eGPU - what is it?

An eGPU (external Graphics Processing Unit) is an external graphics card that can be connected to a computer via an external interface, such as Thunderbolt or USB4. The main purpose of an eGPU is to enhance a computer's graphics capabilities, especially for laptops, which often have integrated graphics cards with limited processing power.

Connecting an eGPU to your computer allows you to use a more powerful graphics card, which is especially useful for graphics-intensive areas such as gaming, graphic design, and video editing. It works by transferring the graphics calculations of the integrated graphics card to an external unit, which usually leads to a significant increase in graphics performance.

eGPUs are often used in situations where users need additional graphics power, but are unwilling or unable to upgrade the built-in graphics card in their computer. This technology is particularly popular among laptop users, who typically have limited hardware upgrade options.

To build a high-performance eGPU system you need, among other things, an external enclosure with a Thunderbolt or USB4 interface, an internal PCIe 3.0 x16 slot and a powerful power supply that can handle demanding PCIe graphics cards.

Such an enclosure is, for example, the AKiTiO Node Titan from OWC. This is an enclosure with a Thunderbolt interface PCIe 3.0 x16 connector and a 650W power supply. This configuration allows the installation of the most powerful graphics cards.

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