Gigabyte has done it again. This time pushing the boundaries of performance in the mobile world with the new Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box. This is an external GPU box that promises almost desktop-like performance. And it’s all over just one cable thanks to the latest Thunderbolt 5 interface. If you’ve ever dreamed of turning a thin laptop into a gaming beast or an AI station, this device is sure to intrigue you.
Near-desktop performance
The biggest draw of the new Aorus case is its performance. Inside is a full-featured GeForce RTX 5090, NVIDIA’s most powerful graphics card in 2025. Gigabyte has placed it in a sleek, water-cooled enclosure that you just plug into your laptop.
According to Notebookcheck ‘s tests, it achieves around 73% of the performance of the native desktop RTX 5090. That means that in practice, the results are just below the RTX 4090 – which is still an insanely powerful chip. In tests of games like Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Hogwarts Legacy, the box was able to hold a steady 70-80 fps at 4K resolution.
That kind of performance in an external box pushes the boundaries. Until recently, eGPU solutions were noticeably slower, but Thunderbolt 5 opens up a whole new world of possibilities. With its 80 Gbps throughput, the box can transfer data so fast that the gap with the desktop is finally starting to disappear.
What the Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box is all about
Gigabyte didn’t settle for a plain eGPU solution. The Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box is a full-featured mini PC designed for demanding gamers, developers, and creatives.
- Card: RTX 5090 with 32 GB GDDR7 VRAM and clock speed around 2407 MHz
- Cooling: water system with 240 mm radiator and two 120 mm fans
- Power: integrated 850 W power supply
- Outputs: 3× DisplayPort 2.1 1× HDMI 2.1
- Connectivity: Thunderbolt 5 with 100W power support for the connected laptop
Gigabyte has used the same GPU chip here as in the desktop version, just planted it in a special external unit. Thanks to its own power supply and powerful cooling, the card doesn’t have to limit itself like in ultrabooks. The result is quiet operation, low temperatures and full performance that comes close to a desktop build.
Not only for gamers, but also for AI developers
Gigabyte refers to this product as an AI Box, and it’s not just marketing. The RTX 5090 in this box handles computations with over 3000 AI TOPS of performance. This also makes it an interesting solution for AI developers who need mobile performance for training models or processing data.
Imagine bringing your laptop to work, plugging in the Aorus AI Box and instantly getting workstation-level graphics performance. When you’re done working, you simply unplug the box and take only the lightweight laptop with you. For developers working with artificial intelligence, rendering or simulations, this is the ideal solution.
How the Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box performs in tests
According to Notebookcheck, the Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box was only 27% slower than the full desktop RTX 5090 in games and 18% slower in overall performance, the smallest difference between desktop and external graphics to date. Compared to other cards, the RTX 5080 outperformed both the RTX 5080 and RX 7900 XT, averaging RTX 4090-level performance – and with a better power-to-heat ratio. While Thunderbolt 5 isn’t perfect yet, its higher throughput has finally allowed the external GPU to stop being a compromise.
Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box price and availability
Here comes the less pleasant part. The price of the Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box is around $ 3 269 USD which sounds insanely expensive at first glance. However, it’s important to note that this amount already includes the RTX 5090 graphics card itself, which is currently NVIDIA‘s most powerful chip. You’re not just paying for an empty external case, you’re paying for a complete solution with the performance of a high-end desktop build.
The box also requires a laptop with a Thunderbolt 5 port, which so far only some new models from brands like Dell, ASUS or MSI offer. Without this interface, the device cannot reach its full potential.
On the other hand, the Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box is not a product for the casual gamer. It is aimed at those who want the performance of a desktop PC, but at the same time want to retain the lightness, silence and portability of a laptop. So if you use an ultrabook for work during the day and want to play in high definition or run AI training in the evening, this solution makes sense.
We don’t have any confirmed information about the official availability on the market yet, but we’re keeping a close eye on the situation and we’ll keep you updated on the news in our articles.
Conclusion: the future of external graphics has just begun
The Gigabyte Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box shows where external graphics solutions have moved. What once meant big compromises now offers performance close to desktop builds. With a Thunderbolt 5 interface and a full-featured RTX 5090 inside, this box delivers an unprecedented combination of mobility and power.
Yes, its price of around $3 269 USD isn’t low, but it’s important to remember that this amount already includes the graphics card itself – the high-end chip that makes up the majority of the value on its own. For gamers, creatives and developers who want the power of a desktop PC without giving up the portability of a laptop, this is a unique solution.
The future of external GPUs has just begun. If Gigabyte was able to get RTX 5090 performance into a compact box with RTX 4090-level performance, we can look forward to what the next generation will bring. We’ll keep an eye on the development of this segment and keep you updated on any news.
Gigabyte Aorus RTX 5090 AI Box brings true desktop power to laptops. Powered by a full RTX 5090 with 32 GB GDDR7, Thunderbolt 5, and water cooling, it delivers up to 73 % of desktop performance in a sleek, quiet box.