Aoostar EG02: Thunderbolt 5 and OCuLink eGPU dock to be released globally later this month

Aoostar has quietly announced plans to release a new eGPU dock globally. For context, the company kicked off the month by launching the EG01 for $99. Bearing more than a passing resemblance to the Minisforum DEG1 (curr. $99 on Amazon), the Aoostar EG01 added a mini-PC stand and a DC power port for powering a mini-PC off an ATX or SFX power supply.

On the face of it, the Aoostar EG02 is the spitting image of the EG01. For one, the former retains the latter's mounting system and DC power connector. Likewise, it retains the form factor pioneered by the Minisforum DEG1 and Peladn's Link S-1 or Link S-2. However, the Aoostar EG02 adopts OCuLink and Thunderbolt 5 connectivity though like the Minisforum DEG2 and Peladn Link S-3 before it.

As a result, the Aoostar EG02 supports 140 W USB Power Delivery and 80 Gbps bandwidth over Thunderbolt 5 and 64 Gbps via OCuLink. Please note that Thunderbolt 5 still trails OCuLink when it comes to raw performance, but by a far smaller degree than Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4 or USB 4. Pre-sales for the Aoostar EG02 start at 11:07 UTC on November 15. Initially, the eGPU dock will be available for $219, although prices may eventually rise to $299 after this pre-sale period ends.