Sonnet eGPU Breakaway Box To Use External Graphics Cards via Thunderbolt 3

Sonnet Technologies Inc. has now introduced the new eGPU enclosure “eGPU Breakaway Box 750” as well as the “eGPU Breakaway Box 750ex”, which has been expanded to include a USB hub, with each of which a graphics card can be used externally. (As a provider of Thunderbolt PCIe expansions, interface cards, and media readers for professional video applications, Sonnet has already introduced similar products earlier.)

Several processes in video editing (e.g. coding, effects) and in the creation of (3D) animations can be massively accelerated by powerful graphics processors (GPU), which is why when choosing or configuring (desktop) computers for corresponding tasks, particular attention the equipment with a suitable, powerful graphics card is respected. With notebooks or compact (e.g. Mac Mini) and all-in-one computers (e.g. iMac) without internal expansion options, you don’t have to be satisfied with the integrated GPU, you can connect a graphics card externally via Thunderbolt 3 to use it benefit from graphics performance.

The new external video card expansion systems support even the largest graphics cards, ie cards in full length, full height, and double width. Thanks to large temperature-controlled fans, efficient and extremely quiet cooling of the installed card is guaranteed. 750-watt power supplies in the systems also support extremely powerful cards. The two eGPU enclosure systems are largely identical, except that the eGPU Breakaway Box 750ex also offers a built-in hub for USB devices (four USB-A ports) and Ethernet connectivity (one RJ-45 socket).

With external video card systems, users increase the graphics performance of a computer, as they can connect a powerful desktop or workstation graphics processor card via Thunderbolt 3. This bypasses the computer’s onboard GPU and achieves graphics performance that would otherwise not be possible. Sonnet’s Breakaway Box 750 and 750ex eGPU systems are designed for professional users who need to run graphics-intensive applications on their eGPU-compatible notebooks, all-in-one, or small form factor computers. The products have been specially designed for quiet, reliable operation with good cooling.

The GPUs built into the computer often have an insufficient performance for demanding workflows, especially for professional video applications. An eGPU Breakaway Box significantly increases the graphics performance of a computer as it supports most of the popular AMD and NVIDIA-based GPU cards. With the eGPU Breakaway Box 750ex, users receive four additional USB-A connections with which they can connect a mouse and keyboard, for example, as well as a Gigabit Ethernet connection for wired networks (LAN).

Prices and availability

The eGPU Breakaway Box 750 (GPU-750W-TB3) and eGPU Breakaway Box 750ex (GPU-750WEX-TB3) have been available to buy from Amazon.com and Bhphotovideo.com websites. Priced at $299.99 for Box 750 and $50 more for the Box 750ex.

Recently, Gigabyte has announced the Aorus RTX 3090 Gaming Box based on the powerful Ampere GPU, paired with the bandwidth of Thunderbolt 3 which is sufficient to exhaust the performance of the high-end graphics card, and priced at $3,299.99.