PowerColor Announces Gaming Station: The Devil Box’s Spawn, TB3 eGFX Enclosure
by Joe Shields on December 14, 2017 11:00 AM EST- Posted in
- eGFX
- AMD
- PowerColor
- NVIDIA
PowerColor recently announced its second eGFX enclosure named, Gaming Station. The Gaming Station, like the Devil Box preceding it, is an accessory which enables gamers to connect desktop level video cards to laptops, AIOs, or SFF PCs using the Thunderbolt 3 interface. The Gaming Box is slightly smaller and moved away from the angular look of the Devil Box to a more traditional black, rectangular, almost UPS-like, appearance. It supports select NVIDIA and AMD GPUs through AMD's XConnect technology and comes with a 550W power supply able to easily power the compatible video cards. The Gaming Box joins an increasing number of TB3-based external enclosures with the ability to run desktop level video cards.
On the outside, the PowerColor Gaming Box is matte black with the Gaming Station and PowerColor name, as well as two USB 3.0 ports, on the front panel. All sides of the enclosure are closed off except for the left side which has small circle vents taking up most of that side to allow fresh air to enter and cool the video card inside. Surprisingly, we do not see any (RGB) LEDs on the enclosure. The dimensions are smaller coming in at 343.2 x 163 x 245mm (13.5” x 6.4” x 9.6”) versus 400 x 172 x 242mm on the Devil Box so portability has increased, if only by a small amount, via size.
The device uses a single Thunderbolt 3 port on the back panel able to offer 40 Gbps bandwidth. Internally, this translates to the installed graphics card able to access PCIe 3.0 x4 lanes. Both the TB and I/O cards are the same ones found in the Devil Box according to PowerColor. As time goes on and other options hit the market, we are seeing now dual TB3 connectivity for increased bandwidth and flexibility.PowerColor did not mention when or if this will be included in future iterations. In addition to the Thunderbolt 3 port, there are three more USB 3.0 ports as well as a Gigabit Ethernet port to enable high-speed wired internet on ultra-thin laptops or other devices that do not feature GbE.
Internally, the Gaming Box supports GPUs up to 310 x 157 x 46mm (12.2” x 6.2” x 1.8”), enough to support a double-wide video card, through a full-length PCIe slot running in PCIe 3.0 x4 mode. The Power Supply is also different now using an SFX format and rated at 550W 80 Plus Gold; an upgrade from the Devil Box at 500W. Unlike the Devil Box, the Gaming Box does away with 2.5” HDD/SSD support. If storage expansion is a goal through an eGFX enclosure, users will need to select the Devil Box instead.
| PowerColor Gaming Box Specifications | ||||
| Max Video Card Size | Double-Wide, 12.2" Long (310 × 157 × 46 mm) |
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| Max Video Card Power | 375 W | |||
| Connectivity | 1 × Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gbps) port to connect to host PCs and charge them 5 × USB 3.0 Type-A (2x Front Panel, 3x Back Panel) 1 × Gigabit Ethernet |
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| Chassis Size | 6.4 × 13.5 × 9.6 inches (163 × 343 × 245 mm) |
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| Internal PSU | 550 W | |||
| System Requirements | Thunderbolt 3 eGFX Certified PC Thunderbolt 3 w/Active Cable (included - 50cm) Windows 10 64bit Only |
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| Shipping Date | 1Q 2018 | |||
| Price | $379 / €419 | |||
For GPU compatibility, the Gaming Box lists AMD Radeon R9 285/290/290x/300 series, R9 Nano/Fury, and the RX400 and RX 500 series. On the NVIDIA side support ranges from the Kepler based 750/750Ti the 900 series, 1060/1070/1080/1080Ti, the Titan X/Xp, as well as select Quadro chipsets.
| PowerColor Gaming Box Video Card Compatibility List | |||
| AMD | NVIDIA | ||
| Radeon RX 500 Series | GeForce GTX 1080 / 1080 Ti | ||
| Radeon RX 400 Series | GeForce GTX 1070 | ||
| Radeon R9 Fury | GeForce GTX 1060 | ||
| Radeon R9 Nano | GeForce GTX Titan X / Titan Xp | ||
| Radeon R9 300 Series | GeForce GTX 980 Ti | ||
| Radeon R9 290X | GeForce GTX 980 | ||
| Radeon R9 290 | GeForce GTX 970 | ||
| Radeon R9 285 | GeForce GTX 960 | ||
| GeForce GTX 950 | |||
| GeForce GTX 750/750 Ti | |||
| NVIDIA Quadro P4000 / 5000 / 6000 / GP100 | |||
The Gaming Station will be available 12/15 with an MSRP of $329. This is priced less than the Devil Box's MSRP upon release ($399).
