Top 5 Best External GPUs of 2024

Although it may seem difficult, choosing the best graphics card for your computer—or even if you need one at all—is actually rather simple. However, since high-end cards require some expenditure, there are a few things to consider before making a purchase. In the end, it’s difficult to argue against getting the greatest card you can afford if you’re going to purchase a new one. Our guide will assist you in determining which video card is ideal for your desktop computer, what you need to know to upgrade your system, and how to determine if a certain card is a wise investment.

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Last update on 2024-07-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Top 5 Best External GPUs of 2024

1.Asus ROG XG Station 2

Last update on 2024-07-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Some gamers would rather play all the games at home and concentrate on their work outdoors, so owning a gaming notebook isn’t always the ideal option for them when they’re on the go. A tiny subset of enthusiasts have altered their mobile devices to function with external graphics adaptors so they may take advantage of the extra speed gain with any graphics card they can get their hands on, rather than buying a gaming notebook.

Even while these external graphics adaptor modifications can revitalize notebooks and all-in-ones with weaker GPUs, not everyone can accomplish this since they lack sufficient knowledge of the components they’re working with.

For non-technical consumers, there are several well-known brands that offer simpler options with ready-made, plug-and-play external graphics adapters. Among the numerous is ASUS, with its XG Station powered by GeForce 8600GT for this use. Naturally, the new ASUS ROG XG Station 2, which can support the newest AMD Radeon and NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards, will be the focus of our review today rather than the XG Station.

We were first taken aback by the size of the ROG XG Station 2 box, since we had not anticipated it to be so large. It is advised that you drive if you intend to bring things back from the store.

You will receive the stunning ROG XG Station 2 straight out of the box, adorned with the customary Mayan-inspired patterns all around its enclosure. Its appearance gave us a vague impression of a stretched ROG G20.

The ROG XG Station 2 from the side perspective. A display window specifically designed for the graphics card showcase—the shroud design—is located on the left. The 60 PLUS gold 600W power supply is located on the other, opaque side.

You don’t need to restart your laptop or PC in order to connect or unplug the ROG XG Station 2. You may play games on it with complete connectivity thanks to its four USB 3.0 ports and gigabit Ethernet port, which allow you to connect a keyboard, mouse, VR headset, monitor, and internet simultaneously.

2.Razer Core X

Last update on 2024-07-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

The company’s main external graphics card (eGPU) is the Razer Core X. For those who have never seen one, an eGPU works like this: For a significant improvement in gaming or content creation performance, install the graphics card of your choice in the eGPU box and connect it to your Mac or Windows 10 machine (usually a laptop) that has Thunderbolt 3. The Core X has the same technological restrictions as other Thunderbolt 3 eGPUs, according to our tests, but it functions as intended generally, giving our Windows 10 PCs adequate power to run modern games. Over Razer’s entry-level eGPU model, the Razer Core X, the Core X adds user-customizable RGB illumination and a port hub (Ethernet plus four USB ports).

The standard Core X container is identical to the Core X Chroma in terms of general appearance and size, measuring 9.1 by 6.6 by 14.7 inches (HWD), however it does not have the RGB lighting effects that may be customized. After connecting the Core X Chroma to my computer, I was immediately requested to download Razer’s Synapse program, which controls the attractive lights.

The largest one illuminates the graphics card through the left-side grate, while the other 15 make up the light bar under the front panel in a piano-like fashion…

3.Aorus GTX 1070 Gaming Box

Last update on 2024-07-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

The most widely used laptop category is undoubtedly ultrabooks, which offer sufficient capability for daily work in a small, lightweight design that you can transport from home to the office. Hardcore PC gaming is one important duty that these thin-and-light devices cannot perform.

When wanting to play games on their PC, most individuals will look at a few different possibilities. In terms of performance and cost, desktop computers are the greatest option, but they are not portable. A desktop computer cannot fully replace a laptop and will need an external display and other devices.

While gaming laptops are becoming better and are a portable alternative, they are typically heavier and bulkier than ultraportables for a reasonable amount of power; also, they tend to be pretty expensive.

Over the past few years, external graphics boxes—which connect to a laptop and give you the power of a full-fledged graphics card when you’re at your desk—have started to become a new alternative for PC gaming.

Your preferred laptop can still be taken with you wherever you go with an external box. Only two products—the Razer Core and the exclusive Alienware Graphics Amplifier—have made it onto the market thus far. The exorbitant cost of them is the issue.

4.Sonnet EGFX Breakaway Box

Last update on 2024-07-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Many laptop users have long harbored dreams of an external graphics card (eGFX) that would prolong the life and power of computers that were previously unupgradable. With Thunderbolt 3 finally being released from Apple devices, 2017 finally saw a few respectable options for both professional workflow users and traveling gamers. With bandwidth of up to 40Gbps, or four PCIe 3.0 lanes, Intel’s interface had a lot of untapped potential up until this point.

One of the few solutions on the market that claims to transform compatible devices into efficient workstations or gaming machines is Sonnet’s eGFX Breakaway Box. The concept is a plug-and-play GPU solution with desktop-like performance, including improved graphics and greater frame rates.

For individuals who do not wish to construct a separate computer or purchase a more substantial gaming laptop, the Breakaway Box is a reasonable option. Since Sonnet is more well-known for its workstation/server storage solutions, this enclosure has a straightforward steel frame with a detachable cover that includes ventilated panels on the sides. Its design is practical rather than ostentatious. When you open it up, the inside features a straightforward design consisting of an OEM power supply (Akasa AK-PS035AF01) with a 24-pin ATX, a 120mm fan, and a single PCIe slot. Included is a 1.5 foot (0.4 meter) Thunderbolt 3 cable.

The “S” emblem on the front of this case is the only decorative element. If you recall the era of Geocities and vintage Shuttle,PCs, you’ll be able to see just how little it really is. It’s also important to note that the Breakaway Box lacks extra Ethernet or USB ports. Sonnet told me this was done to prevent any instability problems from occurring from multiple peripherals hooked into the box.

5.AKiTiO Node

Last update on 2024-07-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

The Akitio Node external GPU cabinet is available to provide a significant performance increase for your laptop with Thunderbolt 3. It’s possible to connect most recent AMD or Nvidia graphics cards to a laptop using PCIe over Thunderbolt 3/USB-C using this reasonably priced equipment, which is essentially a large steel box with a 400-watt PSU and a fan in front. This eliminates the need to fiddle with homemade external GPU setups.

When it does function, it’s generally quite smooth. For instance, we opened the Node, installed a GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition card, and connected it to an HP Spectre x360 13t. We were up and running as soon as we installed the most recent drivers from Nvidia’s website. These 3DMark FireStrike Ultra results demonstrate how the little HP Ultrabook outperforms large, powerful, fast gaming machines.

However, the score you see above is 3DMark FireStrike Ultra’s overall score, which also takes CPU performance into account. The HP Spectre x360 13T’s dual-core Kaby Lake processor cannot match with the quad-cores. However, the GTX 1080 in the massive EON17-X laptop shows a better spread in the 3DMark test that only measures graphics performance.

Indeed, there’s a fair probability that the x4 PCIe Gen 3’s limitations may cause you to lose out on some performance that you could have had from a desktop GPU. Indeed, when installed in a full x16 PCIe Gen 3 slot, the same GPU will usually score in the 7,000 area. But keep in mind that using the integrated graphics is the only option.