WHY is this WATER COOLED??? - AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box eGPU
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The video unpacks the AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box, an external GPU that includes an integrated water cooling system and is marketed as a portable, water-cooled solution for laptops. The host opens the box, inspects the build, and notes the external enclosure design, airflow considerations, and the removable dust filter, highlighting its self-contained nature and the included carry bag. He then tests performance using a 1080p Quake II RTX run, observing around 30 FPS with maxed settings and discussing how the Thunderbolt 3 connection limits bandwidth to PCIe 4x, which prevents the GPU from reaching desktop-class performance. The host questions the necessity and practicality of water cooling in this eGPU form, pointing out that the cooler can be louder than an air-cooled setup and that the 4x PCIe bottleneck constrains the potential gains. He formats practical takeaways for potential buyers, suggesting the device may appeal to ultra-portable laptop users who want gaming capability without a full desktop, while acknowledging that the product may not be a universal recommendation. The review closes with reflections on use cases, noting the portability benefit and the niche appeal of carrying a water-cooled GPU in a bag, while urging consideration of noise, bandwidth limits, and overall value. Overall, the video blends hardware exploration with real-world testing and clear caveats about when this eGPU makes sense versus a traditional gaming PC.
Topics · technology · hardware · reviews · gaming
Questions answered
- What is the AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Gaming Box and what does it include?
- It is an external GPU enclosure that houses a Gigabyte RTX 2080 Ti graphics card with a 450 watt power supply, a Thunderbolt 3 interface, a built-in water cooling system, and a carry bag for portability.
- How does Thunderbolt 3 affect performance in this eGPU setup?
- Thunderbolt 3 provides a PCIe 4x connection which limits bandwidth and prevents the GPU from reaching desktop-class performance, especially when outputting to an external display.