Razer's new eGPU dock costs more and delivers less

[ad_1]

Razer has ushered in a brand new Thunderbolt 5 technology of exterior GPUs with the launch of the Core X V2, alongside its new Razer Thunderbolt 5 dock. But it surely’s a noticeable step down from Razer’s earlier eGPUs.

One of many extra standard eGPUs of the Thunderbolt 3 technology was the Core X, which supplied 650W of energy for a three-slot graphics card — which you needed to provide your self, after all. The Core X V2 permits for GPUs as much as 4 slots broad, however this time, you’ll want to offer each the GPU and energy provide.

Even worse, the unique Core X additionally included a handful of USB slots and a gigabit Ethernet port. The Core X V2 apparently doesn't. As a substitute, Razer’s Core X V2 web page makes an attempt to promote you one in all Razer’s Thunderbolt docks as a substitute. At $349.99, that’s a troublesome capsule to swallow for potential Core X V2 patrons: you’ll want to purchase a graphics card, an influence provide, and perhaps an optionally available dock.

Razer’s first Thunderbolt 5 dock isn’t low cost, both. A Mercury White version prices $389.99, whereas the blinged-out RGB possibility, the Chroma version, goes for $399.99.

Razer’s Core X V2 calls for rather a lot out of your pockets

The Core X V2 accomodates a four-slot card, a step up from its predecessor. The V2 measures 16.59 inches deep by 7.76 inches broad and eight.51 inches excessive, and is designed for ATX energy provides. The ventilated metal chassis additionally features a built-in 120mm fan for added cooling.

Razer says you’ll want to purchase an influence provide that may meet your card’s energy necessities, plus a further 230W for the Core X V2 itself. (Presumably, that features powering the dock in addition to pushing 140W of energy to your laptop computer, in step with the Thunderbolt 5 specification.)

<img decoding="async" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Core-X-V2-without-Razer-workmark-PSU-2025-Studio-Shoot-3.png?w=1200" alt="Razer Core X V2 " class="wp-image-2849291" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy"/> Razer’s Core X V2 exterior GPU dock. Razer

Razer’s worth is increased too, even after the omissions. The Razer Core debuted in 2016 for $500, adopted by the Core X for $299. Now, the value has bounced up once more, even after reducing the ability provide the earlier fashions included.

At this level, you might be questioning why you’re spending $350 should you nonetheless should fork over extra money for an exterior GPU and an influence provide. However there’s one other subject: proper now, Thunderbolt 5 is often discovered solely on high-end gaming laptops, which have already got a strong GPU. A part of the promise of an exterior GPU dock is that you could purchase a comparatively modest laptop computer, then join it to an exterior GPU card for after-hours gaming. That situation doesn’t appear probably for a number of months but, or longer.

To be truthful, Razer’s Core X V2 ought to work with PCs geared up with Thunderbolt 4 ports. However the elevated bandwidth of Thunderbolt 5 suits higher with the high-end capabilities of as we speak’s high-end GPUs.

Razer’s earlier dock bodes effectively for its new TB5 mannequin

A Thunderbolt 5 dock, nonetheless, appears to be a extra helpful possibility. For now, most gaming laptops — once more, the place Thunderbolt 5 is debuting — nonetheless embrace gobs of hardwired ports. However I actually favored the Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma, which is an effective omen for the Thunderbolt 5 mannequin. (You’ll be capable to use the dock with a laptop computer or PC geared up with Thunderbolt 4, too.) PCWorld included it in its listing of one of the best Thunderbolt docks.

<img decoding="async" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RZR-Thunderbolt5-Dock-Chroma-2025-07.png?w=1200" alt="Razer Thunderbolt5 Dock Chroma 2025 07" class="wp-image-2849289" width="1200" height="849" loading="lazy"/> What would a Razer dock be with out the RGB bling? Razer

The Razer Thunderbolt Dock is a 10-port dock (hub), with three Thunderbolt 5 connections along with the devoted port between the dock and the laptop computer. That signifies that the dock ought to assist three 144Hz 4K shows. The dock additionally features a gigabit Ethernet port, a pair of 10Gbps USB-A connections, one 10Gbps USB-C connection, a UHS-II card slot and a mic/headphone jack. It’s additionally actively cooled, with a small fan inside.

Razer’s dock additionally ships with an open M.2 slot, particularly for PCIe Gen 4 x4 SSDs. I’ve beloved the efficiency a docked SSD supplies. The dock additionally helps Thunderbolt Share, which may join two Thunderbolt-equipped PCs collectively. And, after all, there’s the optionally available RGB, too.

The dock ships with a 12 months’s guarantee.

<img decoding="async" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/RZR-Thunderbolt5-Dock-MW-2025-06.png?w=1200" alt="Razer Thunderbolt5 Dock MW 2025 " class="wp-image-2849288" width="1200" height="857" loading="lazy"/> The Razer Thunderbolt 5 dock (right here, in white) hides an M.2 SSD slot. Razer

Nothing’s low cost any extra, sadly. Razer’s newest Thunderbolt {hardware} appears to be like nice, however the quantity you’ll spend actually places a damper on the bling.