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AKiTiO Node

akitio-node-angle-thumb
akitio-node-angle-thumb AKiTiO Node front AKiTiO Node  back AKiTiO Node size
EOL

Thunderbolt 3
Thunderbolt 3 cable included
thunderbolt-learn-more-button
VR ready




AKiTiO Node - Finally an affordable eGPU box

akitio node features

The Thunderbolt™ 3 eGFX box is a low cost expansion chassis designed to house an external graphics card. Connected to the computer via Thunderbolt 3, the additional GPU power instantly upgrades a regular laptop or a mini PC and makes it possible to do things that would normally require a high-end workstation or gaming computer. For video editors and colorists, the dedicated GPU reduces the time it takes to render the footage, a computer that was not powerful enough for a VR headset is now potentially VR ready and for those that like to play games, these can now run at much higher frame rates than before.

Features
  • Thunderbolt™ 3 for lightning fast transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps
  • 1 PCIe (x16) slot supporting full-length, full-height, double-width cards
  • Spacious enclosure for use with standard and large sized graphics cards
  • Built-in 400W SFX power supply to provide extra power to GPU
  • PCIe x16 slot supplying up to 75W of power
  • 4 lane PCI Express 3.0 compliant interface
  • Removable PCIe slot cover for double-width cards
  • Carry handle to easily transport the device

4 Lane PCI Express 3.0 Compliant Interface

akitio node gpu card

Supports standard and large sized PCIe Gen3 x4 cards

The PCIe (x16) slot accepts full-length, full-height, double-width cards with enough space available inside the enclosure for both standard and large sized graphics cards. The four PCIe Gen3 lanes and the Thunderbolt 3 interface are capable of transfer rates up to 40Gbps, providing enough bandwidth even for the most demanding PCIe cards.

Extra power for graphics cards

akitio node psu

400W SFX PSU

The built-in power supply provides enough power for the AKiTiO Node (~10W) as well as for graphics cards. If the standard 75W through the PCIe slot is insufficient, two extra pairs of 8-pin (6+2 pin) power connectors are available inside the AKiTiO Node that can be connected to the GPU, providing a total of about 390W.

The power of external GPUs

akitio node benchmark

Thunderbolt™ 3

Thunderbolt 3 brings Thunderbolt to USB-C at speeds up to 40 Gbps, creating one compact port that does it all – delivering the fastest, most versatile connection to any dock, display, or data device. In combination with the AKiTiO Node, this makes it possible to instantly upgrade your regular laptop or Mini-PC and achieve a performance that usually requires high-end workstations or specialized gaming computers.

Thunderbolt and the Thunderbolt logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.
Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

TweakTown review of the Node

tweaktown summary node

AKiTiO Node

  • NODE-T3IA-AKTU (without graphics card)


  • CE

  • FCC

  • VCCI

  • RCM

  • Thunderbolt™ technology


  • 2-year limited warranty


  • SECC sheet metal


  • 1 x PCIe card (see compatibility chart)

  • Supports full-length, full-height and double-width cards

  • PCIe (x16) slot provides a maximum of 75W but additional power can be supplied to the PCIe card by connecting a pair of 8-pin (6+2 pin) connectors

  • 1 x Thunderbolt™ 3 (USB-C) port

  • 1 x internal PCIe (x16) slot with 4 lane PCI Express 3.0 interface


  • Thunderbolt 3 up to 40 Gbps


  • Operating Temperature: 5°C ~ 35°C

  • Storage Temperature: -20°C ~ 60°C

  • Relative Humidity: 5% ~ 95% (non-condensing)


  • Internal power supply (UL, cUL, CE, FCC, BSMI, TUV approved)

  • Input: AC 100-240V, 50Hz-60Hz

  • Output: DC +12V/33A


  • 29.6 dB(A)


  • 16.85 inches x 5.71 inches x 8.94 inches

  • 42.8 cm x 14.5 cm x 22.7 cm


  • AKiTiO Node with built-in 400W PSU

  • Thunderbolt 3 USB-C cable

  • Setup guide


  • Retail Box Size: 21.26 x 9.84 x 14.17 in. (54 x 25 x 36 cm)

  • Gross Weight: 6.1 kg (retail box), 6.8 kg (carton)


  • The computer must support external GPUs.

