As a PC gamer, typically you simply wish to crank up the graphics settings. But sure compromises should be made with handheld gaming PCs and modest laptops. Filling that void in energy is the purpose behind the Ayaneo AG-01, a starship-inspired graphics dock that mixes a docking station with a devoted AMD Radeon 7600M XT graphics card to immediately increase the efficiency and increase connectivity in your Windows gaming handheld or pocket book. It’s not the one dock to supply such options nevertheless it’s simply probably the most fascinating and whereas it’s nonetheless costly at $600, it’s fairly priced in comparison with the competitors with comparable function units.
Ayaneo AG-01 – Design and Features
The Ayaneo AG-01 might be probably the most distinctive exterior GPU out there at the moment. While it covers the essential options you’ll count on from a product like this, specifically that it features a devoted graphics card with straightforward connectability to your handheld or underpowered pocket book, Ayaneo has invested appreciable effort in its aesthetic – making it appear to be a spaceship. Or, as Ayaneo places it, a “graphics starship.”
Strange? Maybe a bit. But if there’s one factor you may give to the corporate, it’s that its merchandise at all times stand out. A transparent line will be drawn from the retro theme of Ayaneo’s handhelds to a lot of its catalogue during the last yr and that is actually in the same vein. The chassis of the dock is a mixture of pink and black (and can also be out there in grey). There’s a knob on the left facet that acts as an influence button and efficiency selector between 100W and 120W, indicated by an RGB ring encircling the knob. The proper facet has the corporate identify, product identify, and GPU branding embossed in silver. There’s additionally a small “Remake” badge that’s harking back to the VHS period and a magnetic nameplate carrying the identify of Ayaneo’s founder, Arthur Zhang. Maybe I spend an excessive amount of time contemplating PC parts, however I additionally suppose it seems to be an terrible lot like a desktop graphics card with out the followers.
There’s greater than fairly seems to be at play right here. The chassis is fabricated from steel to raised assist dissipate warmth generated by the GPU. There are additionally distinguished vents traced throughout its prime and sides and lively cooling to blow that warmth out and preserve efficiency excessive. That’s particularly essential right here as a result of, like all eGPUs, you’ll even be going through bandwidth limitations in comparison with if that card have been natively put in in your system through PCI-E.
Around the again, you will discover its connectivity choices. This can also be the place it turns into obvious that whereas it’s a docking station within the conventional sense, it’s way more focused towards graphics specifically. For instance, it consists of each a USB4 Type-C port in addition to an AccuLink port to hook up with your system. You also can join exterior screens utilizing both of its two HDMI 2.1 ports or its ShowPort 2.0 outputs.
In addition, it contains a single USB Type-A port, a gigabit ethernet connection, and a single pole jack for its energy adapter. Around the left facet, beneath the thruster vents, there’s a detachable panel that reveals an SD card slot for fast expandable reminiscence to your system. Additionally, for those who flip the unit over to the underside, you will discover a quick-release plate opened with a locking knob that reveals an M.2 2280 SSD port to simply add bigger, quicker storage. This is ideal in case your system has restricted capability and also you wish to maximize your switch speeds and decrease loading occasions, although it runs at PCIe 3.0 USB speeds. In my testing, this was sometimes round 800 MB/s for each learn and write.
The GPU driving the expertise is the AMD Radeon 7600M XT. The “M” in its identify signifies that that is really a laptop computer chip that has been repurposed as a small-footprint eGPU (the whole unit measures 9.45 x 4.65 x 2.01 inches and weighs simply over two kilos). The chip makes use of the RDNA 3 structure and consists of 32 compute items and a pair of,048 stream processors on a 128-bit reminiscence interface. It additionally consists of 8 GB of GDDR6 video reminiscence, operating at 18 Gbps, resulting in a complete reminiscence bandwidth of 288 Gbps.
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If you might be new to the world of eGPUs, it is essential to notice that you simply should not count on the identical degree of efficiency from this chip as you’ll if this card have been plugged or built-in instantly into the motherboard. How a GPU connects to a system may have a direct influence on the efficiency and body fee you may count on. When linked over USB4, you could have a most bandwidth of 40 Gbps. However, the true world efficiency of USB4 is often much less. Connected over OCuLink, the utmost bandwidth is 64 GBps and does translate to increased FPS just about throughout the board.
USB4 affords some nice options, nonetheless, like reverse 100W charging. If you join utilizing each OCuLink and USB, you may cost your system whereas enjoying. Ayaneo notes that the ethernet, USB, and SSD ports all share the identical 10 Gbps of bandwidth, nonetheless.
