External GPU

[zxcvbnmmssdh]

Is there an external GPU available for a somewhat cheap price that I could plug into a laptop. I have a Toshiba Satellite series running Windows 7. Is there such thing as an external GPU?

 

Thanks

[bchampion96]

Kind of. It's expensive to do and kind of pointless. Just get a desktop. If you really want to game on the move, buy a decent laptop. 

[911^NEmeSis]

I remember SilverStone showing something like this off using ThunderBolt tech at Computex but I don't think it will be ready and avaialble for perhaps the rest of this year. I guess you gotta play the waiting game!

[rustikles]

Yeah, it's really something that's still trying to take off in the computer world. I don't see external GPUs being viable for at least a few years though.

[Levent]

not sure about expensive part

[zxcvbnmmssdh]

I am going to get a PC, but it is pretty far out (like February) and I just need something to hold me over. My current laptop runs Hawken at a maximum of 5 FPS 

[Glenwing]

You need a thunderbolt controller, no other external interface you'd find on a laptop has enough bandwidth.

 

You would also need a thunderbolt PCI Express enclosure, which usually costs as much or more than your graphics card anyway.  Since it basically includes casing, a small motherboard, and a power supply, it's not just a simple box to put your GPU in.

[zxcvbnmmssdh]

So, there is nothing I can just plug in, I have to buy a GPU, then buy practically a part of a motherboard and Power Supply and put the GPU into that?

[MdX MaxX]

So, there is nothing I can just plug in, I have to buy a GPU, then buy practically a part of a motherboard and Power Supply and put the GPU into that?

 

Not really.  A decent GPU requires too much power to be run off a laptop alone.

 

Basically eGPU solutions are too clunky and expensive to be worth it.

 

If you've gotta play games, you're probably better off buying a cheap PlayStation 2 and playing that for a few months.

[zxcvbnmmssdh]

Keep in mind, it doesn't have to be a very good one, I won't be playing very graphic intensive games, just games like hawken, run at low-medium settings

[zxcvbnmmssdh]

Not really.  A decent GPU requires too much power to be run off a laptop alone.

 

Basically eGPU solutions are too clunky and expensive to be worth it.

 

If you've gotta play games, you're probably better off buying a cheap PlayStation 2 and playing that for a few months.

P.S. Have you ever ridden The Ramblin' Wreck because you are a helluva engineer? (My sister is going to GT and I'm from and live in Atlanta

[MdX MaxX]

Keep in mind, it doesn't have to be a very good one, I won't be playing very graphic intensive games, just games like hawken, run at low-medium settings

Regardless, any solution will be expensive.  I mean, a Thunderbolt cable alone costs upward of 30 bucks.

 

Your best bet would probably be the method Levent posted, but even then, that involves buying an adapter, and your laptop has to have an accessible PCI-E slot, plus there's the possibility that you may need an additional PSU anyway.  All that for a GPU that won't run more modern games at much more than 30fps and will likely be restricted by the CPU anyway.  I mean, it looks fun to mess around with, but not something I would recommend using as an everyday solution, especially if you actually want to carry around your laptop.

 

I don't mean to be a downer, just trying to give a truthful insight.

P.S. Have you ever ridden The Ramblin' Wreck because you are a helluva engineer? (My sister is going to GT and I'm from and live in Atlanta

Unfortunately I haven't.  I'm not that special. :P I've touched it though!  That counts for something, right? :lol:

[pewpewmerica]

Just get a cheap used console for gaming, way simpler