Minisforum DEG1: Docking station for eGPUs promises great extra performance for laptops and mini-PCs

The manufacturer Minisforum also offers mini-PCs that can handle external graphics cards. There are different options: For example, models like GPD G1 have a permanently installed GPU that can't be changed. Alternatively, an eGPU enclosure or a corresponding docking station can also be used - customers usually have to bring their own graphics card, which makes such an option much more flexible.

Minisforum has announced the DEG1, a new docking station for dedicated graphics cards. This is to start at a relatively low price - specifically, 90 euros has been communicated. However, there are still additional costs: The dock does not come with its own power supply unit, so a sufficiently dimensioned model must also be purchased. ATX and SFX standard power supply units are supported, so there is a large selection. According to the manufacturer, powerful and correspondingly large graphics cards such as the GeForce RTX 4090 and the RX 7900 XTX are also supported.

The DEG1 uses OCuLink 4i to communicate with the connected laptop or other devices, whereby this standard should be able to use four PCIe 4.0 lanes. Performance limitations are likely to be more or less significant. Minisforum advertises that there are practically no restrictions in terms of cable length, which should also allow for more unusual applications. An ATX power connector with 24 pins is available, plus an LED.

Minisforum advertises that the dock is suitable for use with the AtomMan X7 Ti Mini-PC that we have already tested. The 185 x 50 x 2-millimeter system can be started together with the host when the power button is pressed, which is convenient.