Have you seen this yet? Now you can not only UPGRADE your video card, you can use DESKTOP video cards with your Laptop!

Let us know how it goes!

 

Not everyone wants to juggle between two computers.

You can't factor in the cost of the monitor, because that would be part of a desktop purchase too. Also, a lot of people already use a external monitor because gaming on a 15.4-17" screen isn't that great.

8800M/9800M into a 1920x1200 screen = sputter.

Cheap gaming books are good if you want to save money, but they have downsides as well. The Gateway's for instance have low end LCD panels, if I bought one (which I was considering last summer) I would have gotten an external monitor anyways.

The last point is that this lets people who only buy 17" + get a smaller easier to carry notebook. Go to and from work everyday with 20lbs+ on your shoulder gets to be not fun.

You do make your point clear, but it doesn't apply to everyone. I would buy this product.

 

DTRs arent a gimmick. They are what they are. Builders have to slow clocks down and use smaller parts to make it fit into a portable device. They are for gamers who like portability and descent gaming power. Ok so you may have a monitor already, But what are you going to do when they change the express card design, or the PCIe design? Your going to have to go out and buy a new $300 case and a new $400 vid card. You will probably need a new monitor too by then. My last words here are going to be this: Computer go out of date all the time, no amount of fancy ideas is going to make yours last much longer. Id rather spend $1,000 on a fast desktop every year, then in 2 years when your laptop/GPU setup is a crapy performer youll wish you would have saved yourself some money to begin with.

 

That's fair. In the end it's down to what you are willing to spend.

 

I am kind of glad that was your last post - but a short response to your comment about a "fast desktop" costing 1000..... My last fast desktop ran me closer to 3K. Hell - an i7 920 + decent mobo + one video card is going to run ~1000. Then add in 2 more video cards, optical, case, water cooling system and a PSU to rule them all - and you are slightly above your $1000. You will require a monitor by then as well.

The point of this device is that you can buy your sub-1000 notebook, use it with the keyboard, mouse and monitor that you probably already have at home for gaming, sell your desktop and buy an interchangable video card docking system. I am happy about the smaller version - and should it work well, but will buy the big daddy in order to achieve the full docking station capability + high end graphics card. That way - I can play the newest games that come out at 27 or 30 inches (as I buy myself a new monitor to move to 2560x1600) and still be able to pack it up when it is time to cross the international dateline.

I was an early adopter of DTRs (had the first 17" Sager and totally pimped it out). Less than a year after I bought it (spending close to 4K on it) I sold it for less than 2 and was not happy because it couldn't play the newer games at that point. I still have a 17" laptop (NP5797) but would happily swap it out for a 13" laptop if I could find one with a decent discreet graphics chip. THIS product is exactly that for me. Doesn't have to be that for you.

 

Would this work in an XPS M1730?

What's the best video card you can use with it?

And would this be a better alternative than me spending nearly a grand to get the dual 8800M upgrade? My laptop currently has the dual 8700M GT.

 

http://www.villagetronic.com/vidock/compatibility.html here is one list I found for compatability, but I dont think it would help you notebook which is already really fast. (Only dock I have found yet).



Is this one the only one on the market? http://www.xoticpc.com/vidock2-wati...d-controls-dual-external-displays-p-2593.html

I have a Dell 1420 but with the x3100 (unclear if supported) and Vista, I could get W7 but dont really want to right now.

 

You can get it from PowerNotebooks.com, as well.

As for compatibility, I think you would definitely have to use Windows 7 and even then no one can guarantee that it won't have resource allocation issues.

 

yea... but i dont have room for a 27 inch monitor in my case.

 

One of the laptops on my desk is an M1730. It is not an SLI one though - single 8800 or 8700. I will verify when I get back to the office on Monday.

 

Paladin44, do you have any idea of the size and weight of the future ViDock4?

