Is there any thunderbolt eGPU solution available

clearly thunderbolt is the way to go. and msi gus ii sounds like a great solution. the announced priced 150$ with enclosure cables and all the accessories is ok.
thunderbolt is the only implemented notebook technology that enables almost bottleneck free desktop gpu's.
also msi gus ii WORKS. there's already fully functioning prototypes working without a single problem.
So we known it's not vaporware. sort of. MSI announced it would be available in April. Well we are in May and no sound of it.

imo we should get organized and demand for the product. maybe loads of comments in their facebook page and their foruns or a potential buyers list would attract their attention.
Unfortunately I don't have much time now to start something like this. I hope others can do it.

GUS II???
https://www.facebook.com/MSI.ComputerUS
http://forum-en.msi.com/

 

Don't get your hopes too high until Spring 2013. I believe the GUS I was never available lol and they never said the GUS II is to be available on market this Q2-Q3. And native support for TB is set for next year mobile boards.


http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/12/thunderbolt-on-windows-gets-hands-on/



Sent from my wholly molly new iPad using Tapatalk

 

Instead of random comments without any knowledge you could had clicked in one of the links I indicated. You would see that MSI said it would be available in APRIL. They said the same to me when I contacted them.
Moreover the GUS II is a fully functioning working product. All it needs is to be produced and sold.
So if we can make MSI see that this is a great business opportunity and they'll have thousands of buyers plus all the media attention around it, they'll certainly sell the product.
It's really up to us.
I just hope it's just delayed.

they already have thunderbolt enabled products on the market:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5829/a-first-look-at-thunderbolt-on-windows-with-msis-z77agd80/2

one more product:
http://www.mlogic.com/mlink

 

need more thunderbolt laptop thats not a 2k MAC!

Any news on "typical consumer" thunderbolt machines?

 

Well let's forget everyone's dream. There ain't gonna be a 499$ "typical consumer machine. Machines that are equipped with Thunderbolt (with a decent cpu) will cost over $1k for x2 2.0($1,5k if you want x4 2.0 TB)! Also a viable TB solution (either GUS or VT or BPlus product) would cost over $200 plus $200 for your GPU. Totals at least $1400-$1500. That's not typical consumer machines.

With that money you can get a 4x30s (or another laptop from the list) upg with 26x0QM (total cost ~$500-$600) plus PE4L 2.1 plus GTX580 plus a 50" screen.
. Or use the rest to build a small desktop to hook your 580 when you are at home.

I am not a pessimist but it is too early to wait for "everyday" laptops with TB.
If you are waiting for TB solution prepare to spend ~$1,5-$2,5k (without screen) or reconsider the fact that you can live with x1 2.0.

@nando

Someone could make a small FAQ ( T(o)B(e) or not T(o)B(e))
giving the rest of us a small idea of the total cost of a thunderbolt solution.

 

sorry to disappoint you mac fanboy.

Lenovo Newsroom | New ThinkPad Edge Laptops Fuse Small Business with Lifestyle Computing
ThinkPad Edge S430
"The 14-inch laptop also comes packed with the features SMBs need to succeed with choices of the latest Intel Core processors, a DVD burner or a second hard drive for up to 1 TB of storage, choices of Intel integrated or NVIDIA Optimus graphics, Dolby Home Theatre v4, USB 3.0 ports and Intel Thunderbolt"
"and $749 for the ThinkPad S430 laptop."
availability? next month. June 2012.
https://www.lenovo.com/products/us/new-products/#thinkpad-edge-s430

and many more will become available.


a good presentation of GUS II with some good details:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=143IpdBS4xA

 

I hope so too! $750 will be a perfect price tag since overall setup won't surpass $1,2k(not including the screen). Such a solution won't be "typical consumer" machine but an "average" one.
I will be waiting patiently for at least $600 solutions...

I am a little concerned about this

let's see

And by the way I am not a Macfan boy. OS X has the best programs for professional image and video processing for years. That's why I am admiring their OS but disagree with their price tag, building my own hack book with 2630qm, 1080p, with $600.

 

OS X and best on the same phrase... Can't read them without laugh.

