New eGPU Build plan

[SpyderChiken]

I'm looking into to setting up an eGPU for use with my laptop. Does anyone know of an enclosure that is readily available. Most of what I have found is either extremely expensive or won't fit a GPU that is modern (giant). I'm going to use the adt-ut3g adapter to connect since it can do thunderbolt and usb4.

[jaslion]

What laptop do you have?

 

ey have a 3d print

 

Keep in mind that tb4 or tb3 is AT BEST a pcie 3.0 x4 link and even a rtx 3060 is easily held back by that. It also scales really badly upward and is a diminishing return thingy.

[SpyderChiken]

I know it scales badly and the returns diminish. It's more so I don't have to replace an expensive laptop with another expensive laptop. 

 

My thought process is to use my current hp elite x2 which is a two in one with an i7 but on board graphics. It has thunderbolt 3 and when it comes time to replace it I could go with another two in one that fits my use case in all aspects except occasionally needing a GPU for CAD drawings or light gaming at lunch as well as driving three monitors for work which the hp does not do well. 

 

It's not meant to replace my desktop at home but to be better for the occasional need for a GPU while traveling and for better work environment. 

 

The other thought was to get a Legion go for work and use this to run more monitors. 

[jaslion]

2 hours ago, SpyderChiken said:

that fits my use case in all aspects except occasionally needing a GPU for CAD drawings or light gaming at lunch as well as driving three monitors for work which the hp does not do well. 

Hows the price of a asus flow x13 or x16 looking for you? The 2022 version has been on sale a lot.

 

Its the only 2 in 1 laptop with good cooling.

 

Btw a egpu is NOT something that should be moved a lot as they do not handle flex and schocks well as they are still just desktop parts in a small case.

[OhYou_]

4 hours ago, jaslion said:

and even a rtx 3060 is easily held back by that

its not. I have one, and can monitor bus usage while in games and it is not hitting the limit

[SpyderChiken]

The flow x13 is one I've had my eye on but again it's not needed now because I have a working 2 in 1. I also have an RX 580 that is sitting on a box doing nothing which is why I'm leaning this way the cost of the enclosure and adapter is all I need to cover.

 

Now I just need to find a 3d printer I can use. 

[Salted Spinach]

Get an oculink compatible enclosure.

 

Even if your current laptop cannot use oculink.

 

Because your next one might be able to. And it would be a shame if the shiny new laptop is unable to get more perf out of the GPU.

 

External enclosures can also serve desktops with a simple add-in adapter card and this use case does not benefit from the hot plugging feature of USB/thunderbolt. You would not want potential of a desk-bound setup to be wasted by bandwidth constraints.

 

Oculink is the future of laptop/mini PC/handheld external graphics. USB4 is a dead end, nothing can be done to improve its bandwidth.