 

To some people that wonder why people would want it to display on the laptop display rather than on an external monitor it's because people might take their gaming to somewhere out of their homes/work, i.e. I get together with my friends to play LAN games ... and some of their laptops just suck in graphics so having it displayed on the laptop monitor isn't a bad idea for say to have a LAN party and still have decent laptops to play with.

On the other hand I have a Compal IFL90 not listed in ViDock2 website as tested, I want to use Windows 7 64-bit with it ( I read that with windows 7 supposedly I wouldn't have any problem with my laptop having a 8600M GT graphics card, am I correct? ) what can I check in my laptop's design to be sure that it might work?

Intel Crestline PM965 + ICH8-M Chipset
Latest Phoenix BIOS for this laptop (1.18)

and I don't know what else would matter.

 

Actually, we have tested the Compal JHL90 (Our PowerPro P 12:15) and it works great, and I have every confidence it will work with the IFL90 as well.

However it will only work with XP (not VISTA because the IFL 90 has an nVIDIA card, and VISTA will only allow one brand of video card working at the same time) and it works even better in Windows 7.

 

NICE! If by mid August there's no ViDock4 I might just order the 3 or the 2; tho the best inversion would be the 4, it having the longet lifespan.

Thanks for the reply Paladin44

 

I just noticed that when you customize a laptop on xotic pc, you can choose to get a ViDock.

 

Could you share some pics and screen shots?

cheers ...

 

You can order the ViDock 2 on the PowerNotebooks.com configurators as well. There are also plenty of links there to click into the ViDock 2 page that has details, pictures and screen shots.

If you haven't seen it from an earlier post in this thread, you will also find a video on our website as well.

Just click on the link in my signature below.

 

Just out of curiosity has anyone used this and ran 3dmark on their laptop to see what they get?

 

Im looking foward to the vidock4, sounds pretty good for me Im almost sold. The only downside would be the cost increase of the blank vidock4, but thats my only concern .

 

how much do you guys reckon that the vidock2 will cost when the vidock4 is available?

 

Well according to this the vidock2 with the 4670 in it costs in the neighborhood of $379.00

http://www.powernotebooks.com/product.php?itemId=2893

My bet is that the vidock4 will cost around 500 bucks...kind of steep but its mere speculation on my part.

 

Whoa...$500...nope, too high. While it hasn't been released yet I don't expect the ViDock 4 Blank to break $400...but once you add an ATi 4890 for example it will break $500, but you only buy the Blank once, thereafter you only need to buy the new generation video card.

 

You would have to implement this tech at the exact right time to get the upgrade benefit. How much longer do you suppose PCIe will be the standard.

 

I would hope that a blank dock would cost less than a dock + video card.

 

I wonder if in the future if it would be possible to send data from the card to the laptop via a couple of USB 3.0 ports. I haven't seen any benchmarks for usb 3.0 yet but its supposed to theoretically push 500mb/s.

 

Possibly, if monitors start using USB 3.0.

But I would prefer to see data transfered wirelessly -- whether it is wireless between laptop and dock, OR wireless between dock and monitor -- maybe over WiMAX.

 

Pointless, for example AGP 8x came true in 1997 and PCI-Express took it's place around 2005 or even 2006 for mass consumers... So, it has benefits well enough , and let me answer your "question" - it will be at least 4 more years - more than enough for Mob ATi HD3650 user. What would you say ? 4 years mate - do you remember what was this day 2 years ago ? Don't think so.

 

If you get a vidock 4 with an ATi 4890, wouldn't you bottleneck it?
Even though its specifications say expresscard 2.0, all of the laptops available so far are only expresscard 1.0; so would this be any useful to people who already have laptops right now? I know it is backwards compatible, but would the speeds be the same?

 

^--^
PLEASE take the time to read the earlier posts in this thread.

1. When you think about bottlenecking what are you comparing it to...your laptop video card performance, or desktop performance. The point is, it will so substantially outperform what ever is in your laptop because even if you have the fastest laptop video card in the world, the desktop version in the ViDock 4 will blow it away!

