Standing screen display size | 27.56 Inches |
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Processor | none |
RAM | 16 |
Card Description | Dedicated |
Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 4 |
Razer Core X Chroma Aluminum External GPU Enclosure (eGPU): Compatible with Windows & MacOS Thunderbolt 3 Laptops, NVIDIA/AMD PCIe Support, 700W PSU, 4X USB 3.1, 1x Gbit Ethernet, Chroma RGB, Black
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Specific Uses For Product | Gaming |
Brand | Razer |
Operating System | Windows Vista;Windows XP;Mac;Linux |
Screen Size | 27.56 Inches |
Model Name | Core X Chroma |
Included Components | 1 eGPU |
CPU Model | None |
Color | Classic Black |
Special Feature | Led lights |
Wireless network technology | Wi-Fi |
About this item
- Desktop Grade Performance: Boosts Thunderbolt 3 laptop performance with support for up to 3 slot wide PCIe full sized desktop graphics cards (graphics card NOT included)
- Built-In Power Supply: Includes a 700W ATX PSU with 100W laptop charging via Thunderbolt 3; GPU max power support up to 500W
- Customizable RGB Lighting: Includes 16.8 million colors available; capable of syncing with gameplay and other Razer peripherals through Synapse 3 (lighting customization not supported on macOS)
- Compatibility (Windows): Requires Thunderbolt 3 external graphics (eGPU) support with RS45 or later and compatible NVIDIA or AMD graphics cards
- Compatibility (macOS): Requires Thunderbolt 3 and High Sierra 10.13.4 or later and compatible AMD graphics cards only (NVIDIA cards not supported)
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Product information
Technical Details
Brand | Razer |
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Series | Core X Chroma |
Item model number | RC21-01430100-R3U1 |
Hardware Platform | PC, Linux, Mac |
Operating System | Windows Vista;Windows XP;Mac;Linux |
Item Weight | 15.23 pounds |
Product Dimensions | 14.7 x 6.6 x 9 inches |
Item Dimensions LxWxH | 14.7 x 6.6 x 9 inches |
Color | Classic Black |
Hard Drive Interface | USB 3.0 |
Additional Information
ASIN | B07Q78VMPW |
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Customer Reviews |
4.2 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #269 in Enclosures |
Date First Available | April 16, 2019 |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
From the manufacturer
Desktop-Class Performance for Laptops
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PCIe Desktop Graphics Cards SupportThe Razer Core X Chroma features support for the latest PCIe desktop graphics cards including NVIDIA GeForce and AMD XConnect enabled Radeon cards. Highly mobile developers can now harness the power of compatible NVIDIA Quadro cards and AMD Radeon Pro cards for professional graphics performance. |
Plug and PlayFor quick connection to your game session, Razer Core X Chroma is plug and play when connected with compatible laptops. The single Thunderbolt cable connection unlocks desktop graphics, peripherals, Gigabit Ethernet, and Razer Chroma RGB lighting. |
Thunderbolt 3 ConnectionThe unique dual-chip design of the Razer Core X Chroma effectively handles both graphic and peripheral data through a single Thunderbolt 3 cable to the laptop. The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) connection between a laptop and Razer Core X Chroma yields incredibly fast speeds, while offering a standard connection to various systems. |
The Ultimate Notebook Companion
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Versatile CompatibilityThe Razer Core X Chroma is incredibly versatile and compatible with Thunderbolt 3 systems running Windows 10 RS4 or later and Macs running macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 or later. Laptops require a Thunderbolt 3 port with external graphics (eGPU) support. |
Upgradeable AnytimeStay at the top of your game by keeping your performance maxed. Razer Core X Chroma lets you easily upgrade your graphics card, so you can instantly give your laptop a boost. |
Optimized Thermal PerformancePerfectly sized to fit your setup, the Razer Core X Chroma features additional cooling and open vents in its aluminum body for optimized thermal performance. |
Blade 15 Base Model | Blade 15 Advanced Model | Blade Pro 17 | Blade Stealth | |
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Customer Reviews |
4.3 out of 5 stars
1,454
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4.2 out of 5 stars
