Mini PC + eGPU Is Now Cheaper Than Building a Desktop

Alle diskussioner > Steam-fora > Hardware and Operating Systems > Trådoplysninger

SalvadorSIX7 24. nov. kl. 12:15

The Setup

Reatan A6 OCuLink Mini PC
• Ryzen 7 7840HS (8c/16t)
• 32GB DDR5
• 1TB NVMe SSD
• $399 (Amazon)

AOOSTAR AG01 External GPU Dock
• PCIe 4.0 x4 OCuLink
• 800W built-in PSU
• $159 (Amazon)

GPU Options
• RX 9060 XT 8GB — $280
• RX 9070 16GB — $550

Total System Cost
• Budget Build (9060 XT): $838
• Performance Build (9070): $1,108

Desktop Build Comparison
A comparable 8-core desktop build costs $880–920 before the GPU.
With an RX 9070 included, total cost is $1,430–1,470.

Mini-PC + eGPU saves $300–400, with better thermals and lower power draw.

No Assembly Required
• Prebuilt system
• Connect eGPU via OCuLink
• Insert GPU into the dock
• No BIOS configuration
• No compatibility issues
• No thermal paste
• Buy components on your own schedule

Performance
OCuLink has only a 2–5% loss vs PCIe x16.
With GPUs like the RX 9070, the difference is barely noticeable.

Advantages
• Lower power usage
• Better thermal management
• Easy GPU upgrades
• Zero assembly
• Compact footprint

Summary
For most gamers in 2025, a mini PC + eGPU setup offers better value than a desktop:
Lower cost, simpler setup, comparable performance.

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x 24. nov. kl. 12:36

That is only because the mini PC hasn't "adjusted" for the RAM and storage prices. Ready made cakes will take a bit longer to rise in price as inventory rotates.
You can get a PC at thereabouts prices if you use RAM and SSD prices from a few months ago.

Still, a good option for some. Altough you forgot to mention the cons.

SalvadorSIX7 24. nov. kl. 12:39

Oprindeligt skrevet af x:
That is only because the mini PC hasn't "adjusted" for the RAM and storage prices. Ready made cakes will take a bit longer to rise in price as inventory rotates.
You can get a PC at thereabouts prices if you use RAM and SSD prices from a few months ago.

Still, a good option for some. Altough you forgot to mention the cons.

I did mention them a 2 to 5% performance hit on 60/70 class cards which is the only real con I have I have this setup and I have not run into cooling issues or eGPU related issues since its not TB or USB.

x 24. nov. kl. 12:43

Oprindeligt skrevet af SalvadorSIX7:
Oprindeligt skrevet af x:
That is only because the mini PC hasn't "adjusted" for the RAM and storage prices. Ready made cakes will take a bit longer to rise in price as inventory rotates.
You can get a PC at thereabouts prices if you use RAM and SSD prices from a few months ago.

Still, a good option for some. Altough you forgot to mention the cons.
I did mention them a 2 to 5% performance hit on 60/70 class cards which is the only real con I have I have this setup and I have not run into cooling issues or eGPU related issues since its not TB or USB.

Well. You also don't have much room in terms of upgrading the PC itself and you lose a few little things like some ports and connectors. But if you don't need them, no point going on about it. I do agree with you in the sense that an external GPU make a whole lot more sense when it comes to cooling. To me it makes no sense that in 99% of the motherboards the GPU blows hot air onto the CPU and motherboard.

SalvadorSIX7 24. nov. kl. 12:46

Oprindeligt skrevet af x:
Oprindeligt skrevet af SalvadorSIX7:
I did mention them a 2 to 5% performance hit on 60/70 class cards which is the only real con I have I have this setup and I have not run into cooling issues or eGPU related issues since its not TB or USB.

Well. You also don't have much room in terms of upgrading the PC itself and you lose a few little things like some ports and connectors. But if you don't need them, no point going on about it. I do agree with you in the sense that an external GPU make a whole lot more sense when it comes to cooling. To me it makes no sense that in 99% of the motherboards the GPU blows hot air onto the CPU and motherboard.

I actually want to know what ports am I missing, because I tend not to care about non-essentials as for upgrading I only upgrade the CPU in about 5 to 7 years my current rig is due for an upgrade on the mini PC side of things Reatan A6 is the replacement.

Sidst redigeret af SalvadorSIX7; 24. nov. kl. 12:47

smallcat 24. nov. kl. 12:47

what is the point when the docking station is just as expensive as the increase of the RAM price .Only hassle .i see there is a PSU but i m sure they ll raise the price of these mini PCs too

Sidst redigeret af smallcat; 24. nov. kl. 12:50

wing0zero 24. nov. kl. 12:48

A lot of these mini PC's are semi locked down and you have to rely on them for driver updates vs main branch of drivers and they don't usually update them, I bought one and you couldn't update the AMD APU driver and the tweaked one they had removed the GPU audio driver so HDMI passthrough wouldn't work so it was stuck to stereo, I returned it and that was the end of my mini PC adventure, I did Google around and it seems many are this way.

