External GPUs are on the rise again with some thunder behind it. The cool thing about Thunderbolt is the bandwidth it can provide. Currently Thunderbolt can deliver 20Gb/s (or 2.5GB/s). This is around AGP 8x speeds, but are certainly faster than USB 3.0’s 5Gb/s (625MB/s). However, there are plans to scale Thunderbolt’s bandwidth up to 100Gb/s (12.5GB/s), which brings us right into PCI Express territory. However, since Thunderbolt has yet to be scaled as high as 100Gb/s the external Thunderbolt GPU uses a HD5770.
The next problem of course is availability and cost. The cables have yet to come down in price and can cost around $50, and the availability of Thunderbolt within laptop/desktops/motherboards is scarce. So, this solution is a bit off, and maybe a decent alternative to integrated graphics for those who may jump into the on coming ultrabook craze.
Source: techspot.com
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I don’t get it… why does it take so long for any sort of improvement in this sector? These addon GPUs will be a huge boost for laptop sales since gamers will have something to look for in laptops.
Get a laptop, stick the addon GFX in the PCIE slot (Yes.. PCIE ffs…) and connect it to your tv. Play any game you want at max settings.
Need to go? Disconnect the addon gfx card and take the laptop along for work and HD media playback (through its built in APU/gpu).
Addons could just be frames with upgradable PCIE desktop cards btw if laptops were to go down that route. Plus the cards nowadays offer 5.1 sound. HDMI -> Home cinema -> TV. The full experience just because the laptop has that PCI-E addon slot!
How you gonna power that thing. cause the laptop sure as hell can’t do it.
gonna have to be a external GPU case with its own psu built…
they really just need to fucking lower the cost of high end mobile chipsets and gpus…
You’re right, this type of product may just be nullified since laptops will have better performing dedicated/integrated GPUs. Intel’s Ivy Bridge on-die GPU finally delivers acceptable performance (as far as Intel’s graphics solutions are concerned).
Still, its interesting to see such dedicated devices and how they are implemented. Practicality is of course questionable since GPUs are dropping in cost and rising in performance per watt.
Also, the unit does have its own power supply (If you look at the picture there is a black cable that goes under the desk). You definitely wouldn’t want to uses a desktop GPU on the go since it isn’t designed with the power constraints that laptops require for longer battery life.
As helpful and practical as something like that CAN be, I don’t think they will take off. With APUs on the way, I don’t think the Thunderbolt will find a big enough market, especially with the compatibility and price issues.