Can External GPUs Compete with Built-in GPUs in 2025?

External GPUs (eGPUs) have long been the dream for portable gaming enthusiasts, allowing users to plug in a powerful desktop GPU for gaming performance while keeping their laptop lightweight for everyday tasks.

However, despite early excitement, eGPUs never really took off. That could change in 2025, thanks to new hardware advances.

The Early Struggles of External GPUs

The first external GPUs appeared over a decade ago, but they faced significant limitations. For example, in 2015, the Alienware Amplifier offered an external GPU for Alienware laptops, but it was clunky and only worked with specific models.

As Thunderbolt 3 became more widespread, some eGPUs became more standardized, but they still faced performance issues.

The Thunderbolt 3 connection was often too slow, and the use of PCIe x4 lanes instead of the full x16 lanes found in desktop PCs reduced performance.

Why eGPUs Didn’t Take Off

Despite the potential, eGPUs never gained mainstream adoption. One major reason was performance.

Benchmarks showed that even with a powerful GPU, external setups were far slower than when the same GPU was installed directly in a PC.

Gaming laptops, on the other hand, became thinner, lighter, and more powerful, reducing the need for external solutions.

The Hope for 2025

However, recent developments, such as the introduction of Asus’s new external GPU with Thunderbolt 5 connectivity at CES 2025, suggest that eGPUs might finally be ready for a breakthrough.

The promise of faster data transfer speeds and reduced latency could help eGPUs catch up to internal GPU performance, making them a viable option for gamers on the go.

As the technology improves and the demand for powerful yet portable gaming solutions grows, 2025 could be the year external GPUs finally become mainstream.