101
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4.1 out of 5 stars
119
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4.0 out of 5 stars
108
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Display | 15-Inch FHD 144Hz or 4K OLED | 15-Inch FHD 300Hz or 4K OLED | Up to 17-Inch IPS-Grade 300Hz | 13-Inch IPS-grade 120Hz |
Resolution | Up to 4K (3840 x 2160) | Up to 4K (3840 x 2160) | Up to 4K (3840 x 2160) 120Hz | Up to 4K (3840 x 2160) |
Processor | 6-Core 10th Gen i7-10750H | 8-Core 10th Gen i7-10875H | 8-Core 10th Gen i7-10875H | Quad-Core 10th Gen i7-1065G7 |
Graphics | Up to GeForce RTX 2070 MQ | Up to GeForce RTX2080 SUPER MQ | Up to GeForce RTX2080 SUPER MQ | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650Ti 4GB |
Storage | Up to 512GB PCIe NVMe | Up to 1TB PCIe NVMe | Up to 1TB PCIe NVMe | 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 |
Memory | 16GB DDR4-2933MHz (8GB x 2) | 16GB DDR4-2933MHz (8GB x 2) | 16GB DDR4-2933MHz (8GB x 2) | 16GB LPDDR4X 3733MHz (Fixed) |
Keyboard | Razer Chroma RGB Single-Zone | Per-Key Razer Chroma RGB | Per-Key Razer Chroma RGB | Razer Chroma RGB Single-Zone |
WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) |
Addt'l Features | Thunderbolt 3 / USB-Charging | Thunderbolt 3 / USB-Charging | Thunderbolt 3 / USB-Charging | Thunderbolt 3 / USB-Charging |
Weight / Size | 0.78"x9.25"x13.98" / 4.7lbs | 0.70"x9.25"x13.98" / 4.9lbs | 0.78"x10.24"x15.55 / 6.06lbs | 8.27"x11.99"x0.60" / 3.26lbs |
Videos
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Razer Core X Chroma External GPU Enclosure (eGPU) Unboxing
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Razer Core X Chroma External GPU (eGPU) initial setup
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Product Description
The Razer Core x Chroma Thunderbolt 3 external desktop graphics enclosure enables full transformation of your compatible Laptop into a desktop-class gaming or workstation setup. The Thunderbolt 3 design provides dedicated lanes for both graphics and I/O ensuring fluid gameplay. Connect to the future with the most advanced and versatile eGPU solution available. Thunderbolt 3 cable length: 27.56 Inches/ 700mm, Please also ensure your laptop has the latest BIOS, firmware, Thunderbolt software, and other applicable updates before connecting to Razer Core X Chroma. Max inner dimensions - 12.99 x 6.29 x 2.24 inches, height measured from top of PCIe connector to the bottom of the locking pin ramps.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the ease of use and appearance of the computer chassis. For example, they mention it's easy to install a GPU and looks good. That said, opinions are mixed on performance, build quality, power, noise, and value.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the computer chassis easy to use. They mention it's tool-free, plug-and-play on Mac OS, and has enough wattage to handle better cards. Some say it'll be a good way to test graphic card and play some games at decent speed.
"...Jet black and sexy. Price is absolutely to other eGPUs. Super easy to install graphic cards..." Read more
"...(i9/32/1TB/Radeon RX 560) it was so easy fitting and taking unit to install card...." Read more
"...It was easy to setup and very colorful. It was easy to get access to where I put my XFX SWFT RX 6600 card in...." Read more
"...This one also seems to have the best build quality and easiest to replace the PSU later if I ever want to...." Read more
Customers like the appearance of the computer chassis. They mention it looks good, is well built, and has a minimal design. Some appreciate the colorful design and the quiet operation. Overall, most are happy with their purchase and recommend it to others.
"...The 1440p in high def makes the text look amazing. I know, I know... folks be like, you got a 4K for TEXT and 2 of them?! ......" Read more
"This is a very nice eGPU, but I found that my computer would crash frequently with it...." Read more
"...Pros 😃Quality is amazing. Build is sturdy. The aesthetic is amazing. Jet black and sexy. Price is absolutely to other eGPUs...." Read more
"...and within Sapphire Nitro Fans spun with such quietness and multi colored performance. I will snap some photos later...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the performance of the computer chassis. Some mention that it works quite well, while others say that it was sluggish due to the GPU.
