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    PCI Express expansion

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by willwill, Feb 18, 2010.

  1. willwill

    willwill Notebook Enthusiast

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    How important is it to have an expansion slot with a new laptop purchase?
     
    willwill, Feb 18, 2010
    #1
  2. Peon

    Peon Notebook Virtuoso

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    Well, that depends entirely on whether or not you have any ExpressCards. Most people never use theirs, but others can't live without one.
     
    Peon, Feb 19, 2010
    #2
  3. willwill

    willwill Notebook Enthusiast

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    I would only want one for the graphic expansion possibility in the future.. i'd rather upgrade my graphics card in 2+ years than buy a new laptop.. I am sure the vidlock and similar products will be bareboned for cheap soon enough
     
    willwill, Feb 19, 2010
    #3
  4. unnamed01

    unnamed01 Notebook Deity

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    unnamed01, Feb 19, 2010
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  5. key001

    key001 Notebook Evangelist

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    I lol'ed XD
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    you can connect all kinds of usb/firewire/sata/serial port expresscards to your lappy and probably any pci-e desktop card (gfx, sata, sound card, tuner, whatever) with an adapter+psu
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 12, 2015
    key001, Feb 19, 2010
    #5
  6. Peon

    Peon Notebook Virtuoso

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    There is a shred of truth in that post though - the bandwidth limitations with something like a DIY ViDock are severe enough to make a desktop 5870 slower than the laptop version.
     
    Peon, Feb 19, 2010
    #6
  7. User Retired 2

    User Retired 2 Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

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    x1 1.0 sees 50% of x16 2.0 performance
    x2 1.0 (expresscard 2.0) sees > 80% of x16 2.0 performance

    Expresscard 2.0 systems are to be released in 2010, so can go a desktop video card rather than the mobile version for superior performance. See DIY ViDock experiences thread for some benchmarks.
     
    User Retired 2, Feb 19, 2010
    #7
  8. masterchef341

    masterchef341 The guy from The Notebook

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    to be fair, the DIY ViDock is really bulky, pretty expensive, takes a lot of effort to set up, you have wires everywhere as the end result, you need a power supply... and then it may or may not work depending on the laptop, operating system, etc.

    plus it requires a decent bit of software hackery.

    and in most (all?) cases it seems like you also need an external monitor.

    i would love to see people stop recommending the ViDock to normal users who want expandable graphics cards. it is super misleading, and it is barely a laptop anymore.
     
    masterchef341, Feb 19, 2010
    #8
  9. ettornio

    ettornio Notebook Deity

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    I would always try to go for a laptop with an Expresscard slot, mainly because you never really know when you'll need it. And if you ever do need it, you'll be glad you have it!
     
    ettornio, Feb 19, 2010
    #9
  10. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

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    Expresscard or internal Mini PCI-e, either one. It's always nice to have extra expansion slots. I personally view Mini PCI-e slots more usable than expresscard, but then the High-End audio junkies depend on expresscard, soo... But you really won't find much outside of the Vdock for video card upgrades unless you purchase an MXM equipped notebook.
     
    H.A.L. 9000, Feb 19, 2010
    #10
  11. sean473

    sean473 Notebook Prophet

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    expresscard has many uses... extra USB ports , e-SATA ports , Audio soundcards , extra sound ports if any are broken... many uses and u should have one in every laptop IMO...
     
    sean473, Feb 19, 2010
    #11