Best eGPU for 2025

Gaming in a smaller form factor is increasingly feasible. While gargantuan gaming desktops still abound, mini gaming PCs, gaming laptops, and handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally X offer compromise-free play and portability. However, as great as laptops, mini PCs, and handheld gaming PCs are, upgrade options can be limited. Although many offer the ability to add more RAM and storage, you typically can’t upgrade the CPU or GPU. But external GPUs, or eGPUs, let you use desktop graphics cards with laptops, mini PCs, and gaming handhelds.

Check out the best eGPU options on the market for taking your game to the next level!

What are the best eGPUs on the market in 2025?

The best eGPUs on the planet are:

• Gigabyte AORUS Gaming Box 5090: The best eGPU overall, great for 4K and 1440p gaming
• Razer Core X V2: The best DIY eGPU

Best External GPU Overall – AORUS Gigabyte Gaming Box

The Gigabyte AORUS Gaming Box is a solid eGPU that includes a graphics card. It’s available in different versions, including a beastly RTX 5090 variant, as well as 4090, 3090, 3080 Ti, and 3080 versions. The AORUS Gaming Box eGPU features some of the best gaming graphics cards and excellent connectivity.

Because of the AORUS Gaming Box’s Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, you’ll be able to get the closest possible experience to using a GPU in a desktop. There’s power delivery for laptop charging, and the entire external GPU enclosure is water-cooled. The Thunderbolt 5 port is backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 4, 3, and even USB 3.2.

With up to an NVIDIA RTX 5090, you can max out most AAA titles and even use ray tracing at 4K or 1440p. I use a Gigabyte AORUS NVIDIA RTX 3080 eGPU, and am able to run games like Diablo IV at up to 4K, 60 frames per second (FPS) with DLSS — an artificial intelligence (AI) technique to improve resolution and frame rate — or 1440p without DLSS.

Disappointingly, the Gigabyte AORUS Gaming Box eGPU doesn’t come cheap. For the price, you can get a decent desktop and laptop. Granted, that’s to be expected since external graphics card enclosures typically come at a premium, and high-end options like the RTX 5090 carry a hefty price tag. Nevertheless, if you demand a ton of power, the Gigabyte AORUS Gaming Box packs quite a punch, making it the best external GPU enclosure with a graphics card.

Pros:

• Includes GPU (Up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 or RTX 40- and 30-series cards) with ray tracing support
• Water-cooled
• Great I/O – 2x Thunderbolt 5, 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 2.1, Ethernet
• Power delivery for laptop and handheld gaming PC charging
• Can run many AAA games at 4K or 1440p at ultra to high settings

Cons:

• Expensive

Best DIY eGPU – Razer Core X V2

If you want to pick and choose the GPU you use, the Razer Core X V2 is an excellent option. Unlike some options that come pre-built and ready to go, the Razer Core X V2 is just a case–you’ll need to add your own graphics card and power supply.

While there’s a bit of do-it-yourself work involved, you can cobble together an external graphics card unit setup that works for your needs. Maybe that’s a top-of-the-line NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 or an AMD 9070 XT, or perhaps you want an NVIDIA RTX 5070 TI for 1440p gaming. Regardless of your needs and budget, the Razer Core X V2 provides a lot of choice.

Its Thunderbolt 5 support means you’ll get the best performance possible from an eGPU, with up to 80Gpbs of bandwidth — by comparison, you can get up to 242Gbps with PCI-E 7. So while you still take a big performance hit, Thunderbolt 5 still outperforms Thunderbolt 4 and Occulink. Because of its Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, the Razer Core X V2 works with Thunderbolt 4 and USB 3.2 devices as well.

The one downside is that the Core X V2 isn’t cheap–at $350 standalone, you’ll need to factor in the cost of a GPU and a power supply on top of that. Razer also sells a bundle for $545 that includes a 1200-Watt Razer Katana Chroma PSU, but again, you’ll require a graphics card, which can be anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over $1,000.