  • Not all Thunderbolt 3 PCs support external GPUs. If in doubt, please contact the manufacturer of your computer.

  • To prevent damage, always uninstall graphics cards when transporting the device.

  • The device has to be connected directly to the computer and it does not support a daisy chain.

  • This device provides 15W over Thunderbolt but only for laptops that accept a charge from a 5V/3A power source [see FAQ]

  • The monitor, VR headset, Intel® NUC and graphics card are for reference only.

  • This product is not supported on Boot Camp

  • This product has components or design elements that are patented or patent pending.

gadgetsenthusiast

AKiTiO Node

The Akitio Node is certainly a great enclosure for those looking for a barebones solution. It is cheap, effective, and has enough power to run a full GTX 1080Ti without any issues. Read More...

William Johnson - GadgetsEnthusiast (January 31, 2019)
gamingscan

Could the AKiTiO Node be the best external GPU enclosure of 2018? Very well, so. It allows even older laptops (including MacBooks) to be able to play even the most-demanding games today. Read More...

Samuel Stewart - GamingScan (June 15, 2018)
macworld

The main option for eGPU use at the moment is the Akitio Node, which costs about £320/$300; but, like most enclosures, it doesn't include a graphics card so you'll still have to budget for the GPU on top. Read More...

Joseph Cliff - Macworld (June 4, 2018)
tweaktown

The Node is our first foray into external GPUs, but its a strong start with a budget-friendly solution that with a few tweaks could be the best bang for your buck. Read More...

Tyler Bernath - TweakTown (October 31, 2017)
ispazio

In conclusione possiamo ritenerci soddisfatti della prova effettuata. Il prodotto ha rispecchiato pienamente le nostre aspettative, portando la giusta potenza ad un computer portatile già molto buono. Read More...

Peter Vogric - iSpazio (October 24, 2017)
toasty bros

The Akitio Node is an external gpu box with thundebolt 3 support. But how does a Radeon 7770 compare vs the i7 6500u and its Intel hd 520 graphics? Let's test it! Read More...

Matt - Toasty Bros (August 30, 2017)
clint

The Node and GTX 680 provides enough extra processing power to play many modern high-end games at an acceptable visual quality. Great success! Read More...

Clint Shumack - Clint's Blog (July 7, 2017)
pcperspective

Overall, the AKiTiO Node is a good product, especially considering the low price point. For users looking to experiment with external GPUs on their system, $300 is a much more palatable price point than $500 for something like the Razer Core especially for users looking to add a GPU for non-gaming purposes. Read More...

Ken Addison - PC Perspective (July 6, 2017)
pcworld

It’s pretty much a no-brainer: If the Node works with your Thunderbolt 3-equipped laptop, go for it. Read More...

Gordon Mah Ung - PCWorld (June 28, 2017)
lontv

I was quite surprised by how easy it was to add an external GPU with this Akitio Node. On both the Yoga 720 as well as my own Macbook Pro (running Windows) it was really a plug and play experience. Games and other applications that can benefit from a faster graphics processor will immediately start working with it. Read More...

Lon Seidman - LON.TV (May 19, 2017)
gamingfactors

With its extensive support, solid build quality, and its affordable price at $300, the Akitio Node is a pretty good eGPU. Read More...

Benjamin - GamingFactors (April 27, 2017)
egpu io

The best feature? Its price. I know $300 is still a lot of money but compared to other options on the market, the AKiTiO Node is the most affordable all-in-one Thunderbolt 3 eGPU box. Another nice thing is AKiTiO’s support and involvement with the eGPU community. Many forum members have shared their stories and good experiences with AKiTiO’s customer service. Read More...

THEITSAGE - eGPU.io (January 7, 2017)

 

IMPORTANT

Your PC may need updates for the Thunderbolt 3 ports to function properly.
For more information go to https://thunderbolttechnology.net/updates.

Compatibility

  • This product is not supported on Boot Camp.
  • Not all Thunderbolt 3 PCs support external GPUs. If in doubt, please contact the manufacturer of your computer.
  • The device has to be connected directly to the computer and it does not support a daisy chain [see FAQ].
  • This device provides 15W over Thunderbolt but only for laptops that accept a charge from a 5V/3A power source [see FAQ].