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Getting the best eGPUs enclosures for your laptop is important if you want to improve the overall performance of the machine, whether you use it for gaming or to make Premiere Pro render faster. As the name suggests, the eGPUs enclosure holds a desktop graphics card and gives it power. With these enclosures, you can get all the power and graphics features of a powerful desktop graphics card on a thin, light laptop.
As connection standards have improved, it has become possible to connect a desktop GPU to a laptop to make it run faster. eGPU enclosures are machines that sit outside of a computer and hold and power a desktop graphics card. They plug into your laptop and give it the power it needs to run games that require more processing power. Some even let you add an HDD or an SSD, which gives you more room to store games.
Best eGPUs Comparison Table
| eGPU Model | Manufacturer | Dimensions | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asus ROG XG Station 2 | Asus | 456 x 158 x 278 mm | 5.1 kg | $449.99 |
| Razer Core X | Razer | 374 x 168 x 230 mm | 6.48 kg | $399.99 |
| Cooler Master MasterCase EG200 | Cooler Master | 302 x 199 x 115 mm | 1.9 kg | $329.99 |
| Asus XG Station Pro | Asus | 145 x 370 x 208 mm | 4.9 kg | $329.99 |
| Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box | Sonnet | 190 x 340 x 235 mm | 3.18 kg | $249.00 |
| Akitio Node Duo | Akitio | 500 x 203 x 168 mm | 7.2 kg | $569.99 |
| Akitio Node Titan | Akitio | 628 x 240 x 205 mm | 10.22 kg | $1,199.00 |
Asus ROG XG Station 2
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| GPU Compatibility | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 900 series and later, AMD Radeon R9 series and later |
| Power Supply | 600W internal power supply |
| I/O Ports | 4 x USB 3.0, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x Thunderbolt 3 |
| Dimensions | 456 x 158 x 278 mm |
| Weight | 5.1 kg |
The only thing bigger than the size and strange design of the Asus ROG XG Station 2 is how much it costs. But once you get over the sticker shock and the fact that the box looks like it came from another planet, you get an eGPU that’s easy to open and has enough ports for a big gaming battle station. Asus really knows how to make a showpiece.
The ROG XG Station 2 is made of black plastic, and on the front, top, and right sides, there are thick lines that are meant to look like great circuitry. But once a GPU is added and the box is hooked up to a laptop, that’s when the real fun starts. The red Tesla coil on the front turns on, and the backlighting inside the box pulses red light into the box.
The Good
- Both NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards can use it.
- With four USB 3.0 ports and Gigabit Ethernet, it gives you a lot of ways to connect.
- Internal power supply of 600W makes sure of stable and reliable performance
The Bad
- It’s pretty big and heavy, which could make it hard to move.
- Fewer models of older graphics cards can work with it.
Razer Core X
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| GPU Compatibility | NVIDIA GeForce, NVIDIA Quadro, and AMD Radeon graphics cards |
| Power Supply | 650W internal power supply |
| I/O Ports | 4 x USB 3.1, Gigabit Ethernet |
| Dimensions | 168 x 374 x 230 mm |
| Weight | 6.48 kg |
The Razer Core X has a bigger chassis, which makes it easy to install big GPUs like the Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan V. However, it doesn’t have any USB or Ethernet ports. The Core X will be one of the first external GPUs from Razer will work well with Macs. Fans of Razer’s Chroma lighting, on the other hand, will be disappointed because the Core X doesn’t have that feature.
The Core X is bigger and heavier than both, weighing 14.3 pounds and measuring 14.7 by 9.1 by 6.6 inches. This makes it easier to fit a huge Nvidia GeForce Titan V, my dears. But you’ll notice more than just a change in size. Razer removed the four USB 3.0 ports and Ethernet port from the back of the device, leaving only the Thunderbolt 3 port and the power input.
The Good
- Compatible with many different models of graphics card
- It has four USB 3.1 ports and Gigabit Ethernet for connecting to other devices.
- Even with high-end GPUs, the 650W power supply keeps things running smoothly.
The Bad
- It’s pretty heavy, which could make it hard to move.
- Not sure if it will work with all laptop models.
Cooler Master MasterCase EG200
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| GPU Compatibility | NVIDIA GeForce and AMD Radeon graphics cards |
| Power Supply | 500W internal power supply |
| I/O Ports | 4 x USB 3.0, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x Thunderbolt 3 |
| Dimensions | 245 x 530 x 414 mm |
| Weight | 7.6 kg |
Along with other companies, Cooler Master decided to make an eGPU enclosure, and the MasterCase EG200 is the result. As you can see, the MasterCase EG200 is one of the more unique eGPU in this group. It is the only one on the list that has a laptop stand built in.
It just adds to the product’s overall appeal and makes more sense since you’ll probably be using an external monitor with an eGPU and your laptop will be mostly sitting there doing nothing. The Cooler Master MasterCase EG200 is made in a way that makes it very useful.
The Good
- Styled well, with tempered glass on the side
- Both NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards can use it.
- With four USB 3.0 ports and Gigabit Ethernet, it gives you a lot of ways to connect.
The Bad
- It’s pretty big and heavy, which could make it hard to move.
- Fewer models of older graphics cards can work with it.
