Alienware 15R3 w/a AGA vs. an Aurora R5 3DMark Results using the same Graphics Card

Hi,

I just bought an Alienware Graphics Amplifier (AGA) from Dell for my Alienware 15R3 Laptop.

Benchmarking my Laptop in comparison to my Alienware R5 Desktop, using the same identical graphics card, but of course, the CPU's are different. The graphics drivers are also different between the laptop and the desktop, as well as the Windows 10 version.

3DMark Results:

3819 (3745 Graphics Score) - Alienware 15 R3 Laptop, Intel i7-7700HQ (2.80 GHz), Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, Samsung 960 EVO M.2 SSD, 16GB DDR4, Windows 10 Pro

5459 (5733 Graphics Score) - Alienware 15 R3 Laptop, Intel i7-7700HQ (2.80 GHz), Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, using an Alienware Graphics Amplifier w/a GeForce GTX 1070 video card, Samsung 960 EVO M.2 SSD, 16GB DDR4, Windows 10 Pro

5507 (5625 Graphics Score)- Alienware Aurora R5 Desktop, Intel i7-6700K, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070, 16 GB DDR4 Memory, 250 GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD, Windows 10 Pro (same graphics card)

3DMark 11 Performance Results:

P12468 (14455 Graphics Score) - Alienware 15R3 Laptop, w/no AGA attached, running on the built in 1060.

P16614 (23371 Graphics Score) - Alienware 15R3 Laptop, w/the AGA attached, together w/the 1070.

P17725 (22464 Graphics Score)) - Alienware R5 Desktop, running on the 1070.

Going by the Graphics Scores only here, the 15R3 appears at first to be faster than the desktop using the same identical graphics card w/the Alienware Graphics Amplifier. Of course taking into account the different video driver versions, as well as the different version of Windows 10 being used, that could effect the result differences. Either way, the results are fairly close.

 

Similar to my finding. The 1070 in my desktop performed almost dientical to using that same GPU in my AGA.

The performance drop is so extremely small that it isnt really noticeable at all.

 

It will be interesting to see how the next-gen 1180 series will perform in the AMP compared to a regular desktop. If only Alienware had made it an option to disable the dGPU completely and dedicate 8 lanes to the AMP , then it would last a very very long time.

 

Alienware isn't promoting the AGA anymore as they once did. It use to be listed directly under the laptops as an add on option, while now you have to look for it in the accessories elsewhere. The fact that the prices on it have dropped on it from an original high of over $400, if I recall right, to the $135.00 which I paid for it, so what the heck, why not give it a try.

This could mean, one, they've given up upon it, or two, they're working on something newer and better. Hopefully, it is the latter.

I happened to have a GeForce GTX 1070 I borrowed from my desktop, and from my numbers, I don't really see any real loss using it in the AGA on my 15R3 laptop, as compared to my desktop. Perhaps using a GeForce 1080/Titan might, I don't know. I'm waiting on the prices on them to drop in order to buy one, or I might simply wait for the new upcoming 11xx series.

So far, I haven't had a single issue in using the AGA. It's easy to install, runs great, especially when I play a high end, graphics intensive game, like Star Citizen. If it's anything I need, it's more memory for that game, as well as a faster internet, which sadly, I can't do anything about there, unless I move.

 

eGPU visa Thunderbolt market is too niche to be viable.

 

As more and more laptops come w/Thunderbolt 3, especially the low end models, it could allow people an alternative to upgrading the graphics on them. Thunderbolt 3, while not perfect, performance wise, is going to be better than the iGPU.

 

The second gen is under development.

 

Interesting findings on the performance, makes me feel pretty good about retiring my desktop and going all laptop