SalvadorSIX7 24. nov. kl. 12:49

Oprindeligt skrevet af smallcat:
what is the point when the docking station is just as expensive as the increase of the RAM price .Only hassle

Where's the hassle its literally plug it to power and plug the connector also the price is much cheaper atm.

SalvadorSIX7 24. nov. kl. 12:50

Oprindeligt skrevet af wing0zero:
A lot of these mini PC's are semi locked down and you have to rely on them for driver updates vs main branch of drivers and they don't usually update them, I bought one and you couldn't update the AMD APU driver and the tweaked one they had removed the GPU audio driver so HDMI passthrough wouldn't work so it was stuck to stereo, I returned it and that was the end of my mini PC adventure, I did Google around and it seems many are this way.

What? there are 780m drivers. Does adrenaline not detect them or they are blocked? I dont use windows so Im not sure what youre problem is.

Sidst redigeret af SalvadorSIX7; 24. nov. kl. 12:50

SalvadorSIX7 24. nov. kl. 12:53

Oprindeligt skrevet af wing0zero:
A lot of these mini PC's are semi locked down and you have to rely on them for driver updates vs main branch of drivers and they don't usually update them, I bought one and you couldn't update the AMD APU driver and the tweaked one they had removed the GPU audio driver so HDMI passthrough wouldn't work so it was stuck to stereo, I returned it and that was the end of my mini PC adventure, I did Google around and it seems many are this way.

Yeah never had that even when I dual booted windows first time I even heard of it and I do see the H drives on AMDs site.

SalvadorSIX7 24. nov. kl. 12:58

Oprindeligt skrevet af wing0zero:
A lot of these mini PC's are semi locked down and you have to rely on them for driver updates vs main branch of drivers and they don't usually update them, I bought one and you couldn't update the AMD APU driver and the tweaked one they had removed the GPU audio driver so HDMI passthrough wouldn't work so it was stuck to stereo, I returned it and that was the end of my mini PC adventure, I did Google around and it seems many are this way.

OK wow I just looked it up and while you can use HS drivers the problem remains that Windows is a massive piece of crap that ♥♥♥♥♥ with your APU Jesus I forgot how bad it was to use them.

#10

wing0zero 24. nov. kl. 12:59

Oprindeligt skrevet af SalvadorSIX7:
Oprindeligt skrevet af wing0zero:
A lot of these mini PC's are semi locked down and you have to rely on them for driver updates vs main branch of drivers and they don't usually update them, I bought one and you couldn't update the AMD APU driver and the tweaked one they had removed the GPU audio driver so HDMI passthrough wouldn't work so it was stuck to stereo, I returned it and that was the end of my mini PC adventure, I did Google around and it seems many are this way.
What? there are 780m drivers. Does adrenaline not detect them or they are blocked? I dont use windows so Im not sure what youre problem is.

I had the Minisforum UM750L, it had there tweaked Adrenaline driver but if you download any driver from the AMD site and try to install it says something about hardware not supported or something like that but it has a AMD7545U in, cool little thing but with no Adrenaline audio driver for HDMI passthrough it made it useless for what I wanted it for, I can't see why they would remove it really.

#11

A&A 24. nov. kl. 12:59

Nah, it's not impossible.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/p2kJjn

Slightly more expensive but worth it.

Sidst redigeret af A&A; 24. nov. kl. 13:02

#12

SalvadorSIX7 24. nov. kl. 13:01

Oprindeligt skrevet af wing0zero:
Oprindeligt skrevet af SalvadorSIX7:
What? there are 780m drivers. Does adrenaline not detect them or they are blocked? I dont use windows so Im not sure what youre problem is.
I had the Minisforum UM750L, it had there tweaked Adrenaline driver but if you download any driver from the AMD site and try to install it says something about hardware not supported or something like that but it has a AMD7545U in, cool little thing but with no Adrenaline audio driver for HDMI passthrough it made it useless for what I wanted it for, I can't see why they would remove it really.

yeah that issue doesnt exist on Linux.

#13

SalvadorSIX7 24. nov. kl. 13:04

Oprindeligt skrevet af A&A:
Nah, it's not impossible.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/p2kJjn

The ram option doesnt exist anymore and also they arent comparable parts and that case is not good for airflow you cant just dump parts on it and call it a day at least put some money in to the case so your pc doesnt catch on fire or thermal throttle and lastly you have to build that.

Sidst redigeret af SalvadorSIX7; 24. nov. kl. 13:05

#14

SalvadorSIX7 24. nov. kl. 13:08

Oprindeligt skrevet af SalvadorSIX7:
Oprindeligt skrevet af A&A:
Nah, it's not impossible.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/p2kJjn
The ram option doesnt exist anymore and also they arent comparable parts and that case is not good for airflow you cant just dump parts on it and call it a day at least put some money in to the case so your pc doesnt catch on fire or thermal throttle and lastly you have to build that.

The RAM just came back in stock for me seconds later lol.

#15

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