Possible for usb 3 external graphics option?

So ATI announced its xgp option using the pcie 2.0 express slots, basically allowing a maximum bandwidth of 4 gbyte/s. The next external option will feature a hd 3870 and remain open to future upgrades. The problem is that most laptops does not have the pcie 2.0 express slot and so this option seems obsolete.

Intel has said that their new usb 3.0 will provide as much as 4.8 gbyte/s bandwidth. They've also said that USB 2.0 and 1.0 will be able to utilize this technology.

If usb 3.0 can provide greater bandwidth and provide a larger consumer market, wouldnt it make sense for ATI and Nvidia to prduce external options for this?

 

Unless they're going to be cheaper, external gpu's will die out in few years after they're announced.
Todays lappys have powerful intergrated chipsets, like X4500 or cheap dedicated cards like 8600M GT / 9600M GS.

But the idea is correct, the USB 3.0 speed is 4.8Gbit/s (600MB/s) so it should be enough, but we still have around two years before they are avalible.

 

Isn't the PCIe 3.0 standard with 8 gb/s speed going to be available around the same time?

 

they dont have pcie 3.0 express for some reason..

 

external graphic options will be around from now on. Its not as expansive as replacing a laptop, and their performance is much greater than mid range cards like 8600m gt. Integrated chipsets cant even compare. They're only powerful comparative to the insanely weak IGP.

Read into how they're planning to utilize external gpus, its very dynamic in both the gaming and business worlds.

 

Don't know what you're getting at, lol, but I was simply wondering why they'd use USB 3.0 if the next PCIe version was being released as well and with more bandwidth for future cards. I thought part of the whole idea with these XGPs was to take market share away from Intel in the mobile segment. Using USB 3 would mean that the XGPs could be used on Intels. As it stands they've got some kind of exclusivity deal with their partner for the PCIe 2.0 slot don't they?

OT: They have the multi-quote button so you don't have to make multiple posts for each quote.

 

well intel cant make external gpus without nvidia or ati cards, so either way nvidia and ati will profit from usb 3.0 external gpus. There is no exclusive deal in the market, except for the fact that the fujitsu brand of xgp will be exclusive to ati cards. When intel release its usb 3.0 technology, other companies might utilize it, or intel itself might, and make an exclusive deal with either nvidia or ati. The point is, be it usb 3.0, or pcie, ati and nvidia wants as many outlets as possible to sell xgps.

My whole point is that, if usb 3.0 is faster than current pcie bandwidth than it'll be profitable to develop these external options. Also, if the bandwidth for the port is high enough so that the gpu performance is close to desktop counterparts, consumer will buy the external option just for its portability and up gradability factor.

Winners and losers might change along the arm race for high speeds. Who knows.

 

You could apply the same argument to having USB 2.0 external cards. Hardware scales up simultaneously - as we approach USB 3.0, we'll approach a faster PCI-E or replacement type interface as well since graphics cards will be hungry for more and more bandwidth.

 

Its true, I just wish its closer to replacing pcei, its still 8gb on desktops vs ~5 gb/s would be on usb 3.0

 

Well, when I mentioned exclusivity I meant the deal with JAE for 1 year exclusivity of the PCIe connector: http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/37946/135/

 

oh i see that amd has corner the early market then

 

The ATi external graphics solution will only power an external monitor in the first gen, as well as there is no launch date in sight. For me its sad since Id love to be able to plug a box into my 12in and be able to max all the current games (minus crysis). Would be nice to be able to buy a 12in with a powerful CPU and great battery life, and when you want to be able to game well just plug in a box. A guy can dream..

 

true, but I feel that graphics processing will move towards shading and stream processors, and start to move away from memory bandwidth as being the bottleneck. This may be a few years away, but I think that is the correct direction it will move.

 

This is exactly what makes me so excited. Its a shame that when it launches, it will be limited to AMD Puma notebooks for now, really want this to get on Intel notebooks.

 

Either way I have yet to see anything other then the early june 2008 announcement. Ever since the announcement I have been drool, too bad my old 12in died and had to be replaced before this was released.