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ASUS ROG XG Station 2 vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550: Comparison
What is the difference between ASUS ROG XG Station 2 and Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550?
The first real difference is cooling type: ASUS ROG XG Station 2 Active dual-fan against Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 Active Fan.
Who each one is for
The ASUS ROG XG Station 2 suits desktop-replacement setups where portability doesn't matter and buyers prioritizing PSU headroom over compactness, though it is not the pick for laptop users wanting pass-through charging and space-constrained desks. It is equally the pick for owners of large triple-fan cards from the GTX 10/RTX 20 era. The Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 is the one to take for budget builds running GTX 10-series or RTX 20-series double-wide cards and buyers who find it discounted versus the newer 650, though it is not built for RTX 30-series or newer cards that want more PSU headroom and builds needing more than 300mm of card clearance. The same goes for Mac users wanting Sonnet's certified eGFX driver support on Thunderbolt 3. It is not the one for anyone who can spend a little more for the Breakaway Box 650's extra 100W. Our rating of the ASUS ROG XG Station 2 (6.5/10): overbuilt in a good way for its era, huge PSU headroom for large cards, at the cost of size and no laptop charging. Our rating of the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 (6/10): A solid early Sonnet box, but the 650 offers more headroom for little extra cost.
ASUS ROG XG Station 2 vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 price
Cost splits them too. ASUS ROG XG Station 2 sits at $329, Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 at $399, 21% more.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASUS ROG XG Station 2 and Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 differ on psu wattage?
Yes. PSU Wattage reads 600 W on the ASUS ROG XG Station 2 versus 550 W on the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550.
Is the Connection Standard the same on the ASUS ROG XG Station 2 and Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550?
It is. Both are listed at Thunderbolt 3, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- ASUS ROG XG Station 2
- ASUS / ROG
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Sonnet
Connection Standard
- ASUS ROG XG Station 2
- Thunderbolt 3
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Thunderbolt 3
Model Number
- ASUS ROG XG Station 2
- ROG-XG-STATION-2
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- eGFX Breakaway Box 550
Extra Ports
- ASUS ROG XG Station 2
- 4
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs
PSU Wattage
- ASUS ROG XG Station 2
- 600 WBest
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- 550 W-8%
Max GPU Length
- ASUS ROG XG Station 2
- Full-length cards
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- 300 mm
Cooling Type
- ASUS ROG XG Station 2
- Active dual-fan
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Active Fan
Price
- ASUS ROG XG Station 2
- Launched around $329-$399 (2017)
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Launched around $399 (2017)
Which one should you pick?
Choose ASUS ROG XG Station 2 if you want the higher PSU wattage (600 W vs 550 W).
Choose Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | ASUS ROG XG Station 2 | Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $329.00 View on Consumercarts listing | |
| Amazon | $399.00 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
ASUS ROG XG Station 2
6.5 / 10 Expert Rating
Overbuilt in a good way for its era, huge PSU headroom for large cards, at the cost of size and no laptop charging.
Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
6 / 10 Expert Rating
A solid early Sonnet box, but the 650 offers more headroom for little extra cost.
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