Are you running low on GPU power in your laptop or mini PC? Check out our five best external GPU enclosures.
Compute power in TFLOPS has skyrocketed over the past decade; a GTX 760 could only do about 2 TFLOPS with its 2GB VRAM. APUs such as the AMD RX880M deliver what a GTX 1060 does, but it’s still insufficient. With the rise of this compute power race, power consumption figures are similar to those of portable fridges or microwaves when considering the RTX 5090.
Earlier, we used to be happy with 4GB system RAM and 128MB VRAM, thinking that was pretty high-end. Now, 12GB VRAM is irrelevant, and 32GB system RAM runs out quite often (Photoshop/Premiere). So, what will laptops do? Yes, they have some modularity, like swapping RAM or SSDs, but what about the GPU? Unfortunately, you will run into a lot of issues if you attempt that, which is why external GPU enclosures are a thing now.
For starters, you can plug in a desktop-class GPU to your laptop through the Thunderbolt port and finish your productive work. Please note that for gaming, you cannot expect flawless PCIe Gen 4/Gen 5-grade performance because that’s internal, and this is like plugging in a speedy SSD—it’s external, after all. This brings us to today’s topic:5 Best External GPU Enclosures for 2025.Let’s get started.
Disclaimer: We are omitting pricing information because these devices have limited availability. Please check with the manufacturer for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
1. ASUS ROG XG Mobile (2025)
Key Specifications
TheASUS ROG XG Mobileis considerably faster with Thunderbolt 5 than the other enclosures available on the market. It uniquely supports the RTX 5090 Mobile variant, so the power requirements aren’t high. It also includes a 5 Gigabit Ethernet port, making it perfect for a network rendering station, should you prefer that route. The only catch here is that it’s limited to ASUS ROG laptops like the Flow X13, X16, and Z13, which share the same proprietary design.
2. Razer Core X Chroma
TheRazer Core X Chromais a fantastic option in the upper mid-range. Since it includes an Ethernet port, the network rendering use case can be mentioned here, too. On the other hand, Thunderbolt 3 is showing its age. Pairing anything above an RTX 4070 will result in untapped performance.
3. Akitio Node Titan
TheAkitio Node Titanis also a great option in the upper mid-range. However, it lacks an Ethernet port, making network rendering complicated. A workaround is to use another device on your network with it. For example, you could useProxmox,pass the Node Titan to a VM, and then utilize the host’s Ethernet connection to manage network rendering. Additionally, Thunderbolt 3’s limitations restrict your GPU choices and use cases.
4. Sonnet eGPU Breakaway Box 750ex
Like the other options in this listicle, theSonnet eGPU Breakaway Box 750exis also a great contender in the upper mid-range segment. It provides USB 3.1 ports and Gigabit Ethernet, which means you can either pass it through a VM and have your network equipped with a capable rendering station or natively use it via the Thunderbolt 3 port.
Razer Core X
Overall, theRazer Core Xoffers the bare minimum required to work with an E-GPU use case scenario. Thunderbolt 3 and a lack of network connectivity limit its functionality and make it complicated for the average user. Those who want the simplest plug-and-play solution might consider this an option.
Picking any of these will get you going with your work. Just be sure not to pair something like the RTX 3090 Ti / 4080 / 3080 Ti category GPUs. It’s not that they won’t work, but they will be severely bottlenecked by Thunderbolt 3. As for encoding and network rendering capabilities, theRTX 4070should be more than enough for an overall fast network renderer, such as a 3D or video proxy.
Looking For More Related to Tech?
We provide the latest news and “How To’s” for Tech content. Meanwhile, you can check out the following articles related to PC GPUs, CPU and GPU comparisons, mobile phones, and more:
