New PCI Spec Allows for External Graphics Cards

Looks like Asus beat the PCI-e specification group by a couple months:

This will do the full speeds - x16 and all!

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2091593,00.asp

 

It would be awesome if I could remove the X1600 in my S96J and plug in this to the other end, if it were only sooo easy.

Then again, I would have to be removing the X1600 and putting it back in whenever I wanted to go mobile.

 

If you're referring to the XG Station then you're way off. The XG Station uses an Express Card slot. It says that on Asus' website.

 

ExpressCard IS PCI-Express x1. Asus uses a cable to get it to a desktop graphics card in an external enclosure.

My point is that Asus implemented it on their own, but now there is a standard, which will allow for multiple manufacturers to make devices that make use of PCI Express lanes outside of laptops/desktops. Also, the standard encompasses x1-x16 speeds, which means that we could see a full-speed external graphics solution as well in the future.

 

Will this convince you Jumper?

XG Station Gallery:
http://www.engadget.com/photos/hands-on-with-the-asus-xg-station-external-gpu/

The XG Station connects to the laptop through an Express Card slot.
http://www.engadget.com/photos/hands-on-with-the-asus-xg-station-external-gpu/128863/

 

I don't believe the cable will convert x1 to x16..... thats impossible in all ways lol.

(i didn't read the article / don't feel like explaining the technical limitations)

 

The ExpressCard specification is a specific physical implementation of PCI Express x1. Electronically they are identical.

I don't understand what is so complicated about it. Asus released the XG station which uses PCI Express x1 via the ExpressCard physical connection and proprietary cabling specifications.

The new PCI Express Cable Specification will allow *future* laptops and desktops to include a *NEW* *standard* external PCI Express x16 connection, which could be used to connect at full speed to desktop x16 graphics cards using the *standardized* PCI Express x16 Cables.

Nothing is magically transmuting anything. Asus released a product that is technologically advanced and ahead of the curve. Now there is an industry standard that will allow for manufacturers to make interoperability external PCI Express devices in the future.

 

Yes, Jumper is saying that it is only PCI-E x1, whereas now there is an official PCI-E x16 extension cable that can be used for external graphics cards.

link: it wont convert x1 to x16, it is a cable that extends the x16 slot.

 

Ah I see, I thought you were implying that Asus had made the XG Station with a propietary port that handled x16.

 

Heh, nevermind external graphics cards, I wonder if the XG allows for the use of non-graphics PCI-E cards. If so, then that's a really good thing, since it means that you don't have to buy an expensive model laptop anymore with a fancy special docking station to get desktop expansion card capacity.

 

What benefit would you gain from a $300 single card expansion? I can think of several PCI-e cards, Video, Sound, maybe one or two other things. Why not get a dock for 1/3rd the price?

 

I suspect since the XG is using a proprietary implementation, it might be limited to graphics cards.

The standardized hardware should eventually allow for the use of any card, though.

 

They never went and finished the docking port on the S/Z96J, I don't think there is a dock for it and a bunch of the other ASUS notebooks. Please tho correct me, I'd like to be wrong...

Cat