"...It works great and the installation process on my 4 year old Razer Blade 17 laptop was almost immediate as it recognized it and asked me to follow..." Read more
"...So far, it works terrific. Here are my summary on the unit:Pros 😃Quality is amazing. Build is sturdy. The aesthetic is amazing...." Read more
"...Anyway, back to how I got here. The MBP was sluggish due to the GPU. My specific model is described to work with 1 5K external monitor...." Read more
"...The eGPU seems to work and quite well but paying $100 for broken feature should be illegal, but it's not. So I'm just warning the next buyer." Read more
Customers are mixed about the build quality of the computer chassis. Some mention it's well made, solid, and reliable, while others say it'll crash and the board components are fragile.
"...Pros- Quality packaging as always (stickers swag) 👏- Quality product, paint, mesh, design, etc. 🙌..." Read more
"...Here are my summary on the unit:Pros 😃Quality is amazing. Build is sturdy. The aesthetic is amazing. Jet black and sexy...." Read more
"This is a very nice eGPU, but I found that my computer would crash frequently with it...." Read more
"...an issue related to the board controlling everything, but the build quality is amazing...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the power of the computer chassis. Some mention that it has ample power, both for charging and computing, and provides full 100W power to MacBook while connected. However, others say that it does not turn on or supply any power, it does nothing when it is turned on and abruptly stopped working.
"...1. My Catalina Mac Mini will not boot with this attached unless I also have a monitor (or in my case, a monitor emulator dongle) attached to the..." Read more
"...and the laptop is charging off of it - just nothing works, nothing plugged into it works and the laptop is using the onboard gpu)..." Read more
"...Might have the highest wattage support compared to other competitors at the time of this review...." Read more
"...Core X. Unfortunately when I received the replacement, it too would not even power on...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the noise of the computer chassis. Some mention that it's very quiet with a small humming sound, while others say that it is quite noisy during some things. Some customers also mention that the PSU fan is loud, and the fans spin quickly causing some fan noise.
"...Also, it's very quiet. It handle most graphic cards from NVIDIA or AMD...." Read more
"...It’s not terribly loud but the constant fan noise is pretty disappointing when you're accustomed to the silence of your laptop..." Read more
"...Cons- Leaving idle state, the fans spin quickly causing some fan noise. It's only like a second or two. Not that big of a deal...." Read more
"...it is my favorite due to best compatibility, reliability, and lowest noise level in my experience...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the value of the computer chassis. Some mention that the big graphics cards are good value for the money, while others say that the Core X "Chroma" edition is not worth the extra $100. The unit is a little pricey, but does what it's supposed to do. Some customers also say that it'd be a good option for gaming.
"...An overall nice eGPU, but awfully expensive just for additional USB ports and ethernet...." Read more
"...item I've purchased, it's top notch quality products and the best bang for the buck...." Read more
"...It's a totally useless purchase and complete waste of money. I'll add, that RAZER support is either incompetent or uncaring...." Read more
"...Value 5 out of 5 because even though it is relatively expensive, the value is increased because it is a very capable thunderbolt 3 dock, and makes..." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the size of the computer chassis. They mention that the included cables are ridiculously too short, embarrassingly too long, and limiting. Some say that the end cap restricts the length of the card you can use. Overall, customers are disappointed with the small size of this case.
"...It comes with a rather short thunderbolt cord to your MAC/PC, I would, for sure, get something longer so you can displace your desk space to your..." Read more
"...Also if you’re careless when buying a full-size GPU it may not fit in the enclosure. It will work with the enclosure not shut, but it looks jank." Read more
"...my MacBook Pro 2018 15” Touchbar (i9/32/1TB/Radeon RX 560) it was so easy fitting and taking unit to install card...." Read more
"...It was a little bit too short to sit it comfortably on my desktop since my NUC is attached to the back of my monitor...." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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My Macbook Pro (15" mid 2015) is "kind of" capable of running 2 4K monitors but noticed performance issues when the 4K resolution is scaled to 1440p. macOS shows a warning for this under display settings when changing the resolution. It's either 1080p or 4K where it doesn't bog down. Well, we all know 4K on a 27" monitor is going to make everything very tiny and the 1080p resolution is going to be in yo face but the picture quality is amazing. I prefer the 1440p with the better image quality reason I went 4K rather than native 1440p. 5K is just still super expensive.
Some folks will probably be like why dual 4K?! I'm a software engineer so the extra real estate for the IDE / Text Editor on one screen and the rest on the other is what I've always preferred. The 1440p in high def makes the text look amazing. I know, I know... folks be like, you got a 4K for TEXT and 2 of them?! ... Yes, my eyes are not the same as they were over a decade ago when I started my software development career.
