How the $99 DEG1 eGPU Dock Will Revolutionize Your Gaming!

There have always been restrictions when it comes to playing games on the road or with small-form-factor (SFF) PCs in the dynamic world of gaming, particularly when it comes to high-end graphics performance. But all of that is about to change with the release of MINISFORUM’s $99 DEG1 eGPU Dock. With the new OCuLink interface, this game-changing device enables gamers to connect a desktop-class GPU to their tiny PCs or portable devices. And sure, I was able to use this dock to run Cyberpunk 2077 in 4K on a little PC with ray tracing turned on, and it looks fantastic.

Let’s test the features that make the OCuLink eGPU dock so groundbreaking for both tech aficionados and gamers.

Unleashing the Power of OCuLink

The DEG1 eGPU Dock‘s utilization of OCuLink, an incredibly fast connection that overcomes the constraints of conventional Thunderbolt or USB4 interfaces, is one of its primary features. OCuLink can push up to 63Gbps, while Thunderbolt and USB4 have theoretical bandwidth maximums of about 40Gbps. While OCuLink reliably achieves 41–58 Gbps, Thunderbolt 4 frequently fails to provide consistent performance above 28–32 Gbps in real-world tests. That’s almost twice as fast! This translates to reduced latency, quicker data transmission rates, and a more fluid gameplay experience for players. 

This eGPU dock makes a lot of sense given the growing popularity of micro PCs and handhelds with OCuLink connectors, such as the MINISFORUM MSA1. For gamers who have been unable to connect their devices to powerful GPUs due to traditional eGPU solutions’ bandwidth restrictions, this is particularly interesting.

A Customizable, Affordable eGPU Solution

The DEG1 dock, which costs $99, is an affordable substitute for other eGPU docks, which may run into the hundreds of dollars. But don’t let the inexpensive price deceive you—this dock has a ton of features that make it a really good choice. It can take both full-size ATX and tiny SFX power supplies, and it supports GPUs up to an incredible 3.5-slot width.

With simple brackets and hardware that let you mount everything firmly, the setup is surprisingly simple. The dock is made to work with both smaller SFX power supplies, such the Cooler Master V850, and bigger ATX units. Even large GPUs like the RTX 4090 can fit in the dock with ease and security thanks to the smart design.

The assembly process is simple: after mounting your power supply and connecting the GPU via the OCuLink interface, you can begin utilizing the device. Nothing extraneous, no tangled wires—the dock keeps everything neat and orderly. It is simple to prevent a tangled mess of wires when using short cables, like the ones that come with the Cooler Master V850.

Performance: How Does it Hold Up?

I made the bold decision to pair the DEG1 dock with the RTX 4090 in order to really test it out. Although it may seem extravagant to combine such a high-end card with a little PC, this is the ideal method to test how well OCuLink handles heavy workloads. I connected the RTX 4090 to my setup using OCuLink and utilized the MINISFORUM MSA1, which was powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 6800G with 8 cores and 16 threads. What was the outcome? Mind-blowing performance.

When Cyberpunk 2077‘s ray tracing overdrive was turned on, the configuration readily produced 4K gameplay at remarkable frame rates. It was easy to see the difference from Thunderbolt 4 eGPUs, particularly with regard to loading times and the absence of bottlenecking. In contrast to Thunderbolt configurations that have trouble with some demanding games, OCuLink provides enough bandwidth to make the most of high-end GPUs.

In addition to gaming, I measured the connection’s real performance using benchmarking programs like CUDA-Z, and the DEG1 eGPU Dock performed admirably. In real-world scenarios, Thunderbolt usually reaches its maximum speed of 28–31 Gbps; however, the OCuLink dock was able to sustain rates that were closer to 50 Gbps. This translates to faster rendering, more fluid gaming, and improved performance for any professional gamer or creative.

Flexibility and Future-Proofing

The versatility of the DEG1 dock is one of its benefits. It allows users to personalize their arrangement with practically any GPU and power supply combination, even if it does not deliver power to the tiny PC or mobile that is connected. The dock can serve a multitude of purposes, whether you’re constructing a mobile gaming system or assembling a workstation at home.

Also, the DEG1 gets more alluring as more gadgets embrace OCuLink connections. The power of desktop GPUs is now available to a large number of portable gaming devices and tiny PCs that were previously constrained by integrated graphics or budget-friendly GPUs. With the help of this dock, you can put together a robust gaming system without sacrificing price or portability.

Real-World Performance Boosts

The true difference is evident in games, aside from artificial benchmarks where Thunderbolt configurations often score significantly lower than the DEG1 dock:

• Horizon Forbidden West: Without any frame generation or DLSS enabled, the system maintained an average frame rate of 91 frames per second while operating at native 4K resolution on Very High settings. These figures are really astounding, as this game is known to test even the finest GPUs.
• In Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, the DEG1 configuration averaged 146 frames per second at 4K on Extreme, with 1% of the frames falling below 130 FPS. There was no stuttering or decline in performance.
• Cyberpunk 2077: Performance was still more than playable even with Ray Tracing Overdrive turned on. The RTX 4090 managed to maintain a frame rate of 53 FPS even when faced with challenging lighting effects. Frame Generation enabled, this increased during the nineties.

The Verdict

For anyone looking to get more power out of their mobile devices or mini-PCs, the MinForum DEG1 eGPU Dock is nothing short of revolutionary. For $99, you can use high-end GPUs like the RTX 4090 thanks to a sturdy, well-designed dock that performs better than Thunderbolt choices. The Oculink raw bandwidth, full-size or compact power supply compatibility, and ingenious design of this dock are going to completely change the game when it comes to external GPU installations.

With the DEG1 dock, you can use desktop-level performance for any GPU-intensive job, including gaming and rendering. This is one upgrade you won’t want to miss if you’re ready to turn your mini-PC into a beast.

Take a look at the DEG1 dock and dive into a whole new level of performance for portable computing!

Video review of Unlock Massive Gaming Potential with the $99 DEG1 eGPU Dock!