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The Razer Core graphics enclosure will cost $499

The Razer Core graphics enclosure will cost $499

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You can save $100 when pairing it with a Blade or Blade Stealth notebook

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The Core graphics enclosure was one of Razer's more interesting announcements at CES this year, and today the company is revealing pricing and availability for the device. Available for preorder from Razer today and shipping next month, the Core will cost $499 standalone or $399 when purchased with the new Blade or Blade Stealth notebooks (the only notebooks it's currently compatible with). It does not come with a graphics card, which will add another few hundred dollars to the bottom line.

The Core plugs into a Blade notebook using a USB Type-C cable and uses Intel's Thunderbolt 3 protocol to transfer data to the device. It's certified to work with a range of desktop graphics cards from AMD (Radeon R9 Fury, Radeon R9 Nano, Radeon R9 300 Series, Radeon R9 290X, Radeon R9 290, and Radeon R9 280) and Nvidia (GeForce GTX Titan X, GeForce GTX 980 Ti, GeForce GTX 980, GeForce GTX 970, GeForce GTX 960, GeForce GTX 950, GeForce GTX 750 Ti, and GeForce GTX 750) and will accommodate other graphics cards that draw no more than 375W of power and are no larger than 12.20 inches x 5.98 inches x 1.73 inches in size. The Core also offers a gigabit ethernet port and four USB 3.0 ports, making it a desktop dock of sorts in addition to an external graphics card enclosure.

External graphics enclosures have been around for a few years, but prior to the Core, they've relied on proprietary cables and adapters. Razer says that not only is its system more universal since it relies on USB-C, it's also friendlier to use and doesn't always require a reboot when plugging the enclosure in. It's a particularly attractive device to pair with Razer's Blade Stealth, as it provides a desktop gaming experience when at home, but doesn't compromise the Stealth's portability on the go.