Asus XG Station Pro
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| GPU Compatibility | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 900 series and later, AMD Radeon R9 series and later |
| Power Supply | 330W internal power supply |
| I/O Ports | 4 x USB 3.0, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x Thunderbolt 3 |
| Dimensions | 426 x 130 x 280 mm |
| Weight | 5.5 kg |
The Asus XG Station Pro eGPU enclosure is one of the best units you can buy, mostly because it looks so simple. It doesn’t have any flashy RGB lights, and it looks like a heavy-duty GPU docking station that will fit in with most setups without a problem.
The case for the XG Station Pro eGPU is 375mm long, 107mm high, and 205mm high. It works with GPUs that take up to 2.5 slots, so even though it’s officially compatible, you might be able to put in one of the newer cards. Huge cards like the RTX 3090, on the other hand, probably won’t fit in the case.
The Good
- Design that is small and not too heavy
- Both NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards can use it.
- With four USB 3.0 ports and Gigabit Ethernet, it gives you a lot of ways to connect.
The Bad
- The design is small and light.
- Compatible with many different models of graphics card
Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| GPU Compatibility | NVIDIA GeForce, NVIDIA Quadro, and AMD Radeon graphics cards |
| Power Supply | 550W internal power supply |
| I/O Ports | 2 x Thunderbolt 3 |
| Dimensions | 165 x 343 x 238 mm |
| Weight | 4.4 kg |
The Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box is a cheap choice that comes in different models with different wattages. If your GPU doesn’t need too much power, buying the 550W model won’t break your budget. The outside of the enclosure is pretty simple, with a clean design and an LED-lit company logo.
As for the inside, it has a decent amount of space and can hold and support full-size GeForce, Quadro, and Radeon cards. We like that, even though it has a big inside, it’s still not too heavy, so you can move it around easily. This eGPU only has one Thunderbolt 3 port for connectivity, which is fine for the price.
The Good
- The design is small and light.
- Compatible with many different models of graphics card
- Powerful 550W power supply built in
The Bad
- With only two Thunderbolt 3 ports, there aren’t many ways to connect.
- Compared to other eGPU models, the price is pretty high.
Akitio Node Duo
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| GPU Compatibility | NVIDIA GeForce and AMD Radeon graphics cards |
| Power Supply | 650W internal power supply |
| I/O Ports | 2 x Thunderbolt 3, 5 x USB 3.1 |
| Dimensions | 240 x 150 x 340 mm |
| Weight | 6.38 kg |
The Akitio Node Duo doesn’t look very interesting. It almost looks like a small computer case instead of an external GPU. It has some good things and some bad things about being big. Overall, it is a simple machine that is just made to do the job. With a weight of 15 pounds, it is the biggest enclosure on this list.
This means that there’s enough room inside for any graphics card. It works with GPUs from Nvidia and Radeon, including models from the GTX 900 series and later, and some Quadro GPUs from Nvidia. On the Radeon side, some R9 and RX cards can be used.
The Good
- Five USB 3.1 ports and two Thunderbolt 3 ports give you a lot of ways to connect.
- Both NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards can use it.
- Even with high-end GPUs, the 650W power supply keeps things running smoothly.
The Bad
- Offers a lot of ways to connect, including two DisplayPort ports and two HDMI ports.
- Both NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards can use it.
Akitio Node Titan
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| GPU Compatibility | NVIDIA GeForce and AMD Radeon graphics cards |
| Power Supply | 1000W internal power supply |
| I/O Ports | 2 x Thunderbolt 3, 5 x USB 3.1, 2 x DisplayPort, 2 x HDMI |
| Dimensions | 463 x 240 x 184 mm |
| Weight | 10.5 kg |
Akitio is a brand of eGPU enclosure made by Other World Computing. It works with both Windows PCs and Macs. The Node Titan is the newest external graphics enclosure. It has an impressive list of features and a dark grey, all-metal design that feels solid and high-quality.
It has special thumbscrews that can be taken off, making it easy to open the case and swap out your card. There is also a handle that pops up from the top and can be used to carry it. Air only comes in from one side. At 13.5cm wide, it’s much smaller than both the Sonnet Breakaway Box and the Razer Core Chroma.
The Good
- Offers a lot of ways to connect, including two DisplayPort ports and two HDMI ports.
- Both NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards can use it.
- Extremely powerful 1000W internal power supply keeps even the most demanding GPUs running smoothly.
The Bad
- It’s pretty big and heavy, which could make it hard to move.
- Expensive compared to similar eGPU models
FAQs
Will an external GPU improve the way your graphics work? External graphics cards do work, even though they have some problems. Your laptop will have better graphics, and you’ll be able to play games or use apps that wouldn’t have worked before.
Laptops are very powerful, but even with dedicated GPUs in their thin bodies, they still can’t compete with desktops when it comes to gaming. This is where an external GPU (eGPU) comes in handy. Using a Thunderbolt 3 port, you can connect a desktop-class GPU to your laptop.
For an eGPU to work, you need a Mac with an Intel processor. An external GPU (eGPU) can give your Mac more graphics power for professional apps, 3D games, creating VR content, and more. Any Mac with an Intel processor and Thunderbolt 3 ports1 that runs macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 or later can use an external GPU.