eGPU with Dedicated GPU SLI?

[Jkohl613]

Hello, based off the newest techquickie video about eGPUs I was wondering the capabilities of an eGPU. Basically I have the MSI GS63VR Stealth Pro-229 gaming laptop (https://www.amazon.com/MSI-GS63VR-Stealth-Pro-229-i7-7700HQ/dp/B01N1WRY0Q) this has an nVidia 1060 GPU, now I can run VR games with my Vive pretty well and it does work with three 1080p 60Hz monitors (one plugged into the hdmi, and two via hdmi into an adaptor the plugs into a usb for power and the mini DP). With the monitors some games run better than others and the 1060 has done well but I am curious about the external GPUs.

 

Is it possible to get an eGPU case with another 1060 and have it somehow run in SLI with the dedicated 1060 already in the laptop? I'm not sure how this would work.

 

Or would SLI 1060's even be worth it compared to going with a 1080 as the eGPU. One reason for the eGPU is to possibly plug all three monitors into the eGPU and not having to worry about the adaptor which may be a bottleneck for this system. Thanks in advance!

[iRileyx]

1060's dont support SLI, so no.

[Automobili3XF]

1 minute ago, Jkohl613 said:

Hello, based off the newest techquickie video about eGPUs I was wondering the capabilities of an eGPU. Basically I have the MSI GS63VR Stealth Pro-229 gaming laptop (https://www.amazon.com/MSI-GS63VR-Stealth-Pro-229-i7-7700HQ/dp/B01N1WRY0Q) this has an nVidia 1060 GPU, now I can run VR games with my Vive pretty well and it does work with three 1080p 60Hz monitors (one plugged into the hdmi, and two via hdmi into an adaptor the plugs into a usb for power and the mini DP). With the monitors some games run better than others and the 1060 has done well but I am curious about the external GPUs.

 

Is it possible to get an eGPU case with another 1060 and have it somehow run in SLI with the dedicated 1060 already in the laptop? I'm not sure how this would work.

 

Or would SLI 1060's even be worth it compared to going with a 1080 as the eGPU. One reason for the eGPU is to possibly plug all three monitors into the eGPU and not having to worry about the adaptor which may be a bottleneck for this system. Thanks in advance!

The GTX 1060 is not SLI compatible, even on the desktop it doesn't have the connector for the SLI bridge.

 

[Jkohl613]

Alright, did't know that. Thanks.

[Jkohl613]

So the eGPU 1080 be better for the three monitors? or I guess what I'm asking is is the mini DP to two HDMI adaptor my system's bottle neck for running three monitors?

[Automobili3XF]

Just now, Jkohl613 said:

So the eGPU 1080 be better for the three monitors? or I guess what I'm asking is is the mini DP to two HDMI adaptor my system's bottle neck for running three monitors?

Why do you want an eGPU? Performance loss is BIG on those things...

[Jkohl613]

Just now, Chevy_Monsenhor said:

Why do you want an eGPU? Performance loss is BIG on those things...

Because the adaptor is what I'm guessing my system's bottleneck is for running the three monitors, getting a eGPU would eliminate that and still be cheaper then building a gaming desktop. Now I don't know about the 1080 eGPU performance loss vs the dedicated 1060 performance comparison and if it'd be worth it.

[KenjiUmino]

23 minutes ago, Jkohl613 said:

Because the adaptor is what I'm guessing my system's bottleneck is for running the three monitors

what adaptor is that exactly - can you post a link ? 

[Jkohl613]

2 minutes ago, KenjiUmino said:

what adaptor is that exactly - can you post a link ? 

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/j5create-displayport-to-2-x-hdmi-external-video-adapter-white/5615016.p?skuId=5615016

[KenjiUmino]

18 minutes ago, Jkohl613 said:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/j5create-displayport-to-2-x-hdmi-external-video-adapter-white/5615016.p?skuId=5615016

and how exactly is this thing bottlenecking? 

[Jkohl613]

Just now, KenjiUmino said:

and how exactly is this thing bottlenecking? 

I'm not sure. I'm wondering if it is bottlenecking? For example I'll play a game across my three monitors and some games work just fine, but others seem to suffer from performance issues. I'm trying to find what might be causing that.

 

My ideas are:

1) That adaptor is a bottleneck.

2) The GPU may not be able to handle that game across three monitors as well as other games. The GPU is the bottleneck.

3) Or something with the games themselves having trouble running with three monitors. The games/software is the bottleneck.

 

My conclusion is that with an eGPU I could rule out possibilities 1 and 2, if the prices are even worth that.

[KarathKasun]

3x 1080p is going to be too much for a 1060 at high settings, unless the game is old or has relatively simple graphics.

 

You could drop to 3x 720p for better performance.

 

For reference...

 

1080p = ~2 million pixels

3x 1080p = ~6 million pixels

720p = ~1 Million pixels

3x 720p = ~3 million pixels

[KenjiUmino]

Just now, Jkohl613 said:

1) That adaptor is a bottleneck.

2) The GPU may not be able to handle that game across three monitors as well as other games. The GPU is the bottleneck.

3) Or something with the games themselves having trouble running with three monitors. The games/software is the bottleneck.

1 is not very likely when some games work fine but others running at the same resolution have issues. 

 

3 minutes ago, KarathKasun said:

3x 1080p is going to be too much for a 1060 at high settings, unless the game is old or has relatively simple graphics.

this is more likely what is happening

[Jkohl613]

2 minutes ago, KarathKasun said:

3x 1080p is going to be too much for a 1060 at high settings, unless the game is old or has relatively simple graphics.

I would agree but I have to assume there are some outliers as, for example, The Witcher 3 runs well and looks amazing too. But other games don't do as well, telling me it's more game specific. In which an eGPU wouldn't fix.

[KarathKasun]

No, some games are fill-rate limited while others are not.  If the game is fill-rate limited 3x 1080p is going to tank performance regardless of settings on a 1060.

[Jkohl613]

Alright, well thank you guys for all the information and input! Looks like I'm better off saving up for a desktop way in the future and living with my weird-but-mostly-working system.