 23
2.6 Connect Thunderbolt Cable 23
2.7 Start Host Computer 24
3 Verify Installation 25
3.1 Hardware 25
3.2 Thunderbolt™ 3 Interface Card & LEDs 26
3.2.1 LED status: Fully Operational mode 26
3.2.2 LED status: Standby mode 26
3.3 Backplane & LEDs 26
3.3.1 LED1 27
3.3.2 LED2 27
3.3.3 LED5 for SLOT1 27
4 Software Installation 28
4.1 How to check EB3T device on Mac OS 10.10 (or newer) 28
4.2 How To Check PCIe cards on Mac OS (10.10 or newer) 30
4.3 Thunderbolt Aware Driver is required for PCIe cards 30
4.4 PCIe Card and Slot# assignment 31
4.5 How to Check EB3T Device on Windows 10 32
4.6 How to check PCIe card on Windows10 33
5 Important Technical Information 34
5.1 Shipping / Transporting the unit 34
5.2 Fan Specifications 34
5.3 Fan Speed and Noise Adjustment 35
5.3.1 Tools 35
5.3.2 Steps to adjust the fan speed 35
5.4 How to replace the fan 37
5.5 How to install the fan 38
5.6 Installation of x16 PCIe card 38
5.7 Pro Tools HDx cards Installation 39
5.7.1 Using HDx power cable for Mac 39
5.7.2 Using HDx power cable for PC 40
5.8 Power Supply (300 WATT) 42
5.8.1 Power Supply Specifications 42
5.9 Auxiliary Power Cables 47
5.10 Attaching Displays 48
5.11 How to Remove Thunderbolt3 card 48

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5.12 How to remove Power Supply 49
6 Installation on Laptop PC 51
6.1 Installation on laptop running Windows 10 51
6.1.2 How to Check EB3T-V3 device and PCIe card 54
6.2 Installation on Laptop running Linux 56
6.2.1 How to Check EB3T device 56
6.2.2 How to Check PCIe card device 58
7 GPU Installation 59
7.1. Step 1: Set Up EB3T-V3 59
7.1.1 Install Thunderbolt Software and reboot 60
7.2 Step 2: Install GPU 63
7.3 Step 3: Install GPU Software 63
7.4 Quadro GPU Driver Installation Guide 63
7.5 How to verify Thunderbolt device and eGPU card 64
8 Troubleshooting 68
9 How to Get More Help 72
9.1 Contacting Technical Support 72
9.2 Returning Merchandise 72
9.3 Online Support Resources 72
Appendix A Compliance 73

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Preface
Advisories
Five types of advisories are used throughout this manual to provide helpful information, or to alert you to the potential for hardware damage
or personal injury.
NOTE
Used to amplify or explain a comment related to procedural steps or text.
IMPORTANT
Used to indicate an important piece of information or special “tip” to help you
CAUTION
Used to indicate and prevent the following procedure or step from causing damage to the equipment.
WARNING
Used to indicate and prevent the following step from causing injury.
DANGER or STOP
Used to indicate and prevent the following step from causing serious injury or significant data loss
Disclaimer: We have attempted to identify most situations that may pose a danger, warning, or caution condition in this manual. However, the
company does not claim to have covered all situations that might require the use of a Caution, Warning, or Danger indicator.

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Safety Instructions
Always use caution when servicing any electrical component. Before handling the expansion chassis, read the following instructions and safety
guidelines to prevent damage to the product and to ensure your own personal safety. Refer to the “Advisories” section for advisory
conventions used in this manual, including the distinction between Danger, Warning, Caution, Important, and Note.
Always use caution when handling/operating the computer. Only qualified, experienced, authorized electronics personnel should
access the interior of the computer and expansion chassis per UL and IEC 60950-1
The power supplies produce high voltages and energy hazards, which can cause bodily harm.
Use extreme caution when installing or removing components. Refer to the installation instructions in this manual for precautions
and procedures. If you have any questions, please contact Technical Support.
WARNING
Never modify or remove the radio frequency interference shielding from your workstation or expansion unit. To do so may
cause your installation to produce emissions that could interfere with other electronic equipment in the area of your
system.
When Working Inside a Computer
1. Before taking covers off a computer, perform the following steps:
2. Turn off the computer and any peripheral devices.
3. Disconnect the computer and peripheral power cords from their AC outlets or inlets in order to prevent electric shock or system
board damage.
In addition, take note of these safety guidelines when appropriate:
To help avoid possible damage to systems boards, wait five seconds after turning off the computer before removing a component,
removing a system board, or disconnecting a peripheral device from the computer.
When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its strain-relief loop, not on the cable itself. Some cables have a connector
with locking tabs. If you are disconnecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs before disconnecting the cable. As you pull
connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins. Also, before connecting a cable, make sure both
connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.
CAUTION
Do not attempt to service the system yourself except as explained in this manual. Follow installation
instructions closely.

