External GPUs?

What's the consensus on external video cards for laptops? I've seen a few solutions touted by Asus and others, but is this a real viable alternative for upgrading one's GPU in a laptop? How is price/performance/size? Is it worth a look or just a gimmick?

 

Even though Asus (and others) have tried, none of them have worked or are available. Don't waste your time.

 

lol, I wish.......

 

Not going to happen at this time or in the near future.

 

No, Fujitsu announced that it is working on an external graphics solution. The technology is possible, the only problem is this; the GPU needs a high bandwidth data transfer interface to the computer. The problem is that no current method like USB or Firewire would be capable of it.

 

USB 3.0, which is 10x faster than USB 2.0 might be a good choice.
But I hardly think that an external GPU could match a decent dedicated one...

 

Once the bandwidth issue is fixed, there won't be any problems. USB3.0 is going to be a 4.8Gbps connection...which barely competes with a single PCIe 2.0 lane. And a good GPU needs 8 to 16 lanes to get enough bandwidth.

 

read my sig.
there is one but not too fast tho.

 

And to put that into perspective. If they could get that kind of throughput they would of already applied it to HDD's? As an example the 8600m GT uses a bandwidth of 22.4GB/s. If they even get to 4.8GB/s which they won't on an external connection. That is (very fast) RAM speed and we all know how great IGP's work? So no point and so far away. Kind of like talking fiction not reality.

Edit:

We meant one that served a purpose.

 

That`s why I stressed :

But since technology goes beyond fast, it might be possible in say 5 years.
I`m feeling optimistic.

 

JEBUS! What's with the hate-on?

I sat back and let the haters spew about it because I couldn't comment further due to respect of a colleague's work, but really you guys seem to be full of negativity with little to back it up other than the desire to tear down things.

Maybe you guys would have a point if upgrading a graphics card weren't basically an expensive and limited proposition as well, and if the idea of graphics power didn't mean a heavy laptop.

This is the first stage of an area that has had NO real solutions until recently, and this isn't the only one there are others like the Magma ExpressBox (which has been on sale since earlier this year), just the first to be reviewed recently (which itself took a long time to do that review of the ViDock, it's been in the works since late 2007).

Now the rumours from Fudo that LASSO may actually make an appearance at Computex, that's the next step. And if it's here before the end of the year, then Powerpack has to buy me one to review for NBR (hey I still have to get the compliant laptop, although that shouldn't be too hard).

That would allow you to have something the size of a Toshiba500 or Mac AIR while still allowing some serious graphics power.

BTW, USB 3.0 will never be good enough, and it's not just bandwidth that's the issue latency is still a huge issue which is their primary concern with external PCIe.

 

Well we have been let down before. Can't you see we are not haters, we are in pain. We are hurting not hating. I will have to look into your proposition but if past history is any indication I would be safe accepting.

Why they don't have a PCIE X16 port? I guess there is a reason why can't be done but sounds simple to me.

 

Why? HDDs don't need nearly that much bandwidth.
They already use the external spec in nV's own version in the QuadroPlex, as well as normal connectors in server applications for SAS and other drives/arrays.

Here's the Molex catalogue for external PCIe;
http://www.molex.com/cmc_upload/0/000/381/103/350.pdf

And as you can see in the LASSO picture, they use two of the 4X connections to feed that Gen 1 platform.

They do, see the catalogue.

As to why they don't for laptops, think about it, the reson they haven't pushed hard in laptops is the same reason they haven't pushed hard for you to replace your own MXM based cards, they'd rather you you buy a new laptop than upgrade your current one, or if you do upgrade you do it through them for a fortune. Maybe the old Voodoo and Alienware would've allowed you, because they already front ended the prices, but the HP and DELL owned ones, aren't the same company.

Personally I've been waiting for this since way back when we first discussed it as part of the 3GIO spec years ago, nice portable laptop, but still retain all the power you want through a more modular basestation and external design. Hopefully this gets us closer to that option.