AMD’s mobile-focused Radeon RX 7800M is making waves, not just for its impressive specs but also for the significant performance differences observed when using different connection standards. Recent tests by HotHardware have unveiled a substantial performance boost when connecting the RX 7800M via OCulink compared to USB4.
The Radeon RX 7800M, a Navi 32-based GPU boasting 3840 Stream Processors – the full configuration of its desktop counterpart – has shown its true potential in these benchmarks. While it features a slightly reduced memory bandwidth compared to its desktop sibling, with a 192-bit memory bus and 12GB of GDDR6 memory, its performance is still nothing to scoff at. The testing leveraged the OneXPlayer 2 eGPU enclosure, providing a controlled environment to compare OCulink’s 64Gbps PCIe 4.0 x4 bandwidth against USB4’s 40Gbps (Thunderbolt 4/3 speeds).
The results are striking. Across a range of demanding titles including 3DMark TimeSpy, Port Royal, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Far Cry 5, Gears Tactics, The Division 2, and Borderlands 3 (all tested at 1440p), the Radeon RX 7800M consistently delivered a remarkable 20% to 28% performance increase when connected via OCulink. This clearly demonstrates the impact of the extra 24Gbps bandwidth. This impressive performance leap highlights the considerable bottleneck imposed by USB4’s speed limitations. The disparity emphasizes the importance of high-bandwidth connectivity for external GPUs (eGPUs).
This comparison between USB4 and OCulink begs the question: what will Thunderbolt 5, with its potential bandwidth ranging from 80Gbps to 120Gbps, bring to the table? The potential for even greater performance gains is exciting, but the wider adoption of Thunderbolt 5 remains a significant hurdle. Currently, Thunderbolt 5 is relatively scarce, with notable exceptions like the Razer Blade 18 featuring Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. But the future of eGPUs seems brighter than ever, with the advancements in both GPU technology and connectivity standards continuing to push the boundaries of external graphics power.
The difference in performance between these connection standards is clear evidence of the significant advantage higher bandwidth offers for eGPU performance. This data underscores the ongoing need for high-speed connectivity options to fully unleash the potential of external graphics cards, and the race for higher bandwidth continues to be a critical aspect of the eGPU market’s development. The future looks promising as technology progresses and faster standards become more prevalent.
