ASUS next-gen external GPU enclosure handles up to 500W

ASUS has announced its new ROG XG Station 2, their next-gen external graphics enclosure that replaces the original XG Station that was launched in 2007.

The new ROG XG Station 2 handles the best of the best GPUs on the market, with 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, 2 x 8-pin PCIe power connectors - handling up to 500W. Not only that, but it can provide another 100W of power to give your notebook some battery love, with the internal PSU meeting 80 Plus Gold efficiency.

ASUS utilizes the high bandwidth of Thunderbolt 3 for its new ROG XG Station 2, where it can use GbE network connectivity, and a 4-port USB 3.0 hub thanks to the additional bandwidth provided. If the bandwidth of Thunderbolt 3 isn't enough (40Gbps) you can slap on an additional USB 3.0 connection (with another 5Gbps of bandwidth) - with ASUS claiming it will improve performance, but I'm guessing not by that much (less than 10%).

ASUS has used a vertical seam, which lets you install your graphics card easily, while the walls of the ROG XG Station 2 being perforated for ventilation, so that the 3 x 70mm fans can get all of that heat out. RGB LED lighting of course makes the cut, and can be tweaked using the ASUS Aura software.

Expect the ASUS ROG XG Station 2 to be released sometime in Q1 2017.