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

Look elsewhere if you're interested in the built-in ethernet NIC. This uses the ASIX AX88179 ethernet chip, which is notoriously finicky and won't work in a lot of situations. Regrettably, I was unaware of this when I purchased the item. Fortunately, my wireless connection is adequate, so I don't require ethernet support. It's nothing more than a nice-to-have. The Core X Chroma has a feature that distinguishes it from its less-expensive counterparts. The competition is costly. The focus of this review is on Razer's customer service: br>br>In fact, Razer practically begs you to contact Razer support instead of returning the product in all of its documentation. Ignore their objections and simply return the item. If you contact Razer, they'll spend time "troubleshooting" your problem just long enough for Amazon's return window to close, then drop you and claim it's not their fault. In my case, Razer "support" went through the standard troubleshooting steps: There is a power cycle. Updates should be installed. The ethernet driver should be installed again. The thunderbolt driver should be installed again. Connect the ethernet cable to a different router port. Connect the modem to the ethernet cable directly. Etc. Finally, as Amazon's return window drew to a close, they hit me with what I assumed was just another troubleshooting step: To test it out, try borrowing a different laptop. To me, this appeared to be a straightforward troubleshooting step: Aren't we just trying to narrow down the issue to software or configuration and rule out a hardware issue? Nope. They dropped me as soon as I told them that the ethernet worked fine with a borrowed laptop, saying that the Core X Chroma was "as advertised," that it was not their problem, and that I should contact the laptop's manufacturer. I'm serious. Razer is a system manufacturer, so they know better than anyone that third-party peripherals are never supported by system manufacturers. It's clear that Razer's "support" was nothing more than a ruse to keep me waiting for Amazon's return window to close. As a result, I'm stuck with a device whose main "feature" that distinguishes it from its less expensive competitors doesn't work. Learn from my mistakes: br>br> Take care of it and return it as soon as possible Razer "support" should never, ever be contacted.

Penny Faulkner

| Feb 23, 2021

This thing works right out of the box, with the AMD Vega 64 plugged in and the EGPU connected to the 2018 Mac mini, and it flies!.

Clyde Leach

| Feb 09, 2021

AMD Vega 64 is a fantastic graphics card. The goal when I first bought the Razer Core X was to be able to use 4x 4K displays with my (late 2018) Mac Mini (which is limited to Intel onboard graphics). After reading numerous reviews, I decided to pair it with an AMD Vega 64 (reference card) and it worked right out of the box. Now I've bought a second one to use with a Radeon VII (read on for more information) so I can power more displays and benefit from video passing to virtual machines. br>br>There is one caveat to using an eGPU, and it isn't specific to Razer or any other brand: if you're using disk encryption (APFS, Encrypted) on a Mac Mini, you'll need to switch to the Mac Mini's default HDMI port when booting and/or rebooting, and then back to the eGPU once the system is online. br>br> Workaroundsbr>br> Connect your primary monitor to the graphics card within the eGPU and your secondary monitor to the HDMI port on the back of the Mac Mini if you have one with an extra DisplayPort or HDMI port. Using the display settings on the Mac Mini, switch to the HDMI port when it boots up. Switch back to the graphics card port once the Mac Mini has booted. br>br>2). Backup your data, then reinstall MacOS (be sure to format the disk first) with APFS (not APFS Encrypted) as the file system. The issue only affects boot when disk encryption is enabled, and by removing it from the boot sequence, the eGPU will be used by default. br>br>If you don't absolutely *need* encryption enabled, I recommend going with 2 to save time. br>br> Radeon VII Notesbr>br>For those wanting to use a Radeon VII, this eGPU enclosure *does* work, very well, though you will need to make sure you are using the *beta* version of MacOS (currently 10. 6) as of this review. 5 Beta). The Radeon VII does not work with the default (non-Radeon) graphics card at the moment. version ten (beta) Because Apple does not include the card's drivers in previous versions, you'll need to upgrade to version 14. If you don't use the beta release, you'll get a black screen, similar to the problem with disk encryption. Overallbr>br>The bigger question is whether the Razer Core X is worth it at nearly $300 (at the time of this review). What if it's paired with a $400-plus watch? I would say yes to a $700 card. This is an excellent enclosure if you have a Thunderbolt 3 MacBook Pro or Mac Mini and need something that you can easily upgrade with a new card in the future. br>br>I purchased mine with a Vega 64 in mind, but I recently upgraded to a Radeon VII. I bought a second one for the Vega 64 so that it can continue to be used on the same Mac Mini (because the Mac Mini can support two eGPUs - see below). I'm going to put them on the first and third TB3 ports for best results).

Lyric Rush

| Jul 15, 2021

Although the Mac mini is truly plug-and-play, the build quality could be a little better. br>br>I've installed a PowerColor Radeon Vega 64 in my Razer Core X in order to connect to a dual-GPU setup. OS X/Windows 10 Mac mini 2018 booted It's completely seamless and enjoyable once you get it up and running. My gripes are with the construction quality. br>br>Before allowing the PSU to start up, the Razer Core X uses a magnetic sensor to ensure that the case is closed. You'll assume yours is dead if your rails are crooked or the sensor doesn't make the best contact at the end of the rail. I finally figured out that taping a cheap vinyl refrigerator magnet over the sensor on the end did the trick after much swearing and attempting to bend the back rail into just the right position. Furthermore, the board components are a little delicate, so I replaced the stock 120mm fan with a bequiet! The plastic retainer clip on the fan plug on the Silent Wings 3 (without PWM) snapped. It still works, but it's a little fragile, so the next time I open it up, I'll probably use some kapton tape to secure it. br>br>With the exception of the two issues mentioned above, it's been a breeze to use in both Windows and OS X. In general, I'm pleased.

Roger Wolfe

| Nov 23, 2021

I wouldn't recommend the Chroma; instead, get a Core X if you're willing to sacrifice performance. br>I used it in conjunction with a Dell XPS 9570 (16GB/1TB NVME)/ROG-EXTREME/ROG-EXTREME/ROG-EXTREME/ROG-EXTREME/ROG-EXTREME/ STRIX- RTX- 2080TI- O11G. br>I bought the Chroma version for the Ethernet and USB ports, not for the lights; however, even with the drivers from the chip manufacturer's website, the Ethernet port keeps dropping, and if you plug anything into the USB port, the Ethernet drops as well. br>For the regular Core X, I returned the Chroma version, and then I returned the Core X as well. I couldn't justify the amount of performance loss, so I built a new system with a 3900X.

Oliver Key

| Jan 29, 2021