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AOOSTAR AG02 vs PowerColor Gaming Station: Comparison
What is the difference between AOOSTAR AG02 and PowerColor Gaming Station?
The first real difference is cooling type: AOOSTAR AG02 Open-Air against PowerColor Gaming Station Active Fan. Add psu wattage to that, 800 W on the AOOSTAR AG02 versus 500 W on the PowerColor Gaming Station, and the pattern holds.
AOOSTAR AG02 vs PowerColor Gaming Station: 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. It also earns its place with 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 PowerColor Gaming Station is the one to take for buyers who find remaining new-old-stock at a discount and anyone wanting a plain, RGB-free eGPU box with decent I/O, though it is not the pick for anyone wanting Thunderbolt 4/5 or USB4 bandwidth and buyers who need more than 60W of laptop charging. Avoid it for cards drawing near or above 375W, which push past its comfortable 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.
Which is cheaper, AOOSTAR AG02 or PowerColor Gaming Station?
At the last price check the AOOSTAR AG02 was $200 and the PowerColor Gaming Station $329, a 65% premium.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AOOSTAR AG02 and PowerColor Gaming Station differ on connection standard?
Yes. Connection Standard reads OCuLink on the AOOSTAR AG02 versus Thunderbolt 3 on the PowerColor Gaming Station.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- AOOSTAR AG02
- AOOSTAR
- PowerColor Gaming Station
- PowerColor
Connection Standard
- AOOSTAR AG02
- OCuLink
- PowerColor Gaming Station
- Thunderbolt 3
Model Number
- AOOSTAR AG02
- AG02
- PowerColor Gaming Station
- Gaming Station
PSU Wattage
- AOOSTAR AG02
- 800 WBest
- PowerColor Gaming Station
- 500 W-37%
Cooling Type
- AOOSTAR AG02
- Open-Air
- PowerColor Gaming Station
- Active Fan
GPU Compatibility
- AOOSTAR AG02
- GTX 10-Series Through RTX 4090
- PowerColor Gaming Station
- AMD Radeon and NVIDIA cards up to RTX 20-series / RX 6000-series, dual-slot
Price
- AOOSTAR AG02
- Under $200
- PowerColor Gaming Station
- Launched around $329 (2018)
Which one should you pick?
Choose AOOSTAR AG02 if you want the higher PSU wattage (800 W vs 500 W).
Choose PowerColor Gaming Station if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | AOOSTAR AG02 | PowerColor Gaming Station |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $200.00 View on Amazon | $329.00 View on Amazon |
| PowerColor | View on PowerColor |
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.
PowerColor Gaming Station
6 / 10 Expert Rating
Competent Thunderbolt 3 box from a GPU maker, but discontinued and outpaced by newer standards.