Until recently, desktop gaming was considered the gold standard for high-performance gaming. Powerful desktop GPUs blew all mobile graphics processors out of the water. Anyone looking to game seriously would need a desktop set-up and laptops were pushed to the side.
However, advancements in technology have made it more feasible than ever to play graphically-intensive games on a laptop. While mobile GPUs still can’t compare to desktop cards, another option has emerged: eGPU enclosures.
With the advancement of connection standards, it has become possible to connect a desktop GPU to a laptop to bolster its performance. This is where eGPU enclosures come in. eGPU enclosures are external machines that hold a desktop graphics card and provide power to it. They connect to your laptop and give it the juice it needs to run more demanding games. Some even have the option to fit an HDD or an SSD, giving you additional space to store games.
In this guide, we will cover the best external graphics card enclosures currently on the market. Then we’ll go over everything you need to know to make the best eGPU purchase for your situation.
Products at a Glance
Best eGPU Enclosures of 2020 & 2021
The Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box is an affordable option that comes in multiple models with varying wattages. If your GPU is not too power-hungry, then purchasing the 550W model won’t break the bank.
The exterior of the enclosure is rather simple, with a clean design featuring the company logo lit by LED’s.
Moving to the interior, it is relatively spacious and will fit and support various full-size GeForce, Quadro, and Radeon cards. We appreciate that, despite its large interior, it still comes in relatively light, giving you the ability to transport it easily.
For connectivity, this eGPU offers just one Thunderbolt 3, which is fine for the price.