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Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Warning
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) is the enemy of semiconductor devices. You should always take precautions to eliminate any
electrostatic charge from your body and clothing before touching any semiconductor device or card by using an
electrostatic wrist strap and/or rubber mat.
Static electricity can harm system boards. Perform service at an ESD workstation and follow proper ESD procedures to reduce the risk of
damage to components. We strongly encourage you to follow proper ESD procedures, which can include wrist straps and smocks, when
servicing equipment.
You can also take the following steps to prevent damage from electrostatic discharge (ESD):
When unpacking a static-sensitive component from its shipping carton, do not remove the component’s anti-static packaging
material until you are ready to install the component in a computer. Just before unwrapping the anti-static packaging, be sure you
are at an ESD workstation or are grounded.
When transporting a sensitive component, first place it in an anti-static container or packaging.
Handle all sensitive components at an ESD workstation. If possible, use anti-static floor pads and workbench pads.
Handle components and boards with care. Do not touch the components or contacts on a board. Hold a board by its edges or by its
metal mounting bracket.

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1 Introduction
ExpressBox 3T-V3 provides an 'outside-the-box' solution for using PCIe® cards with Thunderbolt-equipped computers. High-performance work
flows are possible by connecting a Thunderbolt equipped computer to an ExpressBox 3T-V3 containing PCIe cards such as video capture, media
transcoding, audio processing, and fast data storage. In addition, because Thunderbolt is also based on DisplayPort technology, you can daisy
chain a high-resolution display with your ExpressBox 3T-V3. Thunderbolt cable is sold separately.
Thunderbolt 3 allows you to connect your computer / notebook to multiple 4K displays, attach external storage devices, transfer large data
files, or capture or move RAW video from high-end camera. Thunderbolt 3 is capable of transmitting at a rate of 40Gbps (maximum speed),
which is faster than a USB 3.1 rate of 10 Gbps or USB 3.0 of 5Gpbs.
EB3T-V3 uses Thunderbolt3 - USB Type-C 3.1 thin cable / connector. The EB3T-V3 connects to Thunderbolt 3 port and USB Type-C ports. The
Thunderbolt 3 cable provides four times the data and twice the video bandwidth while also supplying power. Gives the user the power to use
for 4K video, single-cable docks with charging and built-in 10 G networking
PCI Express Features
Supports three full-length cards
This chassis includes a PCI Express Gen 3 switch with 48 lanes.
Three slots (slot2, slot3 and slot4) are all x8 lanes Gen3.
Slot 1 is the upstream slot, it is x16 lane connector, Gen3. However, thunderbolt3 card is only x4 lane.
Therefore, the upstream slot will operate at x4 lane Gen 3
Thunderbolt Features
High-speed Thunderbolt connection –Thunderbolt 3 40 Gbps. Thunderbolt 2: 20Gbps. Thunderbolt1: 10Gbps
o–Bi-directional, dual-protocol (PCI Express and Display Port)
o4 lanes of PCI Express Gen 3
Automatic power-up control by computer
USB 3.1 (10 Gbps) –compatible with existing USB devices and cables
DisplayPort 1.2 –compatible with existing DisplayPort displays, devices, and cables.
oConnect DVI, HDMI, and VGA displays via adapters
Power (based on USB power delivery)
oUp to 100W system charging
o15W to bus-powered devices
Thunderbolt Networking
o10Gb Ethernet connection between computers
Daisy-chain (up to six devices) or end-point device
Lowest latency for PCI Express audio

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No
Slot#
1
PCIe SLOT1
2
PCIe SLOT2
3
PCIe SLOT3
4
PCIe SLOT4
1.1 Core of EB3T Thunderbolt 3
*The PCIe slot connector is x16, but the Thunderbolt3 card is x4. Therefore, upstream port will operate at x4 speed.
Figure 1.2
Figure 1.4

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Note:
SLOT#3 is designated closed-type; as there is a heatsink at the end of the slot NO.3, a x16 card cannot be installed in the slot.
1.2 Parts List
Number
Qty
Item
1
1
ExpressBox 3T-V3 - Three Slot PCIe Expansion Chassis
2
1
Fan Blower
3
1
Carry Bag
4
1
U.S. Standard 115V Power Cord

