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OWC Mercury Helios 3 vs StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis: Comparison
OWC Mercury Helios 3 vs StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe: the psu wattage difference
On psu wattage the spread is 99%, OWC Mercury Helios 3 400 W against StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe 6 W, so OWC Mercury Helios 3 takes it.
Who each one is for
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 StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe suits DIY builders wanting a compact bare Thunderbolt 3 PCIe enclosure and users pairing the box with lower-power single or dual-slot cards, though it is not the pick for anyone wanting to run a high-wattage flagship GPU and buyers wanting the newest USB4/Thunderbolt 4 chipset bandwidth. It is the wrong buy for laptop users who want the enclosure to also charge their machine. Our rating of the OWC Mercury Helios 3 (6/10): solid basic Mac eGPU box, superseded by the Helios FX which OWC still actively sells.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 StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe?
The StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe asks 10% more, $330 against $299 for the OWC Mercury Helios 3.
Frequently asked questions
Do the OWC Mercury Helios 3 and StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe differ on cooling type?
Yes. Cooling Type reads Active Fan on the OWC Mercury Helios 3 versus Passive chassis venting; relies on the installed card's own... on the StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe.
Is the Connection Standard the same on the OWC Mercury Helios 3 and StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe?
It is. Both are listed at Thunderbolt 3, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Which is cheaper, OWC Mercury Helios 3 or StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe?
The StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe asks 10% more, $330 against $299 for the OWC Mercury Helios 3.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- OWC
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- StarTech.com
Connection Standard
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Thunderbolt 3
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- Thunderbolt 3
Model Number
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Mercury Helios 3
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- TB31PCIEX16
Extra Ports
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- 1
PSU Wattage
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- 400 WBest
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- 6 W-98%
Cooling Type
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Active Fan
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- Passive chassis venting; relies on the installed card's own cooler
Price
- OWC Mercury Helios 3
- Launched around $299 (2018)
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- Launched around $329.99
Which one should you pick?
Choose OWC Mercury Helios 3 if you want the higher PSU wattage (400 W vs 6 W).
Choose StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | OWC Mercury Helios 3 | StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $299.00 View on Consumercarts listing | $329.99 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.
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.