CalDigit’s new Element 5, is more than just a next-gen connectivity device—it’s a performance backbone built for the future of AI. With three fully-featured downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports and up to 120 Gbps of bandwidth, the Element 5 enables local developers and researchers to run large language models (LLMs) like Llama, Mistral, and Phi-2 at full speed, entirely offline.

As AI development increasingly shifts toward local inference and fine-tuning, the demand for high-speed, high-flexibility I/O has never been greater. The Element 5 answers that demand with power, elegance, and expandability.

eGPUs for Local Model Acceleration

Running quantized or full-precision models locally requires GPU horsepower—and the Element 5 delivers by enabling external GPU (eGPU) connectivity at full PCIe Gen 4 speeds. Whether you’re pairing a MacBook Pro with a high-end RTX 4090 in an enclosure, or distributing compute across multiple eGPUs, the Element 5’s three Thunderbolt 5 ports give you the freedom to scale.

This is particularly useful for local LLM inference, where token-per-second performance can double or triple with the right GPU pipeline in place. With Thunderbolt 5’s rock-solid throughput, model loading and execution remain fluid and responsive.

High-Speed SSDs for Heavy Models and Datasets

Modern LLMs aren’t light. Models like Mistral-7B or fine-tuned Llama derivatives often require tens of gigabytes just to load into memory, not including embeddings, vector databases, or training datasets. The Element 5 supports Thunderbolt-connected NVMe SSDs that provide read/write speeds exceeding 3,000 MB/s, making it ideal for:

• Storing and loading models quickly
• Streaming large training or inference datasets
• Running multiple AI tools without storage lag

With this level of storage performance, you spend less time waiting—and more time building.

Three Thunderbolt Ports = Modular AI Lab

The Element 5 is one of the only Thunderbolt hubs to offer three independent Thunderbolt 5 ports, giving users the flexibility to run an entire AI development stack from a single hub:

• Port 1: eGPU for model acceleration
• Port 2: High-speed SSD for weights and datasets
• Port 3: Daisy-chained device, secondary host, or another expansion dock

Each port maintains full bandwidth and feature parity, with support for USB4, DisplayPort 2.1, and up to 240W Power Delivery, depending on configuration.

Designed for Developers. Built for the AI Era.

Whether you’re deploying a local chatbot, fine-tuning models on private data, or experimenting with on-device AI features, CalDigit’s Element 5 gives you the performance, flexibility, and stability you need. It’s not just a hub—it’s a launchpad for the next wave of local AI innovation.