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External GPU Support on Windows

Make sure that your computer supports external GPUs. If not or you cannot find any mention of external GPUs, your computer may need updates for the Thunderbolt 3 software. For more information, go to https://thunderbolttechnology.net/updates.

Not all computers with Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports support external graphics cards. Akitio can only assure proper operation with systems in our compatible PC list. If your PC is not on the compatible PC list, please check with your PC manufacturer on support for external graphics.

  1. Right-click on the Thunderbolt icon in your taskbar. When a Thunderbolt device is connected, this icon will appear automatically. If not, select the Start button and sroll through the program list to locate and open the Thunderbolt™ Software first.
  2. In the context menu, select Settings and then go to Details....
  3. Look for "External GPUs supported" to see if an eGPU will work on your system (Yes) or not (No).
    support egpu
  4. If it says No, the Node or Node Titan will still be recognized and can be used on that computer. However, please be aware that we cannot assure proper operation if a graphics card is installed.

 

Compatible PCs

Computer   Node
 
Gigabyte GB-BKi7HT-7500 Mini-PC
Intel NUC (NUC6i7KYK, NUC6i7KYB) Mini-PC
Intel NUC (NUC7i7BNH) Mini-PC
1
Intel NUC Bean Canyon (i7-8559u) Mini-PC
1
Intel NUC Hades Canyon (NUC8i7HVK) Mini-PC
1
 
CJSCOPE Z-530 Laptop
2
Dell G3 3779 Laptop
1, 2, 3
Dell Latitude 7285 Laptop
1, 2
Dell Precision 3520 Laptop
2
Dell Precision 5520 Laptop
2
Dell Precision 7520 Laptop
2
Dell Precision 7720 Laptop
2
Dell XPS 13 9750 Laptop
1, 2
HP Spectre x360 13-w063nr Convertible Laptop
2
MSI GT73VR 6RE TITAN Laptop
1, 2
Razer Blade Laptop
2
Razer Blade Stealth Laptop
2
 
Gigabyte GA-Z170X-UD5 TH Motherboard
1
Gigabyte GA-Z270X-Gaming 9 Motherboard
 
  1. Akitio has not verified this computer but it has been reported as compatible by the user community.
  2. This laptop does not accept a charge from a 5V/3A power source like the Node [see FAQ].
  3. Must disable internal NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti graphics card.

Remarks:

  • Make sure your computer is using the latest BIOS and the latest updates for Thunderbolt.

 

Compatible Graphics Cards

Most PCIe cards (e.g. network card or audio processing card) will be compatible with the Node but for more details, please check the PCIe card compatibility chart and refer to the Node Pro.

For graphics cards, the RX 300, RX 400, RX 500 series from AMD and the GeForce 9 and 10 series from Nvidia will be compatible but below is a list of the graphics cards that we have tested and can confirm that they do in fact work. If a card is not listed, that does not mean that it is incompatible, it just means that we have not had the opportunity to test it in our lab.

PCIe Card GPU AKiTiO Node
   
  • Full-length
  • Full-height
  • Double-width (2 slots)
  • PCIe slot max 75W
  • GPU card max 400W
AMD Radeon™
Windows macOS
ASUS STRIX-RX480-O8G-GAMING Radeon™ RX 480
 
MSI RX 580 (4GB) Radeon™ RX 580
1
 
SAPPHIRE 4G HBM Radeon™ R9 Nano
 
SAPPHIRE 8G D5 Tri-X OC Radeon™ R9 390X
 
SAPPHIRE NITRO+ 8G D5 Radeon™ RX 470
 
  Radeon™ RX 570
3
  Radeon™ RX 580
3
  Radeon™ Pro WX 7100
3
  Radeon™ RX Vega 64
4
3, 4
  Radeon™ RX 5700
4
3, 4
  Radeon™ RX 5700 XT
4
3, 4
SAPPHIRE NITRO+ 8GB RDNA™ 2 Radeon™ RX 6600 XT
-
-
Sonnet AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT Radeon™ RX 6800 XT
-
-
       
