The original Razer Core launched in April 2016. Which seems like ages ago at the moment. Since the time of its launch, the Razer Core was, and still is, the best external GPU enclosure option. Now the newest one is the Razer Core V2. At $500 USD, it’s still not cheap. But rest assured, everything else has changed.
The Razer Core V2 has a larger build and therefore, offers support for larger GPUs. This keeps in line with the recent trend of bigger and bigger GPUs. But enough with the small talk. Does it still light up? Oh yes it does. Brilliantly in fact.
It’s widely known that Razer has a deep seated obsession with lighting things up. Razer Chroma has become synonymous with the word “flashy”. With support for more colors than you knew existed, the Razer Core V2 will be more than just a box on your table. It’ll become the showpiece on your table.
If you’re in the market for a GPU enclosure, there aren’t many options. The Alienware Graphics Amplifier is the biggest competitor, but we’re not one for the base station look. And besides, if we haven’t already mentioned, the Razer Core lights up.
The Razer Core V2 is compatible with all the Razer laptops. The Razer Blade, Razer Blade Stealth, and the Razer Blade Pro, are all supported. All you have to do is plug and play. The thunderbolt 3 connection is still the fastest available for connecting external displays. This means that whatever GPU you choose, there is minimum latency in pushing those frames to your screen.
Possibly the biggest addition is that you can now add peripherals directly to the Core. If you have an ultrabook, this might be an invaluable addition. Since most gamers don’t like the latency that comes with wireless tech, this is a welcome addition for them.
All in all, the Razer Core V2 doesn’t offer that much over the original Core. So if you already have the original Core, then there isn’t that much of an incentive to switch over. In fact, even if you don’t have anything, the original Core will still probably be enough.