Consumercarts is reader-supported. Learn more
AOOSTAR AG01 vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650: Comparison
AOOSTAR AG01 vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 cooling type compared
They are built to different briefs, and cooling type shows it, AOOSTAR AG01 Passive / Open-Air against Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 Active Fan. Psu wattage runs the same way, 400 W on the AOOSTAR AG01 versus 650 W on the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650, another win for Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650.
AOOSTAR AG01 vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650: which one fits your build
it is not built for buyers who want laptop charging through the eGPU connection. It also earns its place with handheld PC and mini PC owners with an OCuLink port looking for the cheapest real GPU upgrade. It is the wrong buy for laptops without an OCuLink port, since there's no Thunderbolt/USB4 fallback on this model. 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 AOOSTAR AG01 (7/10): unbeatable value for OCuLink-equipped mini PCs and handhelds, but strictly for OCuLink hosts only. 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.
Which is cheaper, AOOSTAR AG01 or Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650?
At the last price check the AOOSTAR AG01 was $149 and the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 $449, a 201% premium.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AOOSTAR AG01 and Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 differ on connection standard?
Yes. Connection Standard reads OCuLink on the AOOSTAR AG01 versus Thunderbolt 3 on the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- AOOSTAR AG01
- AOOSTAR
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- Sonnet
Connection Standard
- AOOSTAR AG01
- OCuLink
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- Thunderbolt 3
Model Number
- AOOSTAR AG01
- AG01
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- eGFX Breakaway Box 650
Extra Ports
- AOOSTAR AG01
- None onboard, GPU's own outputs pass through
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs
PSU Wattage
- AOOSTAR AG01
- 400 W-38%
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- 650 WBest
Cooling Type
- AOOSTAR AG01
- Passive / Open-Air
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- Active Fan
GPU Compatibility
- AOOSTAR AG01
- GTX 10-series through RTX 40-series, TGX hot-swap interface
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- GTX 10-series through RTX 30-series and equivalent AMD cards, double-wide
Price
- AOOSTAR AG01
- Launched at $149
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- Launched around $449 (2018)
Which one should you pick?
Choose AOOSTAR AG01 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 400 W).
Price comparison
| Retailer | AOOSTAR AG01 | Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 |
|---|---|---|
| AOOSTAR | $149.00 View on AOOSTAR | |
| 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
AOOSTAR AG01
7 / 10 Expert Rating
Unbeatable value for OCuLink-equipped mini PCs and handhelds, but strictly for OCuLink hosts only.
Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
7 / 10 Expert Rating
The right-sized Sonnet box for mid-range Thunderbolt 3 cards, officially Mac-certified.