Anyway, back to how I got here. The MBP was sluggish due to the GPU. My specific model is described to work with 1 5K external monitor. Makes sense, it's a 5 year old laptop GPU powering dual 4K. I needed to upgrade my GPU and researched some solutions. I was disappointed finding out there's no native macOS support for Thunderbolt 2 and eGPUs but I found purge-wrangler.sh.
After following the basic instructions from the purge-wrangler github page, it was plug and play. I installed an AMD RX580... YES, an AMD... I have not purchased a desktop AMD card ever since the whole Bitcoin mining phase, people were forced to turn to NVIDIA cards. It all works great on my MBP. Also, I have this connected to a 4 port DisplayPort KVM for dual monitors. It works, make sure to buy the official Apple TB3 to TB2 since it's bidirectional and get a TB certified cable to plug into the adapter.
# Pros
- Quality packaging as always (stickers swag) 👏
- Quality product, paint, mesh, design, etc. 🙌
- Works with MBP (15" mid 2015, and a 13" MB Air 2012) TB2 (with install scripts) - Apple's limitation 🤦♂️
- macOS detected my monitors supported HDR and displayed an enable/disable checkbox in the display settings where as before it didn't 🤔
- Might have the highest wattage support compared to other competitors at the time of this review. Can support most high end GPUs but double check the dimensions and power requirements! 🥇
- The swivel / lock handle design - 👌
- It can play games with the RX580 but nowhere close to what my 1070Ti on the PC can do. I'm upgrading to a 5700XT since I got a Prime Day deal on it.
- Can play fortnite, cs:go, left4dead, etc. I suggest a better card since the Razer X is designed for some serious gaming GPUs. The RX580 is an insult for what this eGPU enclosure can support. However, if you don't care about gaming in high/ultra settings, software & web development, CAD, video editing etc. then a RX580 paired with this enclosure is a great upgrade.
# Cons
- Leaving idle state, the fans spin quickly causing some fan noise. It's only like a second or two. Not that big of a deal. Might be the GPU + Enclosure combo. Will find out with the 5700XT swap.
# Neutral
- Ventilation - can be used as a mini space heater for the winter by playing games at ultra settings. Not sure how much the office will warm up during the summer. It's fall.
- Some people complained theirs "didn't power on". You have to plug in a TB3 cable. Most people will assume they would see some kind of light or power when flipping the PSU switch. Wasn't the case and it left me scratching my head a bit. My situation with purge-wrangler had me connect the cable during script install. Razers instructions were to plug in the TB cable THEN flip the PSU switch.
- Wish it came with a longer TB3 cable but they sell longer TB cables separately. That's how they can keep the price low b/c a 6.6 FT TB2 cable cost me $45 so be glad it came with one.
It works great and the installation process on my 4 year old Razer Blade 17 laptop was almost immediate as it recognized it and asked me to follow through on installing the necessary drivers for both the video card and the Razer Core X. This device works as advertised.
2022 update. I originally ran an ASUS ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2060 Advanced Overclocked 6G in this unit. The card worked great, but was starting to feel underpowered in certain high object count situations.
I have since upgraded it to an EVGA GeForce RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra Gaming, 24GB GDDR6X, iCX3 Technology. The Razer website lists the 3090 as compatible with the Razer Core X Chroma. This GPU card requires 350W to work and needs 3 GPU PCIe connections. Doing the math, the card would require a minimum 116.6667W per PCIe connector to function. The Razer Core X Chroma feeds 500W to the GPU but only has 2 PCIe connectors. With 250W to one connection, and 125W and 125W via a splitter to the 2nd and 3rd, this card turns on, works, and is recognized by the now 6 year old Razer Blade 17. However the card does throw a decent amount of heat so I wouldn't run it without AC on a hot day and I would let the fans on the eGPU run for about a minute or two after the laptop is shutdown before I shut the Core X Chroma off.
Finally as I learned more about performance bottlenecks, I found that in retrospect this card is overkill for this rig setup because of the data bottleneck through the Thunderbolt 3 cable. A GPU in a PC tower has a much faster data rate than Thunderbolt 3 can provide. So generally if you play games in FHD (1920X1080) with the settings turned up then a rig set up with an eGPU will work for you. It also means you will never be running the card at its full potential. If you want to be able to play at higher resolutions, you will want the GPU card in the PC tower wired into the motherboard. Don't use an eGPU.
