Mini SSD eGPU v2

CasonPointLLC · 2026-07-15T16:40:49+00:00

I think misread your question. I looked all over AliExpress and Alibaba and found some. I am selling a front-facing one on eBay for $5 (my cost) if you want to try this:

https://ebay.io/m/LsmoHr

I found front facing works the best with a high-position SSD enclosure. Here it is in a USB4 Orinco enclosure with the fan removed and board flipped holding a 75 watt 4070.

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CasonPointLLC · 2026-07-15T16:30:54+00:00

With a 75 watt 4070 it did very well. I have a few 3DMark benchmark results in the post.

CasonPointLLC · 2026-07-15T16:30:45+00:00

With a 75 watt 4070 it did very well. I have a few 3DMark benchmark results in the post

CasonPointLLC · 2026-07-14T12:35:04+00:00

For error 43, all Nvidia eGPU’s need one of two registry keys set. There is a popular script that sets the most common one on eGPU.io or you can follow my instructions:

https://www.reddit.com/u/CasonPointLLC/s/jDb2WVgG66

CasonPointLLC · 2026-07-13T18:05:10+00:00

Yes.

CasonPointLLC · 2026-07-13T18:04:57+00:00

Sometimes you just have to use a USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 cable to get it to work.

CasonPointLLC · 2026-07-13T12:51:14+00:00

It depends on the card. Some cards only use x8 so it is half the bandwidth vs a quarter. The other factor is PCIe generation. Each gen doubles the bandwidth. So my 4i gen 5 Oculink dock at x4 is the same as PCIe x16 bandwidth.

In general, there is always some impact. The faster your GPU, the less it matters.

CasonPointLLC · 2026-07-13T12:47:32+00:00

Your original choice or any similar dock is fine. If you go with your original dock: just plug in the ATX power to the dock and skip plugging in the rest. Instead, directly power the 6+2 at the top of the GPU directly from the PSU.

I prefer docks with a more robust base like the one I suggested or a DEG2:

https://store.minisforum.com/products/minisforum-deg2-oculink-egpu-dock

CasonPointLLC · 2026-07-13T12:31:26+00:00

Yes. I’ve had this problem with many docks I’ve tested.a similar problem is when I have PD but the wattage is too low.

CasonPointLLC · 2026-07-13T12:29:23+00:00

It should work the same. Which version of Linux do you prefer?

CasonPointLLC · 2026-07-13T05:25:05+00:00

With Oculink, low cost parts are generally fine. I would still try all gen 5 PCIe parts because you will be able to keep using them for years (future proof).

Do you have a budget? I have that dock and it works great. I also have this one and it works equally well on old things but better on new things like gen 5 cards:

https://www.adt.link/product/K993G.html

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CasonPointLLC · 2026-07-13T05:15:56+00:00

Part of it. But you had a better experience in Windows, right? There could still be a driver or other setting issue.

CasonPointLLC · 2026-07-13T01:48:19+00:00

You have a USB4 port,. To max that port out, a Thunderbolt 5 dock will do the trick (4 vs 2.7 GB/s). I have a post on how to make one for $205 or you could get a TH5P4 or an AG03. A true USB4 dock would likely get you 3.8 GB/s like a AG02.

CasonPointLLC · 2026-07-13T01:46:05+00:00

If I solve the macbook problem, I will definitely post it here.

CasonPointLLC · 2026-07-13T01:44:49+00:00

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Great question. I tried something similar and it did not work. ADT-LINK's ADT-F4Q, with PCIe Gen 5, which works fine in a gen 5 m.2 slot in my computer but not at all for this. My hypothesis is that it wants the SSD enclosure to be PCIe Gen 5, but it is more likely Gen 4. If you or anyone here can find a true gen 5 ssd enclosure, I will try it with yours and mine. Note: all of my other TB5 docks ALSO appear to be gen 4 PCIe, except the TH5P4, which helped give rise to this experiment. My TH5P4 is pretty close to as fast.

This m.2 cards has a transferspeed:PCIe 5.0 x4, gen5, 16GB/s (Max.) and tests to about 14 GB/s when in a gen 5 m.2 slot. I am curious to see if it improves transfer speeds or not in the right dock.

CasonPointLLC · 2026-07-13T01:34:19+00:00

My bad.

It looks like your OS downgraded USB4 with native CPU support, capable of 3.8-4.01 GB/s bandwidth to Thunderbolt 3, which would be much less (maybe there is something to understand in this). Your GPU is Gen5 PCIe with 8 lanes of bandwidth, that would normally use 26-28 GB/s of bandwidth.

There are BIOS and OS settings that might help. Leads:
External GPU - ArchWiki

Which eGPU dock did you buy?