Best eGPU Cables in 2022
By Brendan Lowry published

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.
Plugable Thunderbolt 3 Cable (opens in new tab)
Best overall
This cable offers premium 40 Gigabits per second (Gbps) speed and a balanced length of 2.6 feet, making it the best overall choice.
Cable Matters Thunderbolt 3 Cable (opens in new tab)
Longest length
This 40Gbps cable is a whopping 6.6 feet long, making it the best choice if you want to connect your eGPU to your laptop from afar. It's quite pricey, though.
GodSpin Braided Thunderbolt 3 Cable (opens in new tab)
High durability
This cable is rather short at 1.6 feet, but it offers 40Gbps speeds and a braided cable design that's very resistant to cutting and general wear-and-tear.
StarTech Thunderbolt 3 Cable (opens in new tab)
Shiny white
This 40Gbps cable is short at 1.6 feet, but it has a white coloring instead of the standard black most cords have, giving it a clean, pristine look.
mamre Thunderbolt 3 Cable (opens in new tab)
Budget option
This cable is short at 1.65 feet and lacks any style or durability advantages, but it has 40Gbps speed, making it an excellent budget choice.
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.
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