Charles Esther
At Computex 2025, Gigabyte unveiled the Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box, a new external GPU (eGPU) enclosure designed for power users who demand top-tier gaming and AI performance on lightweight laptops.
This device connects via Thunderbolt 5 and is powered by Nvidia’s flagship GeForce RTX 5090, marking a significant upgrade from previous models like the Aorus GTX 1070 and Aorus RTX 3080 Ti.
The RTX 5090 is widely regarded as the best GPU on the market, promising desktop-class performance for laptops that previously relied on integrated graphics or modest discrete GPUs.
Thunderbolt 5 Unlocks New Performance Potential
Thanks to the dramatically increased bandwidth of Thunderbolt 5, many of the traditional bottlenecks faced by eGPU setups are being addressed.
This advancement brings users closer to the goal of pairing high-end GPUs with ultraportable laptops without sacrificing much performance.
The Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box offers cutting-edge graphics, future-proof connectivity, and plug-and-play flexibility, making it a compelling choice for professionals needing portable yet powerful solutions.
Limitations and Challenges of External GPUs
Despite improvements, external GPUs still face inherent limitations.
They often do not match the raw performance of internal GPUs due to data transfer overhead and possible driver inconsistencies.
Heat and power delivery are also major concerns, especially when dealing with a power-hungry GPU like the RTX 5090.
Managing these factors effectively is crucial to maintaining consistent performance and device longevity.
Who Is the AI Box For?
This setup may be overkill for casual gamers or basic office tasks.
However, it is a dream come true for developers, video editors, 3D artists, and other power users who need desktop-class performance combined with the flexibility of a mobile workstation.
The AI Box allows these professionals to carry a lightweight laptop for daily tasks and connect to a powerhouse GPU when high performance is required.
Pricing and Availability
Gigabyte has not yet announced the price of the Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box.
Given the premium cost of the RTX 5090 and the additional expense of Thunderbolt 5 components, this device will likely be expensive.
For context, Gigabyte’s previous high-end eGPU, the Aorus GV-N4090IXEB-24GD, launched at $2,000 two years ago.
It is reasonable to expect the new AI Box to surpass that price point.
Conclusion
Gigabyte’s Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box, powered by Thunderbolt 5 and Nvidia’s flagship GPU, represents a major step forward in external GPU technology.
It brings desktop-class graphics performance to ultraportable laptops, catering to professional users who demand power and flexibility.
Despite challenges related to heat, power, and data transfer, the AI Box shows promising potential for those looking to upgrade their mobile computing experience without sacrificing performance.
Pricing will be a significant factor in its adoption, but the technology points to a bright future for eGPU setups in high-performance mobile computing.
