Thunderbolt question

Hey, I know the technology is new, but I had a question about thunderbolt (I hope this is the right place to ask).
Does anyone know if it'll be possible to just straight up hook a desktop graphics card to laptop using some sort of 'thunderbolt' device that will emulate a pci-e slot?

 

unfortunately, thunderbolt is still expensive, and uses only 4 PCIe lanes(i think?)

Magma - Thunderbolt to PCIe Expansion | ExpressBox 3T, >$900 (isn't GPU compatible yet, but gives you the scope of the $$$$)

there are some alternatives just released to market, but definitely expensive

have you looked at DIY ViDock? or alternatively, the sony vaio z series with a GPU Dock(but knowing sony, expensive as well)

http://forum.notebookreview.com/e-g...-how-make-diy-egpu-previously-diy-vidock.html

 

Thanks for the information, will help alot in my decision process here for buying a new laptop.
I do have a second question though, would thunderbolt also be a useful port for say adding external hard drives and such is solely focused on providing egou support?

 

May I suggest you state what it is that you want to do. Or how you intend to use your computer?

 

Well, being a student, it'd mainly be used for academic related purposes which are self-explanatory.
On the side though, I enjoy 3d modeling and video encoding and of course some moderate gaming.

I guess my point is if I should wait/spend the extra time/money for thunderbolt or simply ignore the technology...I'm just not sure how useful it really will be or how popular it will become.

 

as someone with TB ports, dont let them affect decisions until more options ARE available and prices come down. a USB3 hard drive transfers data as fast as a $250 TB hard drive as the drive itself is a limiter, it only becomes an asset if your hooking up SSD drives externally and cost wise thats a bit nuts for the next couple years atleast.

there are supposed to be a bunch of external TB graphics options but cist is a factor as us how well are they going to work with driver support etc? a hunch says a year atleast until bugs are worked out

 

Agreed. Theres just not enough peripheral to mandate that much emphasis on waiting to buy it right now.

On the other hand, a USB 3.0 is tried and proven connection with millions (correction: billions) of devices to support it. Eventually, the two technologies will merge. But for now...for right now, theres really no practical need to consider Thunderbold as a necessary port for the near or even not so near future.

 

Thunderbolt is effectively an external pci-e bus that is rated for up to x4 2.0 (20Gbps) but could be up to x4 3.0 (40Gbps) with latest Ivy Bridge systems if Intel up-spec their Thunderbolt controller. As such, it could be used for extreme performing external storage or eGPUs.

I'm keeping a list of notebooks with Thunderbolt controllers in the thin-and-light link in my sig. Suggest peruse those and compare to others without that port. The 14" Gigabyte U2442N being a price/performance/portability standout.

If keen on an eGPU then would at least recommend seeking out a system with an expresscard slot. While it is possible to use a eGPU with wifi mPCIe ports it's more fiddly requiring a cable going under your notebook or keyboard, you lose concurrent wifi and whitelisting can present configuration headaches.

 

USB and thunderbolt won't merge though.... I would say that Thunderbolt offers a easier way to get access to PCIe, but at a price (read the review below)

for externals, eSATA or USB 3.0 works... I suggest eSATA to get the most out of the HDD, as USB3 adds some latency... though USB3 is backwardcompatible with USB2 and most computers have USB2 and NOT eSATA

AnandTech - Thunderbolt on Windows Part 2: Intel's DZ77RE-K75 & ASUS' P8Z77-V Premium

of course, the big/main laptops offering thunderbolt would be Apple's MB/MBA/MBP line, but if you see support on windows for thunderbolt being crap, and most games on windows(well, a lot of games on Steam are dual OS compatible)

I wouldn't give thunderbolt+PCIe GPU/gaming any thought yet... too expensive

what are your requirements/budget? For college students + gaming, I usually recommend (in order of usefulness first)
1) ultraportable (3 pounds or less) for bringing to class + desktop for gaming/power
- MBA or x230 or any ultrabook works($1000), build your own desktop(<$700)

2) netbook (cheaper than ultraportable) for bringing to class + desktop for gaming/power
-netbook ($300), build your own desktop(<$700)


3) powerful enough laptop /portable ($1500) + 23-27" display in dorm for dual screen + xbox 360)

3b) powerful enough laptop / portable($1500) + 23-27" display in dorm for dual screen + (xbox 360 or DIY ViDock... obviously have to do some research to make sure DIY ViDock works on that laptop model without any problems etc)

4) powerful enough GAMING laptop ($2000) + 23-27" display in dorm for dual screen

5) desktop in dorm room only

 

Thanks for the in-depth response, paper_wastage.
Next year, I'll have my own desktop at college which will probably handle the majority of my gaming...
So, out of your categories, I think I'd be going for #1 or #2
Right now, I'm looking at the zenbook UX32VD. It's a bit expensive, but it has a 1080p screen and is ultraportable. I really want a laptop with a high screen resolution and quality and I simply don't think a netbook can do that. I'm not sure if there are other ultrabooks that measure up to the zenbook's screen standards, I guess I'll do some more research before I end up buying.

At anyrate, you've convinced me that, in my case, thunderbolt is not needed.

 

that product doesn't work with graphic cards.
please share your other thunderbolt "alternatives".

 

hmm... thought it did... i guess it's part of the drivers problems

here are some alternatives, none of them GPU-compatible yet ... except for the sony vaio Z, if yo ucould hack it to work for any thunderbolt connector?...

thunderbolt has drivers problems

Sonnet - Thunderbolt Storage, Adapters & Expansion Boxes

Example of an External Dock and GPU Over Thunderbolt Technology - Mac Rumors

 

It isn't a question of up-specing as the Thunderbolt interface uses 2x 10Gbps bidirectional lanes. To get that requires higher speed transceivers with higher signal to noise ratio than other common used interconnects. 2x 20Gbps Thunderbolt will come only when 20Gbps to copper transceivers are cheap enough which can take a while.

 

again. that sonnet product doesn't work.
Sonnet - Support - PCIe Card Thunderbolt Compatibility Chart

that sony product only uses a very crappy 6650M which is not a desktop graphic card. it is not an alternative solution.

Please stop your nonsense. you could actually search the forum before saying bs. there's no thunderbolt egpu product available. period.

 

my post was more talking about the high price of existing thunderbolt->PCIe products (and did mention that they were not GPU compatible, b/c of drivers problems)

any thunderbolt->PCIe for GPU products would likely be that expensive as well

i wonder if a thunderbolt->expresscard v2 -> DIY VIDock would work without any problems?