First Look: Razer Core X

Razer Core X

Razer doesn’t scrimp on the internal specs of its premium Razer Blade gaming laptops – but it still likes to keep them slick and thin rather than some of its rivals’ humongous fan-sporting competition. Extra space affords extra power, however, which is why Razer is introducing the Razer Core X, a plug-and-play external graphics card enclosure to boost the gaming potential of its laptop range.

The Core X joins the existing Razer Core V2 in the company’s external GPU case range, but can be considered a stripped-down, bare-bones version focusing on graphics performance rather than the bells and whistles of the Core V2. 

So, where the Core V2 makes use of a slim form factor 500W power supply for 2.2-slot cards, and packs in USB, Ethernet ports and Chroma LED lighting for $499 (around £370 or AU$660), the Core X is a slightly bigger, no-frills enclosure for larger 3-slot cards, with an ATX 650W power supply priced at $299 (around £225, AU$400).

Razer Core X

The idea is that the added horsepower the Core X with dedicated full-sized GPU can bring removes the need for a full sized gaming desktop – your compatible computer manages as both, letting you have portable practicality and gaming grunt when you return home. A Thunderbolt 3 cable is then all you need to immediately get the two devices working together, with smart Razer software doing the hard work of making it truly plug-and-play.

A relatively wide array of cards are compatible with the Core X too, from an Nvidia GeForce GTX 750 up to a GTX Titan X, to an Nvidia Quadro GP100 up to a Quadro P4000, and from an AMD Radeon R9 285 to a Vega RX 64. Whatever your preferred manufacturer, providing you have a relatively recent card you should be covered. Note of course that the GPU itself will have to be sourced separately. 

Razer Core X

Razer would ideally love you to pair the Core X with one of its Blade, Blade Stealth, or Blade  Pro laptops. However, you can pair the core with a Thunderbolt-enabled Mac running High Sierra 10.13.4 or above, depending on its own AMD graphics card being compatible. Likewise, Windows 10 users on other brands’ machines can pair up with the Core X provided their device has Thunderbolt 3 with external graphics support. Make sure to check the individual configuration of your machine is compatible before laying down the cash though.

So, how easy is the thing to actually use? From our very brief hands-on time with the Core X, it seems very easy indeed – you simply pull on a locking lever which releases an internal chassis, pop your GPU of choice in and connect its power supply, slide the chassis back into the case, lock the lever and plug it into your computer. Everything feels satisfyingly solid, and relatively foolproof.

Early verdict

At this stage, we’ve yet to see the Razer Core X hooked up to a gaming laptop to judge its performance, and just how seamless the system works in reality. But at a concept level, and given the known performance of earlier Core models, this looks like a relatively cost effective way to get some extra grunt into your lower-powered laptops. We’ll have more on the Core X once we’ve had some more extensive hands on time with it.

TOPICS
Gerald Lynch

Gerald is Editor-in-Chief of iMore.com. Previously he was the Executive Editor for TechRadar, taking care of the site's home cinema, gaming, smart home, entertainment and audio output. He loves gaming, but don't expect him to play with you unless your console is hooked up to a 4K HDR screen and a 7.1 surround system. Before TechRadar, Gerald was Editor of Gizmodo UK. He is also the author of 'Get Technology: Upgrade Your Future', published by Aurum Press.

Latest in GPU
AMD Radeon RX 6000 Series Graphics Card on top wooden desk beside a keyboard
How to update AMD GPU drivers
A character riding their horse through the Japanese landscape of in Rise of the Ronin
Another day, another dreadful PC port - Rise of the Ronin joins the list of woeful PC launches with even an Nvidia RTX 4090 succumbing to stutters
An AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT made by Sapphire on a table with its retail packaging
AMD describes its recent RDNA 4 GPU launch as 'unprecedented' and promises restocking the Radeon RX 9070 XT as 'priority number one'
An AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT vs RX 9070 against a red two-tone background
Well, AMD's Radeon RX 9070 series launch isn't going as smoothly as we thought - and it's because retailers have inflated prices
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070
Nvidia RTX 5080 stock is so barren that retailers are holding competitions where you can "win" the right to buy one for MSRP
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
Nvidia could unleash RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti GPUs on PC gamers tomorrow, but there’s no sign of rumored RTX 5050 yet
Latest in News
Google Pixel 8a in aloe green showing
Google Pixel 9a benchmark link teases the performance of the upcoming mid-ranger
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #1148)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #379)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #645)
Apple iPhone 16 Pro HANDS ON
Leaked iPhone 17 dummy units may have given us our best look yet at all four models
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over