2. The ViDock 4 will allow you to upgrade to the best DESKTOP video cards generation after generation...how are you going to do that with your laptop?? And, even if you could, you are still only able to use a laptop video card.

At the end of the day, the ViDock 4 will always be able to outperform whatever you have in your laptop, and give you the ability to use a smaller, lighter, less expensive laptop instead of having to buy the biggest and baddest laptop at the time, which will only be surpassed as soon as the next generation video card comes out.

 

Is it safe to assume that the vidock3 will cost around $450 w/card?
Anyword on eta as well?

 

As I stated last year with the other versions, if it were able to power the internal LCD Id be all over it. Until then Ill pass.

Why have this function? Well what if you are always on the go and need that thin and light 10 hours of battery, yet the weak gpu cant game well. Well plug in this box at the hotel or anywhere you can get 2 plugs and space and you have your gaming rig.

 

Although I agree that is the only reason I would buy this, I'm pretty sure that you'd have to detach the internal GPU from the screen to do that.
i.e. pretty much impossible for now.

 

You should definitely send a piece of equipment to the Engadget guys so they review it and post another video/comments of the product.

 

It shall be done!

 

No, that is not true at all. The ViDock works through your ExpressCard slot and support up to 2 external monitors. So, with 2 external monitors connected, plus your laptop screen, you can have up to 3 screens working at the same time.

 

wow man cool

3 screens ... i barely have one

 

shouldn't that be 4 screens, since most notebooks alone can support the internal + 1 external screen.

so 2 from ViDock + 2 original = 4 screens, maybe too many?

 

That is correct.

Actually, with the ViBook added to the mix, you can have a total of 10 screens. 6 ViBook USB to DVI adapters, 2 from the laptop itself, and 2 from the ViDock 2.

 

Sorry, what I meant to ask was: would I need to buy a new laptop when expresscard 2.0 slots become available on them to take full advantage of the vidock 4?

 

... might as well build a desktop imo

 

I just re-read a whole bunch of the posts and saw that the vidock is compatible between expresscard 1.0 and 2.0. I also saw a post stating that the cards were limited by the power supply rather than the interface by a poster, but that statement was not verified.. so what would be the difference if a pserson had the expresscard 1.0 slot and a person with a similar laptop and expresscard 2.0 slot with a high end video card? I'm asking this question because I am considering buying a new laptop around this time, but if expresscard 2.0 yields a greater boost I might get away with a netbook until expresscard 2.0 goes mainstream....

 

hi
didnt have time to read all the 20 pages before.
do i get it right that this gadget attaches to the express card port and allows you to use desktop video cards on your lappy but supported video cards are limited to a desktop ati4850?
is that right?

 

that infinity dude was really pissing me off, how about u guys?

what it is good for is if, like at least 10 people said, you do traveling. not like going from school to dorm, but from nebraska to alaska. the ONLY downfall would be the screen );

this is also good for home and dorm travel. YOU CAN HAVE ONE COMPUTER. take your 14 inch t60 to school and take notes while going home and game your head off with a 4890. Then when your done, you can open up you notes and study ON THE SAME COMPUTER. Keep all your files on one HDD without going through the pain, stress, and time wasted transferring all of the files. simplicity really. How hard is it to plug ONE express card, ONE keyboard/mouse, and ONE anything else?

think about this also, get a non gaming laptop for like 600-700 where the same laptop with a below average to decent gpu would be a minimum of 400$ more. the intense gpu's can go up to 2+K. what does the ViDock cost? 400$'s. now, people might say 'get the gpu in the laptop for the same price'. very true, but what about next year? your dead and have to drop another 1-1.2k. The vidock is 10x more powerful, especially when 3 and 4 come out. All you have to do is drop 2-3 hundred a year if you want to be on the ball. also this allows for less heat, lighter weight laptop, smaller laptop, and LONG BATTERY LIFE.

