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OWC Mercury Helios 3 vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Puck: Comparison
OWC Mercury Helios 3 vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Puck: the host power delivery difference
These two are close on paper, and host power delivery is the only measure that separates them at all: OWC Mercury Helios 3 85 W against Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Puck Up to 60W.
Who each one is for
Buy the OWC Mercury Helios 3 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. It also earns its place with 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. Take the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Puck for travelers and light gaming/creative workloads wanting a complete, compact eGPU solution with no assembly. Avoid it for buyers wanting maximum performance from a high-end desktop GPU, a full-size enclosure like the Core X V2 supports more powerful cards. Our rating of the OWC Mercury Helios 3 (6/10): solid basic Mac eGPU box, superseded by the Helios FX which OWC still actively sells. Our rating of the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Puck (7/10): A complete, genuinely portable eGPU solution with the GPU pre-installed and zero assembly.
What OWC Mercury Helios 3 and Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Puck have in common
Everything else lines up. Connection standard read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing.
Specs and benchmarks
These products are in different categories and don't share enough specifications to compare meaningfully.
Which one should you pick?
Choose OWC Mercury Helios 3 if you want the higher host power delivery (85 W vs Up to 60W).
Choose Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Puck if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | OWC Mercury Helios 3 | Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Puck |
|---|---|---|
| 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
OWC Mercury Helios 3
6 / 10 Expert Rating
Solid basic Mac eGPU box, superseded by the Helios FX which OWC still actively sells.
Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Puck
7 / 10 Expert Rating
A complete, genuinely portable eGPU solution with the GPU pre-installed and zero assembly.