Depending in your gaming wants, the knob on the highest can swap between 100W and 120W energy modes, feeding the GPU extra juice to maximise body charges. The followers can grow to be fairly audible however not more than a traditional gaming laptop computer, and it wasn’t distracting when sporting a pair of headphones – and to me, the trade-off to get higher body charges was worthwhile.
Another factor that I like concerning the AG-01 is that it is self-enclosed. You actually need not fear about software program and as a substitute can simply plug it in and go. When so many units rely closely on software program customization, together with most Ayaneo merchandise, it’s refreshing to have a tool that’s able to exit of the field.
The closing level price remarking on is its price. Initially, I used to be a bit stunned by its $600 asking worth. However, that is largely in keeping with competing units and is in truth a bit cheaper than quite a few others. A near-identical dock from BOSGAME is almost $100 extra, even with its $100 coupon, as is the ONEXGPU from ONEXPLAYER and the GPD G1. The solely 7600M XT graphics dock I may discover that prices much less was the Minisforum MGA1 which lacks ethernet, a second HDMI 2.1 port, and any sort of expandable storage. If you don’t want these issues, nonetheless, its specs make it a aggressive worth at lower than $500 as of this writing. With this function set, nonetheless, the Ayaneo AG-01 is competitively priced.
Ayaneo AG-01 – Performance
The AG-01 delivers on its promise: It immediately enhances the efficiency of suitable gaming handhelds and notebooks. It’s easy and intuitive to make use of and simply works. Well, with a few small caveats. First, when you can hotswap with the USB4 connection seamlessly like a Switch dock, OCuLink requires a full shutdown and restart to operate. Second, it is advisable join via OCuLink to ensure that the dock’s expandable storage to be acknowledged.
I used to be capable of check the dock with each my Ayaneo Kun handheld which runs on an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor and Radeon 780M built-in graphics. For some fast OCuLink comparisons, I used the GPD Duo laptop computer, which options an AMD Ryzen 9 AI HX 370 processor with Radeon 880M graphics and a more moderen RDNA 3.5 structure. What’s spectacular is that the AG-01 through OCuLink is healthier each time, and would proceed to be so even on two identically specced methods. But regardless of which connection methodology you select, you may rely on a giant enhance in gaming efficiency in comparison with built-in GPUs presently available on the market.
Note that I carried out my checks utilizing the 120W energy mode and the benchmarks beneath mirror that. Given that the dock will likely be plugged right into a wall outlet when in use, it would not make a lot sense to restrict graphics energy to solely 100W until quantity ranges are a major concern. I additionally used a locked 1080p decision to maintain comparisons constant.
Ayaneo AG-01 Benchmark Results
Forza Horizon 5 (Extreme)
47 fps
Doom Eternal (Ultra Nightmare)
129 fps
Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra, FSR Balanced)
56 fps
Starfield (High, FSR Balanced)
42 fps
Alan Wake 2 (Custom Medium)
36 fps
3DMark Time Spy
9458 (rating)
3DMark Fire Strike
19279 (rating)
3DMark Port Royal
9042 (rating)
These are superb outcomes – most often, turning on the exterior GPU versus simply utilizing a system’s built-in processor bumps efficiency wherever from 50% to virtually double what the built-in GPU is ready to present. Of course, the quantity of uplift will depend upon which APU your system is presently operating, nonetheless, it is unlikely that you’re going to expertise something aside from a big efficiency uplift when paired with what’s out there now.
Throughout my checks, I usually tried to dial up the settings to one thing that might look nice on an exterior monitor. To my shock, this additionally improved efficiency in comparison with utilizing the built-in show on the Ayaneo Kun. It was often round 5 to 10 fps, nevertheless it’s good to know that you could have a good higher expertise when shifting to a bigger show.
If your system helps it, OCuLink must be your connection methodology of alternative. In my testing, it sometimes provided wherever from 30% to 50% will increase in common body fee on the similar settings. Some of that is because of the newer processor in my check system nevertheless it actually doesn’t take all of the credit score. The increased bandwidth makes a significant distinction and lets the AG-01 shine.
I additionally outfitted the dock with a Team Group M.2 SSD. Due to the USB connection, it didn’t supply the identical sort of speeds you’ll count on if it have been put in instantly right into a motherboard. The SSD itself is rated for 1,800 MB/s learn speeds and 1,500 MB/s for writing knowledge, and as I discussed above, each sometimes hovered round 800 MB/s as a result of bandwidth limitations. If the purpose is to make use of an SSD to attenuate loading occasions, nonetheless, it’s completely advantageous and is an exceptionally straightforward technique to enhance the storage of your system.
