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OWC Mercury Helios 3 vs StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis: Comparison
OWC Mercury Helios 3 and StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis separate most on psu wattage: OWC Mercury Helios 3 at 400, StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis at 6, 99% in favour of OWC Mercury Helios 3.
Specs
| Specification |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Connection Standard | Thunderbolt 3 | Thunderbolt 3 |
| Brand | OWC | StarTech.com |
| Extra Ports | None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs | 1x DisplayPort 1.2 video passthrough |
| PSU Wattage | 400 | 6-98% |
| Cooling Type | Active Fan | Passive chassis venting; relies on the installed card's own cooler |
| Model | Mercury Helios 3 | TB31PCIEX16 |
| Price | Launched around $299 (2018) | Launched around $329.99 |
Price comparison
| Retailer | OWC Mercury Helios 3 | StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 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
OWC Mercury Helios 3
6 / 10 Expert Rating
Solid basic Mac eGPU box, superseded by the Helios FX which OWC still actively sells.
StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
5.5 / 10 Expert Rating
A capable, inexpensive DIY PCIe expansion box, but its limited power delivery and lack of laptop charging make it a compromise pick next to purpose-built gaming eGPU enclosures.
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