Tag: eGPU

  • Minisforum AI X1 Pro: Strix Point Gaming Mini PC Pre-Sale Now Live

    Minisforum AI X1 Pro: Strix Point Gaming Mini PC Pre-Sale Now Live

    Key Takeaways

    1. The Minisforum Elite AI370 lacks an OCuLink port, making it less suitable for eGPU setups compared to the AI X1 Pro.
    2. The AI X1 Pro is available for pre-order with significant discounts: $899 for the base model (32 GB RAM, 1 TB storage) and $1,089 for the high-end version (96 GB RAM, 2 TB storage).
    3. The AI X1 Pro features two USB 4 ports, increasing compatibility with eGPUs and other devices.
    4. It includes advanced features like a fingerprint sensor, a Copilot button, and a powerful Radeon 890M iGPU capable of running most AAA games at 1080p.
    5. The mini PC has an efficient cooling system using phase-change heat dissipation material and a compact 135 W built-in power supply.

    Right after the launch of the Minisforum Elite AI370, the company rolled out the AI X1 Pro, which is a more advanced Strix Point mini PC. One major distinction between these two models is that the former lacks an OCuLink port, which makes it less ideal for those wanting to use an eGPU setup.

    Pre-Order Details

    Despite this, the enhanced Strix Point mini PC is now up for pre-order. Minisforum is providing pre-sale discounts too, with the base model that includes 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage priced at $899. This gives customers a $230 reduction from its regular price. The high-end version with 96 GB of RAM and 2 TB storage is currently available for $1,089, offering a $280 discount from the original cost.

    Port Features

    In addition to the absence of the OCuLink port, the new Strix Point mini PC comes with two USB 4 ports, which broadens compatibility with eGPUs (such as the OneXGPU 2, presently $1,059.99 on Amazon). The other ports on the Minisforum AI X1 Pro include:

    The system also comes with a fingerprint sensor and a Copilot button. Another notable feature of this mini PC is the Radeon 890M, a top-tier RDNA 3.5 iGPU in the Strix Point series. It can handle most current AAA games at 1080p with good graphics settings without any hiccups.

    Cooling and Power Supply

    Furthermore, the company asserts that it has incorporated an “efficient and quiet” cooling system. Using “phase-change heat dissipation material,” it’s designed to keep the machine cool during intense usage. The built-in power supply is rated at 135 W, which should help maintain a tidy workspace. You can find more details in the complete specification sheet linked below.

    Source:
    Link

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  • Minisforum MDSA156: Affordable Portable Dual-Screen Monitor Under $250

    Minisforum MDSA156: Affordable Portable Dual-Screen Monitor Under $250

    Even though Minisforum is primarily recognized for its mini PCs, the brand has branched out into other tech areas. Recently, it entered the eGPU market with the DEG1 dock, and now, it has launched a portable dual-screen monitor called the MDSA156.

    Affordable Dual-Screen Solution

    This new dual-screen portable monitor is relatively budget-friendly when compared to similar products. Specifically, it was introduced at a price point of $231, which seems to provide a satisfactory two-screen solution for users on the go. Like competing options from other manufacturers, such as the Acer PD163Q, it features a laptop-like hinge that connects the two screens.

    Specifications and Flexibility

    On each side, you’ll find a 15.6-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080, a viewing angle of 178 degrees, and a brightness of 250 nits. The monitor also offers versatile setup options. You can position this portable dual-screen monitor in a tilted manner, arrange it like a laptop, or lay it flat on a table. The hinge design allows for using a single screen as well, and you can even set it up in a tent-like formation.

    Minisforum’s ambition with this portable monitor is to deliver a rich audio-visual experience, and to achieve that, it includes a dual-speaker system. According to the company, these full-range speakers can create a surround sound effect.

    Design and Connectivity

    In terms of construction, the Minisforum MDSA156 boasts a metal chassis, and the company claims that it weighs only 2.2 lbs. This lightweight design makes it an ideal option for those needing to be productive while traveling. For connectivity, it includes one HDMI port, a 3.5 mm audio jack, and two USB Type-C ports. To find out more, you can refer to the attached spec sheet or visit the official store.

    Source: Link

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  • Aoostar XG76 eGPU Dock with USB4 and OCuLink Now Available for $499

    Aoostar XG76 eGPU Dock with USB4 and OCuLink Now Available for $499

    The XG76 is one of the two eGPUs that Aoostar has announced today. The other model, the XG76XT, is quite unique as it uses a desktop GPU instead of the typical mobile ones found in eGPUs. In contrast, the XG76 is more conventional, featuring a mobile AMD GPU.

    Specifications of the XG76

    Aoostar has chosen to equip the XG76 with a Radeon RX 7600M. This GPU uses the same Navi 33 architecture as the Radeon RX 7600M XT. However, the Radeon RX 7600M has four less Compute Units (28 CUs) compared to the XT version, in addition to having lower clock speeds and slower VRAM. While the Radeon RX 7600M does come with 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a 128-bit memory bus, the reduced memory speed results in a bandwidth decrease of 32 GB/s, dropping from 288 GB/s to 256 GB/s.

    Performance Insights

    Due to these differences, the Radeon RX 7600M falls behind the Radeon RX 7600M XT by more than 20% in synthetic benchmark tests. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that the XG76 could perform up to 30% slower in gaming compared to eGPUs powered by the Radeon RX 7600M XT, such as the GPD G1, which is currently priced at $699.95 on Amazon, even with OCuLink connectivity instead of USB4. As a result, the XG76 is significantly more affordable than its competition.

