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SKU
TBT5-AI16
Category
Expansion Chassis
Overview
The Plugable TBT5-AI16 is an enterprise-grade AI stack designed for organizations that require high-performance intelligence without the security risks of the public cloud. Built for easy integration into organizational workflows, the enclosure offers plug-and-play AI for users (pre-deployment setup will require working with a distributor's integration team or AI division).
By bundling our flagship Thunderbolt 5 enclosure with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, this system provides a dedicated 16GB of GDDR7 VRAM and 1,801 AI TOPS. This allows analysts and developers to run powerful local LLMs, such as Mistral 7B, and execute complex RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) workflows entirely within their own physical perimeter. With Intelligence You Own?, your sensitive prompts, proprietary data, and internal documents never leave your network.
Built on the Intel Barlow Ridge chipset, the TBT5-AI16 leverages the full potential of Thunderbolt 5 technology. While previous generations were limited by bandwidth, Plugable's implementation provides 80Gbps of bidirectional throughput, effectively doubling the PCIe data rate of Thunderbolt 4. This ensures the bundled RTX 5080 communicates with your laptop. To support this massive performance, the enclosure features an integrated 850W ATX 3.1 power supply, with 600W of dedicated power reserved exclusively for the GPU via a native 12VHPWR connector.
Beyond raw graphical and AI horsepower, the TBT5-AI16 serves as a high-end productivity hub to declutter your workspace. The rear of the enclosure is equipped with a versatile array of ports, including a downstream Thunderbolt 5 port for daisy-chaining additional high-speed peripherals or displays, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port for secure wired networking, and three 10Gbps USB-A ports. Additionally, the system delivers up to 96W of Power Delivery to keep your host laptop charged through the single included Thunderbolt 5 cable.
Designed for seamless integration into professional environments, the TBT5-AI16 is optimized for Windows 11 systems with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, or eGPU-compatible USB4 ports. Use with local AI tools like NVIDIA AI Workbench, LM Studio, and Plugable Chat. Please note that this system is designed specifically for Windows; it is not compatible with macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, or Thunderbolt 3-only systems. Inside the box, you'll find the TBT5-AI enclosure, the NVIDIA RTX 5080 GPU, and a certified 1m (3.3ft) 80Gbps Thunderbolt 5 cable.
More from the Manufacturer
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
Plug-and-Play AI Enclosure with 16GB VRAM: The Plugable TBT5-AI16 is a high-performance Thunderbolt 5 eGPU solution bundled with an NVIDIA RTX 5080 GPU. This enterprise-ready system features an 850W ATX 3.1 PSU and 4 lanes of PCIe 4.0 to provide 1,801 AI TOPS for secure, offline AI models. Intelligence You Own
16GB GDDR7 VRAM for Data Analysis: Use for local LLMs with 16GB of dedicated high-speed VRAM. Optimized for private RAG workflows, secure document Q&A, and Mistral 7B models, this system ensures your sensitive prompts, proprietary code, and internal data never leave your secure perimeter
Modular Performance Scales With Your Workflow: More than an external GPU enclosure, the TBT5-AI16 includes features like 96W host charging, 2.5Gbps Ethernet, a downstream Thunderbolt 5 port, and 10Gbps USB-A and USB-C ports. The 850W PSU provides up to 600W to the GPU, leveraging 80Gbps Thunderbolt 5 speeds-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 included Thunderbolt 5 cable. Not compatible with macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, or Thunderbolt 3
Lifetime Support: This 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
