Chances are of you are rocking an ultraportable laptop, it is best suited for any day-to-day task or binge-watching your favorite movie. But throw some graphics-intensive task at it, and it is going to give up on you real quick. But, what if there is actually a way to boost the graphics performance of your laptop? This is where the idea of eGPU comes into play.
In case your laptop has a Thunderbolt 3 port or even the latest Thunderbolt 4, you can easily hook up an external graphics card. Neither less to say, you can reap all the benefits of a full-blown graphics card, without sacrificing the portability of your laptop. There are also external GPUs that work out of the box on MacBooks as well. So, in this section, we have curated a list of some of the best eGPU you can find out there in the market.
How to Buy the Perfect External Graphics Card (eGPU) for Your Laptop?
Getting the perfect eGPU that can complement your laptop can get tedious at times. Here are some of the pointers you need to keep in mind before getting an eGPU:
1. Thunderbolt Port
The majority of the eGPU you can find out there in the market comes with Thunderbolt 4 or 3. This facilitates the transfer of data up to 40 Gbps, which is predominantly necessary if you want to process graphics outside through an external source. That being said, if the eGPu doesn’t come with a Thunderbolt 4, chances are it is using a proprietary connection. So, make sure to choose the laptop and eGPU within the same brand.
2. eGPU Enclosure Type
There are mainly two types of eGPU you can find out there in the market. One is pre-installed while the other is swappable. As the name suggests, pre-installed eGPU tends to come with a graphics card built right into it. With a swappable eGPU, it may or may not come with a graphics card. But for the most part, the manufacturer always provides a list of all the compatible cards.
3. Power Consumption
If you are someone who is conscious of the overall power consumption by the GPU, you might need to consider it before buying. The majority of the swappable eGPUs come with a 300-500 watt limit, which can churn out a decent performance. But, if you really want to future-proof your laptop, you can always look for one with 800 watts or more.
4. Space
This goes without saying, but eGPU enclosures tend to be big. Not to mention, it is certainly bigger than your laptop. Make sure you have ample space on your desk to work with. For the most part, manufacturers tend to give dimensions for their enclosures, which would allow you to figure out the actual space you would need.
The Best eGPU You Can Buy
1. Razer Core X
The very first eGPU on our list is from the most prestigious company known for making good gaming laptops. Starting out with the overall design, the Razer Core X comes with a very simple, minimalistic look. As for as visual aesthetics are concerned, you won’t be disappointed with the Razer Core X.
Apart from the looks, Razer Core X doesn’t disappoint in functionality as well. In fact, you can easily fit in a triple-slot graphics card within the same. As far as overall power is concerned, Razer Core X comes with a 650-watts power supply, which is adequate enough for all the latest generation graphics cards. Although it can get a little pricier than other eGPU, the overall functionalities surely make up for it.
Salient Features:
- Offers support for a wide variety of GPUs
- Triple-slot graphics cards can also be installed
- Offers a very minimalistic neutral design
- Can be found in both shades of white and black
- Good value for money
Buy on Amazon
2. GIGABYTE Aorus RTX 3080
If you want to get your hands on one of the best eGPU enclosures and future-proof your system for years to come, the GIGABYTE Aorus Gaming Box has got you covered. While it might not have all the fancy bells and whistles, it can get you the job done.
Given the 3080 powering the eGPU enclosure, you can be rest assured to throw any graphical-intensive task. The Aorus Gaming Box can handle it with ease. If you require an eGPU that is more on the premium side, our recommendation would be to go with the GIGABYTE Aorus.
Salient Features:
- Powered by GeForce RTX 3080, offering top-of-the-line performance
- Comes with an all-in-one WATERFORCE cooling system
- Extensive support for 3 USB 3.0 peripherals
Buy on Amazon
3. Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 750
The next on our list is one of the most budget friend offerings, the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 750. Although there isn’t any visual appeal whatsoever, don’t get fooled by its appearance. Not only the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 750 is lightweight, but at the same time, it is quite spacious as well.
With the 750-watts power supply, you can be rest assured to run even the latest Nvidia 30 series graphics card with ease. The only downside is that you won’t be getting a dedicated USB hub with a plethora of ports to choose from. But the aggressive pricing, on such a competitive product, surely makes up for it.
Salient Features:
- Is one of the most affordable eGPUs
- Comes with a very simplistic design
- Lightweight and easy to carry
Buy on Amazon
4. Akitio Node Titan
Akitio Node Titan is the perfect eGPU for everyone, who wants to turn their Mac device into a high-end graphics workstation. Not to mention, it allows you to play high-end games as well as obtain smooth video renders and playbacks.
The Node Titan can open a whole new world of possibilities for you, including the ability to run VR, and AR applications while offering extensive support to VR headsets. With a transmission rate of 40 Gbps, you can be rest assured to get significantly reduced lag altogether.
Salient Features:
- Offers support to AMD cards on macOS
- Comes with a built-in 400W SFX power supply
- Offers 3 years of extensive OWC warranty
- 1 PCIe (16 lanes) slot for full-length cards
Buy on Amazon
5. External Video Card Dock
The external video card dock is by far one of the best ways to get additional graphics on your laptop on a budget. You can simply plug in any graphics card of your choice, and bring forth new life to your laptop.
That being said, make sure to disable your built-in graphics card within the BIOS and turn off networking. Once the BIOS is updated, restart your laptop after installing the desired hardware. If you are comfortable with tweaking around, you can always go with an external video card dock.
Salient Feature:
- Offers 8p output interface
- Extensive support for dual TD compatible switch
- Comes with a 12-months of quality guarantee
Buy on Amazon
You can also read our articles on best 4k laptops and best gaming laptops.
Unleash the Beast: External Graphics Cards for Ultimate Gaming Performance!
So that was our curated list of some of the best external GPUs you can hook up to your laptop and turn into a gaming machine. There are also some eGPU enclosures that allow you to put your favorite graphics card adding further flexibility to it. Either way, let us know in the comment section below.