Pros:

• You can select your GPU and power supply
• Thunderbolt 5 connectivity for the best possible eGPU performance (up to 80Gbps of bandwidth)

Cons:

• Limited connectivity: Just Thunderbolt 5, no Ethernet, USB, or Occulink
• No GPU or PSU included
• Expensive

Other eGPUs on the market

While the Aorus Gaming Box and Razer Core X V2 are the best eGPUs on the planet, there are other options you can consider, like the OneXPlayer One GPU and GPD G1.

OneXPlayer OneXGPU eGPU

The OneXPlayer eGPU packs an AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT graphics card with 8GB of GDDR6. Onboard, you’ll find USB 4 support (which works with Thunderbolt 3 and 4 ports), as well as Oculink. Since the OneXPlayer eGPU supports Oculink and USB4, it has better bandwidth than Thunderbolt 3.

You’ll find great connectivity, including a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports, dual DisplayPort 2.0 jacks, two USB-A 3.2 hosts, an Ethernet connector, and an M.2 2280 SSD slot. As such, the OneXPlayer external graphics processing unit is a solid USB hub. You can install up to a 4TB solid-state drive and load up virtually your entire Steam library to share between handheld gaming PCs, your laptop, and a mini PC.

You can run games like Forza Horizon 5 in 1080p at ultra settings with over 120 FPS, GTA 5 at 1080p on high settings with over 110 FPS, or CyberPunk 2077 at 1080p ultra settings with over 100 FPS. If you want to step up to 1440p and even 4K on some games, then you may consider the OneXGPU 2. You do pay a premium though, and the OneXGPU isn’t upgradeable. Moreover, HDMI 2.1 support is limited to 4K 60, so you’ll need DisplayPort or a DisplayPort to HDMI 2.1 adapter for use with a 4K 120Hz or higher monitor/TV/projector. But if you need an external graphics card to use with a mini PC, handheld like the OneXPlayer or ASUS ROG Ally X, or a mini PC, the OneXGPU and OneXGPU 2 are excellent options.

Pros:

• USB4 and Oculink support
• Great connectivity: 2x HDMI 2.1, 2x DisplayPort 2.0, 2x USB 3.2, 1x Ethernet, M.2 2280 SSD slot
• RGB lighting
• Small and compact
• Works with tons of devices, including OneXPlayer handheld gaming PCs, the ASUS ROG Ally X, and mini PCs
• Can run games newer AAA games on 1080p and 1440p at ultra to high, and even some titles at 4K
• AMD RX 7600M XT with 8GB DDR6

Cons:

• Expensive
• HDMI 2.1 limited to 4K 60

GPD G1

The GPD G1 is a small-form-factor external graphics card with an AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT at its core. You’ll find solid inputs and outputs, including three USB 3.2 ports, an SD card reader, HDMI 2.1 with 4K 120Hz support, and DisplayPort 1.4a. Both the GPD G1 and OneXGPU sport an RX 7600M XT with 8GB DDR6, but the GPD G1 can handle 4K 120Hz video output via HDMI 2.1, while the OneXGPU can’t.

Thanks to its AMD GPU, the GPD G1 can play Doom Eternal at 1080p ultra settings with over 160 FPS, God of War at 1080p ultra with over 80 FPS, and Final Fantasy VII Remake at 4K high settings with over 60 FPS.

As is expected, the GPD G1 is pricey, and not upgradeable. But its modest footprint makes it super portable, and the AMD RX 7600M XT lets you easily run most AAA games at 1080p or 1440p and even 4K depending on your settings and the game’s optimization. If you’re looking for an eGPU to pair with your mini PC, the MSI Claw, or a mini PC, the GPD G1 is an excellent option that elevates your graphical capabilities above your device’s built-in integrated GPU (iGPU).

Pros:

• Small footprint
• Great connectivity: 1x SD card reader, 3x USB 3.2, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4a
• Can output 4K 120Hz via HDMI 2.1
• USB4 and Oculink connectivity
• AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT with 8GB DDR6
• Can run most modern AAA games on 1080p, 1440p, or even 4K at anywhere from medium to ultra settings

Cons:

• Pricey

What is an eGPU and why should you buy one?