So the moral of the story is do your homework. I would recommend anyone looking at GPUs for a Razer Core X Chroma to look at GPUs that only require 2 GPU PCIe's first and read the reviews. They'll use less power, and may get you the same FHD performance for less.
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2020
It works great and the installation process on my 4 year old Razer Blade 17 laptop was almost immediate as it recognized it and asked me to follow through on installing the necessary drivers for both the video card and the Razer Core X. This device works as advertised.
2022 update. I originally ran an ASUS ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2060 Advanced Overclocked 6G in this unit. The card worked great, but was starting to feel underpowered in certain high object count situations.
I have since upgraded it to an EVGA GeForce RTX 3090 FTW3 Ultra Gaming, 24GB GDDR6X, iCX3 Technology. The Razer website lists the 3090 as compatible with the Razer Core X Chroma. This GPU card requires 350W to work and needs 3 GPU PCIe connections. Doing the math, the card would require a minimum 116.6667W per PCIe connector to function. The Razer Core X Chroma feeds 500W to the GPU but only has 2 PCIe connectors. With 250W to one connection, and 125W and 125W via a splitter to the 2nd and 3rd, this card turns on, works, and is recognized by the now 6 year old Razer Blade 17. However the card does throw a decent amount of heat so I wouldn't run it without AC on a hot day and I would let the fans on the eGPU run for about a minute or two after the laptop is shutdown before I shut the Core X Chroma off.
Finally as I learned more about performance bottlenecks, I found that in retrospect this card is overkill for this rig setup because of the data bottleneck through the Thunderbolt 3 cable. A GPU in a PC tower has a much faster data rate than Thunderbolt 3 can provide. So generally if you play games in FHD (1920X1080) with the settings turned up then a rig set up with an eGPU will work for you. It also means you will never be running the card at its full potential. If you want to be able to play at higher resolutions, you will want the GPU card in the PC tower wired into the motherboard. Don't use an eGPU.
So the moral of the story is do your homework. I would recommend anyone looking at GPUs for a Razer Core X Chroma to look at GPUs that only require 2 GPU PCIe's first and read the reviews. They'll use less power, and may get you the same FHD performance for less.
Top reviews from other countries
Reviewed in Mexico on April 18, 2021
I am having great success with this Razer Core X external GPU enclosure attached to an Asus Zenbook Deluxe 8th-gen i7 ultrabook. I am NOT gaming, I'm primarily running the Adobe Creative Cloud usual suspects: Photoshop, Premiere, Illustrator, Dreamweaver as well as Autocad and Revit. I installed a NVidia Quadro P620 card in the enclosure. Everything is far faster than before - very pleased with the upgraded performance. Installation in Windows was painless for the most part, but you should be aware that there was a very long delay while Windows detected the enclosure and set up the software for it, and there is absolutely no indication that anything is happening. If I didn't have patience I may have rebooted too early and screwed the whole thing up, but I checked Task Manager and could see the process taking about 20-30% cpu so I just let it go until it calmed down. Still no indication that it finished when it finished, I just waited a few minutes more then rebooted. Then I downloaded the latest card drivers from NVidia (ODE version not QNF) and installed them. Rebooted again. Then I plugged in the actual Display Port cables from four Asus 2560 × 1440 monitors and everything came up roses. The enclosure is practically silent - virtually impossible to tell it's even getting power. And huge. In fact it's bigger than most of the desktop computers in our offices. But that doesn't matter because it just sits behind the screens and does its job quietly out of sight.
I docked one star because I could not believe that I had to pull out the cordless drill and drill a hole to be able to secure the Quadro card in its slot. This won't be an issue for those with dual-width or wider video cards, but the Quadro P620 is a single-slot card and there's no hole to fasten the card's bracket to the enclosure case. Easy fix by drilling and tapping a hole in the case, but now I have to find a slot adapter cover plate to fill in the gaping hole beside my Quadro card, since the adapter cover that comes with the enclosure cannot be used as it's designed to be discarded once a card is installed. It's too wide to use. Kinda lame. If it weren't for this deficiency in design I would award this enclosure with 5 solid stars. I hope this helps.
UPDATE MARCH 2/2019 This enclosure is still working perfectly. I use it every work day. Great product.
Reviewed in Mexico on May 19, 2023