GPD’s external GPU dock is a fun, but expensive idea

The GPD G1: A Niche Product for Handheld Gaming Devices

The GPD G1 External GPU dock is a fun idea, but it’s also pretty expensive. The device connects to the Steam Deck and other handheld gaming devices to provide low-end discrete graphics, and it’s more polished than previous M.2 adapters used with Valve’s handheld. Yet, the G1 is still a niche product that I think has limited appeal, given that it requires opening the Deck’s case and messing around with its internals.

The GPD G1 is more of an experiment than a polished product at this point. The company admits that it’s more suitable for its own Win 4 handheld gaming PC, which has the Oculink adapter built-in. That said, any handheld with USB 4 / Thunderbolt can also connect to the dock with a simple cable attachment.

The idea of using an external GPU like this makes using the Deck as an all-purpose PC more viable in the future. After all, the AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT GPU included with the GPD G1 dock is entry-level by desktop GPU standards, and it will surely be surpassed by AMD’s next-gen APUs.

That said, the dock isn’t quite there yet, and it’s not quite the optimal choice for connecting to the Steam Deck. You have to open the Deck’s case, remove the M.2 SSD, and insert GPD’s M.2 adapter called Oculink. This is easier than some previous M.2 adapters, but it’s still a lot of fiddling around.

The GPD G1 dock itself costs $697, while the dock without the GPU costs $655. The company says the dock will ship in “September,” but it’s unclear if that’s a broad window.

The GPD G1 dock specs

Here are the GPD G1 dock specs, as provided by the company:

• AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT GPU
• M.2 adapter called Oculink

It’s also unclear if the dock can be upgraded with replacement GPUs, though it seems like that may not be possible.

Ultimately, the GPD G1 dock is a fun but niche product that may not be as refined as it could be. The idea of using an external GPU like this makes using the Deck as an all-purpose PC more viable in the future, but it’s a potentially good solution. At the very least, this idea is better suited to the GPD G1 than the Deck itself.