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    External GPU using USB 3.0?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Aaron95, Oct 30, 2011.

  1. Aaron95

    Aaron95 Notebook Consultant

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    Pretty much what the title says. Could I plug in an external graphics card using the USB 3.0 port on my laptop, or would doing so result in really bad frame rates?
     
    Aaron95, Oct 30, 2011
    #1
  2. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    None announced (will be surprised if they're ever announced - except for simple multi-monitor support).

    Yeah, bad frame rates (very limited bandwidth).

    You should be looking/rooting for Intel's LightPeak for these sort of applications.
     
    tilleroftheearth, Oct 30, 2011
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  3. Aaron95

    Aaron95 Notebook Consultant

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    @tilleroftheearth Yeah, I figured. It was worth asking, though. By LightPeak you mean Thunderbolt, right?
    Too bad no Windows laptops have it yet, because there's no way I'm giving up my Alienware for a Mac just for Thunderbolt.
     
    Aaron95, Oct 31, 2011
    #3
  4. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    No, definitely not a Mac (NOOOOO! :) ).

    Mac's have Thunderbolt - computers will have Light Peak (hopefully in a few months time.
     
    tilleroftheearth, Oct 31, 2011
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  5. JKleiss

    JKleiss Notebook Evangelist

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    Wiki lists the sony vaio Z21 as having thunderbolt/lightpeak. The new unreleased model maybe?
     
    JKleiss, Oct 31, 2011
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  6. too456

    too456 Resident Angry Bird

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    The version of light peak in the vaio uses USB to implement while Macs use PCI Express to implement, and since Apple patented it :)() then other manufacturers are stuck to using USB to implement light peak. Not sure what performance impact, if any there are when using USB as compared to PCI Express to implement.
     
    too456, Oct 31, 2011
    #6
  7. User Retired 2

    User Retired 2 Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

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    User Retired 2, Oct 31, 2011
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  8. jeremyshaw

    jeremyshaw Big time Idiot

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    Apple used Displayport to transport PCIe and DP.

    Sony used USB (+ 2 optical fibres embedded in the USB port) to transport PCIe.
     
    jeremyshaw, Oct 31, 2011
    #8