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AOOSTAR AG02 vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650: Comparison
What is the difference between AOOSTAR AG02 and Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650?
Cooling type is the dividing line, AOOSTAR AG02 Open-Air against Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 Active Fan. Add psu wattage to that, 800 W on the AOOSTAR AG02 versus 650 W on the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650, and the pattern holds. They differ on connection standard too, OCuLink on the AOOSTAR AG02 versus Thunderbolt 3 on the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650. Gpu compatibility is not the same on both, GTX 10-Series Through RTX 4090 on the AOOSTAR AG02 versus GTX 10-series through RTX 30-series and equivalent AMD cards,... on the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650.
Who each one is for
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. Avoid it for anyone who needs the dock to charge the host. OCuLink carries no power at all. Buy the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 for RTX 3060/3070-class double-wide card builds on Thunderbolt 3. It is equally the pick for Mac users wanting official Apple eGPU certification on a mid-tier budget. It is the wrong buy for RTX 3080 Ti/3090 or RTX 40-series cards that want 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. 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.
AOOSTAR AG02 vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 price
Cost splits them too. AOOSTAR AG02 sits at $200, Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 at $449, 125% more.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- AOOSTAR AG02
- AOOSTAR
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- Sonnet
Connection Standard
- AOOSTAR AG02
- OCuLink
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- Thunderbolt 3
Model Number
- AOOSTAR AG02
- AG02
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- eGFX Breakaway Box 650
PSU Wattage
- AOOSTAR AG02
- 800 WBest
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- 650 W-19%
Cooling Type
- AOOSTAR AG02
- Open-Air
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- Active Fan
GPU Compatibility
- AOOSTAR AG02
- GTX 10-Series Through RTX 4090
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- GTX 10-series through RTX 30-series and equivalent AMD cards, double-wide
Price
- AOOSTAR AG02
- Under $200
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
- Launched around $449 (2018)
Which one should you pick?
Choose AOOSTAR AG02 if you want the higher PSU wattage (800 W vs 650 W).
Choose Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | AOOSTAR AG02 | Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $200.00 View on 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 AG02
7 / 10 Expert Rating
The fastest eGPU link you can buy for under $200, with a power button that does not work.
Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
7 / 10 Expert Rating
The right-sized Sonnet box for mid-range Thunderbolt 3 cards, officially Mac-certified.