Is the XPS 15 9560 a safe bet for eGPU support? (XG2, Core, etc)

For external eGPU for use with gaming? I want to replace my 4 year old gaming desktop, and plan to take it's GTX 1080 FTW card out and put it in an eGPU. But I also wanted the best portable laptop with the best processor, 10 hour battery life, great 4k screen and it seems to be the dell XPS 15 9560. I can probably get a huge discount through work for it as well so another reason why I am leaning towards it.

Plan to get the dock for it too. Would like to get everyones opinion on how I would do this if it only has one thunderport 3 port and how would I charge it, and run an eGPU among other things?

If it doesn't have TB3, but 2, then, how would it work for me if I still used my external monitor? Would I be better off getting the Dell 13" 2 n 1? Or another product like Lenovo X1 Yoga 2nd gen?

 

Lots of answers in this thread m8

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/i-have-an-xps-15-9550-working-with-a-razer-core-ama.793250/

 

Already read that thread mate and it doesn't answer what I asked.

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This link and site will give you more color on the 9560 and competing machines for egpu support

 

Damn that's so many posts. In one line can you summarise what Dell did to fix the issue?

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Peter & nimoz,

The 9560 & 9550 TB3 issue is complex and not particularly transparent; you really need to study the posts to see if the TB3 port will meet your needs. There are overperforming and underperforming TB3 ports in the market today.

- Dell and Intel used some tricky marketing language relating to the TB3 specs. But the 9560 marketing apparently recently changed and noted the TB3 port was only x2 vs x4 lanes. This reduced bandwidth was a surprise but explains reduced egpu performance, particularly with say two monitors or using an egpu back to the laptop's monitor

- It seems the 9560 & 9550 use the low voltage Intel TB3 unit that is only x2. And that is a hardware spec that can not be "upgraded" in these laptops

- Frank Azor of Dell noted that Dell will CONSIDER validating egpus in a Tweet. If your newer egpu uses the TI83 chip, no Dice until Dell VALIDATES those egpus AFAIK. Also I see no guarantee or timeline Dell will VALIDATE...

- The 9560 & 9550 TB3 port may work fine for you. It may not.

As requested, another helpful thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Dell/comments/5szzle/so_youre_thinking_about_a_xps_15_9560_for_an_egpu/

 

lol. the only thing Dell fixed was their TB3 marketing language...

 

So like the 9550 the 9560 will work fine with an external display just one for gaming with great fps. But not having it come back to the laptop. I'm fine with that as I wouldn't game on that small screen unless I'm out of town then I would use the built in Gpu. It seems someone got the asus xg2 station to work with the 9560 after asus updated the drivers to work with unsupported tb ports. It's a same it doesn't have 4x but it's not a deal breaker when that dell is the best laptop in its class.

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Well it appears the newer egpu models with TI83 chips won't work unless Dell decides to validate them, so shop carefully...