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1.3 Specifications
Item
Description
Technology
PCI Express Bus Specification Revision 3.0
PCI Express Bus Specification Revision 2.0
Backplane
(3) Full length PCI Express Slots. Three x8 Gen 3.0
Thunderbolt™ 3, Interconnect Bandwidth
40 Gbps- doubles the speed of Thunderbolt 2
Enclosure
Aluminum Chassis. 14.6”W x, 4.3”H x 7.9”H
(371mm x 110mm x 200mm)
System Cooling
(1) Hot Swappable Fan
(1) Removable Blower Fan
Front Fan Noise Level
10 db
Power Supply Options
300 Watt
100-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz Power Input
Two 8-pin auxiliary power tabs
One 4-pin auxiliary Molex power connector
Environmental
Ambient Temperature 0° to 50° C
Storage Temperature -20° to 60° C
Relative Humidity 5% to 85% non-condensing
MTBF
50,000
Regulatory Compliance
FCC Class A Verified. CE. RoHS Compliant
Thunderbolt™ 3, Supported Operating Systems
MacOS 10.10 or higher (not supported 10.8 below) and Windows 10
Warranty
30 day money back guarantee. 1 year return to factory
1.4 Main Components
The EB3T unit is composed of the following major components
1. Thunderbolt3 card
2. Backplane
3. Power Supply
4. Replaceable Fan

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1.5 Parts of EB3T

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1.6 Thunderbolt 3 card
1.6.1 Power and indicator LEDs.
LED1: +5VSB
LED2: 3V3
LED3: 5V0_ATX
LED4: 3V3_LC
LED5: 0V9_SVR
When LED1 and LED2 are illuminated, it indicates Thunderbolt 3 enclosure is at standby mode.
When LED1 through LED5 are illuminated, it indicates Thunderbolt 3 enclosure turns on or the unit is operational.

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1.6.2 J1 connector
The 3-pin cable from PSU connects to J1 and provides +5VSB power to Thunderbolt 3 card. The EB3T unit will not turn ON when the 3-wire
power cable is disconnected from the J1 connector.
J1 connector spec name: JST-3-pin 2.5 mm pitch XH connector
1.7 Backplane

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1.7.1 PCIe card Slots
SLOT#1: Also known as Upstream port. Thunderbolt target card, PCIe x4, Gen3. The slot is x16, Gen3 .
SLOT#2, SLOT#3, and SLOT#4 are downstream ports and they are all x8 Gen3
SLOT#2 : Open-ended PCIe slot connector. Accepts x1, x4, 8 and x16 cards
SLOT#3: Closed-type PCIe slot. Accepts x1, x4 and x8 cards.
SLOT#4: Open-ended PCIe slot connector. Accepts x1, x4, x8 and x16 cards.
1.7.2 J6
ATX 24-pin Power Connector. This is where the main power supply is connected that provides power to the entire unit.
1.7.3 SW1 switch module
SW1-1
ON: (default) The enclosure is powered on/off by host computer. The TB3 enclosure is set at ON by default.
OFF: The OFF setting is for external PCIe interface products. For the Thunderbolt 3 enclosure, there is no function when it is set at
OFF position.
SW1-2
ON: NP951AG3 backplane onboard fan is set for full speed at 6000 RPM
OFF: (default) NP951AG3 backplane onboard fan is set for lower speed at 5250 RPM
1.7.4 SW2 switch
GEN3: (default) SLOT#1 through SLOT#4 are configured as PCIe 3.0
GEN2: SLOT#1 through SLOT#4 are configured as PCIe 2.0
Note: Normally, PCIe 2.0 card can work properly in PCIe Gen3 slot. In case some PCIe 2.0 card happens not to work in PCIe Gen3 slot, switching
SW2 switch to GEN2 can resolve the situation.