Anyway, 749$ without rebates, usually Lenovo has some nice deals and discounts. I'm sure the price will actually be even lower. It will take some time of course since new products always cost more. But imvho by thhe end of the year we'll have dozens of thunderbolt notebooks around.
I've created a new topic to help us get the GUS II.

 

no mac fanboy here but i'm with timohour. A serious graphics designer is much better served by OSX than windows... a hackintosh is the way to go if you are technically savvy though.

 

T430 s will have thunderbolt and it starts from 1399$, but again like in gus ii case there is no harm in dreaming

 

Any word on how Sonnect is doing in terms of developing an EGPU via thunderbolt port is doing? Any time lines?
There are more and more laptops appearing on the market with thunderbolt and I will likely pick one up if the egpu performance is as good as it looks on paper.
I will be sticking with a thinner\lighter notebook with TB which so far will be something from the thinkpad family. Hopefully there will be more models with TB other than the silly looking S430.

 

Sonnet's website says their $600 Echo Express (100W) and $800 Echo Express Pro (150W) will ship 6/8/2012: Sonnet Online Store . I've seen interested ppl commenting that price is excessive (+ $50 TB cable + video card) when a desktop PC can be had for less $$ and more performance.

 

Hmm. This changes a lot. So expensive for this set up. I may just purchase a gaming laptop instead.

 

Definitely not worth it, but then it had MAC price tag attach to it so we don't know if it is inflated price.
edit:
$25 for a keyboard cover really ? that's must be some nice profit there

 

500$ less and it would still be insanely expensive.

 

Might as well diy. Gaming laptops still don't hold a candle to desktop gpus for the same cost.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

Yes, but if an eGPU si limited in the PCIe bus, it would probably perform like a gaming notebook GPU. If their overall cost is the same, it's clear that the eGPU solution become less interesting because of the need of an external PSU.

About this:

NVIDIA details top-tier GeForce GTX 680M Kepler GPU for Ultrabooks, other laptops -- Engadget

If they're really able to fit the 680m inside an ultrabook (and I don't think so), we will sh*t bricks...

 

Only if the ultrabook owner carries an auxilery 100W PSU to drive the GTX680M to accompany the 40-60W AC adapter that drives the rest of the ultraebook. Otherwise the 40-60W isn't going to provide enough juice to drive the whole unit + dGPU under load.

 

I laughed. That interest was before anyone saw the price tag...

 

It is not outrageous price for mac people when they are used to vga adapter that cost $50, 4GB ram costing up to $100 etc. And then there are people who would want one for work, which the cost mean nothing.

 

common misconception that I used to have too. but actually becoming quite the opposite actually. the only pro title left exclusively to a mac is FCP-X, and calling it pro is debatable. and full 10 bit color support is finally coming with mountain lion this summer if your not running a Mac Pro

Adobe Creative suite 5.5 and 6 ( photoshop, illistrator, premier pro etc ) is now better on win 7 than OSX, as is AVID DS, MASSIVE, 3Ds MAX and Motionbuilder.

I know its completly OT but thought i would mention it

 

lol, just because some people are willing to pay outrageous prices doesn't make Sonnet's price any less outrageous. While not universally true, I think people are realizing that in regards to Apple peripherals - there are typically much cheaper and sometimes even better alternatives.

I think that this device needed to be sub-500 for any real, consumer interest to generate.

 

Just found this: thunderbolt to PCIe

 

THAT is awsome!

 

BPlus Computex 2012 Thunderbolt/eGPU products reveal

As found at Bplus Technology Co., Ltd. Facebook

Holy We'll soon see affordable x4 2.0 and x4 3.0 Thunderbolt DIY eGPU implementations . BPlus have done well to prevent leaks about these new products.




TH05, Thunderbolt to PCIe, First Arrival!

Prototype of TH05 is shown and hands-on in Bplus booth now. TH05 is Thunderbolt to PCIe adapter, and can be used for eGPU on desktop/laptop PC with Thunderbolt port.

We hope we can finish development and evaluation in this month. As soon as intel's certification, we will start to produce the products. Thank you!

