As a mini gaming PC fan, I’ve all the time been keen on the thought of utilizing an eGPU, however they’ve normally been too clunky or sluggish to make them a sensible possibility. This new Asus ROG XG Station 3 eGPU dock, nonetheless, may simply be sufficient to vary my thoughts. This mannequin, unveiled for the primary time at Computex 2025, comes with a model new design and far quicker Thunderbolt 5 speeds, together with some attention-grabbing benchmark information.
This Asus dock, which at first look appears to be like quite a bit like a Puddle Jumper from Stargate, helps playing cards with energy calls for of as much as 1,000W, that means you may simply energy the very best graphics card choices with it, together with the RTX 5090, though probably the most highly effective playing cards would require an influence provide improve. It additionally helps the Asus GC-HPWR connector, that means no cables are wanted – it is a slot-in-and-go state of affairs, so long as you will have an Asus graphics card that helps the upgraded BTF connector.
Asus hasn’t launched this new eGPU dock but, however the firm shared its first glimpses of the product at Computex 2025. Not like the sooner Asus ROG XG Station 2 eGPU, which required a totally encased graphics card, this new mannequin is a totally unbiased dock, requiring you to easily insert the graphics card on high. It will actually assist with airflow and any dimension restrictions, though it would find yourself being a bit noisy because of this.
That may very well be a worth value paying for the potential gaming efficiency, although – this can be a machine for a critical gamer who may solely have a gaming laptop computer or a mini gaming PC available. It comes with a 330W SFX energy provide constructed into it, so for those who have been planning to make use of it with a demanding card such because the RTX 5090, you may have to improve this your self to a better wattage various.
Some latest eGPU bins have used OCuLink, a direct PCIe connector that originated from server use, to ship the quickest speeds. Nevertheless, OCuLink is not a connector that is gained a variety of widespread help, which is why a Thunderbolt 5 connector makes extra sense right here. It is also the quicker possibility, too, with Thunderbolt 5 ports delivering speeds as much as 80Gbps, in comparison with OCuLink’s present 64Gbps restrict.
That improved efficiency is borne out in benchmark information, shared by Asus at Computex 2025 and reproduced by Videocardz, which reveals an RTX 4090 desktop card utilizing this Asus dock with gaming efficiency that was solely 5% to fifteen% slower than the identical card instantly put in in a gaming PC, whereas simply outperforming the RTX 4090 cell equal.
Whereas this information is not independently verified, it does simply present the dock’s potential, narrowing the hole between exterior eGPU docks and instantly put in graphics playing cards considerably. Asus additionally did not share RTX 5090 benchmarks, regardless of displaying the eGPU with such a card put in, as seen in these photographs equipped by Hong Kong tech web site HKEPC in an X publish.
Whereas Thunderbolt 5 help continues to be missing in a variety of gaming laptops and mini gaming PCs, it appears to be like like Asus is betting that the scenario will change over the following yr or two. Fortunately, Thunderbolt 5 is totally backwards appropriate, so it is possible for you to to make use of this dock utilizing a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 connection, though you will not get the utmost out there speeds.
If you happen to’ve acquired an Asus BTF graphics card, you may plug it into the dock and it will work with out cables, making it a a lot cleaner setup. If you happen to do not, nonetheless, you may nonetheless use a 12VHPWR reference to the put in PSU, so there isn’t any restrict to the machine’s compatibility there, so long as you regulate whether or not your card wants a higher-spec energy provide or not.
Sadly, there’s no info thus far on pricing or a possible launch date for the Asus ROG XG Station 3, however I am excited to get my arms on one. It is a attractive, sensible machine, even when it is a utterly area of interest one for the time being, that might make gaming on a mini gaming PC virtually on-par with the very best gaming PC choices on the market, particularly mixed with a mini PC equivalent to the brand new Asus ROG NUC 2025.
Till then, ensure that to take a look at our greatest mini gaming PC information for some highly effective choices for gaming on a a lot smaller scale than a desktop PC. In order for you an all-in-one transportable gaming system, our greatest gaming laptop computer information additionally has a formidable choice, appropriate for informal and critical avid gamers alike.
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