Minisforum DEG2 reveals itself as OCuLink and TB5 eGPU dock with new global release – NotebookCheck.net News
The DEG2 is Minisforum’s attempt to capture both OCuLink and Thunderbolt eGPU fans. One of the first eGPU docks to feature OCuLink and Thunderbolt 5, the Minisforum DEG2 also features 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet and an M.2 2280 SSD slot.
Minisforum is finishing up the year by releasing its long-awaited successor to its DEG1 eGPU dock (curr. $99 on Amazon). Released over eighteen months ago, the DEG1 combined an OCuLink 4i connector with a 16-pin PCIe 4.0 connector within a package that measured 270 x 175 x 41 mm. With a 64 Gbps bandwidth that eclipsed that of Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 eGPU docks, the DEG1 also featured a 24-pin connector for connecting ATX or SFX power supplies (PSUs).
The DEG2 continues in this mould without a built-in PSU. Instead, Minisforum includes screws for holding a PSU in place, which then keeps a graphics card from slipping via a bundled metal brace. While all that is true of the DEG1, the DEG2 departs in a few crucial areas.
On the one hand, the DEG2 adds two Thunderbolt 5 ports without sacrificing OCuLink connectivity like the Peladn Link S-3. According to Minisforum, both Thunderbolt 5 ports provide 80 Gbps bandwidth, but with the same 64 Gbps offered to graphics cards via PCIe 4.0 x4 as OCuLink. Moreover, although one Thunderbolt 5 ports delivers up to 140 W charging, the other peaks at a measly 30 W.
On the other hand, the DEG2 contains multiple expansion options that the DEG1 lacked altogether. As the picture below shows, Minisforum has included an M.2 2280 slot for adding an SSD, as well as 2.5 Gigabit LAN and USB Type-A ports on either end. The Minisforum DEG2 retails for $299 in the US but can currently be picked up for $239.90 on pre-order with shipments set for the start of January 2026 in many markets. Currently, Minisforum is selling its new eGPU dock in Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the Eurozone too.
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Alex Alderson – Senior Tech Writer – 13930 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2018
Prior to writing and translating for Notebookcheck, I worked for various companies including Apple and Neowin. I have a BA in International History and Politics from the University of Leeds, which I have since converted to a Law Degree. Happy to chat on Twitter or Notebookchat.
Alex Alderson, 2025-12-27 (Update: 2025-12-27)
