Review: ASUS ROG Flow X13 (GV301) with ROG XG Mobile eGPU

We reviewed the new ASUS ROG Flow X13 a couple of months ago. If you have not read the review of this ultra-slim gaming laptop, click here. We recently received the ROG XG Mobile eGPU that pairs really well with the ASUS ROG Flow X13. The ROG XG Mobile eGPU is an external GPU that enhances the gaming prowess of the laptop. So let’s quickly dive into the review.

When you think of traditional eGPU solutions, what comes to mind? Possibly, a device that is extremely large and bulky, which you may have to just leave at home on your desk, while you are away at a LAN party. Well, not anymore. The ASUS XG Mobile eGPU weighs just 1kg and measures 155mm deep, 208mm wide, and 29mm high. But, don’t judge the product by its size. The eGPU also packs in vapor chamber cooling, and hence, ASUS was able to fit a 150W/Full wattage RTX3080 and a 280W power adapter inside.

And to make sure you get the maximum performance when you connect an external GPU, that provides all the bandwidth you need for external displays, USB ports, and so on, ASUS also went ahead and created its own interface that provides dedicated and more bandwidth for all of this. The XG Mobile eGPU now uses an exclusive PCIe 8 lane interface that delivers 7.88GB/s of dedicated bandwidth to the GPU, and a dedicated USB link for driving the I/O hub.

When you combine the Flow X13 and XG Mobile eGPU as a total gaming powerhouse, the entire package weighs just 2.3kg, thus delivering a beast that you can use to compete with other gamers. And once you are done with your gaming sessions, you can disconnect the XG Mobile eGPU and use the X13’s ultraslim profile to get your work done, while on the road.

The XG Mobile eGPU comes with a built-in 280W adapter, which powers everything. This includes the GPU, laptop, four USB3.2 ports, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, and Ethernet ports. So apart from being an eGPU, you can also use it as a fully loaded hub to connect to external monitors and a range of accessories.

In order to provide powerhouse performance, the ASUS XG Mobile eGPU uses a GeForce RTX 3080 GPU clocked to 1810MHz at 150W with ROG Boost. Size-wise, the XG Mobile eGPU is definitely one of the lightest and most compact external GPUs out there on the market. In addition, the vapor chamber cooling in the ROG XG Mobile eGPU keeps it cool even during trying times.

We tried a bunch of AAA games such as Hitman 3 and Shadow Of The Tomb Raider on Flow X13, still connected to the XG Mobile eGPU and we came away impressed by the overall performance. The XG Mobile eGPU will definitely boost gaming performance, which gamers today are looking for. The combination of the Flow X13 and the XG Mobile eGPU turns the package into an eminently portable creative powerhouse.

So, if you are looking for an ultra-thin and light gaming laptop, that you can lug around while on the road, but would like a gaming powerhouse while gaming, the ASUS ROG Flow X13 (GV301) and the ROG XG Mobile eGPU combo is something you could check out.

Price: ASUS ROG Flow X13 (GV301) – AED 7499;  ASUS ROG XG Mobile eGPU – AED 6,999