Beelink is introducing a very interesting method for external GPU (eGPU) solutions with its new products. Rather than using the more common USB4/Thunderbolt or OCuLink connections, Beelink employs a direct PCIe 4.0 x8 interface. This interface is a full-width x16 connector that utilizes only half of the lanes, establishing a direct connection between the eGPU and the Mini-PC motherboard.
The concept isn’t completely new, as Minisforum used a similar approach with their EliteMini B550. However, Beelink’s version introduces several enhancements, including improved performance thanks to PCIe 4.0 compared to PCIe 3.0 in the Minisforum PC. Additionally, Beelink’s solution offers minimal performance loss when using desktop graphics cards, especially compared to the more commonly used USB4/Thunderbolt connections.
The PCIe 4.0×8 slot provides up to 128 Gbps (16 GB/s) of maximum theoretical bandwidth, significantly surpassing Thunderbolt 4’s 40 Gbps (5 GB/s) and even OCuLink’s 64 Gbps (8 GB/s).
A key difference with Beelink’s approach is that it uses a different platform (Intel) and includes an integrated power supply in the external GPU dock. This makes the setup much easier, as users no longer need to provide their own power supply and cables—everything is built into a single unit. The dock then connects to the Mini-PC via a concealed PCIe slot.
Beelink has confirmed that its GPU dock supports nearly all popular desktop graphics cards, including the RTX 4090 and RX 7900 XTX. Interestingly, the list even includes the 4080 Ti, which is an error since that model was never released.
The product is priced at around 599 RMB (approximately $83 USD), including the power supply. If purchased as a bundle with the GTi12 Mini-PC, the price drops to about 299 RMB (around $42 USD).
However, it’s important to mention that the PCIe connection used in this setup is somewhat restricted, as it’s currently compatible only with Beelink’s 12th Gen Core systems (GT12) and the latest Core Ultra 100 (GT14) version. Additionally, these PCs come with integrated power supplies, minimizing the need for cable management.
Via Videocardz
