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Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550: Comparison
What is the difference between Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics and Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550?
Host power delivery is where these two genuinely part company, Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics 135 W against Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 87 W, a 36% lead for Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics.
Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550: which one fits your build
The Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics is the one to take for ThinkPad X1 Carbon/Yoga owners in fully validated firmware configurations and IT-managed business fleets needing dock plus light GPU boost, though it is not built for anyone wanting a trouble-free out-of-box experience and Non-ThinkPad laptop owners. Buy the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 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 the wrong buy for RTX 30-series or newer cards that want more PSU headroom and builds needing more than 300mm of card clearance. It also earns its place with 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 Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics (4.5/10): A promising idea, dock plus eGPU in one, undermined by well-documented compatibility and reliability issues at launch. 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.
Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 price
Cost splits them too. Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 sits at $399, Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics at $550, 38% more.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics and Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 differ on psu wattage?
Yes. PSU Wattage reads 580 W on the Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics versus 550 W on the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550.
Is the Cooling Type the same on the Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics and Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550?
It is. Both are listed at Active Fan, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
- Lenovo
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Sonnet
Connection Standard
- Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
- Thunderbolt 3
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Thunderbolt 3
Model Number
- Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
- 40AF0135US (also sold as G0A10170UL)
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- eGFX Breakaway Box 550
Extra Ports
- Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
- USB-A/C, Gigabit Ethernet, DisplayPort, HDMI, audio, full docking-station I/O
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs
PSU Wattage
- Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
- 580 WBest
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- 550 W-5%
Host Power Delivery
- Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
- 135 WBest
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- 87 W-36%
Cooling Type
- Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
- Active Fan
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Active Fan
Price
- Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
- Launched around $549.99 (2017)
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Launched around $399 (2017)
Which one should you pick?
Choose Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock if you want the higher PSU wattage (580 W vs 550 W) and the higher host power delivery (135 W vs 87 W).
Choose Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock | Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $549.99 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
Lenovo ThinkPad Thunderbolt 3 Graphics Dock
4.5 / 10 Expert Rating
A promising idea, dock plus eGPU in one, undermined by well-documented compatibility and reliability issues at launch.
Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
6 / 10 Expert Rating
A solid early Sonnet box, but the 650 offers more headroom for little extra cost.