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PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro vs StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis: Comparison
What is the difference between PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro and StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe?
Psu wattage is where these two genuinely part company, PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro 570 W against StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe 6 W, a 99% lead for PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro.
Which should you buy, PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro or StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe?
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 the wrong buy for owners of large triple-fan or triple-slot GPUs and buyers wanting USB/Ethernet hub features. The same goes for buyers wanting the smallest possible enclosure for an RX 570/580-class card. The StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe is the one to take for 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 PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro (5.5/10): A genuinely compact eGPU box for mid-range cards, but its small chassis caps out well below flagship-GPU compatibility.
PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro vs StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe price
At the last price check the StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe was $330 and the PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro $2,019, a 512% premium.
Frequently asked questions
Do the PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro and StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe differ on cooling type?
Yes. Cooling Type reads Active fan in a pint-sized vented chassis on the PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro 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 PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro 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.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro
- PowerColor
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- StarTech.com
Connection Standard
- PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro
- Thunderbolt 3
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- Thunderbolt 3
Model Number
- PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro
- Gaming Station Mini Pro
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- TB31PCIEX16
Extra Ports
- PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro
- None beyond the PCIe slot
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- 1
PSU Wattage
- PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro
- 570 WBest
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- 6 W-99%
Cooling Type
- PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro
- Active fan in a pint-sized vented chassis
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- Passive chassis venting; relies on the installed card's own cooler
Price
- PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro
- Announced at CES 2019, around $329.99
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- Launched around $329.99
Ports
- PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro
- 1x Thunderbolt 3, 2x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1x Gigabit Ethernet, 1x DC-in
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort
Which one should you pick?
Choose PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro if you want the higher PSU wattage (570 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 | PowerColor Gaming Station Mini Pro | StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $2,019.00 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
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.
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.