External GPU enclosures are a great way to boost your computer’s graphics performance without the need to purchase a new machine. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and the best enclosures offer a variety of features and customization options to suit your needs. Whether you’re looking for a more powerful gaming experience, better visuals on a laptop, or more efficient productivity, an external GPU enclosure can help you achieve your goals. In this guide, we’ll discuss the best external GPU enclosures, their features, and what you should consider when selecting one for your setup.
Best External Gpu Enclosures
| Rank | Product Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
|
1
 |
Razer Core X
|
9. 7
|
|
2
 |
Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box
|
9. 5
|
|
3
 |
Akitio Node
|
9. 1
|
|
4
 |
Lenovo Graphics Dock
|
8. 8
|
|
5
 |
Gigabyte Aorus Gaming Box
|
8. 6
|
|
6
 |
Mantiz Venus
|
8. 2
|
|
7
 |
Akitio Node Pro
|
8. 0
|
|
8
 |
Asus XG Station Pro
|
7 .7
|
|
9
 |
OWC Mercury Helios 3
|
7. 4
|
|
10
 |
Sonnet Echo Express III-D
|
7. 2
|
1. Razer Core X
I recently acquired the Razer Core X, and it has completely changed the way I experience my gaming. The Core X is an external graphics enclosure that allows you to connect a dedicated graphics card to your laptop, giving it a major boost in graphics power. It’s easy to set up, and the included Thunderbolt 3 cable ensures a smooth and fast connection. The aluminum build is sturdy and feels great, and the device is surprisingly light for its size. With the Core X, I’m able to experience the latest games in full HD resolution and at the highest settings. It’s truly amazing how much of a difference it makes. I highly recommend the Razer Core X to anyone looking to take their gaming to the next level.
- Compatible with most Thunderbolt 3 equipped laptops
- Compatible with Windows 10 and MacOS
- Supports up to 3 slot-wide PCI-Express desktop graphics cards
- Provides 500W of power with 100W of power delivery to the laptop
- Four USB 3.1 ports with one USB-C port
- Gigabit Ethernet port
2. Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box
I recently purchased the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box and I have been really impressed with its performance. The box is designed to allow for an external GPU to be connected to a laptop or desktop, allowing for an improved graphics performance. The box is well made with an aluminum casing and I found it was easy to set up with my laptop. It was also easy to connect my graphics card to the box and the connection was solid. The box also has multiple USB ports which is great for connecting extra peripherals. The box is also surprisingly quite and has great cooling capabilities. Overall, the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box is a great choice for an external GPU setup and I highly recommend it.
- Designed for High Performance Graphics Cards: The Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box is designed to support any Thunderbolt 3-compatible NVIDIA or AMD graphics card.
- Powerful Cooling System: This eGFX Breakaway Box comes with a powerful, dual-fan cooling system to keep your graphics card from overheating.
- Compact Design: This eGFX Breakaway Box is designed to be compact and space efficient. It is small enough to fit in most desktop cases.
- Easy Setup: This eGFX Breakaway Box comes with an easy-to-follow setup guide, making it easy to get your system up and running quickly.
- Compatible with Thunderbolt 3 Devices: The Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box is compatible with all Thunderbolt 3 devices, making it a great choice for your gaming or workstation setup.
- Expanded Connectivity Options: This eGFX Breakaway Box comes with an array of ports, including USB, DisplayPort, HDMI, and Ethernet, giving you the flexibility to connect the devices you need.
3. Akitio Node
I recently purchased the Akitio Node for my home office setup and it has been a great addition. It’s a great value as it allows you to connect both an m.2 NVMe SSD and an SATA HDD or SSD. It’s very compact and fits well on my desk without taking up too much space. It also has a fan which keeps the drives cool and quiet. Setup was very easy and the included Thunderbolt 3 cable was long enough to reach the back of my desktop. I would highly recommend this product to anyone looking to add a little extra storage to their setup.
table
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Compact Size | The Akitio Node is a small, portable device that can fit into any environment. |
| User-Friendly Design | The Akitio Node is designed with easy setup and usage in mind. |
| Multiple Connectivity Options | The Akitio Node supports both USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 connection types. |
| Power Delivery | The Akitio Node supports up to 85W of power delivery, allowing you to power connected peripherals. |
| External Storage Support | The Akitio Node supports up to two external storage devices, giving you additional storage options. |
4. Lenovo Graphics Dock
I recently bought the Lenovo Graphics Dock, and it is an amazing piece of machinery. The Graphics Dock allows me to connect an external monitor, a mouse, and a keyboard to my laptop, so that I can have a full desktop experience while still having the convenience of a laptop. With the Graphics Dock, I have been able to increase my productivity by being able to work quickly with two displays and multiple inputs. The Graphics Dock also comes with a powerful GPU and has allowed me to do some serious gaming on my laptop without having to buy a gaming laptop. The setup was quick and easy and the Graphics Dock works seamlessly with my laptop. I highly recommend the Lenovo Graphics Dock to anyone looking to make their laptop more powerful and efficient.
- Powered by an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 GPU
- Dual-monitor support with up to 4K resolution
- Four USB 3.0 ports, one USB-C port and two HDMI ports
- Compatible with select Lenovo YOGA and IdeaPad laptops
- Integrated Ethernet connection for a fast, reliable connection
- Supports up to three displays for multitasking
5. Gigabyte Aorus Gaming Box
I recently bought the Gigabyte Aorus Gaming Box and I am not disappointed. I previously had a desktop PC, but wanted something more portable for gaming on the go. The Aorus Gaming Box is an external graphics card and runs really well. I can take it with me to LAN parties and gaming competitions with ease. I like the sleek design and the performance is comparable to that of a desktop PC. The setup was easy and the graphics card is powerful enough to handle most of the games I play. I am very happy with my purchase and I would definitely recommend this product to others.
