Unless you've got yourself a high-quality gaming one, there's a strong chance that your laptop isn't that great for playing video games. Thankfully, you can change that with external graphics cards, or "eGPUs," which are graphics cards that are hooked up to an enclosure that is connected to your device with a Thunderbolt 3 cable. If you're going to do this though, you're going to need a great, fast cable.
If we had to choose
Choosing a good Thunderbolt 3 cable to use with your eGPU may seem like a purchase you don't need to think much about, but the length of the cable will end up determining how far away you can keep your eGPU during use, which will matter if you want to plan about how you'll keep your desk organized. You'll also need the speeds that these cables with offer. For the best overall balance between cable length and price, we recommend the Plugable Thunderbolt 3 Cable (opens in new tab) as its 2.6 foot length will be enough for the vast majority of users.
If you need to go longer than that, the Cable Matters Thunderbolt 3 Cable (opens in new tab) has you covered with its huge 6.6 foot long size that will allow you to organize your rig in any way you could possibly want, though be aware that it's a pricey product.
If you're short on money or simply only need the bare minimum length for your eGPU set up, then you should opt for the mamre Thunderbolt 3 Cable (opens in new tab) as it's the most affordable cord on this list, yet still offers the same 40Gbps speed that all the other options do.
Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. You'll find him doing reviews, editorials, and general coverage on everything Xbox and PC. Follow him on Twitter.
