We know better than anyone that acquiring a PC configuration worthy of the name can be relatively expensive. Not all gamers necessarily have the possibility, or the desire, to spend so much money on a PC simply to be able to play video games.

Besides, gamers are not the only ones concerned. People who need to deal with video editing software also need heavy configuration since these software often need a graphics card to function properly.

Manufacturers have understood this and are trying to provide solutions to the problems. If we keep hearing about external hard drives, the external graphics card has been much more discreet in the eyes of the general public. However, in recent years, it has proven to be a very good ally for boosting the capabilities of the Portable PC.

Today, in this new buying guide, we present to you the external graphics card, its name eGPU in English. Here we will answer all the questions you may have about this new generation component, which is none other than the external graphics card.

Comparison of the best eGPU cases

Increasing the performance of your laptop at the lowest cost is now possible. Thanks to the advancement of technology, the eGPU case offers incomparable graphics power for your laptop or classic PC. Take a look at the most interesting external graphics enclosures on the market.

Razer Core X Chroma Thunderbolt 3

ASUS Computer ROG-XG Station Pro

The Razer Core X Thunderbolt 3 external graphics card enclosure

Sonnet Egfx Breakaway Box

Purchase guide !

A graphics card (GPU), what is it?

Before launching into the explanations and purchasing criteria, we wanted to go over the basics so that you can have all the cards in hand when it is time to make your choice.

To put it simply, the graphics card is a component that allows graphics to be displayed on your PC . The better the graphics card, the smoother and more pleasant the display will be for you. The GPU, in English Graphics Processing Unit , also plays a key role in the fluidity of video games.

Indeed, PC Gamers very often require high-end graphics cards in order to run video games, which are very demanding at this level. So, the more powerful the card, the better the video games will run on your Gaming PC. In the absence of a graphics card, the video game will have difficulty displaying and, let it be said, you will not be able to hope to win a game.

For optimal rendering, gamers are often advised to invest in an Nvidia graphics card or an AMD graphics card . Some gamers will agree that NVIDIA cards are the best, others will lean towards the AMD camp…

Moreover, if your heart swings towards AMD, we invite you to watch our latest comparison on AMD RADEON graphics cards .

In short, it is a war that will never end. We will come back to this question a little later in our buying guide.

An external graphics card (eGPU), what is it?

The external graphics card has exactly the same role as the standard graphics card. The external graphics card, also called eGPU ( External Graphics Processing Units ), is an external box equipped with one or more graphics cards to considerably improve the capabilities of a laptop PC. The external enclosure is roughly the size of an external hard drive.

To summarize the situation for you, the eGPU is a GPU that is not integrated inside your computer . It works on the same principle as hard drives. Some computers have more or less storage and some need to use an external hard drive to store more data.

As you can see, the graphics card is located inside the case. To operate your eGPU, simply connect it to your Laptop via a USB Type C connector that supports Thunderbolt 3 .

Thunderbolt was introduced to the market in 2011. Thunderbolt allows you to transfer data twice as fast, but that's not all: it also allows you to direct videos to displays.

The primary goal of this external graphics card remains above all to reconcile ultraportable PCs with the world of gaming , in particular thanks to the appearance of Razer Core.

Why buy an external graphics card?

Obviously, the external graphics card will not be suitable for all profiles. As mentioned previously, the eGPU will mainly be used by gamers who cannot obtain a PC configuration allowing them to play video games , as is the case for people who have a standard Laptop PC.

This can be explained by the fact that the player does not have the means to buy a Gaming PC or quite simply because his consumption of video games would not make the purchase of a Gaming PC profitable at all.

Also, it should also be noted that rather thin or entry-level laptops do not have PCI Express ports , which prevents the laptop from having an internal graphics card.

The eGPU will also be used by users specialized in video editing . Indeed, it is well known that graphic effects applications are extremely heavy and a typical PC could have difficulty running them properly.

Thus, the Portable PC coupled with the external graphics card will be able to run the best video games and software, provided that your PC's processor is powerful enough all the same. Indeed, the graphics card will boost your PC but you know the expression : you can't make a racehorse out of a donkey.

Note that we are only talking about laptops since it does not seem logical to opt for the eGPU if you have a desktop computer . If necessary, it will probably be recommended to choose a standard gaming graphics card , which you can integrate directly into your configuration.

Is buying an eGPU case useful for me?

Investing in an external graphics card won't suit every gamer. As we explained previously, this external box is intended for laptops that are too thin to be able to purchase high-end components and/or too obsolete to run certain applications that are data-intensive.

Buying an external card will therefore be useful for you if you do not have the means to acquire a new PC with a configuration powerful enough to run video games and/or editing software. This allows you to not have to upgrade all the components of your PC, which is a real saving in terms of budget but also in terms of time .

For example, if you need to frequently transport your PC but like to play video games, the eGPU may be the solution that suits you best. In fact, this allows you to keep a PC that is light and easy to transport but which, thanks to the external graphics card, will run Fortnite, Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War and so on .

What are the important criteria when choosing an eGPU case?

Buying an external graphics card, like any computer component, should not be taken lightly. Our buying guide allows you to obtain all the answers to your questions. We present to you all the different criteria that will be important to take into account before purchasing this external box.

Your original PC

The first criterion to take into consideration is your original PC. Before purchasing, you will first need to check that your Laptop is compatible. You will also need to check that your PC has a Thunderbolt 3 port (or other compatible port) in order to be able to connect the case to your computer.

You should also know that some external boxes are not compatible with all computer brands. For example, if your PC comes from Apple, you will need to make sure to invest in a compatible case. It would be a shame to buy an external graphics card and it doesn't work, that goes without saying.  