An external graphics processing unit, or eGPU, takes a desktop-class GPU and shoves it into an external box. Then, this connects to a laptop or a small-form-factor (SFF) desktop, thereby affording more processing power. An eGPU pairs well with a gaming laptop as an upgraded graphics card over the built-in GPU, or as an add-on to a laptop with integrated graphics. For instance, you can benefit from a thin-and-light laptop on the go, but still game respectably at home with an external graphics card.

What is an eGPU: An external graphics card that connects to a laptop or desktop for using a desktop GPU.

Why buy an eGPU:

• Add dedicated graphics to a machine that has integrated graphics
• Upgrade over the dedicated graphics of an older gaming laptop
• Enjoy the portability of a think-and-light ultrabook on the go and desktop-caliber graphics at home

What to look for in an eGPU

When selecting an eGPU, there are several considerations. From device compatibility to a complete kit with a GPU versus a DIY solution, here’s what you should think about.

Support

First, there’s compatibility. Figure out what connector you’ll need to use an eGPU with your laptop. Most connect via Thunderbolt, USB4, or Oculink. For the best performance, look for Thunderbolt 5, Oculink, and USB4, which each have greater bandwidth than TB4 or TB3, meaning you’ll get more of your GPU’s processing power for better frame rates at higher resolutions.

Graphics card included vs. barebones kit

You’ll also want to decide whether you want an external GPU enclosure sans graphics card, or an all-in-one bundle. Some eGPUs come with a power supply and a graphics card, while others require you to purchase a GPU and PSU separately. All-in-one eGPUs may be more convenient yet more expensive, although not all DIY eGPUs are budget-friendly.

Connectivity

eGPU inputs/outputs (I/O) are important as well. Many external GPU boxes feature ports such as Ethernet, USB 3.0, USB-C, and audio/video (A/V) connectors. Some even feature built-in SSD slots, so you can store games from your Steam library or other files directly on your eGPU.

Power delivery

Power delivery is crucial to think about with many eGPUs capable of charging laptops via Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB4, and USB-C.

Price

eGPUs range in cost from a few hundred dollars for a standalone option to several hundred to over $1,000 for an external graphics card processing unit that includes a video card.

eGPU buying criteria: 

• Bare enclosure vs. comes with a GPU
• I/O: onboard Ethernet, USB 3.0, USB-C, etc.
• Connectivity: Oculink, USB4, Thunderbolt 3
• Compatibility with your laptop/desktop/gaming handheld PC
• Price

What about real-world eGPU performance – is an eGPU worth it?

Unfortunately, eGPUs take a slight performance hit. Real-world external GPU performance hinges on several factors, including the GPU being used, the specific external graphics card enclosure, the type of connection, and the device it’s paired with. For instance, a Thunderbolt 5 or Occulink connection might incur anywhere from a 5% to 20% performance loss when compared with a GPU hooked up via PCI-E. Overall, for gaming, an eGPU could provide anywhere from 95% to 80% of the performance of a certain GPU when compared to a more traditional desktop setup. Outside of PC gaming, external graphics cards perform extremely well at GPU-intensive processing tasks with minimal bottlenecking.

Generally, an eGPU can be worth it for portability and flexibility. For instance, you can use a lightweight gaming laptop or a gaming handheld, such as the ASUS ROG Ally X, while on the go, but dock it with an external GPU while at home for high-resolution, high-frame-rate gaming.

Best eGPU FAQs

Best eGPU Solutions for All Budgets – Final Thoughts

Ultimately, an external graphics card is a worthy consideration that compromises only slightly on performance while allowing for future upgrades and maintaining laptop portability. You’ll find a bevy of different external graphics card enclosures at all prices. The Gigabyte AORUS Gaming Box packs up to an NVIDIA RTX 5090 and water-cooling for a high-end eGPU experience. On the flip side, you can build your own eGPU with the Razer Core X V2 external graphics card enclosure, which doesn’t include a GPU or PCU.

Your turn: which eGPUs are you using?