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SKU
TBT5-AI
Category
Expansion Chassis
Overview
Solve the innovation vs. privacy deadlock with the Plugable TBT5-AI, a high-performance bare enclosure designed for the " Technical Builder ." Where most AI is currently trapped in the cloud or throttled by weak mobile chips, this " computational vault " lets you architect your own private AI powerhouse. By hosting your own GPU at the desk, you achieve true " Intelligence YOU Own " while running powerful open-source models like Llama 3 locally and keeping sensitive prompts, proprietary code, and internal data entirely within your secure perimeter.
Engineered for breakthrough performance, the TBT5-AI leverages Thunderbolt 5 to deliver a massive 80Gbps of bi-directional bandwidth. Inside, you'll find a 850W ATX 3.1 (80+ Gold) power supply built with 100% Japanese capacitors, providing a dedicated 600W of power to your card. With 4 lanes of PCIe 4.0this enclosure supports triple-slot, high-end GPUs like the NVIDIA RTX 4090 or 50-series (RTX 5080), providing the VRAM and throughput necessary for large-scale AI inference and complex RAG pipelines.
Beyond its AI capabilities, the TBT5-AI serves as the ultimate professional workstation hub. A single included Thunderbolt 5 cable provides 96W host charging, ultra-fast 2.5Gbps Ethernet, and four 10Gbps USB ports for your high-speed peripherals. Designed for Windows 11, it is compatible with Thunderbolt 5, 4 and USB4 systems;USB4 must support eGPUs systems. Please Note: Supports GPUs up to 346mm x 170mm x 77mm. It is not compatible with macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, or Thunderbolt 3. Always verify your GPU's physical dimensions and power requirements before purchase to ensure a perfect fit.
More from the Manufacturer
Warranty
Additional Warranty Information: Lifetime Support
Limited Warranty: 2 Year
About Plugable Technologies
About Plugable
Plugable Technologies is a US-based electronics company that has been trusted by IT Professionals for over a decade. Plugable offers a wide range of universal products that are tested to fit any desk environment with guaranteed compatibility.
Our local support team consists of the very engineers who design our products, and our industry-leading product information gives you the confidence you need to find the right solution for your business.
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Highlights
Build Your Own AI Enclosure: The Plugable TBT5-AI is an 80Gbps high-performance Thunderbolt 5 eGPU enclosure featuring an 850W ATX 3.1 PSU and PCIe x16 slot with 4 lanes PCIe 4.0 to host your own GPU for offline AI models. (GPU not provided)
Intelligence You Own: Resolve the innovation vs. privacy deadlock by running models like Llama 3 with an air gap. This secure system supports Ollama, LM Studio, Foundry Local, NVIDIA NIM, and llama.cpp, ensuring your sensitive prompts, data, and results never leave your perimeter. No cloud risks or subscription fees
Modular Performance Scales With Your Workflow: More than an external GPU enclosure, the TBT5-AI includes features like 96W host charging, 2.5Gbps Ethernet, downstream Thunderbolt 5 port, and 10Gbps USB-A and USB-C ports. The 850W PSU (80+ Gold) provides a dedicated 600W to your GPU, leveraging 80Gbps Thunderbolt 5 speeds for double the bandwidth of Thunderbolt 4
Works With: Thunderbolt 5, 4, and USB4 systems. USB4 must support eGPU: Designed for Windows 11, it connects via a single Thunderbolt 5 cable (included). Supports GPUs up to 346mm x 170mm x 77mm, and 3.5-slots wide, and 600W, fitting most high-end cards like NVIDIA, AMD. Check GPU dimensions before purchase. Not compatible with macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, or Thunderbolt 3
Lifetime Support: This TAA-compliant AI enclosure has been designed with reliability at its core and was built to meet the deployment demands of IT departments and the ease of use necessary for home offices. Includes lifetime support from our North American team of connectivity experts
