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ASUS XG Station Pro vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550: Comparison
What is the difference between ASUS XG Station Pro and Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550?
Cooling type is the dividing line, ASUS XG Station Pro Passive vented chassis relying on card's own cooler, slim... against Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 Active Fan. Max gpu length is not the same on both, Full-length cards on the ASUS XG Station Pro versus 300 mm on the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550.
Who each one is for
Buy the ASUS XG Station Pro for buyers wanting a slim chassis over a boxy ATX-style one and desk setups with limited depth, though it is not the pick for anyone needing laptop charge-through and triple-slot modern GPUs. The Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 suits 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. It is equally the pick 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 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 Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 (6/10): A solid early Sonnet box, but the 650 offers more headroom for little extra cost.
ASUS XG Station Pro vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 price
The Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 asks 21% more, $399 against $330 for the ASUS XG Station Pro.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASUS XG Station Pro and Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 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 Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550.
Is the Connection Standard the same on the ASUS XG Station Pro 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 XG Station Pro
- ASUS
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Sonnet
Connection Standard
- ASUS XG Station Pro
- Thunderbolt 3
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Thunderbolt 3
Model Number
- ASUS XG Station Pro
- XG-STATION-PRO
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- eGFX Breakaway Box 550
Extra Ports
- ASUS XG Station Pro
- 3.1
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs
PSU Wattage
- ASUS XG Station Pro
- 330W custom external adapter
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- 550 WBest
Max GPU Length
- ASUS XG Station Pro
- Full-length cards
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- 300 mm
Cooling Type
- ASUS XG Station Pro
- Passive vented chassis relying on card's own cooler, slim aluminum shell
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Active Fan
Price
- ASUS XG Station Pro
- Launched around $329.99 (2018)
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Launched around $399 (2017)
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 Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 if you want the higher PSU wattage (550 W vs 330W custom external adapter).
Price comparison
| Retailer | ASUS XG Station Pro | Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $329.99 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 XG Station Pro
6 / 10 Expert Rating
A tidy, if now dated, slim TB3 enclosure, a sensible pick only if found cheap secondhand today.
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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