Laptops are pretty handy when it comes to office work, taking a quick group call with your study partners, and streaming movies. When it comes to gaming, the usual GPU isn’t enough. You might need to invest in your gaming station and purchase graphic cards to elevate your gaming experience.
So, to help you discover the best eGPU, we have gathered some of the top external cards. Learn about their designs, compatibility and the value they add to your gaming experience.
The 5 Top External Graphic Cards
1. Asus ROG X Station 2
The Asus ROG Station 2 is quite pricey, with a decent size and unconventional design. However, the eGPU opens up enough ports to ensure an impressive gaming station.
Design
Asus has a plastic front, right and top and thick imprints to copy the circuit design that went wild. With a modern yet funky touch, you won’t get enough of the device. But the real experience begins the minute you start connecting the box and the GPU to your laptop. With a weight of 5.2 pounds, it measures around 8.3 x 6.3 x 3.7 inches and is said to be one of the biggest eGPUs. So, if you plan to get it, you must make lots of space on your desk.
Ports and Compatibility
It comes with four USB ports, the Gigabit Ethernet port, USB 3.0 ports, the Type B ports, a power port, and a Thunderbolt 3, all on the rear side. Now add a powerful GPU, and the device can easily support a HTC Vive and an Oculus Rift. It’s compatible with the T470 and can charge the Razer Blade Stealth.
Importance:
With a price tag of $549.99. The ROG Station 2 is known to be quite expensive. The Aorus, on the other hand, comes with a built-in GTX GPU 1070, which provides the card for ROG Station 2, priced around $419.99, bringing it to a total of $969.98.
2. Razer Core X
Razer came out with something bigger, better, and even affordable. The Razer Core is ideal for installing massive GPUs like the Nvidia GeForce while eradicating the Ethernet and USB ports. The Razer X is one of the first eGPUs compatible with the MAC. However, there is a downside: the device lacks the colourful customisation feature.
Design
The Razer Core X is perfect for those who want to increase the size of their external graphics. The Core X weighs about 14.3 pounds and measures around 14.7 x 9.1 x 6.6 inches. This means it can easily fit the Nvidia GeForce. Razer has changed the ports, and now it comes with the power input and the Thunderbolt 3 port. Made out of jet-black aluminium and has a three-headed snake emblem on the side. There is a large grate on the right side to allow airflow and a peak to your GPU.
Ports and Compatibility
The ports in a Core X include the power input and Thunderbolt 3. Similar to the Core 2, the Core X works with the quad and dual Thunderbolt 3 notebooks.
Importance
The Razer Core X is priced at $299 and is one of the most affordable eGPU options. Even though the price tag is low, Razer has quite a lot to offer to its users. With a premium built and spacious to fit powerful graphic cards. However, there are no Ethernet or USB ports.
3. Sonnet EGFX Breakaway Box
The Sonnet is a basic purchase offering a simple design and access to ports. The box might not provide much, but it’s still relatively easy to install and is ideal for those who want to use their laptops as a gaming device.
Design
In terms of looks, the device has round edges on the front and a backlit blue wriggled S. With a weight of 7.1 pounds and measuring 13.4 x 8 x 7.3, it takes up a decent amount of space on your desks. The lattices on the side ensure the GPU gets a good airflow.
Ports and Compatibility
Similar to the AKiTiO Node, the Sonnet EGFX also comes with a Thunderbolt 3 port and another port for the AC power cord. In terms of compatibility, the T470 is the only device which could recognise it, but a driver needs to be installed for the system to read the eGPU.
Importance
The Sonnet Breakaway box has a very simple design, which is why it is priced at $258.99. Combine this with a $419.99 GPU; the total damage is around $679.98.
4. Aorus GTX 1070
The Aorus GTX has a preinstalled GPU, so you do not have to spend on a graphics card. But since you do not have the power to change the GPU, you might purchase another Gaming Box in the long run.
Design
In terms of design, the GTX 1070 is one of the most captivating GPUs. It has a weight of 5.2 pounds and measures around 6.4 x 8.4 x 3.8. It’s one of the smallest boxes we have tested out to date! It’s ideal for those who do not have a lot of space. The gaming box has a sleek look, with a matte black aluminium touch to it and a silver chromatic logo on the front. The box comes with a pair of large grates, ensuring smooth airflow from both sides and providing a decent view of the Mini GPU inside the box. For those who are looking for gaming on the go, the Aorus GTX comes with a small carrying case, which ensures convenient carrying.
Ports and Compatibility
Despite the small box size, it is still quite handy and comes with many ports. There’s an HDMI port, a quick charge orange USB 3.0 port, a pair of DVI-2 ports, a display port, a power jack and a Thunderbolt 3. In terms of compatibility, the ThingPad TD470 is one of the devices that recognises and reads the device.
Importance
At first, the price tag was $589.99 and had an expensive look. The best part is that it comes with a pre-installed GPU, which means you do not have to worry about spending even more on the graphics card. But since you cannot swap the GPUs, you’ll have to purchase another Gaming Box with time.
5. AKiTiO Node
The AKiTiO is worth the investment! It has a remarkable design but lacks unconventional accessibility. The eGPU allows access to a limited port, which means it is compatible with only one or two Windows laptops.
Design
If you have seen the Razer Core, you know the box is sleek, but when it comes to the AKiTiO Node, it has its look. It is embellished with a silver logo on the front of the box. All the cards placed inside of the Node will have a lot of air, all because of the grates placed on the right side of the box and the front. On the left side of the system, the spider web cutout is used to provide the air. The AKiTiO Node is 10.8 pounds, measuring around 16.9 x 8.9 x 5.7 inches.
Compatibility and Ports
The AKiTiO Node comes with a power port and a Thunderbolt 3 port. This means you need to leave out any thoughts of VR because there is no USB 3.0 port. In terms of compatibility, the T470 is relatively compact and works smoothly with the Node,
Importance
The AKiTiO Node is accessible on the pocket and is just $268, and for the price, you can easily augment the GPU.
FAQs
- Are eGPUs good for laptops?
Users can not make the most of the PCIe bandwidth, which means some of the performance has been left on the table.
- Can I add external graphics to laptop?
Laptops today are quite compatible with external graphic cards, usually because they come with numerous ports. So it can be a Thunderbolt 3 port, VGA, or Bluetooth; installing an external graphics card is never an issue.
- Can I increase my laptop GPU?
Unfortunately, increasing the GPU on a laptop is not an option. However, adding an external graphic card is still a possibility.
Bottom Line
So, if you’re a gamer, these external graphics cards for laptops will be a perfect addition to a gamer station. Each of these devices comes with a different price tag and specifications. You can skim through and discover the one ideally suited to your device and requirements.
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