External Graphics Card

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darylblake

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#223086 12-Sep-2017 10:53

Does any have one of these. Seen them before, or know anything about them.

My laptop has 2x USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports on it.

I was wondering if I even need to bother with the desktop anymore if I get one of these units. The only reason I have it because of the GPUs available on desktops.

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2984716/laptop-computers/how-to-transform-your-laptop-into-a-gaming-powerhouse-with-an-external-graphics-card.html?page=3

Also know any retailers locally? Or will I need to import?

sidefx

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#1862722 12-Sep-2017 11:07

Have come across them in reviews, etc before but never seen one live.

They definitely seem like a cool idea, but for gaming desktop is still king IMO. It's not just GPUs that make the desktop better for gaming (though admittedly the GPU is a big part) - it's also the fact that you're sacrificing significantly on the CPU performance front because battery usage\heat is so important with a laptop and you're paying more for miniaturized components while limiting upgrade options and repair-ability.

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D.W

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#1862723 12-Sep-2017 11:09

It's worth bearing in mind that you're still restricted by the mobile CPU, which are far lower performing than desktop CPUs. So if whatever you plan on running is in any way CPU-intensive, it may not be a great solution.

Djmixerdomo

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#1862740 12-Sep-2017 11:50

Also worth noting is that there is a significant performance decrease when using a GPU externally, and it's even worse if you aren't using a separate monitor and have it send the frames back over the thunderbolt cable.

I recommend watching this video:

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