This $99 external GPU dock revolutionizes the gaming experience.
The Minisforum DEG1 is an external GPU dock that might interest you, as it is priced at just $100 and hardly compromises performance.
In the past, external GPUs seemed to be falling out of favor, especially since the idea of investing a significant sum in a high-performance graphics card only to plug it into a case that could drastically reduce its performance was not appealing. Despite hopes that external GPUs would make a comeback with the release of Thunderbolt 5, this has yet to happen. A few years ago, there were a good number of cases available on the market, but today the options have dwindled to low-profile, low-quality products.
However, the Minisforum DEG1 has changed things a bit. This external GPU case, priced at $99, stands out for its simplicity in construction and is therefore remarkably more affordable compared to previous models. Although the user must provide their own graphics card, the design of the DEG1 is quite straightforward. What really sets this new device apart is an emerging connection standard called Oculink, which promises to significantly enhance performance.
The DEG1, while it may be underestimated due to its simplicity, has interesting features. It has a single PCIe x16 slot and mounting points for a compatible ATX or SFX power supply. Additionally, a bracket secures the GPU in place and requires specific power connections, adding a level of customization that hasn’t been seen in other similar devices. The $99 price of the Minisforum seems justified by the ease of use and the innovation brought by Oculink.
This new standard not only transmits data at high speeds but also has the advantage of no licensing cost, which is different from Thunderbolt, that requires a fee to Intel. This factor may have influenced the price of the DEG1, making the combination of low cost and fast speeds very attractive.
During testing, the DEG1 proved to be effective. Although there is always a performance loss with external GPUs due to the connection distance and bandwidth limitations, the DEG1 performed remarkably well, even with a high-end GPU like the RTX 4080 Super. In gaming scenarios like Cyberpunk 2077 and Returnal, the performance difference was nearly imperceptible. However, games like Horizon Zero Dawn showed significant losses, reaching up to 35%, although this figure is better than previous devices with Thunderbolt 3.
Despite its strengths, the DEG1 faces a significant challenge: the adoption of Oculink. There are very few devices on the market that support this type of connection. Only one laptop is known to support it, the Lenovo ThinkBook 15 Gen 4, and while there are some options from brands like Minisforum, the standard has not been widely adopted. This limits the functionality of the DEG1, which should enable performance improvements in devices that are lacking.
On the other hand, Thunderbolt 5 promises to offer higher speeds and has broader adoption, which poses an uncertain future for solutions like the DEG1. However, its development represents an interesting step forward in the external GPU sector, demonstrating that it is possible to create simple and practical products that perform well within a niche market.
