An eGPU is an external graphics processor, usually a desktop graphics card in an enclosure connected to a compatible laptop or gaming handheld through Thunderbolt or USB4.
Razer revived its eGPU line with a Thunderbolt 5 dock in July 2025, and Framework is building an eGPU kit for its Laptop 16.
Portables review site Notebookcheck tested an RTX 2080 Ti enclosure back in 2021 and found deficits ranging from seven to 32 percent when compared to a desktop.
Its RTX 4070 Ti ran around 25 percent slower over Thunderbolt than OCuLink in many 1440p tests, with lower 1 percent lows and more stuttering.
Thunderbolt 5 provides 80 Gbps of connection bandwidth, while Razer's $350 Core X V2 connects the GPU through PCIe 4.0 x4, nominally 64 Gbps.
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Razer revived its eGPU line with a Thunderbolt 5 dock in July 2025, and Framework is building an eGPU kit for its Laptop 16.
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If you've been looking to get more gaming power out of your laptop but don't want to pay for a replacement amid RAMpocalypse pricing, an eGPU could be your best bet. An eGPU is an external graphics processor, usually a desktop graphics card in an enclosure connected to a compatible laptop or gaming handheld through Thunderbolt or USB4.
A GPU run as an eGPU will typically operate slower over Thunderbolt than it would inside a desktop. The enclosure to house it costs hundreds of dollars too, and some devices, like Apple Silicon-based Macs, can't use an eGPU for gaming at all. Razer revived its eGPU line with a Thunderbolt 5 dock in July 2025, and Framework is building an eGPU kit for its Laptop 16.
Most of what the card in an eGPU enclosure does will never cross the Thunderbolt cable.
Portables review site Notebookcheck tested an RTX 2080 Ti enclosure back in 2021 and found deficits ranging from seven to 32 percent when compared to a desktop. In contrast, PC Gamer tested an RTX 4070 Ti and 4090 over Thunderbolt, OCuLink and desktop PCIe. Its RTX 4070 Ti ran around 25 percent slower over Thunderbolt than OCuLink in many 1440p tests, with lower 1 percent lows and more stuttering.
PC Gamer also said that upgrading from the 4070 Ti to the 4090 delivered smaller gains over Thunderbolt and OCuLink compared to desktop. Thunderbolt 5 provides 80 Gbps of connection bandwidth, while Razer's $350 Core X V2 connects the GPU through PCIe 4.0 x4, nominally 64 Gbps.
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