    As of now, Aoostar has set the price for the XG76 at $499 on its official site. However, it’s important to mention that the XG76 does not include M.2 SSD expansion slots, USB Type-A ports, or an SD card reader. Pre-orders are expected to start shipping on November 29 and will come with Australian, European, UK, or US plug types.

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  • MGA1: Minisforum eGPU Lacks USB4 and SSD Expansion Features

    MGA1: Minisforum eGPU Lacks USB4 and SSD Expansion Features

    Minisforum has been on a roll with its product launches, and just a few days after starting orders for the EliteMini AI370, they have now rolled out the MGA1. This new device is already available in various markets.

    Overview of the MGA1

    The MGA1 is yet another external GPU (eGPU) that is built upon AMD’s Radeon RX 7600M XT GPU. It features 32 Compute Units (CUs) that use AMD’s RDNA 3 architecture. Additionally, the eGPU comes with 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM, which operates at 18 Gbps across a 128-bit memory bandwidth. Similar specs can be found in One-Netbook’s OneXGPU, which is currently listed at $569.99 for refurbished models on Amazon, along with several other comparable devices.

    Performance and Connectivity

    Essentially, the MGA1 will deliver performance in line with its competitors. However, it does not have a USB4 port for hooking up external gadgets. Instead, Minisforum decided to include a USB 3.1 Type-C port that supports 65 W Power Delivery. The MGA1 opts for OCuLink 4i, offering a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface instead of the more common options.

    Additional Features

    On top of that, the MGA1 is equipped with two DisplayPort 2.0 video outputs, one HDMI 2.1 port, and three USB 3.2 Type-A ports, which can achieve a peak data transfer rate of 10 Gbps. Unfortunately, the device also lacks support for M.2 2280 storage expansion. Nevertheless, Minisforum has set the price for this first eGPU at $559, positioning it similarly to its more flexible competitors, and possibly even higher in some scenarios.

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  • Topton D13: Affordable AMD Mini PC with OCuLink Port Launches

    Topton D13: Affordable AMD Mini PC with OCuLink Port Launches

    Topton has launched a new mini PC called the D13. This model stands out from other small PCs recently released, as it contains a Phoenix Point APU. Specifically, it runs on the Ryzen 7 7840HS. While it might not be the newest chip on the market, it can still manage demanding tasks quite well.

    Gaming Capabilities

    The AMD APU is equipped with the Radeon 780M integrated GPU, allowing the Topton D13 to run AAA games at decent frame rates. For those seeking a superior gaming experience, there’s an option to connect an external GPU (eGPU) to this mini PC. It comes with an OCuLink port, which allows compatibility with docks such as the Minisforum DEG1. Alternatively, users can choose eGPUs like the GPD G1, which is currently priced at $699.95 on Amazon.

    Connectivity & Design

    In addition to the OCuLink port, the Topton D13 includes four USB 3.2 Type-A ports, one USB4, two 2.5G Ethernet ports, two HDMI 2.1 ports, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. The compact design of the mini PC is also notable; it has dimensions of 108 x 108 x 60 mm and incorporates a “dual-cooling” system to ensure consistent performance during heavy use.

    Specifications & Pricing

    The mini PC also boasts 32 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, three M.2 PCIe 4 slots, a maximum TDP of 54W, along with WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. As for its price point, the Topton D13 is one of the more affordable options for mini PCs with an OCuLink port. The basic model, which does not come with storage, is available for $397.66 on AliExpress. Additionally, there’s a bundle option that includes the Minisforum DEG1, starting at $524.19.

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  • Ayaneo AG01 Starship Graphics Dock Launches with USB4 and OCuLink

    Ayaneo AG01 Starship Graphics Dock Launches with USB4 and OCuLink

    A few months ago, Ayaneo, which is stylised as AYANEO, announced its plans to launch its first external graphics processing unit (eGPU) on Indiegogo. In a surprising twist, the company decided to bypass the crowdfunding platform entirely and is instead selling the AG01 Starship Graphics Dock directly from its own website.

    Specifications Overview

    To summarize, Ayaneo’s eGPU resembles the GPD G1 and OneXPlayer OneXGPU (priced at $699.95 on Amazon) as it features an AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT laptop GPU that is non-upgradable. The AG01 is equipped with 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM, 32 Compute Units based on AMD’s RDNA 3 architecture and boasts a total graphics power (TGP) of up to 120 W.

    Performance Comparison

    In other terms, the AG01 won’t match the performance of the OneXGPU 2, which comes with the newer Radeon RX 7800M. The specification sheet provided indicates that the AG01 includes modern connectivity options, such as DisplayPort 2.0, HDMI 2.1, USB4, and OCuLink. Furthermore, the eGPU features an M.2 2280 slot that supports PCIe 3.0 transfer speeds along with a Gigabit Ethernet connection.

    Pricing and Availability

    According to the product listing, orders made during this ‘pre-sale’ will start shipping at the end of November 2024. It is important to mention that while the eGPU is priced at $599 currently, Ayaneo suggests that the AG01 Starship Graphics Dock could increase to $699 once the pre-sale period, which is yet to be defined, concludes. It remains unclear if Ayaneo will eventually sell the eGPU on Indiegogo in the future as well.

    Ayaneo via VideoCardz

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