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1.7.5 JP5
Compatibility Enable Mode [jumper being placed over pin 1 and 2]: There may be some PCIe Gen1 cards whose signal doesn’t fully comply with
PCI-Express protocol; select this mode to allow non-compliant Gen1 card to work with downstream slot no. 2~4 within the enclosure.
Standard Mode [jumper being placed over pin 2 and 3]: (default). JP5 is set at standard mode by default for PCIe cards.
Note:
Presently, on the NP951AG3 backplane, it had been mistakenly printed as “JP1 Compatibility Enable” for JP5. We will modify this print as the
correct description “JP5 Compatibility Enable” in the next release of backplane.
1.7.6 J2, J3 and J4
J2 connector: is used for other PCIe expansion products for the purpose of powering on/off by host.
J3 connector: is used for other product; it sends the power good signal to controller board to activate the solenoid actuator within the
enclosure.
J4 connector: is used for other product; it connects to LED power button switch board for being able to power on/off the unit manually.
1.7.7 J10
J10 connector: is used for other products; it connects to the environmental controller board for detecting NP951AG3 backplane’s onboard fan
condition to know if the fan is spinning in normal situation, or stop spinning by controller board’s alert.

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1.7.8 J11 connector
J11 provides electric power to NP951AG3 backplane’s onboard fan.
1.8 Backplane LEDs
1.8.1 LED1
When LED1 illuminates solid green light, it indicates the 3.3V aux power is presented to NP951AG3 backplane. If LED1 not lit, then 3.3V aux
power is not presented to backplane.

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1.8.2 LED2
After powering on the unit, when LED2 illuminates solid green light, it indicates the first 0.9V power is presented to PCIe switch on NP951AG3
backplane. If LED2 not lit, then the first 0.9V power is not presented to PCIe switch.
1.8.3 LED3
After powering on the unit, when LED3 illuminates solid green light, it indicates the second 0.9V power is presented to PCIe switch on
NP951AG3 backplane. If LED3 not lit, then the second 0.9V power is not presented to PCIe switch.
Note: LED3 is beneath the onboard fan.
1.9 SLOT LEDS
Each card slot has its own indicator LED. There are four SLOT LEDs (color BLUE).
1.9.1 LED5 for SLOT1
After powering on the unit, when LED5 illuminates solid blue light, it indicates the Thunderbolt 3 card is present in SLOT#1.
1.9.2 LED6 for SLOT2
After powering on the unit, when LED6 illuminates solid blue light, it indicates the PCIe card in SLOT#2 is in Gen3 mode.
If fast blinking blue light (2 flashes/second), the PCIe card in SLOT#2 Gen2 mode.
If slow blinking blue light (1 flashes /second), the PCIe card in SLOT#2 Gen1 mode.
1.9.3 LED7 for SLOT3
After powering on the unit, when LED7 illuminates solid blue light, it indicates the PCIe card in SLOT#3 is in Gen3 mode.
If fast blinking blue light (2 flashes/second), the PCIe card in SLOT#3 Gen2 mode.
If slow blinking blue light (1 flashes/second), the PCIe card in SLOT#3 Gen1 mode.

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1.9.4 LED8 for SLOT4
After powering on the unit, when LED8 illuminates solid blue light, it indicates the PCIe card in SLOT#4 is in Gen3 mode.
If fast blinking blue light (2 flashes/second), the PCIe card in SLOT#4 Gen2 mode.
If slow blinking blue light (1 flashes/second), the PCIe card in SLOT#4 Gen1 mode.
1.10 Pre-Installation Information
Before using the expansion chassis, you should perform the following steps:
Inventory the shipping carton contents for all of the required parts
Gather all of the necessary tools required for installation
Read this manual
1.11 Tools Required for Installation
To complete the installation of the One Stop Systems product you will need a Phillips-head screwdriver and ESD wrist strap to prevent
electrostatic discharge.

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2 Hardware Installation
The following steps will guide you through the installation of your EB3T-V3 expansion unit.
CAUTION
Before touching anything inside the enclosure, move to an ESD station and follow proper ESD procedures. Failure to do so
may result in electrostatic discharge, damaging the computer or its components. For more information, see “Protecting
Against Electrostatic Discharge” in the Preface.
2.1 Installation-Procedures Overview
Below is the concise version on how to set up the EB3T.
1. Open Enclosure
2. Install PCIe cards (see notes below)
3. Attach Power Cord
4. Connect Thunderbolt cable
5. Start Host computer
6. Hardware Check
7. Verify Installation (via Operating System)
When installing 3rd Party PCIe card, start with one card first just to see if there are any software and hardware issues or incompatibility
problems that may occur. This way you can troubleshoot the problem more easily and efficiently. If everything works well and there are no
configuration issues, you can proceed with the installation of the remaining 3rd party PCIe cards. Always refer to or read “3rd party
manufacturer installation guide” for further instructions.
2.2 Open Enclosure
Loosen the thumbscrew that retains the top cover of the chassis and slide the lid towards you as shown below:
2.3 Remove Card slot Cover