Gigabyte AORUS RTX 5060 Ti AI BOX Review: One Dock for Power, Transfer, and Performance

For users of thin and light laptops, a common frustration is the performance bottleneck when trying to play AAA games, run AI models, or edit 4K videos. External GPU docks (eGPUs) are a good solution, but they often come with compromises like being too bulky, having slow transfer speeds, or significant performance loss. The Gigabyte AORUS RTX 5060 Ti AI BOX aims to address all these pain points. In its compact, palm-sized chassis, it packs a Blackwell-architecture RTX 5060 Ti with 16GB of GDDR7 VRAM and a Thunderbolt 5 interface. Connecting it to a lightweight laptop instantly transforms it into a performance beast, capable of handling 2K high-framerate gaming, local AI tasks, and rapid video editing with ease.

 

Gigabyte AORUS RTX 5060 Ti AI BOX Review: One Dock for Power, Transfer, and Performance

 

For this review, we tested the AI BOX with a Lenovo ThinkBook 16 G5+, a business laptop from 2023 featuring an Intel Core i5-13500H processor and 16GB of DDR5 5200MT/s memory. This laptop is equipped with a 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 port, making it a perfect candidate to test whether this compact eGPU can grant it the gaming prowess of a dedicated esports machine.

 

Gigabyte AORUS RTX 5060 Ti AI BOX Review: One Dock for Power, Transfer, and Performance

 

I. Design and Appearance

The first impression of the AORUS RTX 5060 Ti AI BOX is its compact size and solid build quality. With dimensions of approximately 243.7×117.4×48.2mm and a weight of about 2kg, it's far more compact than traditional eGPUs and can easily fit into a backpack alongside a laptop, offering excellent portability. The exterior features a matte metal finish that resists fingerprints and scratches, with beveled edges for a comfortable grip. The front has a diamond-patterned mesh for ventilation and a subtle RGB logo that can be customized via Gigabyte's control center. It also includes a reset button, one USB-C 3.2 Gen2*2 port, and two USB-A 3.2 Gen2 ports for easy access. The rear I/O is extensive, boasting two Thunderbolt 5 ports (one upstream for the PC, one downstream for peripherals), three DisplayPort outputs, one HDMI 2.1 port, an Ethernet jack, and the DC power input. The upstream Thunderbolt 5 port supports 80Gbps bidirectional bandwidth and provides 100W of PD reverse charging, handling power, data, and video output with a single cable. The package includes a 330W power adapter, a vertical stand, and a Thunderbolt 5 cable, ensuring it's ready to use right out of the box.

 

Gigabyte AORUS RTX 5060 Ti AI BOX Review: One Dock for Power, Transfer, and Performance

 

II. Theoretical Performance

Despite its small size, the AI BOX contains a desktop-class GPU built on the latest GB206-300 core and TSMC 4N process. It features 4608 CUDA cores (a 5.88% increase over the RTX 4060 Ti), 144 fifth-gen Tensor Cores, and 36 fourth-gen RT Cores. The 16GB of VRAM is a significant advantage, preventing memory bottlenecks when using DLSS in games. In a 20-minute stress test at a 20°C room temperature, the GPU maintained a stable 180W power draw, with a core clock of 2467MHz, a GPU temperature of 75.3°C, and VRAM at 70°C, which is impressive for a compact dual-fan design. In 3DMark Time Spy, when outputting to an external monitor, it scored 14756, showing only about a 6% performance loss compared to a desktop RTX 5060 Ti 16GB. In Time Spy Extreme, the score was 7186, with a performance loss of around 5%. However, when using the laptop's internal display, the Time Spy Extreme score dropped to 6304, indicating a 17% performance loss due to the data having to travel back through the Thunderbolt cable. The ray-tracing performance in Port Royal was also strong, with a score of 9151.

 

Gigabyte AORUS RTX 5060 Ti AI BOX Review: One Dock for Power, Transfer, and Performance

 

III. Gaming Tests

The 16GB of GDDR7 VRAM on the RTX 5060 Ti is a major asset for gaming. We tested several titles to see how it revitalized the ThinkBook 16. In *CS2* at 2K resolution and high settings, it achieved an average of 200 FPS. In *Delta Force* at 2K with ultra settings, it averaged 70 FPS. For rasterization performance, *Shadow of the Tomb Raider* at 1080p high settings ran at an average of 149 FPS. In the demanding *Assassin's Creed: Shadows* at 1080p ultra with DLSS Quality and Frame Generation, it delivered a smooth 81 FPS. *Black Myth: Wukong* at 1080p high settings with DLSS Quality, medium ray tracing, and 3X Frame Generation hit 104 FPS. Finally, in *Cyberpunk 2077* with ultra ray tracing settings, it managed 105.19 FPS at 1080p (DLSS Quality, 2x Frame Gen) and 105.3 FPS at 2K (DLSS Balanced, 3x Frame Gen).

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