Editor’s take: Even though they have been available for quite some time, external GPUs haven’t exactly taken the IT world by storm. However, there is certainly a market for these products, as evidenced by Asus introducing its latest eGPU device. This new offering comes equipped with a powerful next-generation GeForce GPU and a host of connectivity options.

Asus has unveiled a new external GPU featuring Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. The 2025 edition of the ROG XG Mobile comes equipped with the newly introduced GeForce RTX 5090 (mobile) card and has been reengineered to enhance GPU performance for older laptops and other portable gaming machines. While eGPU upgrades have seen declining interest in recent years, Asus is betting that hardcore gamers and serious content creators will find this new product appealing.

Thanks to Thunderbolt 5 support, Asus claims the new ROG XG Mobile can achieve up to 80 gigabits per second of bandwidth, a significant upgrade from the 63 Gbps offered by its predecessor. The device also supports Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 connections but cannot reach the same bandwidth performance on these older ports.

Beyond raw performance, Asus emphasizes that the ROG XG Mobile offers versatile connectivity options, including dedicated HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1 outputs, 5G Ethernet, and multiple USB ports. The company also highlights its potential as a robust I/O expansion device for laptops and portable systems like the ROG Ally X, in addition to its gaming capabilities.

The ROG XG Mobile will feature “up to” a GeForce RTX 5090 laptop GPU, ensuring even the most demanding AAA games run with ample power to deliver the best possible visual quality. These new GPUs also provide access to Nvidia’s latest AI technologies, including DLSS and frame generation. Beyond gaming, the device is well-suited for running complex, GPU-intensive AI models in a local setup.

Despite incorporating Nvidia’s cutting-edge Blackwell GPU architecture, the ROG XG Mobile has been carefully engineered to handle the significant performance boost while keeping thermals under control. Asus overhauled the device’s mainboard, replacing traditional diodes with active bridge rectifier MOSFETs. This change helps reduce weight while maintaining a robust 330W power profile, all without increasing the device’s size.

The new ROG XG Mobile features a transparent case, allowing users to showcase the sleek internals of their high-tech purchase. Complementing its design, an RGB-illuminated Asus logo compatible with Aura Sync adds customizable lighting effects.

The device is expected to launch by the end of Q1 2025 and, as with other premium eGPU devices, will come with a hefty price tag. The model featuring the GeForce RTX 5090 laptop GPU is priced at $2,200, while a “lower-end” version equipped with a GeForce RTX 5070 Ti laptop GPU is planned for a later release at a comparatively modest $1,200.