For people who want that mobility with power AND battery life, you are always f-ed in the A. I am in this boat. The N81vp-c1 is super powerful for a 14 inch mobile, but bat life sucks. Get the ViDock to game at home and a reliable, fast laptop for work. This gives both.

you can have your desktop replacement at a stationary place (hotel, HOME, work) then get up and go with your semi fast cpu laptop to surf the web, take notes, and work.

rant over

now i want benchmarks/fps. the wait....

and one fear, what happens when express card 2.0 is outdated and the vidocks adapter doesnt work with the next version (3.0/4.0) and becomes a bottle neck? hope they make some thing that allows you to convert it. if not, im sure they will have a vidock 372 by then which weights 10 grams, water cooling, and 300 dollars with the latest gpu so not to much of a worry.

 

Official ExpressCard 2.0 sockets will not be seen out in the marketplace until late 2010 to early 2011. ExpressCard is the standard for I/O slot expansion in the consumer notebook space - no more PCMCIA Cards.

There are no emerging applications that would drive the need for a next generation "ExpressCard 3" into the notebook space. No such work is going on - or even being discussed within PCMCIA. So, nothing in the foreseeable future for a slot beyond ExpressCard 2.0 in the notebook space.

PCI 3 is fully backward compatible with PCIe 2 and PCIe 1.x. Historically, PCI-SIG has made sure that new revisions of standards have been backward compatible with old revisions.

So,

Today's ViDock will not lose its access to the PCIe bus due to a change in the slot standard.
Future graphics cards (presumably PCIe 3 cards) will work in ViDock.

 

awesome! thanks pali

this would most likely be the wrong place to pull something out some along the lines of bottle necks wouldnt it? this just opens up this whole world of the fastest cpu in a lappy compared to the fast gpu's ever. kinda funny. Also, to avoid contradicting this whole point, the fastest processor i can find in a 14/13 inch laptop is 2.8 c2d which i did a little looking around and it is optimal to get a 3.0+ or any quad to use a 4890 or high end nvidia.

again the world it opens, will the 32nm c2d's be powerfull enough for desktop gpu's. lol this is some funny sh!t. if not, a 4890 or 295 can last you a good 2-3 years, the length of ur laptop because of bottlenecks.

either way, gaming will be 1000x better, maybe more with my 1.8ghz c2d x1300 t60 . lol. I think imma just get the vidock 4 so i can full support for anything.

thanks again for all the support in this forum pali.

 

Will the vidock 4 support Lenovo T400? This is the original, not the T400s. Does the T400 have the proper ports and everything? (Assume we're dealing with the discrete/switchable graphics config).

 

I think the point that everyone but Paladin ... seems to be missing

Is that this is take it or leave it technology...

If you like it and it suits your needs good for you. If you dislike it and think it's a waste of money and time... Then it's probably not for you.. Why waste constant resources and time arguing over the finer points of this device.. If you want it buy it! If you want a new desktop replacement laptop every 2 years buy that! If you want desktop... Go somewhere else this is a NOTEBOOK forum... lol Anyways just wanted to cool the arguments a little and focus more on the facts..

From my perspective it looks like a cool little device... and I myself may get one, but to me it's getting to the day where having more than one lappie makes sense.. They don't take up much room (and if you don't invest an arm and a leg) they aren't that expensive... So why not have a good gamer... good work... good school laptop? I think I'll start that thread lol...

Sorry to take away from this thread. To drift it back on course... Yes I think the upgradability is going to be the most important factor here (though it wouldn't hurt if the vidock4 could work with the laptop screen ) Peace everyone and enjoy your lappies!
A/J

 

There have industrial graphics for laptop MXM(read more MXM). MXM is Mobile PCI-Express which speed is as same as actual PCI-Express but it still expensive that no new laptops use it.

 

I think this should be sticky

 

I second that, this is BIG, this changes the current scheme of laptop gaming. (or at least it does for me ).