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GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box vs OWC Mercury Helios 3: Comparison
GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box vs OWC Mercury Helios 3 psu wattage compared
The gap that matters here is psu wattage: GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box 2080 W against OWC Mercury Helios 3 400 W, which puts GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box 81% ahead. Host power delivery runs the same way, 100 W on the GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box versus 85 W on the OWC Mercury Helios 3, another win for GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box.
Which should you buy, GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box or OWC Mercury Helios 3?
The GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box is the one to take for buyers wanting flagship Turing performance with minimal fan noise and enthusiasts interested in liquid-cooled eGPU novelty, though it is the wrong buy for budget buyers and anyone wanting to upgrade the GPU later. Avoid it for users worried about long-term AIO pump reliability in a sealed unit. 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. The same goes for Mac users who find a used unit cheap and just need a bare Thunderbolt 3 enclosure. It is not the one for anyone buying new, since the Mercury Helios FX replaced it with more PSU headroom.
Which is cheaper, GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box or OWC Mercury Helios 3?
The GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box asks 268% more, $1,100 against $299 for the OWC Mercury Helios 3.
Frequently asked questions
Do the GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box and OWC Mercury Helios 3 differ on cooling type?
Yes. Cooling Type reads All-in-one liquid cooling with internal radiator/pump, first water-cooled eGPU... on the GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box versus Active Fan on the OWC Mercury Helios 3.
Is the Connection Standard the same on the GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box 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, GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box or OWC Mercury Helios 3?
The GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box asks 268% more, $1,100 against $299 for the OWC Mercury Helios 3.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box
- GIGABYTE / AORUS
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- OWC
Connection Standard
- GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box
- Thunderbolt 3
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Thunderbolt 3
Model Number
- GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box
- GV-N208TIXEB-11GC
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Mercury Helios 3
Extra Ports
- GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box
- 3
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs
PSU Wattage
- GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box
- 2080 WBest
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- 400 W-81%
Host Power Delivery
- GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box
- 100 WBest
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- 85 W-15%
Cooling Type
- GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box
- All-in-one liquid cooling (AIO) with internal radiator/pump, first water-cooled eGPU on the market
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Active Fan
Price
- GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box
- Launched around $1,099.99 (CES 2020)
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Launched around $299 (2018)
Which one should you pick?
Choose GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box if you want the higher PSU wattage (2080 W vs 400 W) and the higher host power delivery (100 W vs 85 W).
Choose OWC Mercury Helios 3 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box | OWC Mercury Helios 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $1,099.99 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
GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box
7.5 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuinely novel liquid-cooled eGPU that delivered flagship 2019-era performance quietly, at a steep fixed-GPU price.
OWC Mercury Helios 3
6 / 10 Expert Rating
Solid basic Mac eGPU box, superseded by the Helios FX which OWC still actively sells.