- Razer has new competition, with UGreen launching the new Linkstation eGPU dock
- UGreen’s Linkstation comes with an Oculink port and an 850W built-in power supply
- It costs $325 based on Chinese currency conversion
With portable experiences becoming an integral aspect of gaming thanks to the resurgence of handheld gaming PCs and more powerful laptops, eGPUs have become vital for better performance – and a reputable manufacturer has joined the market.
As reported by VideoCardz, UGreen has launched a new eGPU Linkstation dock in China for around $325 (based on a conversion from the China price), featuring Oculink and USB 4 ports, and, most importantly, a built-in 850W power supply.
This is a big move from UGreen, which is better known for manufacturing docks (non-eGPU), chargers, and USB hubs, but now it’s diving into docks built for GPU connections on portable hardware like handheld gaming PCs, mini PCs, or laptops.
While there’s no current indication of a launch in other regions, its price is within the ballpark of Razer’s Core X V2 eGPU dock, which is $350 / £329 (around AU$530), so with taxes included, the UGreen Linkstation shouldn’t be much more expensive.
The two biggest advantages of UGreen’s Linkstation dock are the 850W power supply, alongside the USB 4 and Oculink connection options, with the latter providing 64Gbps connection speeds.
The Razer Core X V2 does not ship with a power supply or an Oculink port, which was a dealbreaker for many consumers when Razer unveiled the dock.
The chassis takes on a desktop PC-like design, with what appears to be a mid-tower case, but with the GPU mounted vertically. It supports graphics cards up to 370mm, and the 850W power supply should be enough to power a wide range of GPUs, especially because this is solely for a GPU, not an entire PC configuration.
Analysis: The UGreen Linkstation eGPU dock looks great, but I’d still choose the Razer dock
There are plenty of eGPU docks available on the market, from popular manufacturers and smaller brands alike, that ship with built-in power supplies. However, the Razer Core X V2, despite not coming with one, still has one big advantage in terms of design.
I’ve mentioned this before, but I’d much rather not have my GPU exposed to any potential fall damage or accidents, and the Core X V2 (as well as the previous Razer Core X) is designed to prevent that. This is especially the case if you plan on using your eGPU dock setup with your handheld gaming PC or laptop in-hand, as any accidental wire pulls could lead to some serious damage.
While UGreen’s design is better than other eGPU builds, the LinkStation dock is still somewhat exposed, and Razer is the only manufacturer I’ve seen so far to build a full chassis enclosure for the desktop GPUs, in the same manner that any desktop PC case would house a GPU.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not writing off the new UGreen option, but since I luckily have a few spare power supplies hanging around, the fact that Razer’s Core X V2 dock doesn’t have one isn’t a big deal for me – I doubt that would be the case for most consumers though.
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