AKiTiO Introduces Node: Thunderbolt 3 eGFX Box for $299

Over the past week AKiTiO has formally introduced its new external graphics enclosure using a Thunderbolt 3 connection. As with other external graphics enclosures, the AKiTiO Node allows a user to easily upgrade the graphics sub-system of notebook, AIO or SFF PCs that have a Thunderbolt 3 port by using a discrete graphics card. One of the key elements to eGFX is price and look, and AKiTiO has placed the Node at $ 299, but itcan fit graphics cards with massive coolers.

Enthusiasts started to experiment with external graphics over Thunderbolt 2 interface several years ago after multiple attempts of companies like ATI/AMD, ASUS and some others to develop commercial external GPU technologies had failed. Back in 2014, plugging video card to a MacBook Pro using Thunderbolt 2 was costly: users had to buy a chassis for up to $ 1000 (there were cheaper methods, but they did not look solid), a PSU and a graphics board. The homebrew method worked, but had a number of limitations when it came to bandwidth, hot-plugging (more importantly, unplugging), driver support and some others, not to mention the aesthetics of such eGFX setups. Given the trend towards miniaturization of mobile and desktop PCs, the idea of external graphics was far too alluring to skip, which is why Intel decided to support it with its Thunderbolt 3 technology introduced in 2014. While technically TB3 is PCIe 3.0 x4 over a cable, to properly enable operation of external GPUs, Intel and its allies had to ensure support of eGFX hardware though operating systems, GPU drivers, firmware and so on. Earlier this year all pieces of the puzzle finally came together and the first “official” TB3 eGFX chassis were introduced by Razer and PowerColor.

While both Razer Core and PowerColor Devil Box do the job and even feature a couple of extras, they are rather expensive as they add more than just GPU features – $ 499 and $ 379, respectively. This week, AKiTiO, which has been offering external Thunderbolt enclosures for years, introduced its eGFX box that costs $ 299.99.

AKiTiO Node (NODE-T3IA-AKTU) eGFX Chassis Specifications
Max Video Card Size		Double-Wide, 12.2″ Long (312 × 170 × 44 mm)
Max Video Card Power		300 W (?)
Connectivity		1 × Thunderbolt 3 (>40 Gbps via active cable)
Chassis Size		5.71 × 16.85 × 8.94 inches (145 × 428 × 227 mm)
Internal PSU		400 W SFX
System Requirements		Thunderbolt 3 eGFX Certified PC Thunderbolt 3 w/Active Cable (included) Windows 10
Shipping Date		December 2016
Price		$ 299

The AKiTiO Node is a 42.8 × 14.5 × 22.7 cm (16.85 × 5.71 × 8.94 inches) box made of stainless steel that is compatible with a variety of double-wide full-length/full-height AMD and NVIDIA graphics cards (see the list here). The Node comes with an integrated 400 W SFX PSU (which means that it can be upgraded) as well as one 120 mm fan. As for dimensions, the Node seems to be a little more spacious inside than its rivals, which is good for cooling and compatibility with custom video cards (such as those from ASUS or EVGA). Despite this, GPUs with hybrid cooling (integrated liquid cooling) are not supported, such as AMD Radeon R9 Fury X.

Comparison of Thunderbolt 3 eGFX Chassis
		AKiTiO Node	BizonTech BizonBox 3	PowerColor Devil Box	Razer Core
Chassis Dimensions	Length	42.8 cm 16.85 in	36 cm 14.17 in	40 cm 15.748 in	34 cm 13.38 in
	Height	22.7 cm 8.94 in	20.5 cm 8.07 in	24.2 cm 9.52 in	21.84 cm 8.6 in
	Width	14.5 cm 5.71 in	8 cm 3.5 in	17.2 cm 6.77 in	10.5 cm 4.13 in
Max Dimension of Compatible Graphics Card	Length	31.2 cm 12.2 in
	Height (PCB+Cables)	17 cm 6.7 in	over 14″ over 5.51″	14 cm 5.51 in	15.2 cm 5.98 in
	Width	4.4 cm 1.73 in		5 1.96 in	4.4 cm 1.73 in
Maximum GPU Power		300 W (?)		375 W
PSU	Wattage	400 W	200W/400W	500 W
	Form-Factor	SFX	external	internal proprietary
Cooling Fans		1 × 120 mm	2 × 60 mm	unknown	3 × 80 mm
Connectivity	Thunderbolt	1 × TB3	2 × TB3	1 × TB3
	Ethernet			1 × GbE
	USB	–		4 × USB 3.0
	SATA	–		1×SATA 6Gb/s	–
	DisplayPort	–	1 × DP 1.2	–
Availability		December 2016		October 2016	April 2016
Price		$ 299	$ 649	$ 379	$ 499

Unlike competing products, the AKiTiO Node is a pure external GPU box and nothing more. It does not have extra USB 3.0 ports (to connect a VR headset, for example), a GbE controller nor a SATA connector. This naturally cuts down its costs and allows Akito to sell the eGFX enclosure at $ 299 price-point, but additional USB ports will be greatly missed by owners of ultra-thin laptops as well as SFF PCs.

AKiTiO plans to start selling the Node (NODE-T3IA-AKTU) in December.