External graphics solutions

The biggest problem for gamers with laptops is definitely the trade-off between having a machine that one can actually carry and one that can run games at real framerates. The solution to this comes in the form of external boxes that, when one runs a laptop's graphics card through it to a monitor, significantly increases graphics performance. One such option is the Amilo Graphics Booster, reviewed here, though this has pretty limited applications.

This led me to wonder: is there some sort of external casing like this that takes actual desktop graphics cards? I would imagine I would have heard of it if it exists, but it seems that some company must be working on something of the sort. Does anyone know anything about this or other graphics booster?

 

Nothing like that exists, due to the reason listed in the article: the throughput just is not there with x1 PCIE. Your idea is a good one, and I would actually prefer something like that where you have a generic external PCIE slot (or several slots) that you can use when the laptop is docked. The downside that I see is that the manufacturers will force the end users to pay out the nose for the technology... not to mention the cost of the graphics card.

 

Umm, maybe you ought re-read the article. The problem with the x1 PCIE exists in the Asus XG Station, but not in the FSC's Graphic Booster.

With the external ATI 3870, it is able to perform slightly faster than the 9700M GTS.

 

now we just godda wait for someone to make one that doesnt require such an elaborate nor specific port.

 

elaborate - not at all, ATI had to create the new port so that they could get the full x16, not the x1 lane that the Asus XGP had, thus making the GPU actually perform decently.

specific - maybe, but only since no one else has made anything like this yet.

Instead of complaining, you should support AMD since they've been the only ones brave enough to try to bring gaming on low-end PCs to the masses.

 

Agreed!

 

If it takes a 3870 it should also take a 4850 since those are identical reference designs. But that's assuming it's user replaceable.

 

I'm pretty sure I'd read the ATI XGP/Graphicbooster is limited to x8 bandwidth, not the full x16 that desktops enjoy for instance. Can anyone confirm?

 

8x 2.0, which is the same as 16x 1.0. It's the same bandwidth you'd get crossfiring on a P45 motherboard, and that setup can handle 4870's on an 8x 2.0 lane.

 

^^Exactly, I should have mentioned that, sorry.

 

The capability is there. AMD has created the port needed, and has it available for their platform. I think I heard that it is partly owned by Fujitsu Siemens and will not reach other manufacturers though, which is a pity since this could be a huge step forward for notebooks.

The PCIe 2.0 8x port used has enough bandwidth to run an HD 4870x2, but would be heavily bottlenecked by AMD's notebook CPU's. There's also no reason why they can't make the external box support a full size PCI express card that uses it's own power from your AC socket. but again, since this is partly owned by FSC, I doubt this will ever happen.

 

oh dont get me wrong, i wasnt slating there efforts, quite the opposite. i think its great. only problem is i want it now and not in 4 years time! lol.