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ASUS XG Station Pro vs OWC Mercury Helios 3: Comparison
ASUS XG Station Pro vs OWC Mercury Helios 3: the cooling type difference
They are built to different briefs, and cooling type shows it, ASUS XG Station Pro Passive vented chassis relying on card's own cooler, slim... against OWC Mercury Helios 3 Active Fan. Max gpu length is not the same on both, Full-length cards on the ASUS XG Station Pro versus 290 mm on the OWC Mercury Helios 3.
ASUS XG Station Pro vs OWC Mercury Helios 3: which one fits your build
The ASUS XG Station Pro is the one to take for buyers wanting a slim chassis over a boxy ATX-style one and desk setups with limited depth, though it is the wrong buy for anyone needing laptop charge-through and triple-slot modern GPUs. The OWC Mercury Helios 3 suits simple, no-frills dual-slot GPU builds under 400W, though it is not built 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 the wrong buy for anyone buying new, since the Mercury Helios FX replaced it with more PSU headroom. Our rating of the ASUS XG Station Pro (6/10): A tidy, if now dated, slim TB3 enclosure, a sensible pick only if found cheap secondhand today. Our rating of the OWC Mercury Helios 3 (6/10): solid basic Mac eGPU box, superseded by the Helios FX which OWC still actively sells.
Which is cheaper, ASUS XG Station Pro or OWC Mercury Helios 3?
The ASUS XG Station Pro asks 10% more, $330 against $299 for the OWC Mercury Helios 3.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASUS XG Station Pro and OWC Mercury Helios 3 differ on extra ports?
Yes. Extra Ports reads 3.1 on the ASUS XG Station Pro versus None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs on the OWC Mercury Helios 3.
Is the Connection Standard the same on the ASUS XG Station Pro and OWC Mercury Helios 3?
It is. Both are listed at Thunderbolt 3, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Which is cheaper, ASUS XG Station Pro or OWC Mercury Helios 3?
The ASUS XG Station Pro asks 10% more, $330 against $299 for the OWC Mercury Helios 3.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- ASUS XG Station Pro
- ASUS
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- OWC
Connection Standard
- ASUS XG Station Pro
- Thunderbolt 3
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Thunderbolt 3
Model Number
- ASUS XG Station Pro
- XG-STATION-PRO
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Mercury Helios 3
Extra Ports
- ASUS XG Station Pro
- 3.1
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs
PSU Wattage
- ASUS XG Station Pro
- 330W custom external adapter
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- 400 WBest
Max GPU Length
- ASUS XG Station Pro
- Full-length cards
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- 290 mm
Cooling Type
- ASUS XG Station Pro
- Passive vented chassis relying on card's own cooler, slim aluminum shell
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Active Fan
Price
- ASUS XG Station Pro
- Launched around $329.99 (2018)
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Launched around $299 (2018)
Which one should you pick?
Choose ASUS XG Station Pro if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose OWC Mercury Helios 3 if you want the higher PSU wattage (400 W vs 330W custom external adapter).
Price comparison
| Retailer | ASUS XG Station Pro | OWC Mercury Helios 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $329.99 View on 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
ASUS XG Station Pro
6 / 10 Expert Rating
A tidy, if now dated, slim TB3 enclosure, a sensible pick only if found cheap secondhand today.
OWC Mercury Helios 3
6 / 10 Expert Rating
Solid basic Mac eGPU box, superseded by the Helios FX which OWC still actively sells.