DIY eGPU 101: How to Build an External GPU by Yourself in 2023

DIY eGPU means you’ll learn how to build an external graphics card for your laptop that can be used for gaming on the best settings, editing 4K or 8K footage, and handling VR efficiently.

With a customizable eGPU enclosure like the ADT-Link R43SG-TB3, you can build the best external GPU or eGPU best suited to your needs, whether it’s for gaming, machine learning, animation, 3D rendering, VR/AR, and so on.

External GPU is a great way to enjoy a superior visual experience easily. But buying a top-quality external GPU and the best SSD drive for PS4 Pro might cost higher.

Also, purchasing an eGPU is not that much easy. You must keep many different things in your mind before spending money on an eGPU. Interested in getting a new 2 in 1 laptop? Check these articles the Best 2 in 1 Laptop Under 200 dollars, the best 2 in 1 laptop under 300 dollars, the best 2 in 1 laptop under 400 dollars, and the best 2 in 1 laptop under $600.

But what if I tell you that you can prepare your own external GPU as needed? The best thing is that the DIY eGPU will cost you a lot less than the eGPU you will buy from the market.

DIY eGPU 101: How to build an external GPU

If you don’t have any experience in dealing with hardware, then you might think about how you can build an eGPU. The best gaming headset for big heads will help you play games for long hours and finally decide on the best PS4 flash drive to store and play your games.

Whether you are new or professional, making an eGPU is not going to be a difficult task for you. You only have to follow the steps here to get a budget-friendly DIY eGPU.

1. Back up everything

The first thing you should do in the DIY eGPU process is to back up your files. Not only building an external GPU, if you are doing anything new to your system, you should also first prepare a backup of your data so that you don’t regret losing it.

The backup will help you to perform the task without any worry. The DIY External GPU process will not harm your files, but you should be careful.

2. Compatibility

Don’t go to the market and buy random stuff for your external GPU. Making an eGPU is simple, but you should do your homework to get the best outcome.

Check the compatibility of the device on which you will run the eGPU. If you want to run all the latest high-end games and video editing software, ensure that you also have the latest device with good features.

Also, check whether your device has HDMI and USB Thunderbolt connected, which you may need to connect the DIY eGPU to the system.

Further, go through the power restrictions of your device. You can note all these details because you will need them while buying stuff for your external GPU.

Without checking the compatibility, you might build a worthless eGPU for your device. So have a closer look at the compatibility before taking any further action.

3. Boot Camp

If you are a Mac user, you might be familiar with Boot Camp. It is a utility that comes with all Mac devices. It will help you to use macOS as well as the Windows operating system at the same time on a single device.

Not all the software and games you want to play are compatible with macOS and Windows. Most of the software and games are compatible with a single operating system.

But Boot Camp will help you enjoy all the software on a single device by letting you shift from one operating system to another. If you do not know how to install a window on a Mac device, you can take support from the Boot Camp Assistant.

It will make the window installation process much easier and simpler for you, even if you are a beginner. Remember that you are installing the latest version of an operating system to get better performance.

Unlike Mac devices, most other systems do not provide a built-in Boot Camp. But you can find a lot of software that can play the role of Boot Camp in those systems.

4. Buy Hardware

The primary process of DIY eGPU is buying hardware. You need to purchase suitable and compatible hardware that will give you outstanding results.

Buy a Graphics Card (GPU)

First, you have to spend on a graphic processing unit. If you prepare an eGPU for video editing or everyday gaming tasks, I suggest you choose an RTX 2060 or 2070 GPU.

These devices will deliver you a smooth video editing experience. However, if you want to perform some 4k video tasks and high-end gaming, then the RTX 2080 will be a good option.

However, the RTX 2080 Ti is expensive but will give you the best outcome. You might also require a PCIe extender cable for some graphic cards. So make sure to check the PCIe before investing in the card.

Buy an eGPU Enclosure

Choose a suitable case if you want to keep your external graphic card in a closed container. Before buying the case, you should check whether it is compatible with your GPU.

You must also consider whether the case supports Thunderbolt 2 or 3. The eGPU enclosure will accommodate you in connecting the card with the device. Also, it will prevent the card from all sorts of external damage.

Buy a Power Supply Unit (PSU)

You will further need a power supply unit. Before selecting a power supply unit, you must look at the card you use.

Using a low-end card will demand less power, while for a high-end card, you need to invest in a superior-performing power unit.

Buy a PSU with above 500-watt power. This will enable you to use high-end graphics cards like the latest AMD and Nvidia GPUs.

Buy a PCIe Powered Flexible Riser

At last, you might also need to own a PCIe 16x to 16x Powered Flexible Riser. It is a cheap peripheral that will not disturb your budget. However, some of the cards will not demand this equipment.

5. Assemble

As you have bought and received all the required hardware and peripherals, you now need to assemble them. You will also get a manual with most of the peripheral devices. You can connect the peripherals using the manual.

This assembly stage is relatively easy. You’ll mostly need to do some plugging and light manual work.

6. Install the Required Drivers

The last step in the DIY eGPU process is driver installation. You have to download the required graphics drivers before operating the eGPU. However, you can locate the drivers from the manufacturer’s website.

This step is very easy, head over to AMD’s or Nvidia’s website, select your GPU model, and download the drivers. These drivers are needed for your GPU to perform at max performance.

Also, make sure you download the latest drivers and update the drivers whenever there’s an update.

7. Launch your new external GPU (eGPU)

Once you are done with the driver installation process, you can start using the DIY eGPU and get top-quality performance. You will mark a notable change in your system performance after connecting the eGPU.

Bottom Line

Engaging in the manual DIY eGPU process is worth it because you get the power and performance you want and can afford.

But, before doing something as technical as this please do your due diligence. Do a lot of research on your laptop. If it’s compatible and able to use an external GPU because most laptops can’t because they don’t have Thunderbolt 3 ports.

After checking if your laptop can work with external GPUs, check if it can work with the GPU you want to buy. An example can be to check if your Dell Inspiron Laptop can work with an RTX 2080 Ti card as an external GPU.

Then finally, check if all your components (GPU+PSU+Enclosure) are compatible so you don’t waste money and time buying the wrong components.