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AKiTiO Node vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650: Comparison
AKiTiO Node vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650: the psu wattage difference
Start with psu wattage, because it is the widest measured gap between them: AKiTiO Node 500 W against Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 650 W, 23% in favour of Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650.
Which should you buy, AKiTiO Node or Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650?
The AKiTiO Node is the one to take for budget buyers running GTX 10-series or RTX 20-series dual-slot cards and anyone wanting the smallest, cheapest AKiTiO enclosure, though it is not built for cards drawing near or above the 500W ceiling and anyone wanting current Thunderbolt 4/5 or USB4 bandwidth. It is equally the pick for simple builds that don't need USB hub or Ethernet ports on the box. It is not the one for buyers who could instead get the Node Titan's 650W PSU for a modest premium. Buy the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 for RTX 3060/3070-class double-wide card builds on Thunderbolt 3. The same goes for Mac users wanting official Apple eGPU certification on a mid-tier budget. Avoid it for RTX 3080 Ti/3090 or RTX 40-series cards that want more PSU headroom. Our rating of the AKiTiO Node (6/10): A cheap, no-frills TB3 box that's been outclassed by AKiTiO's own Node Titan. Our rating of the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 (7/10): the right-sized Sonnet box for mid-range Thunderbolt 3 cards, officially Mac-certified.
AKiTiO Node vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 price
The Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 asks 50% more, $449 against $299 for the AKiTiO Node.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AKiTiO Node and Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 differ on max gpu length?
Yes. Max GPU Length reads 300 mm on the AKiTiO Node versus 310 mm on the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650.
Is the Cooling Type the same on the AKiTiO Node and Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650?
It is. Both are listed at Active Fan, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Which is cheaper, AKiTiO Node or Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650?
The Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 asks 50% more, $449 against $299 for the AKiTiO Node.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- AKiTiO Node
- AKiTiO
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- Sonnet
Connection Standard
- AKiTiO Node
- Thunderbolt 3
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- Thunderbolt 3
Model Number
- AKiTiO Node
- Node
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- eGFX Breakaway Box 650
Extra Ports
- AKiTiO Node
- None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs
PSU Wattage
- AKiTiO Node
- 500 W-23%
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- 650 WBest
Host Power Delivery
- AKiTiO Node
- 85 W-2%
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- 87 WBest
Max GPU Length
- AKiTiO Node
- 300 mm-3%
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- 310 mmBest
Cooling Type
- AKiTiO Node
- Active Fan
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- Active Fan
GPU Compatibility
- AKiTiO Node
- GTX 10-series through RTX 20-series, dual-slot cards
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- GTX 10-series through RTX 30-series and equivalent AMD cards, double-wide
Price
- AKiTiO Node
- Launched around $299 (2017)
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- Launched around $449 (2018)
Which one should you pick?
Choose AKiTiO Node if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 if you want the higher PSU wattage (650 W vs 500 W), the higher host power delivery (87 W vs 85 W) and the higher max GPU length (310 mm vs 300 mm).
Price comparison
| Retailer | AKiTiO Node | Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 |
|---|---|---|
| B&H Photo | $299.00 View on B&H Photo | |
| Amazon | $449.00 View on Amazon |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
AKiTiO Node
6 / 10 Expert Rating
A cheap, no-frills TB3 box that's been outclassed by AKiTiO's own Node Titan.
Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
7 / 10 Expert Rating
The right-sized Sonnet box for mid-range Thunderbolt 3 cards, officially Mac-certified.