Available languages are English, Chinese/Mandarin and Japanese. Please feel free to take a look at booth N1103 in TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall!




Bplus TH03, Thunderbolt ExpressCard adapter is shown in Intel booth!




Dark Black Thunderbolt Cable, Provided by Sumitomo Electric!

Don't you think Thunderbolt cable is white only? No it isn't! Thunderbolt cable of Sumitomo Electric has also dark black cable. Not only looking good, but also very easy to handle. because it's very thin and flexible.




PE4H eGPU Enclosure, First Arrival!

Prototype of PE4H v3.2 with enclosure is shown in Bplus booth now. It's the first enclosure product for Bplus.




PCIe3.0 eGPU with PE4L v2.1b, Demonstrating at Bplus Booth!




Top 30! Most-viewed Supplier on Computex.biz!

Bplus was awarded as Top 30 of Most-viewed Supplier on Computex.biz! It is proof that lots of buyers are very interested in Bplus products, not only new products but also current product lines!




Need Thunderbolt Candy? Visit Bplus booth N1103!




Nice bags with Intel/Thunderbolt logo are available in Bplus booth with limited quantity.Please feel free to ask to get the bag at booth N1103 in TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall!

* The giveaways are presented by intel. Here, we would like to express our gratitude to Intel Thunderbolt team.




Computex Taipei 2012 Started!

Visit Bplus booth N1103 in TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall for Thunderbolt devices! Thunderbolt devices are shown in Bplus booth now.

Also, other new products are introduced and also released products are hands-on. It is very good chance to meet our sales and engineers directly for these products.

 

who cares about the color of a cable or an enclosure or whatever. just realese the dam product already.

 

you mean just sell the damn PCB board.

Also they are saying they are using the express card for 3.0? that is like 2.0 x2?

 

Wow this means that current macbooks with thunderbolt will be faster then x1.2opt solutions?
And does the current macbook's have older slower thunderboltcontrollers then new the new ivy-bridge generation?

Is optimus/internal screen mode also possible with thunderbolt?

I'm still a bit sceptical about thunderbolt egpu, because thunderbolt-cable itself is already $49

 

possibly

yes as they had the slower of the 2 SB versions as well

no idea it may be possible but im doubting it in OSX for quite sometime until Apple releases their own unit and driver

im skeptical until its tested and on the market. but with the large amt of laptops and motherboards coming with the new TB/DP connector things are looking up for the end of the year assuming it works as promised and driver support is there

 

Surely!

Furthermore IB thunderbolt are mapped on the northbridge with PCI 3.0 instead of the SB 2.0 so it means exactly double the bandwidth even with the same controller

I really doubt they come fast, I can say that windows drivers will implement plug and play like the OSX version.

It isn't a plain cable, it has logic on board. It isn't cheap but it can become a revolution, so i would be happy spend a bit knowing that the solution would last longer.

 

So; where are the Thunderbolt notebooks to use such a device? With Windows 8 on the horizon, do laptop manufacturers have a reason to wait on Thunderbolt implementation? Is it native chipset support that is planned for Haswell?

 

The Lenovo Thinkpad Edge S430 does not look too bad.

 

Lenovo S430
Acer Aspire S5
Asus G55VW

The whole range of Apple notebook (bootcamped obiously)

Expect during the Q4 a plethora of devices

Anyway as long as it isn't capable to deliver video signal on internal screen (and TH05 isn't currently) the product, IMHO, lose half of it's appeal.

 

I agree about the video signal. Thankfully NVidia Optimus can deliver the video signal to the internal LCD but with the penalty of some pci-e bandwidth.

That penalty would only be a small % of a x4 3.0 link on the latest Ivy Bridge systems + latest Thunderbolt controller. Even x4 2.0 with older SB systems or Thunderbolt controllers would be reasonably OK. However, AMD eGPUs would have no option other than to use an external LCD or try the Virtua driver.

In order for the eGPU signals to be routed back to the internal LCD using the Thunderbolt DP signals (no penalty on pci-e signals), the manufacturer needs to route the internal LCD via a hardware mux, just like previous muxed switchable graphics systems. Many manufacturers have moved away from the muxed configurations with only Dell Latitude, Lenovo Thinkpads and Sony Z2 maintaining such a configuration. Let's hope Thunderbolt changes that.