Related Reading:
Source: PowerColor
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ddrіver - Thursday, December 14, 2017 - link
13.5” x 6.4” x 9.6” is 7.6l?ddrіver - Thursday, December 14, 2017 - link
Eh, misunderstood your comment and posted too fast. But yeah that was my point. You can squeeze a more than decent system in the same volume.MrSpadge - Friday, December 15, 2017 - link
Does that iclude a 550 W PSU? Half of the space inside this PowerColor case is "caused by" the PSU. Although it looks like they could easily have mounted it at the bottom and reduce the case to about half width.nerd1 - Thursday, December 14, 2017 - link
It's larger than Dan A4 case.... what's the point?ddrіver - Friday, December 15, 2017 - link
Apparently to pay as much as for a PC, to occupy the same space as a PC, but get "just a little more oomph". Not everything has to make sense. It's clear that we don't live in a sensible world.PEJUman - Friday, December 15, 2017 - link
Imagine a travelling business consultant, early 20 something millenials, plays AAA videogames, mobile lifestyle, making 160k annually. This person probably does not have the time or desire build a full ITX gaming PC, despite having the skillset to do so. It takes much more effort in research, build, and more importantly maintain the system with updates and backups, compared to a single laptop with thunderbolt 3. Not to mention the doubling of risk of a stolen identity with two digital footprints instead of one.I am not of the above group, but can understand why these eGTX might have a market. Value is only a single facet of product design, otherwise we all will be driving corolla/aveo.
Just because someone have a unique preference of value, aesthetics, and functionality trade off; coming from having the understanding and time to properly build a gaming PC, does not mean everyone have to agree with that specific perception/proposition.
Zingam - Tuesday, December 19, 2017 - link
I can't imagine that such imagined person would play games.ddrіver - Tuesday, December 19, 2017 - link
They can buy an ITX machine, not build it. This way they'll get a pretty tiny and elegant looking machine that's always ready for gaming.As for updates, backup, etc. that is less and less of an issue. I really doubt you need to backup you gaming machine. Most updates are performed automatically. This isn't a matter of maintaining 2 of each. An ITX gaming machine tied to your desk is almost self maintaining nowadays. It's the more flexible and powerful equivalent of a console.
This is without a doubt a pointless product. Yeah, you can always imagine a scenario where this and only this can be used. But overall it's pointless. Or not really, it helps you part with $400.
Manch - Wednesday, December 20, 2017 - link
Making 160K. Likely he can afford an ITX with a 1080ti in it just for games."This person probably does not have the time or desire build a full ITX gaming PC, despite having the skillset to do so"
You're making a lot of assumptions to justify the use case here.
"It takes much more effort in research, build, and more importantly maintain the system with updates and backups, compared to a single laptop with thunderbolt 3."
If he has the skillset as you say, then no. It's a minimal upfront effort. Can slap it together while eating a sammich.
"Not to mention the doubling of risk of a stolen identity with two digital footprints instead of one."
So much wrong with this statement. Does this hypothetical person with a "specific set of skills" at the same time cant handle the basic security of an online identity? Does he not carry a phone too? WTF? Are we talking about the dude from Taken?
This product is supposed to be a docking station with a GPU. That's it. Its overpriced for what it is. Almost as much as the GPU you would want to stick in it. Granted, building a system or buying one would be pricier but also far simpler with less issues. That being said, these product do have a use case albeit one that's very niche. There are cheaper options. You can get one for about $250.
Now, I have an old 390X that would work in one of these. I could sell it for a paltry sum or stick it in one of these to use with my laptop. How many people are in that boat though? This particular one isn't worth almost $400. One for $250? OK, Ill bite.
Manch - Wednesday, December 20, 2017 - link
1600 for a decent mini itx build with a 1080 GPU in it vs 1K for this and a 1080. Doesn't make sense to me. Especially if were talking 1% of his pay check LOL