OWC
OWC Mercury Helios FX External Expansion Chassis with Thunderbolt 3
Unlock desktop-class GPU power for your laptop with the OWC Mercury Helios FX External Expansion Chassis. This Thunderbolt 3 enclosure is ideal for creative professionals, researchers, and gamers seeking enhanced graphical performance or multi-display support. It provides 550W of internal power and features a quiet, temperature-controlled fan. The Helios FX supports compatible GPUs and other PCIe cards, simultaneously charging your notebook while delivering powerful processing capabilities across both Mac and Windows platforms. Experience a significant upgrade in gaming, video editing, and data crunching.
$279.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.4
/ 5
Category Rank
179
/ 824
#179 in Laptop Docking Stations
Price vs Category Average
+34%
Above average
Transfer Rate (Max)
340
/ Thunderbolt (Gbps)
Who it's for
- High-Speed PCIe Expansion
- Robust Power Supply and Card Support
- Daisy-Chaining Capability
Who should skip it
- High Initial Cost
- Bandwidth Bottleneck
- Bulky Form Factor
Key Specs
Transfer Rate (Max)
Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps)
Internal Power Supply
550 W (UL-listed, auto-switching)
Expansion Slots
PCIe 3.0 (x4)
Dimensions
7.9 x 13.4 x 7.3 inches (20 x 34 x 18.5 cm)
Weight
7.10 lbs (3.22 kg)
Cooling
Temperature-controlled fan included
Software Requirements
macOS 10.13.4+ or Windows 10 (64-bit, v1709)+
Environmental Operating Temperature
32°F to 95°F (0°C to 35°C)
Features
- Connect a high-performance GPU via Thunderbolt 3
- Boost gaming and creative application performance
- Supports multiple external displays
- Charges your notebook via USB-C PD
- Includes necessary Thunderbolt 3 cable
- Whisper-quiet, temperature-controlled cooling
- Compatible with Mac and Windows PCs
- Backed by a 3-Year OWC Limited Warranty
What customers say
Users overwhelmingly regard the OWC Mercury Helios FX as a premium, professional expansion chassis, valuing its robust aluminum build and reliable Thunderbolt 3 PCIe integration. It effectively supports high-performance graphics and specialized I/O cards, boosting capabilities for demanding tasks like video editing and rendering. Setup is generally straightforward with dependable plug and play across operating systems. The core strength lies in its durable engineering and ability to deliver desktop expansion in a portable form. A minor limitation noted by some is the internal power supply capacity for the most power-hungry GPUs, and fan noise under heavy load can be noticeable in quiet settings. Overall, it is seen as a dependable workhorse for professionals.
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Ready to buy?
$279