Note: Workaround for (at least some) cards not working in the AGB!
I decided to try and compile a list of cards that do work with the AORUS Gaming box in place of the GTX1070/1080 it ships with. Since these enclosures are available for sale on ebay after people have removed the cards from within, and for sub-200$ prices, which makes them attractive options, it seems like a relevant collection of info to compile. Not all of these have build guides in the implementation list, so they are not all easy to locate.
The links are to the sources. In some of the cases the make and model of the card and/or laptop is not clear. If you know this (or you are the source), please let us know so we can keep this updated. If you have additional cards that you have gotten to work in these boxes, please let us know as well.
Important Note: Removing the PCB from the AORUS Gaming Box will not help you fit a longer card on it. The power connector providing power to the slot and TB3 controller is taller than the PCIe slot itself and will prevent a long card from being plugged in even when you remove the PCB from the enclosure. Using a riser is an alternative.
The following combinations have been shown to work with the AORUS:
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HP Spectre x360: PNY GTX670 (with cooler shroud removed), Sapphire R9 285 ITX.
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Early 2015 13" MBP + Apple TB<->TB3 Adapter: EVGA GTX1050Ti.
- Lenovo Miix 720: Inno3D GTX1060 6GB.
- Late 2011 MBP 17" + Apple TB<->TB3 Adapter: PNY Quadro K1200.
- Late 2013 MBP 15" + Apple TB<->TB3 Adapter: PNY Quadro K1200.
- 2017 Dell XPS 9365 + Asus GTX970 Strix (First implementation using a riser, as the card is too large to fit the AORUS).
- Late 2012 Mac Mini (i5) + Apple TB<->TB3 Adapter: EVGA GTX1060 3GB, Sparkle GTX650.
- Mid 2011 Mac Mini Server + Apple TB<->TB3 Adapter: EVGA GTX 960 2GB, EVGA GTX 1060 6GB, MSI RX 560 ITX 4GB.
- Lenovo T470: Zotac GTX1060 Mini.
- Dell XPS (Unknown Specific Model) + Gigabyte Vega Nano.
The following combinations did NOT work:
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T430s + Apple TB<->TB3 Adapter: Gigabyte GTX1050Ti (Source: My own testing).
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Unknown Laptop: OEM RX 580 ITX.
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Asus Transformer (Model: Asus Transformer T305CA (m3-7y30/8G/256G)): Sapphire RX570 Pulse ITX.
About the only takeaway that is rather consistent is that RX470/RX570/RX580 cards should be avoided. I'd throw the RX480 in as well just to be on the safe side. On the positive side, the R9 285 seems reliable enough. Other cases are a lot less clear (such as the Gigabyte GTX1050Ti working with the ZBook 15 G4 and not working with the Spectre x360).
There is no real consistency with regards to whether the card must have an 8-pin power input to work, as some 6-pin cards work, and others don't. Some cards with no power inputs work, but others do not (at least not with all host laptops).
Want to output [email protected] out of an old system on the cheap? Read here.
Give your Node Pro a second Thunderbolt3 controller for reliable peripherals by re-using a TB3 dock (~50$).
"Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be done, and why. Then do it."- Robert A. Heinlein, "Time Enough for Love."
2012 14" Lenovo Thinkpad T430s [3rd,2C,M] + RX 550 @ 10Gbps-TB1 (Atto Thunderlink) + Win10 [build link]
This is a great idea and will help those looking for a GPU to make use of an empty Gaming Box.
• external graphics card builds
• best laptops for external GPU
• eGPU enclosure buyer's guide
2013 Mac Pro (FP D500 x2) [3rd,12C,E] + RX 5700 XT @ 16Gbps-TB2>TB3 (Mantiz Saturn Pro) + macOS 11 [build link]
Asus Transformer (Unknown Specific Model): Asus R9 Nano, MSI RX560 4GB, GALAX GTX1050 LP.
=> Model: Asus Transformer T305CA (m3-7y30/8G/256G)
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
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Good initiative! I've been trying to test my GTX670 in the 1070 enclosure, but no luck so far.