I'm keeping a list of Thunderbolt-port equipped systems in the thin-and-light link in my sig. As we learn more I can update that info with which are x4 3.0 capable. That being preferred to x4 2.0 by performance enthusiasts.

 

Also Asus G75VW; but both asus after July.

"I contacted MarshallR@ASUS the other day about the Thunderbolt situation. His response was:

The current models are not shipping with TB hardware inside so they cannot be retroactively upgraded. Only TB advertized models ship with TB installed. This is because those who don't need TB at all (still quite a significant %age due this early in TB rollout) won't have to pay for the TB chip inside.

So according to MarshallR@ASUS, It won't be a firmware upgrade but rather a new hardware configuration once they start shipping with Thunderbolt. "
"

 

Gigabyte U2442 has thunderbolt too. 14" ultrabook with nvidia 640M.
They anounced with thunderbolt and there are pics proving it but in their website says nothing about it... I'm puzzled.

 

I read T430s with i7 should come with TB. IT is available for order now aswell.

 

Could you fill in a noob here? I am planning on getting a macbook air and hooking it up to a 5850 via thunderbolt in order to connect to my desktop displays (2x27" 2560x1600). Are you saying I can't do this while running the Mac OS?

Thanks

 

we don't known yet because there isn't any product available. it just depends on the drivers and if apple allows it.
but why do you want a mac? it's a very restrictive OS and extremely overpriced notebooks.
imo look at an aspire S5. it will work with a thunderbolt egpu, it was used to demonstrate the msi gus II, it's lighter, cheaper and performs better. and if you really want to downgrade to mac os, dual boot or not, you can do it.

 

I´d need a 4core i7-3 small notebook, like Vaio Z with a thunderbolt.
Low voltage 2core processors are bit weak.
One option is perhaps S430 Lenovo, but i dont really like it for several reasons. Like the built in weak battery.

 

aspire s5 will have versions with 4core i7. i7-3667U. it will also be certainly a LOT cheaper.

 

3667U IS NOT 4core processor. Its 2core, low voltage i7.

 

Yep, that's unfortunately dual core only. Also I only saw it with the 3517U so far, but there's no significant difference. These CPUs can perform at around SB i5 m CPU levels though, so they're not that weak.
What I'm worried about regarding the S5 is the 1366x768 screen's quality...
Also the price difference is 200$ with the same configuration while the Air (probably) has a better screen, so it's definitely not ignorable, but Apple's build quality has quite the reputation. (I'm still trying to decide between the 2; I'll probably wait for reviews and eGPU adapter releases.)

 

well you could try the new mbp 15 retina display. Thats actually the only one that fills your criteria right now.

Most only offer dual core or ulv processors in the 13-14 format with thundderbolt.

 

but if you want a macbook air like you were saying then i7 3667U is the best cpu you can get.

 

No, I dont want air-like but small portable notebook with true 4core. Vaio Z has 3612QM inside it. Lenovo S430 has 3610QM as option too.
S430 is crappy and Vaio Z doent have true TB. I need the best of both, which is definately doable, but isnt likely to happen soon.

 

another thing that you could do is wait is for the xps 14, it has at least a mDP port, which could mean a thunderbolt, Im just not that confident.

Basically you either have to go for the mbp 15 retina, or get the t430s

 

The revised 'oldschool' 15 inch MBP comes with an i7 QM as well and it's still cheaper than the 'new' MBP at 1800$, though I still wouldn't call it a bargain..

 

15 inch isnt exactly small anymore. 15.6 Clevos have already extremely powerful 7970M and GTX680M inside. They dont need any eGPU.
13-14ish is what we need Clevo also has 11" with 650M, which isnt bad. But 11" is way too small for me...

 

Well, yeah, I'm waiting for reviews of the S5 too to see if it's screen is at least bearable for everyday usage (when not using external screen at home). I believe that if I get a GTX 460 for it the i7 ULV won't be much of a bottleneck.