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GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0 vs PowerColor Gaming Station: Comparison
GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0 vs PowerColor Gaming Station extra ports compared
The gap that matters here is extra ports: GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0 2 against PowerColor Gaming Station 1, which puts GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0 50% ahead. GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0 also leads on host power delivery, 100 W on the GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0 versus 60 W on the PowerColor Gaming Station.
Which should you buy, GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0 or PowerColor Gaming Station?
The GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0 is the one to take for buyers who want zero-assembly, single-cable eGPU with no PC-building involved. It is equally the pick for Thunderbolt 3 MacBook Pro or Windows ultrabook owners wanting reliable RTX 3080 performance. Avoid it for anyone who wants to upgrade the GPU later, since it's sealed and non-modular. The PowerColor Gaming Station suits buyers who find remaining new-old-stock at a discount and anyone wanting a plain, RGB-free eGPU box with decent I/O, though it is not built for anyone wanting Thunderbolt 4/5 or USB4 bandwidth and buyers who need more than 60W of laptop charging. It is not the one for cards drawing near or above 375W, which push past its comfortable PSU headroom. Our rating of the GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0 (7/10): excellent plug-and-play convenience, but the sealed design and price premium hurt long-term value versus a bare enclosure.
Which is cheaper, GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0 or PowerColor Gaming Station?
Cost splits them too. PowerColor Gaming Station sits at $329, GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0 at $1,499, 356% more.
Frequently asked questions
Do the GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0 and PowerColor Gaming Station differ on cooling type?
Yes. Cooling Type reads Active, WATERFORCE all-in-one liquid cooler on the GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0 versus Active Fan on the PowerColor Gaming Station.
Is the Connection Standard the same on the GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0 and PowerColor Gaming Station?
It is. Both are listed at Thunderbolt 3, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0
- GIGABYTE
- PowerColor Gaming Station
- PowerColor
Connection Standard
- GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0
- Thunderbolt 3
- PowerColor Gaming Station
- Thunderbolt 3
Model Number
- GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0
- AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0
- PowerColor Gaming Station
- Gaming Station
Extra Ports
- GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0
- 2Best
- PowerColor Gaming Station
- 1-50%
Host Power Delivery
- GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0
- 100 WBest
- PowerColor Gaming Station
- 60 W-40%
Cooling Type
- GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0
- Active, WATERFORCE all-in-one liquid cooler
- PowerColor Gaming Station
- Active Fan
GPU Compatibility
- GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0
- Fixed: pre-installed GeForce RTX 3080 10GB (not swappable)
- PowerColor Gaming Station
- AMD Radeon and NVIDIA cards up to RTX 20-series / RX 6000-series, dual-slot
Price
- GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0
- Launched around $1,499 (2021)
- PowerColor Gaming Station
- Launched around $329 (2018)
Which one should you pick?
Choose GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0 if you want the higher extra ports (2 vs 1) and the higher host power delivery (100 W vs 60 W).
Choose PowerColor Gaming Station if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | GIGABYTE AORUS RTX 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0 | PowerColor Gaming Station |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $1,499.00 View on Amazon | $329.00 View on Amazon |
| GIGABYTE | View on GIGABYTE | |
| PowerColor | View on PowerColor |
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 3080 Gaming Box Rev 2.0
7 / 10 Expert Rating
Excellent plug-and-play convenience, but the sealed design and price premium hurt long-term value versus a bare enclosure.
PowerColor Gaming Station
6 / 10 Expert Rating
Competent Thunderbolt 3 box from a GPU maker, but discontinued and outpaced by newer standards.