The dream of turning a thin-and-light laptop into a desktop-grade gaming or AI workstation just got a significant bandwidth boost. Ugreen has unveiled the LinkStation Pro, an evolution of its original eGPU dock that swaps the previous USB4 connection for the rapid throughput of Thunderbolt 5. This upgrade effectively doubles available bandwidth to 80 Gbps, addressing the primary bottleneck that has historically plagued external graphics setups.
Designed for users who refuse to compromise between portability and raw compute, the LinkStation Pro retains the semi-open aluminum chassis of its predecessor while packing an 850W ATX 3.1-compliant power supply. By integrating the PSU directly into the dock, Ugreen saves users from the cable clutter typical of competitors like the Minisforum DEG2, which often require external power bricks.
Solving the Bandwidth Bottleneck
The shift to Thunderbolt 5 is the headline feature here, providing the necessary overhead to extract meaningful performance from high-end cards like the RTX 5090. While the previous USB4 model was often constrained by data limits, the LinkStation Pro can allocate 64 Gbps of bandwidth via PCIe 4.0 x4, mirroring the performance profile of the onboard OCuLink port. This dual-connection versatility ensures compatibility across a wide range of hardware, from modern gaming laptops and mini PCs to specialized NAS devices.
Beyond raw speed, the dock introduces support for daisy-chaining multiple units. This capability opens doors for power users looking to scale their setups for intensive AI training tasks or multi-GPU rendering projects, tasks that were previously impractical for laptop-based workflows.
Power Delivery and Compatibility
Beyond graphics performance, the LinkStation Pro addresses a common pain point for modern gaming laptops: charging speeds. The updated Thunderbolt 5 port now supports power delivery up to 140W, a notable step up from the 100W limit on the older version. This ensures that even hungry high-performance laptops can stay topped up during heavy gaming sessions without needing their own dedicated AC adapters.
Physically, the dock remains spacious, accommodating GPUs up to 370 mm in length and 155 mm in height, which covers almost all current flagship consumer cards. While the addition of a USB-A 3.2 port provides a convenient spot for peripherals, it is worth noting that the unit still lacks an integrated M.2 slot or Ethernet port, keeping the focus strictly on GPU acceleration.
Pricing and Global Outlook
The Ugreen LinkStation Pro is currently available in China for approximately $447 (2,999 Yuan). While Ugreen has not confirmed a specific timeline for a global rollout, the company has historically brought its LinkStation products to international markets shortly after their domestic debut. Global pricing and regional availability have not yet been announced.
