External graphics docks have historically wrestled with a frustrating compromise: slim, ultraportable laptops could tap into desktop-class graphics cards, but narrow connection pipelines severely throttled GPU performance. UGREEN is tackling this persistent bottleneck head-on with the announcement of the LinkStation Pro, an external GPU (eGPU) dock powered by the high-speed Thunderbolt 5 standard.
Priced at roughly $520 (3,489 yuan) in its domestic market, the LinkStation Pro integrates an 850W ATX 3.1 power supply, 140W host charging, and three Thunderbolt 5 ports capable of daisy-chaining multiple downstream peripherals. The unit represents a noticeable step forward from UGREEN's previous OCuLink and USB4 model, focusing on high-bandwidth workflows for creators, gamers, and developers.
Unleashing 64Gbps PCIe Bandwidth for Desktop Cards
The central attraction of the LinkStation Pro is its Thunderbolt 5 controller, which delivers up to 80Gbps of bidirectional data throughput. More importantly for graphics performance, up to 64Gbps of that connection is dedicated purely to PCIe bandwidth. Previous generations of Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 docks were capped at 32Gbps of PCIe data, creating severe frame-rate drops and latency issues when driving high-end desktop graphics cards.
UGREEN designed the dock's aluminum chassis to accommodate graphics cards up to 370mm in length, ensuring compatibility with massive triple-fan designs from NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel. While optimized for Thunderbolt 5 host machines, the enclosure retains full backwards compatibility with USB4, Thunderbolt 4, and Thunderbolt 3 systems, though legacy devices will operate within their respective bandwidth ceilings.
850W Power Delivery and Modern GPU Readiness
High-end modern graphics cards demand substantial power and specialized cabling, areas where many compact eGPU enclosures falter. UGREEN equips the LinkStation Pro with a built-in 850W power supply certified with an 80 Plus Gold efficiency rating. The internal PSU complies with the latest ATX 3.1 standard and includes a dedicated 12V-2x6 power connector, making it ready to supply modern NVIDIA RTX 40-series and next-generation cards without requiring messy aftermarket adapters.
Beyond feeding power-hungry desktop graphics hardware, the dock acts as a comprehensive single-cable docking station. It delivers up to 140W of rapid power delivery over USB Power Delivery 3.1 directly to a connected laptop. This allows users to plug in a single cable to handle high-performance graphics compute, high-speed data transfer, and full-speed battery charging simultaneously.
Daisy-Chaining Versatility and Server Workloads
Equipped with three independent Thunderbolt 5 ports, the LinkStation Pro supports full device daisy-chaining. Users can attach high-speed NVMe storage arrays, external monitors, or studio audio interfaces directly to the dock without saturating the laptop's remaining ports.
UGREEN is also positioning the dock beyond traditional laptop gaming. The company highlights compatibility with its NASync DXP GT network-attached storage series, allowing users to hook the eGPU directly into a local server. This setup offloads heavy compute tasks, accelerates Docker container workloads, and powers local AI models or virtual machines with dedicated desktop GPU hardware.
Pricing and Market Position
The UGREEN LinkStation Pro enters the market at approximately $520 (3,489 yuan). In comparison, UGREEN's earlier LinkStation model featuring OCuLink and USB4 connections sells for around $340 (2,299 yuan). While the premium for Thunderbolt 5 controller hardware is evident, the combination of a built-in 850W power supply and daisy-chaining capability makes it an attractive all-in-one enclosure for power users seeking workstation-grade expandability.
Global pricing and regional availability schedules have not yet been announced by UGREEN.
