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    EGPU Performance Question

    Discussion in 'e-GPU (External Graphics) Discussion' started by kevilay, May 24, 2012.

  1. kevilay

    kevilay Newbie

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    Hey guys I was looking at the vidock. I didnt know such thing existed. Right now Im running an HP dv7, it has i7, geforce 230m card, SSD(newly added) on windows 7 pro. However im lacking in the video card department. Im pretty hardcore into high end games. I was going to buy a full desktop just to play games on but I like the idea of a GPU dock. Would one of these support a gtx 680 or 560? What kind of performance loss should i expect to see using an external vs internal? Once I set it all up, is it a plug and play system? Meaning I can use my laptop regularly then when i want to game I plug in the expresslot and turn the monitor on and im ready to go?

    Im sure you guys have had these questions a million times and I do appreciate any feedback.

    Thanks
    Kevin
     
    kevilay, May 24, 2012
    #1
  2. SimoxTav

    SimoxTav Notebook Evangelist

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    SimoxTav, May 24, 2012
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  3. kevilay

    kevilay Newbie

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    how do i tell what my expresscard slot is? 1.0 or 2.0? It says in the manual about it being a 54 or something like that.
     
    kevilay, May 24, 2012
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  4. SimoxTav

    SimoxTav Notebook Evangelist

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    What processor do you have? If you have a Sandybridge, then you're on 2.0 PCI, otherwise on everything else you're on 1.0
     
    SimoxTav, May 24, 2012
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  5. kevilay

    kevilay Newbie

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    Intel Core I7 CPU Q720 @1.60GHz 1.6GHZ

    thats what it says in the computer information? Would it be displayed in there. My laptop is about 2 years old. If I dont have a 2.0 should I stay away from doing the eGPU?
     
    kevilay, May 24, 2012
    #5
  6. namaiki

    namaiki "basically rocks" Super Moderator

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    If you have a i7-720QM CPU, it's not Sandybridge. A Sandybridge CPU wou'd have a name that starts with a 2 like i7-2720QM.
     
    namaiki, May 24, 2012
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  7. User Retired 2

    User Retired 2 Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

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    Your system has no iGPU so can't do x1.Opt nor is it x2 capable. You might have a model that can engage the switchable graphics, hence gain x1.Opt capability, if you swap the Clarksdale i7 CPU with an Arrandale i3/i5. Not sure.. you'd need to investigate.

    Notebooks are quite low cost these days so you could consdier selling up and grab a budget Sandy Bridge or Ivy Bridge notebook with an iGPU and expresscard slot (eg: Lenovo E520, Dell Vostro 3350 or HP Probook 4530s). The Probook has had users retrofit 1080P panels to it. Expect some sharp prices as vendors move Sandy Bridge stock to make way for Ivy Bridge.
     
    User Retired 2, May 25, 2012
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  8. kevilay

    kevilay Newbie

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    Thanks for the information. I think I am just going to go with a desktop if that is the case.
     
    kevilay, May 25, 2012
    #8