Aoostar EG01: Thunderbolt 5 and OCuLink eGPU dock revealed globally with mini-PC mount
Aoostar has just launched the TA95X3D MoDT motherboard in China after opening pre-orders for the Maco mini-PC in the same country. Now, the company has started teasing the EG01, a new eGPU dock that closely resembles the Peladn Link S-3 and Minisforum DEG1 (curr. $99 on Amazon) in terms of design.
Accordingly, the EG01 does not feature a built-in power supply (PSU) like the Aoostar AG01 that arrived last year. The Aoostar EG01 supports ATX and SFX PSUs just like the DEG1 and Link S-3. Likewise, Aoostar has integrated a GPU mounting bracket mirroring the one Minisforum includes with DEG1 orders.
Bizarrely, Aoostar appears to have included a separate mount for positioning a mini-PC above a PSU. While the Aoostar EG01 offers OCuLink connectivity like the DEG1, it is not a re-branded Gzosmeta EG01C. Instead, Aoostar also claims to have integrated a Thunderbolt 5 port with support for 150 W USB Power Delivery (USB PD). For reference, 150 W USB PD would give the Aoostar EG01 a 10 W advantage over the Peladn Link S-3.
As far as we can tell, the EG01 is the first eGPU dock to offer OCuLink and Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. While the FEVM FNGT5 Pro exists with the same connectivity options, it features a laptop-grade GPU and a built-in PSU without any upgrade options. Unfortunately, pricing and a launch date remain unknown for now. Evidently, an international release is planned though, given the EG01's reference on Aoostar's global website.
