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PowerColor Devil Box vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550: Comparison
What is the difference between PowerColor Devil Box and Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550?
Cooling type is the dividing line, PowerColor Devil Box Active fan, vented steel chassis against Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 Active Fan.
PowerColor Devil Box vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550: which one fits your build
Buy the PowerColor Devil Box for AMD Radeon card owners with XConnect-supported laptops and buyers wanting a simple, no-extra-ports enclosure, though it is not built for anyone wanting USB/Ethernet hub functionality and NVIDIA card owners (XConnect is AMD-specific). The Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 suits 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 PowerColor Devil Box (5/10): A historically significant early Thunderbolt 3 eGPU box, but bare-bones even by the standards of its own era and long discontinued. 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.
PowerColor Devil Box vs Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 price
The Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 asks 33% more, $399 against $300 for the PowerColor Devil Box.
Frequently asked questions
Do the PowerColor Devil Box and Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 differ on psu wattage?
Yes. PSU Wattage reads 500 W on the PowerColor Devil Box versus 550 W on the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550.
Is the Connection Standard the same on the PowerColor Devil Box and Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550?
It is. Both are listed at Thunderbolt 3, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- PowerColor Devil Box
- PowerColor
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Sonnet
Connection Standard
- PowerColor Devil Box
- Thunderbolt 3
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Thunderbolt 3
Model Number
- PowerColor Devil Box
- Devil Box
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- eGFX Breakaway Box 550
Extra Ports
- PowerColor Devil Box
- None beyond the PCIe slot; bare-bones enclosure
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs
PSU Wattage
- PowerColor Devil Box
- 500 W-9%
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- 550 WBest
Cooling Type
- PowerColor Devil Box
- Active fan, vented steel chassis
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Active Fan
Price
- PowerColor Devil Box
- Launched around $299.99 (2017)
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Launched around $399 (2017)
Dimensions
- PowerColor Devil Box
- 400 x 172 x 242 mm
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- 18.5 x 34.0 x 20.2 cm
Which one should you pick?
Choose PowerColor Devil Box if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 if you want the higher PSU wattage (550 W vs 500 W).
Price comparison
| Retailer | PowerColor Devil Box | Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $299.99 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
PowerColor Devil Box
5 / 10 Expert Rating
A historically significant early Thunderbolt 3 eGPU box, but bare-bones even by the standards of its own era and long discontinued.
Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
6 / 10 Expert Rating
A solid early Sonnet box, but the 650 offers more headroom for little extra cost.