NVIDIA Quadro
Windows macOS
  Quadro GP100
2
 
  Quadro P6000
2
 
  Quadro P5000
2
 
  Quadro P4000
2
 
  Quadro RTX 4000
1, 2
 
       
NVIDIA Geforce
Windows macOS
ASUS DUAL-GTX1050TI-4G GeForce GTX 1050Ti
 
ASUS DUAL-GTX1060-O6G GeForce GTX 1060
 
ASUS ROG STRIX-GTX1070-O8G-GAMING GeForce GTX 1070
1
 
ASUS ROG STRIX-GTX1080-A8G-GAMING GeForce GTX 1080
 
ASUS STRIX-GTX1080-A8G-GAMING GeForce GTX 1080
 
ASUS TUF GAMING RTX 3060 OC 12GB GeForce RTX 3060
-
 
GALAXY 大将 GTX 1070 GeForce GTX 1070
 
GALAXY 大将 GTX 1060  GeForce GTX 1060
 
GALAX GTX 1080 HOF GeForce GTX 1080
1
 
GIGABYTE GV-N1070IXOC-8GD GeForce GTX 1070
1
 
GIGABYTE GV-N1070WF2OC-8GD GeForce GTX 1070
 
EVGA 04G-P4-2986 GeForce GTX 980
 
EVGA 08G-P4-6180-KR GeForce GTX 1080
 
EVGA 11G-P4-6696-KR GeForce GTX 1080Ti
1, 4
 
EVGA 12G-P4-2990-KR GeForce GTX TITAN X
 
EVGA RTX 3080 Ti XC3 GAMING GeForce RTX 3080Ti
-
 
MSI GTX 960 GAMING 2G GeForce GTX 960
 
MSI GTX 970 GAMING 4G GeForce GTX 970
 
MSI GTX 980Ti GAMING 6G GeForce GTX 980Ti
 
MSI GTX 1060 GAMING X 6G VD6092 GeForce GTX 1060
1
 
MSI GTX 1060 MS-V328 GeForce GTX 1060
 
MSI GTX 1070 MS-V330 GeForce GTX 1070
 
MSI GTX 1080 GAMING X 8G GeForce GTX 1080
 
MSI GTX 1080 Ti ARMOR 11G OC GeForce GTX 1080Ti
4
 
MSI GTX 1080 Ti Duke GeForce GTX 1080Ti
1, 4
 
MSI GTX 1660 SUPER VENTUS XS OC GeForce GTX 1660
1, 5
 
NVIDIA RTX 2080 GeForce RTX 2080
 
NVIDIA RTX 2080Ti GeForce RTX 2080Ti
4
 
NVIDIA TITAN Xp GeForce TITAN Xp
 
NVIDIA RTX 3070 Founders Edition GeForce RTX 3070
-
 
PALIT RTX 2060 StormX GeForce RTX 2060
1
 
ZOTAC GAMING RTX 2060 TWIN FAN GeForce RTX 2060
1
 
ZOTAC GAMING RTX 2070 Blower GeForce RTX 2070
1
 
ZOTAC GAMING RTX 2070 SUPER MINI GeForce RTX 2070
1, 5
 
       
  1. Akitio has not verified this card but it has been reported as compatible by the user community.
  2. Requires Quadro Driver 384 or newer. Further requirements might apply [NVIDIA Quadro eGPU].
  3. Learn more about how to use an eGPU on macOS at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208544
  4. A 500W PSU (or more) is required.
  5. The card is compatible but due to the extra backplate on the GPU card, there is not enough clearance to install the card completely vertical. This can cause the ports on the back, especially those on the top to be slightly off-center.

 

Incompatible Graphics Cards

PCIe Card GPU AKiTiO Node
   
  • Full-length
  • Full-height
  • Double-width (2 slots)
  • PCIe slot max 75W
  • GPU card max 400W
AMD Radeon™
Windows macOS
  Radeon™ VII  
3
XFX RX 5500 XT 8GB GDDR6 THICC II Pro Radeon™ RX 5500 XT
4
4
       
NVIDIA Geforce
Windows macOS
MSI GTX 1080 Ti GAMING X 11G GeForce GTX 1080Ti
1, 2
 
       
  1. When under heavy load, the overload protection of the Node kicks in and cuts off the power.
  2. The enclosure cannot be assembled or might interfere with the fan when the card has a width of over 45mm.
  3. The GPU fan starts running at full speed when the computer goes to sleep or is turned off unless the eGPU is turned off.
  4. Due to the extra backplate on the GPU card, there is not enough clearance to install this card.

 

 

Remarks:

Disclaimer:
Information in this article is subject to change without notice. AKiTiO does not make any representations or warranties (implied or otherwise) regarding the accuracy and completeness of this document and shall in no event be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. All brand names and product names used in this document are trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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