AYANEO AG01 Review: WARP SPEED eGPU Gaming for Your Handheld

Captain’s Log, Stardate 25149.1. Our mission: to conduct a thorough systems evaluation of a newly encountered artifact, the AYANEO AG01 Starship graphics dock. We will assess its operational performance, focusing on its AMD Radeon graphics core, and determine in our AYANEO AG01 review if this device truly offers a quantum leap for gaming experiences.

AYANEO AG01 Starship Review Video

AYANEO AG01 Starship Overview

Lets get this AYANEO AG01 review started with an overview of the eGPU. The AYANEO AG01 Starship graphics dock measures around 9.4 x 4.6 x 2.0 inches (24.0 x 11.8 x 5.1 cm) and weighs around 960g (2.11 lbs).

We couldn’t make this review without paying some special attention to the design. This is easily the best design for an eGPU docking station we have seen. Compared to the GPD and ONEXPLAYER designs, it’s boldly gone where no eGPU has gone before. 

This is the Nebula Red model, and its contrasting red and black colours with silver text really stand out. The fan intakes look like observation windows on the side. And the fan exhaust, styled like twin engine nacelles, just screams for some RGB lighting which is sadly missing.

The top features a pressable dial which controls the power and the performance profile, allowing you to divert power. You can also control the RGB lighting around this command dial with the two buttons beside it, which switch it off/on and cycle through various stellar patterns.

On the starboard side is where you can find all the connectivity. There are two DisplayPorts, two HDMI ports, an OCuLink port, a USB-C port and the power port. Followed by a gigabit ethernet and USB-A port. 

On the hull, you can find a stowaway compartment – no smuggling dodgy goods here, just a handy space for an M.2 2280 PCIe 3 SSD.

And a brief look at the included 330W power supply. It measures around 4.72 x 3.7 x 1.1 inches (12 x 9.5 x 3 cm) and weighs around 667g (1.4 lbs). It comes with the plug adaptor for your country or you can plug straight into the charger with a kettle lead. And included in the box are USB 4 and a branded OCuLink cable, so you have everything to get up and running straight away.

And included in the box are USB 4 and a branded OCuLink cable, so you have everything to get up and running straight away.

AYANEO AG01 Starship Technical Specifications

For the AYANEO AG01 review, let’s take a peek under the hood, or should we say, into the engine room of this AYANEO AG01 Starship graphics dock star-cruiser.

GPU	AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT, 2,300MHz, 32 CU
RAM	8GB GDDR6
TGP	100W/120W via dial switch
VIDEO	2x DisplayPort 2.0, 80Gbps, 4K@120Hz / 8K@60Hz 2x HDMI 2.1, 48Gbps, 4K@120Hz / 8K@60Hz
DATA	1x OCuLink, PCIe 4.0×4, 64Gbps 1x USB4, 40Gbps, Supports 100W PD Reverse Power Supply 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10Gbps (while USB4 connected) 1x Gigabit Ethernet (while USB4 connected) 1x M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 SSD (no SSD included) 1x SD card reader 4.0, 300MB/s (while USB4 connected)
SIZE	9.4 x 4.6 x 2.0 inches (24.0 x 11.8 x 5.1 cm)
WEIGHT	960g (2.11 lbs)

While performing our shakedown cruise we also checked the fan noise and temperatures. We got a high of 65 dB and 72 °C. 

Benchmarks

As part of our AYANEO AG01 review we ran some benchmarks to compare the performance while using OCuLink with the AYANEO 3, with the internal display, and a 4K monitor for external display.

3DMARK

On 3DMARK we ran the Time Spy, Night Raid and Fire Strike benchmarks. These scores are impressive… most impressive! With results around 9,600 on Time Spy, over 50,000 on Night Raid and around 23,00 on Fire Strike. There is a little variation between internal and external displays, but not as much as we have seen in the past compared with other setups.

Forza Horizon 5

For Forza Horizon 5  we are running on the Very Low graphics settings with no FSR enabled. At 4K we see a smooth 107 frames per second. As we drop down the resolutions to 720P we see 190 frames per second. The internal display also does very well, as far as an additional 26 frames per second at 720P!

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

For Shadow of the Tomb Raider we are running on the Low graphics settings with no FSR enabled.  At 4K we get a slightly above average 91 frames per second. There is a nice jump in performance at 1440P and levels out at 1080P and 720P. On the internal display we lose a few frames but get the same leveling out.

Cyberpunk 2077

For Cyberpunk we are running on the Low graphics settings with no FSR enabled. This demanding game only gets around 41 frames per second at 4K and we see some improvements, doubling up to 93 FPS at 720P. On the internal display we see roughly the same performance.

Game Performance

Benchmarks are useful, but how does the ship handle in actual flight? We continue our AYANEO AG01 review with a look at a cluster of games with the best graphics settings for a minimum of 60 FPS.

Clair Obscure Expedition 33

The amazing Clair Obscure Expedition 33 runs very well on external displays at 1440P on the Medium graphics settings with some XeSS upscaling. For the internal display you can increase the graphics settings to High. 

Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 runs great on AMD GPUs, and we can easily set course for 1080P 120Hz on High graphics settings with no FSR needed. You could enable FSR and chart a course for even higher graphical fidelity if you wished.

No Mans Sky

We couldn’t make an AYANEO AG01 review without a space-themed game! In No Man’s Sky, you can explore infinite worlds at 1080P Ultra graphics settings, ensuring great-looking visuals and smooth frame rates as you warp between systems.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

For Indiana Jones we are running at 1080P with a mix of Medium and High graphics settings to keep the frame rate well above 60 frames per second.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

For Oblivion Remastered we are running at 1080P on the High graphics with FSR on Balanced for a solid 60+ FPS.  

Goat Simulator 3

On an external display you can run at 4K on a mix of High and Ultra graphics settings. And of course on the internal display at 1080P you can run on Ultra graphics settings.

DOOM Dark Ages

DOOM Dark Ages runs very well. At 1080P you can go right up to the Ultra Nightmare graphics settings with FSR Balanced for 60+ FPS.

Final Thoughts

Time to sum up our AYANEO AG01 review. The AYANEO AG01 Starship graphics dock has successfully completed its maiden voyage in our tests and is, overall, a stellar option for an eGPU docking station. We saw excellent performance during our benchmarks, and this continued into real-world gameplay. Besides the performance, the standout feature is, of course, its out-of-this-world design. It makes the AG01 a centerpiece on your desktop, instead of an ominous monolith like the GPD G1 or ONEXGPU 2. It’s more Starfleet, less Borg cube.

As well as the powerful GPU, you also have a multitude of connectivity options with up to quad monitor support, fast ethernet, and SSD storage which is always useful with handheld devices. It effectively transforms your handheld into a full-fledged battle station… or productive desktop setup.

While there are higher performing ships patrolling the galaxy, the AYANEO AG01 Starship graphics dock offers a more affordable alternative while remaining a high-performance vessel for its price. It finds a sweet spot in the cosmos of eGPUs, offering a compelling package that’s ready to launch your gaming to new heights.

You can learn more and buy the AYANEO AG01 Starship Graphics Dock here.

Captains Log Final Entry: We hope this report provides the crucial intel you need. If you have any questions about the AYANEO AG01 review or have your own thoughts on this eGPU docking station, please leave them in the comments below.