The dimensions

As we mentioned at the start of the article, the case is the size of a large external hard drive. However, you should know that some boxes are more or less imposing . It is therefore essential to pay attention to the size of the case.

This is just as important because you also need to be assured that the graphics card can fit perfectly in the case in case you decide to purchase the two elements separately. Graphics cards, depending on the brands and models, do not always have the same length and/or width , hence the importance of this criterion.

Box alone or ready to use?

So, it is possible to buy the case empty or directly with the graphics card inside.

Each of the two solutions incorporates certain advantages and disadvantages. Buying a box alone offers you greater versatility since you can choose the card of your choice; however, it must be admitted that this first solution is much less practical .

Acquiring a ready-to-use case will certainly suit people who do not necessarily have the knowledge to handle the graphics card. On the other hand, if you opt for the choice of the eGPU already integrated, you should know that the latter cannot be upgraded since the card is in fact welded to the case. It will therefore not be possible to get rid of it when you want to change the component.

You will therefore have to make the right choice at the time of purchase but above all remember that within a few years, the graphics card may be obsolete.

Technical assistance

This is a point that we don't necessarily think about before making a purchase. However, the latter can prove to be useful in the event that you encounter a technical problem , whether during installation or during use.

Choosing a brand that offers free technical assistance, available in French but above all responsive, will guarantee you minimum stress, especially if you do not necessarily have the required computer knowledge.

It is possible to find out more about technical assistance by consulting the manufacturer's official website directly or simply by consulting a comparator.

Available ports

The majority of external boxes have numerous ports . However, we recommend that you carefully check this criterion before purchasing this or that box.

In fact, some boxes have additional ports , which can be a real advantage for some people. These ports can therefore allow you to connect a second screen, an Ethernet cable or even other peripherals.

The design of the case

This criterion may seem completely unnecessary for some users but it seemed wise to remind us of it. There are cases of different colors with more or less original shapes and designs, although this criterion remains completely subjective , it can also play a role in your choice.

Beyond the aesthetic criterion, it should be remembered that the eGPU case often has to be moved from one room to another, from place A to place B, etc.

Therefore, it is necessary that you choose a robust case . This will allow you to transport it safely. On this subject, some external boxes are even equipped with handles so that you can move them even more easily.

The power supply

The power supply of the box is an essential criterion in the choice of the latter. Indeed, the power is expressed in Watts , and it reveals the capacity of this component. As a user, this can help you know how many devices can be connected at the same time or which graphics cards are compatible, in case you opt for the empty case.

Also note that not all boxes are equipped with a power supply , others will allow you to use the external box while charging your Laptop. So remember to read the product description carefully to be sure that it suits what you are looking for.

The recooling

The cooling system of the eGPU also plays an important criterion. Indeed, if the case is not equipped with a fan or ventilation , you end up with an ultra noisy case that will constantly overheat. Ultimately, this can even damage the graphics card.

Thus, by opting for ventilation at the height of the graphics card , you put all the chances on your side so that the latter works as long as possible. Furthermore, noise can be a source of annoyance for some players. Choosing a more or less silent box can therefore help you avoid certain nervous breakdowns!

The budget

Like all computer components, you find external graphics cards at all prices. Very often, the higher your budget , the more quality you will be able to acquire an external graphics card.

We would still like to reassure you: these days, external enclosures are more and more affordable and it is possible to obtain a high quality external enclosure for a very good quality/price ratio . Depending on the model, the price can therefore vary from simple to double.

Furthermore, buying the most expensive eGPU case does not mean that it will be the case that best meets your expectations. This is why price must remain only one criterion among all others. It seems important to remember that each characteristic must have its importance during this investment .

Based on all the criteria mentioned, you can make a list of those that seem essential to you. This can help you get a price range. In addition, do not hesitate to consult comparators who will give you the advantages and disadvantages of this or that external box.

FAQs!

To finish our comprehensive guide, it is appropriate to answer a few frequently asked questions.

Our conclusion: what to think of external graphics cards?

Sometimes described as the future of standard graphics cards, you will have understood through this buying guide that external graphics cards will not suit all profiles . This is a first point that must be kept in mind.

On the market for several years now, the eGPU has however improved significantly, in particular thanks to connectivity via Thunderbolt 3 which allows a throughput of up to 40 Gbit per second. Previously, external boxes connected via Thunderbolt 2 – which severely limited speeds. These could go up to 20 Gbit/s only. It must be admitted that, nowadays, external graphics cards can compete with internal graphics cards in terms of performance.

If you have a Mac or an ultra-thin PC, the external graphics card is probably the appropriate solution. Yes, the eGPU is no longer reserved only for Windows users. In short, the external graphics card will boost the performance of a PC that does not have the space and ports necessary to connect an internal graphics card.

We hope that this buying guide has helped you see things more clearly because we know that it is not always easy to make a choice, as the models on the internet are so varied . Thus, a user who does not necessarily have computer knowledge could quickly get lost. Here we have discussed all the criteria for choosing an external eGPU case. All you have to do is make your choice based on all the criteria set out in our buying guide .

Choosing a graphics card?

If you need to change your graphics card, there are several points to consider. So here's what you need to look at before buying a graphics card:

• Dimensions : graphics cards are far from being the same size. Therefore, you must be particularly careful if you have a micro ATX format card. So look at the height and width of the map.
• Use : you are not going to make the same choice if you use office technology, watch videos or if you are a gamer. For example, for video games, you need a high-end graphics card with 3D playback.
• Consumption : you must look at what is indicated in terms of watts. Now, know that consumption is linked to power. The more needs you have, the more energy it will consume.
• Speed ​​of execution : This time you need to look at megahertz (MHz). If you need the image to be processed quickly, you need high MHz.
• RAM : it’s the gigabytes that will tell you. For full HD, you need a minimum of 6 GB.