Olares One eGPU support overview
Use this page to check whether your eGPU setup has been tested and choose the right setup guide. Results depend on the enclosure, GPU, power supply, cable, operating system, and NVIDIA driver.
Connect before startup
For Olares OS, do not connect or disconnect an eGPU while the system is running. Shut down Olares One completely, power the enclosure, connect the cable, and then start Olares One.
Requirements
Before using an eGPU, make sure you have:
- A Thunderbolt eGPU enclosure with its own power supply.
- A certified Thunderbolt 5 cable, preferably the cable supplied with the enclosure.
- An NVIDIA GPU based on the Turing architecture or newer and supported by your operating system and NVIDIA driver.
Thunderbolt compatibility
Thunderbolt is backward-compatible. For best results, use Thunderbolt 5 hardware. Older Thunderbolt enclosures are not recommended.
First-time setup
For the first test, connect only one eGPU and disconnect other high-bandwidth Thunderbolt devices.
Support status
Each result is labeled Verified, Supported, Requires setup, Not verified, Under investigation, or Not supported.
The tables below show verified, unverified, and unsupported configurations, along with configurations that remain under investigation. An unlisted combination may still work, but it has not been evaluated. Meeting the requirements does not mean every GPU and enclosure combination has been verified.
Hardware compatibility
| Hardware configuration | Windows | Olares OS |
|---|---|---|
| AOOSTAR EG02 + RTX 4060 Ti, connected before startup | Verified. | Requires setup. Apply the Gen1 workaround. |
| Razer Core X V2 + RTX 4090 | Verified only as part of the tested multi-eGPU configuration. It has not been tested as a standalone configuration. | Not verified. Startup was unstable without the workaround. This combination has not been tested with it. |
| Built-in RTX 5090M + AOOSTAR EG02 with RTX 4060 Ti | Requires setup. Reinstall the NVIDIA driver with the eGPU connected. The built-in GPU also has a known power limitation when eGPUs are connected. | Requires setup. Apply the workaround. Both GPUs worked together in the tested configuration. |
| Desktop RTX 5090 | Not verified. | Under investigation. Driver initialization failed in the tested configuration. PCIe resource allocation is being investigated. |
Feature support
| Feature | Windows | Olares OS |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple eGPUs | Verified in one configuration. Three external GPUs and the built-in GPU completed a one-hour load test. Other combinations have not been tested. | Not supported. Connect only one eGPU at a time. |
| Hot-plugging | Supported. Complete the Windows setup and driver installation first. | Not supported. Connect and power the eGPU before startup. |
Set up your eGPU
- Set up an eGPU on Olares OS
- Set up an eGPU on Olares One with Windows
- Troubleshoot eGPU issues on Olares One
If you want to discuss your configuration, share test results, or ask about an issue, see Ask for help in the Olares forum for the information to include in your post.
Tested combinations
Olares OS
| Enclosure | GPU | Result | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AOOSTAR EG02 | RTX 4060 Ti | Stable after applying the workaround. No further disconnects were observed. | Follow the Olares OS setup. |
| AOOSTAR EG02 | RTX 4060 Ti + built-in RTX 5090M | Both GPUs worked and could be assigned separately to AI apps. | Apply the workaround. |
| Razer Core X V2 | RTX 4090 | Startup is unstable without the workaround. The configuration has not been tested with it. | No recommendation is available until testing is complete. |
| Not specified | Desktop RTX 5090 | Driver initialization failed in the tested configuration. PCIe resource allocation is under investigation. | Not currently recommended. |
| Chained Thunderbolt enclosures | RTX 3090 + 2× RTX 2080 Ti | The tested multi-eGPU configuration did not work. | Connect only one eGPU. |
Windows
| Enclosure | GPU | Result | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AOOSTAR EG02 | RTX 4060 Ti | Reached 165 W at stable Gen4 speeds with no observed PCIe errors. | Follow the Windows setup. |
| Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock with AOOSTAR EG02, Razer Core X V2, and Razer Core X | RTX 4060 Ti + RTX 4090 + RTX 4060, with the built-in RTX 5090M | All four GPUs completed a one-hour load test without an observed issue. | Treat this result as specific to the tested topology. |
Current limitations
Gen4 on Olares OS
- Symptom: Startup may stall, the GPU may not be detected, or the eGPU may disconnect while in use.
- Possible cause: NVIDIA driver initialization involves timing-sensitive communication. The tested Thunderbolt path is less stable at Gen4. This explanation has not been confirmed as the root cause.
- What to do: Use the Gen1 workaround.
Hot-plugging on Olares OS
- Symptom: The eGPU may not be detected, or the system may stop responding when the eGPU is connected after startup.
- Possible cause: Creating the Thunderbolt tunnel while the system is running may interfere with driver initialization.
- What to do: Shut down Olares One, power and connect the eGPU, and then start Olares One.
Multiple eGPUs
- Olares OS: Connect only one eGPU at a time. Additional eGPUs may not be detected.
- Windows: One configuration with three external GPUs passed a one-hour load test. Other GPU, enclosure, dock, and connection combinations have not been tested.
Desktop GPUs with large amounts of VRAM
- Symptom: The GPU may appear on the PCI bus, but the driver may fail to initialize.
- Possible cause: PCIe resource allocation is under investigation. The system may not reserve enough address space for the GPU.
- What to do: No verified workaround is currently available.
Built-in RTX 5090M power on Windows
- Symptom: The built-in GPU reached about 95 W instead of 175 W under full load.
- Status: This is a known issue confirmed with NVIDIA. The tested eGPU link remained stable at Gen4.
- Impact: The issue affects the built-in GPU power and did not affect eGPU use in the tested configuration.
Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Gen1 / Gen4 | PCIe link-speed generations. At the same link width, Gen4 provides about eight times the raw transfer rate of Gen1. |
| Thunderbolt tunnel | A path that carries PCIe traffic over Thunderbolt between Olares One and the eGPU enclosure. |
| BAR / video-memory mapping | A PCIe address window that lets the system access GPU resources, including portions of video memory. |
| Cold start / hot-plug | A cold start means powering and connecting the eGPU before starting Olares One. Hot-plugging means connecting or disconnecting it while the system is running. |
| GPU disconnect | The eGPU stops responding or is no longer visible to the operating system while in use. |