CES 2017 | MSI enters the e-GPU game with GUS

External GPUs are nothing new. Alienware debuted its Graphics Amplifier eGPU in 2015, although it was only compatible with Alienware notebooks sporting a proprietary connection, and Razer’s Core hit big last year by offering desktop GPU performance via a Thunderbolt 3 enabled USB Type-C port. Asus, Gigabyte, and Zotac have all announced their own eGPUs, though they have yet to hit the market. Now MSI looks to join the market with GUS, the Graphics Upgrade System.

Like the Razer Core, GUS will connect via Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C on compatible devices and can be outfitted with any desktop-class graphics card. According to MSI, the PCIe connection within the eGPU supports all current cards from both AMD and Nvidia. GUS also includes an 80-Plus Gold rated 500 W power supply to provide efficient, dedicated power to the GPU.

In addition to the user-provided GPU, GUS offers some added connectivity, including two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a USB 3.0 Type-C port, and a front-facing USB 3.0 Type-A port with QuickCharge.

GUS will be compatible with all MSI notebooks with a Thunderbolt 3 port and should be compatible with notebooks that support other eGPUs like the Core. In the video below, Ryan Shrout from pcper.com showed a GUS unit connected to Intel’s Skull Canyon NUC, a mini barebones PC.

GUS is expected to be made available sometime in Q2 2017, but MSI has been mum on pricing.

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