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AOOSTAR AG01 vs OWC Mercury Helios 3: Comparison
AOOSTAR AG01 and OWC Mercury Helios 3 differ on connection standard: AOOSTAR AG01 at OCuLink, OWC Mercury Helios 3 at Thunderbolt 3.
Specs
| Specification |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Connection Standard | OCuLink | Thunderbolt 3 |
| Brand | AOOSTAR | OWC |
| Extra Ports | None onboard, GPU's own outputs pass through | None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs |
| PSU Wattage | 400 | 400 |
| Cooling Type | Passive / Open-Air | Active Fan |
| Model | AG01 | Mercury Helios 3 |
| GPU Compatibility | GTX 10-series through RTX 40-series, TGX hot-swap interface | GTX 10-series through RTX 20-series, dual-slot cards |
| Price | Launched at $149 | Launched around $299 (2018) |
Price comparison
| Retailer | AOOSTAR AG01 | OWC Mercury Helios 3 |
|---|---|---|
| AOOSTAR | View on AOOSTAR | |
| Amazon | 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
AOOSTAR AG01
7 / 10 Expert Rating
Unbeatable value for OCuLink-equipped mini PCs and handhelds, but strictly for OCuLink hosts only.
OWC Mercury Helios 3
6 / 10 Expert Rating
Solid basic Mac eGPU box, superseded by the Helios FX which OWC still actively sells.