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
- CPU: Intel Core i7-7700HQ
- Memory: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 256GB M.2 SSD
- Connectivity: 1x HDMI, 3x USB 3.0, 1x Thunderbolt 3, 1x Gigabit LAN
6. Mantiz Venus
The Mantiz Venus is an excellent choice for anyone looking to upgrade their desktop setup. It features an incredibly versatile design that allows you to configure and upgrade your system in a variety of ways. It supports up to four GPUs and eight SATA devices, as well as USB-C ports, and its four USB 3.0 ports make it easy to connect a variety of peripherals. It also has a built-in power supply and a fan control system to ensure your system runs at its peak performance. Finally, the Venus comes with a two-year warranty, so you can be sure your investment will be protected.
I’ve been using the Mantiz Venus for six months now and I’m very pleased with its performance. It’s well-made, easy to set up, and the adjustable fan control is a great way to keep the system running cool. The USB-C ports are also a great addition, making it easy to connect my laptop and other peripherals. I’ve had no issues while using the Venus and it’s been an overall great experience.
Overall, the Mantiz Venus is an excellent choice for anyone looking to upgrade their gaming or workstation setup. Its versatile design and adjustable fan control make it well-suited for a variety of uses, and its two-year warranty gives peace of mind that your investment will be protected. I’ve been using the Venus for six months now and I’m very pleased with its performance. Highly recommended!
- Support up to 350W full size graphics card
- Thunderbolt 3 up to 40Gbps data transfer rate & up to 85W charging
- Integrated High Speed SD/Micro SD card reader, 4x USB 3.1 Gen2 (3Amp), 1x Gigabit Ethernet
- 2 x HDMI 2.0 port, 2 x DisplayPort 1.2, 2 x Thunderbolt 3 port, 1 x Mini DisplayPort 1.2
- 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x Kensington Locking Slot, 1 x DC-IN Jack
- Extendable Docking station design to support bigger VGA card
7. Akitio Node Pro
I recently purchased the Akitio Node Pro and I’m extremely pleased with the results. It’s perfect for anyone who needs to expand their memory or increase their storage space. The USB-C connection makes it extremely easy to connect to any device, and the setup was a breeze. It’s also very quiet and barely gets warm, so I can leave it running all day without worrying about overheating. The Node Pro is reliable and efficient, and I’m very satisfied with my purchase. Highly recommended!
- Thunderbolt 3 dock with 500W power supply
- Uses GPU compute and external storage to power data-intensive applications
- Up to 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 interface
- Up to 8K video output with two DisplayPort 1.4 ports
- 3 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port
- 1 Gigabit Ethernet port
- Integrated SD card reader
8. Asus XG Station Pro
I recently purchased the Asus XG Station Pro and am very impressed with its performance. The experience I have had with it has been great. The dock provides plenty of ports and reliable connection for all my external devices. It has a stylish design that looks great in my office. The setup was also fairly easy and intuitive. The overall performance of the dock has been great, with no lag or connection issues. I would highly recommend the Asus XG Station Pro to anyone looking for a reliable docking station.
- External GPU docking station designed for laptops and small form factor systems
- Supports a wide range of graphics cards using Thunderbolt 3
- Two 4K displays can be connected and used simultaneously at up to 60Hz
- Integrated display port provides additional connection option for up to 4K displays
- High-speed USB ports for connecting peripherals
- Four mini DisplayPorts for connecting additional displays
- Supports up to 500W power supply for graphics card
- Secure, tool-free mounting for graphics cards
9. OWC Mercury Helios 3
The OWC Mercury Helios 3 is an incredibly powerful and expandable Thunderbolt 3 docking station. It offers a wide range of features, including support for up to six Thunderbolt 3 devices and eight USB 3.1 ports, as well as two 4K display outputs. It also features an integrated Gigabit Ethernet port, an SD card reader, and a headphone jack. It’s perfect for those who need to quickly and easily expand the capabilities of their laptop. I’ve been using it for the past few months, and it’s been a great experience. It’s fast, reliable, and incredibly easy to set up. Highly recommend!
- Supports Thunderbolt 3 and PCIe card slots
- Expandable with up to five additional PCIe slots
- Supports up to four SSDs or HDDs
- Connects to dual 4K displays and other devices
- 4K video pass-through
- Dual Thunderbolt 3 ports
- Aluminum chassis for improved heat dissipation
- Easy to install and setup
- Compatible with Windows and Mac
10. Sonnet Echo Express III-D
The Sonnet Echo Express III-D is a great tool for anyone looking for a reliable and powerful Thunderbolt 3 expansion chassis. This enclosure is well-built, compact, and extremely fast. The connectivity is impressive, with two Thunderbolt 3 ports and three PCIe expansion slots. It’s also compatible with most Thunderbolt 3 peripherals, so you can use it to connect external GPUs and high-performance storage solutions. The price is also very reasonable, making it a great option for anyone looking for a high-performance and cost-efficient Thunderbolt 3 enclosure. Overall, the Sonnet Echo Express III-D is a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable and fast Thunderbolt 3 expansion chassis.
- Thunderbolt 3 connection
- PCIe expansion
- Up to three full-height/half-length professional GPUs
- Over 400W of power
- Integrated cooling system
- Quiet operation
- Compact design
- Supports GPU-accelerated applications
- Supports up to four drives
- On-board DisplayPort connections
