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Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 vs StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis: Comparison
Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 vs StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe: the psu wattage difference
Start with psu wattage, because it is the widest measured gap between them: Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 550 W against StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe 6 W, 99% in favour of Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550.
Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 vs StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe: which one fits your build
The Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 is the one to take for 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 is equally the pick for Mac users wanting Sonnet's certified eGFX driver support on Thunderbolt 3. Avoid it for anyone who can spend a little more for the Breakaway Box 650's extra 100W. Buy the StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe 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 Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 (6/10): A solid early Sonnet box, but the 650 offers more headroom for little extra cost.
Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 vs StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe price
At the last price check the StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe was $330 and the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 $399, a 21% premium.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 and StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe differ on cooling type?
Yes. Cooling Type reads Active Fan on the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 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 Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 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
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Sonnet
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- StarTech.com
Connection Standard
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Thunderbolt 3
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- Thunderbolt 3
Model Number
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- TB31PCIEX16
Extra Ports
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- None onboard beyond the GPU's own outputs
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- 1
PSU Wattage
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- 550 WBest
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- 6 W-99%
Cooling Type
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Active Fan
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- Passive chassis venting; relies on the installed card's own cooler
Price
- Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
- Launched around $399 (2017)
- StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis
- Launched around $329.99
Which one should you pick?
Choose Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 if you want the higher PSU wattage (550 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 | Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550 | StarTech.com StarTech Thunderbolt 3 PCIe Expansion Chassis |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $399.00 View on Amazon | |
| 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
Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 550
6 / 10 Expert Rating
A solid early Sonnet box, but the 650 offers more headroom for little extra cost.
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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