Key Takeaways
1. The Gigabyte Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box is now available in the US for $2,999.99 and offers impressive overall performance.
2. It delivers approximately 27.2% lower performance compared to a native Nvidia RTX 5090 in a gaming desktop.
3. Synthetic tests show the eGPU is around 15.2% slower than a desktop Nvidia RTX 5090 due to Thunderbolt 5 connection limitations.
4. OCuLink could potentially enhance performance by providing a more efficient direct link, avoiding bottlenecks from the Thunderbolt 5 controller.
5. The Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box features additional ports, including one HDMI 2.1b and three DisplayPort 2.1b, along with a built-in PSU and custom liquid cooling.
Gigabyte has recently introduced the Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box in the UK, and now, the Thunderbolt 5 external GPU is also available in the US market. You can find it on Newegg for a price of $2,999.99. While this is quite a steep cost for an external GPU, our tests showed that it delivers fairly impressive overall performance.
Performance Insights
In our examination, we discovered that the Thunderbolt 5 eGPU operates at about 27.2% lower performance compared to a native Nvidia RTX 5090 in a gaming desktop (the MSI Suprim RTX 5090 is currently priced at $2,699.99 on Amazon). This performance level indicates that the Gigabyte Aorus AI Box is roughly 6% slower than a standard desktop RTX 4090.
Testing Results
When we conducted synthetic tests, we observed that the Gigabyte Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box is around 15.2% slower than a desktop Nvidia RTX 5090. These performance reductions can be attributed to the restrictions set by the Thunderbolt 5 connection, even though it is rated for a bidirectional bandwidth of 80 Gbps.
It’s possible that the performance could have been slightly better if the eGPU used OCuLink. A recent comparison video by YouTuber Try Some Tech highlighted that Thunderbolt 5 necessitates that signals go through an intermediate controller, resulting in a bottleneck.
Connectivity Options
On the flip side, OCuLink can establish a direct link, which allows for more efficient communication between the host system and the eGPU, reducing interference. Thus, even with a 64 Gbps bandwidth rating, OCuLink can leverage its rated capacity more effectively.
Returning to the Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box, for those who might’ve missed our earlier coverage of the launch, this Thunderbolt 5 eGPU includes extra ports at the back. Specifically, it comes with one HDMI 2.1b and three DisplayPort 2.1b ports. Additionally, the Thunderbolt 5 eGPU is equipped with a built-in PSU and a custom liquid cooling solution, all neatly packed in a sleek and relatively compact design.
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