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OWC Mercury Helios 3 vs PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro: Comparison
What is the difference between OWC Mercury Helios 3 and PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro?
They are built to different briefs, and cooling type shows it, OWC Mercury Helios 3 Active Fan against PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro Active fan in a pint-sized vented chassis. PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro also leads on psu wattage, 400 W on the OWC Mercury Helios 3 versus 570 W on the PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro.
OWC Mercury Helios 3 vs PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro: which one fits your build
The OWC Mercury Helios 3 is the one to take for 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. The PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro suits frequent travelers needing a lighter eGPU box and simple single-card setups with no need for extra ports, though it is not the pick for owners of large triple-fan or triple-slot GPUs and buyers wanting USB/Ethernet hub features. It is equally the pick for buyers wanting the smallest possible enclosure for an RX 570/580-class card. Our rating of the OWC Mercury Helios 3 (6/10): solid basic Mac eGPU box, superseded by the Helios FX which OWC still actively sells.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, OWC Mercury Helios 3 or PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro?
Cost splits them too. OWC Mercury Helios 3 sits at $299, PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro at $2,019, 575% more.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Connection Standard the same on the OWC Mercury Helios 3 and PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro?
It is. Both are listed at Thunderbolt 3, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- OWC
- PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro
- PowerColor
Connection Standard
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Thunderbolt 3
- PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro
- Thunderbolt 3
Model Number
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Mercury Helios 3
- PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro
- Gaming Station Mini Pro
Extra Ports
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs
- PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro
- None beyond the PCIe slot
PSU Wattage
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- 400 W-30%
- PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro
- 570 WBest
Cooling Type
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Active Fan
- PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro
- Active fan in a pint-sized vented chassis
Price
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Launched around $299 (2018)
- PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro
- Announced at CES 2019, around $329.99
Which one should you pick?
Choose OWC Mercury Helios 3 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro if you want the higher PSU wattage (570 W vs 400 W).
Price comparison
| Retailer | OWC Mercury Helios 3 | PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $299.00 View on Consumercarts listing | $2,019.00 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
OWC Mercury Helios 3
6 / 10 Expert Rating
Solid basic Mac eGPU box, superseded by the Helios FX which OWC still actively sells.
PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro
5.5 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuinely compact eGPU box for mid-range cards, but its small chassis caps out well below flagship-GPU compatibility.