There are few users who are behind one of the new NVIDIA RTX 30 Series graphics cards of Ampere architecture, but the high requirements of power and space available in the box of these means that many users are being forced to make more modifications in your PC hardware to ensure compatibility. In this regard, is it worth investing in an external GPU box for these RTX 30 Series ?
Initially, the external GPU boxes are designed so that laptops, mini PCs and low-power computers can enjoy the graphic power that a desktop GPU provides without having to change platforms, although they do require Thunderbolt 3 connectivity to be able to enjoy its full potential. Given the size and power required of the high-end RTX 30 Series, many users are finding themselves in the position that their current hardware is not compatible with these graphics cards, being forced to change the case / source if they want to be able to buy one. of the new NVIDIA GPUs.
Are the RTX 30 Series compatible with an external GPU cage?
The first question that most users would have is whether these external boxes are compatible with the new generation of NVIDIA graphics cards, so the first thing to check is the size:
- RTX 3090 (Founders Edition): 313mm long by 138mm high by 55mm wide.
- RTX 3080 (Founders Edition): 285mm long by 112mm high by 2 slots wide.
- RTX 3070 (Founders Edition): 242mm long by 112mm high by 2 slots wide.
In terms of size, both the RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 should have no problem with any of the existing eGPU boxes on the market, as they have fairly standard dimensions. However, the RTX 3090 does care about its size, both for the more than 31 centimeters in length and its height. Although many external GPU cages claim to support graphics up to 3 slots wide, it has been found that for example it is impossible to get an RTX 3090 to fit into a Razer Core X Chroma eGPU, the external GPU cage of more high-end from Razer.
3090 FE almost fits Razer Core X Chroma… the bracket is ~ 2mm too wide from r / eGPU
The same is true in terms of power. According to NVIDIA, these are the recommended TDP and power for these graphics cards:
| TDP | Recommended PSU | |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 3090 | 350 W | 750 W |
| RTX 3080 | 320 W | 700 W |
| RTX 3070 | 220 W | 550 W |
Now you have to take into account the power supply that the boxes for external GPUs incorporate. For example, the Razer Core X has a 650W source, while its top-of-the-range version (Chroma) has a 700 watt source. The AORUS Gaming Box has a source of just 450 watts, while the Alienware Graphics Amplifier incorporates a 460 watt power supply.
Given this data, no external GPU could handle the RTX 3090 in optimal conditions (although it would surely work if you were able to fit it inside), and only the Razer Core X Chroma could handle the RTX 3080. The RTX 3070 should work without too many problems. on any eGPU even though they don’t meet the recommended wattage, but if they are compatible with an RTX 2080 Ti that has 250W of TDP, they should be compatible with the 220W of the RTX 3070.
Is an eGPU worth it for the NVIDIA Ampere?
Actually, the main reason why someone would want an external GPU box with the new NVIDIA RTX 30 Series would be because they cannot use them on their PC, either because they use a laptop, mini PC or similar, or because they do not fit in your current equipment either by size or by power of the graph.
Considering the needs of these GPUs, really only the RTX 3090 would give problems in a normal desktop PC, and since this GPU also does not fit in an eGPU it does not make any sense to buy this device. In other words, buying an eGPU for the RTX 30 Series would only make sense if you want to play on a laptop with Thunderbolt, but only for the RTX 3070/3080, in no case for the top-of-the-range graphics, the RTX 3090.