Not sure yet as whether my OS (Bootcamp + .13.4 beta) or the GPU is to blame.
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
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Has someone ever tried to add a bigger card like a gtx 980ti or rx580 to the AORUS gaming box?
It is too small as i found out, but just for the technical components, would it work to use them in a selfmade box with a different card than the gtx 60/70/80 ? I am thinking of driver issues. I would have an additional PSU, this isnt a problem, only the extra cables that hang around.
I hope someone already had the same idea or even experiences! 
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
.1) See the important note in the original post.
2) Do not use two different power supplies to power the same electronic device. Doing so may cause improper operation and/or damage, immediately, or over time.
Want to output [email protected] out of an old system on the cheap? Read here.
Give your Node Pro a second Thunderbolt3 controller for reliable peripherals by re-using a TB3 dock (~50$).
"Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be done, and why. Then do it."- Robert A. Heinlein, "Time Enough for Love."
2012 14" Lenovo Thinkpad T430s [3rd,2C,M] + RX 550 @ 10Gbps-TB1 (Atto Thunderlink) + Win10 [build link]
Hi! Today I was able to connect the AORUS gaming box with PNY Quadro k1200 card inside with TB2->TB3 apple adapter to MBP 17" late 2011 and 15" late 2013 on mac os 10.11.6 both with success. But what I've noticed is that the gpu inside desktop machine give more result. I run specially Cinebench R15 and that what I got on external full-hd displays (results I got with internal screen is much less because of tb2 bandwidth I think):
17 late 2011 (i7-2760QM 2.4/4gb(1333)) - 60fps,
15 late 2013 (i7-4960HQ 2.6/16gb(1600)) - 80fps,
Custom desktop mini-itx (i7-3770 3.4/16gb(1600)) - 108(!)fps.
After this experiment, I'm not sure that a more powerful GPU will show the result much higher than the custom desktop with the k1200 quadro inside and maybe it's worth selling at all to TB3-notebook user..
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
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I saw another user's implementation (GTX 670 using a modified 8 pin to dual 6 pin connector) and I wonder if there has to be some load detected on the +2 pin? Perhaps simply shorting it isn't sufficient for the PSU to trigger. Perhaps is there a way to hack together an 8 pin to single 6 pin connector, which would be able to put a load on the +2 pin.
Edit: Doing some searching, I came across this post on reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/eGPU/comments/6ogmdj/replacing_the_gpu_inside_aorus_gaming_box/
It looks like this user was able to run the 1060 3gb, which is a 6 pin card, without shorting out the +2pin. Is it possible that gigabyte has a firmware level lock against polaris cards?(as some users have pointed towards) It would make sense in the context of their upcoming product line, featuring an RX 580 (which they also down-branded to just the gigabyte name).
If this is the case I would be interested in seeing the potential of flashing the RX 580 Gaming Box firmware over to the Aorus Box.
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
.If this is the case I would be interested in seeing the potential of flashing the RX 580 Gaming Box firmware over to the Aorus Box.
You can't program the GTX1070 Box FW on the 1080 Box, and those two boxes are identical, so I highly doubt you will be able to do what you propose here.
Want to output [email protected] out of an old system on the cheap? Read here.
Give your Node Pro a second Thunderbolt3 controller for reliable peripherals by re-using a TB3 dock (~50$).
"Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be done, and why. Then do it."- Robert A. Heinlein, "Time Enough for Love."
2012 14" Lenovo Thinkpad T430s [3rd,2C,M] + RX 550 @ 10Gbps-TB1 (Atto Thunderlink) + Win10 [build link]
I can confirm I was able to connect my freshly received EVGA GTX1060 3GB (Mini ITX) on the 1070 Aorus Box!
The platform is a MBP TB 13'' (late 2016) running Windows 10 CU on BootCamp. I hot-plugged (at the dots-stage), got error 31 and just had to install the drivers. I was able to flash the firmware and confirm a 22k H2D.
Edit: The USB hub works has intended, and so does the MBP charging feature. Mouse, ethernet (through an adapter) and iPhone super-charging worked all at the same time.
Many thanks to all for the advice and support!
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
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