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AOOSTAR AG02 vs OWC Mercury Helios 3: Comparison
AOOSTAR AG02 vs OWC Mercury Helios 3: the psu wattage difference
Psu wattage is where these two genuinely part company, AOOSTAR AG02 800 W against OWC Mercury Helios 3 400 W, a 50% lead for AOOSTAR AG02.
AOOSTAR AG02 vs OWC Mercury Helios 3: which one fits your build
Take the AOOSTAR AG02 for handhelds and mini PCs with a native OCuLink port. Nothing else gives this much bandwidth for the money. The same goes for RTX 4090-class cards, where the 800W supply and open frame remove both the power and thermal limits. It is the wrong buy for anyone who needs the dock to charge the host. OCuLink carries no power at all. The OWC Mercury Helios 3 is the one to take for simple, no-frills dual-slot GPU builds under 400W, though it is the wrong buy for cards that need more than 290mm of clearance and Windows users wanting extra I/O built into the box. It also earns its place with Mac users who find a used unit cheap and just need a bare Thunderbolt 3 enclosure. It is not the one for anyone buying new, since the Mercury Helios FX replaced it with more PSU headroom. Our rating of the AOOSTAR AG02 (7/10): the fastest eGPU link you can buy for under $200, with a power button that does not work. Buy it for the bandwidth, plan around the defect.
AOOSTAR AG02 vs OWC Mercury Helios 3 price
Cost splits them too. AOOSTAR AG02 sits at $200, OWC Mercury Helios 3 at $299, 50% more.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AOOSTAR AG02 and OWC Mercury Helios 3 differ on cooling type?
Yes. Cooling Type reads Open-Air on the AOOSTAR AG02 versus Active Fan on the OWC Mercury Helios 3.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- AOOSTAR AG02
- AOOSTAR
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- OWC
Connection Standard
- AOOSTAR AG02
- OCuLink
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Thunderbolt 3
Model Number
- AOOSTAR AG02
- AG02
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Mercury Helios 3
PSU Wattage
- AOOSTAR AG02
- 800 WBest
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- 400 W-50%
Cooling Type
- AOOSTAR AG02
- Open-Air
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Active Fan
GPU Compatibility
- AOOSTAR AG02
- GTX 10-Series Through RTX 4090
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- GTX 10-series through RTX 20-series, dual-slot cards
Price
- AOOSTAR AG02
- Under $200
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Launched around $299 (2018)
Which one should you pick?
Choose AOOSTAR AG02 if you want the higher PSU wattage (800 W vs 400 W).
Choose OWC Mercury Helios 3 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | AOOSTAR AG02 | OWC Mercury Helios 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $200.00 View on Amazon | |
| Consumercarts listing | $299.00 View on Consumercarts listing |
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 AG02
7 / 10 Expert Rating
The fastest eGPU link you can buy for under $200, with a power button that does not work.
OWC Mercury Helios 3
6 / 10 Expert Rating
Solid basic Mac eGPU box, superseded by the Helios FX which OWC still actively sells.