External GPU or Upgrade Current PC?

[TheOneAndOnlyBRother]

Hello, I am wondering If i should get an AORUS GTX 1080 external GPU for my Razer Blade Stealth (late 2016), or if I should upgrade my current computer, as the upgrades for my computer and the egpu would cost about the same.

 

My current specs:
CPU: AMD Fx8320 clocked at 3.5ghz (stock clock)

GPU: AMD RX 480 Strix (8GB ROG Version)

RAM: 8GB of ddr3 Ripjaws from Gskill

Motherboard: Asus M5a97 LE R.20

CPU Cooler: Hyper 212 Evo

Power Supply: *Unknown Brand* (its not some janky PSU, I just cant remember the brand and its in my cases basement so the only way to find out would be to take it all apart)  550 Watt 80+ Gold Certified. 

I am currently looking into getting these components:
CPU: Ryzen 7 2700x

Motherboard: MSI B450-A Pro 

RAM: Corsair vengeance (16GB - 8GB x 2)

Power Supply: Corsair HX 750w 80+ Platinum Certified.

and some other things like an AIO, thermal grizzly kryonaut, etc. Totaling about $743 (USA) after TAX on New Egg at the time of posting.

 

The Razer Blades Specs:

CPU: Core I7-7500U at 2.7GHz (Stock clock)

RAM:  16 GB of 1867Mhz DDR4

GPU: Intel HD Graphics 620

 

The Main Question: Would the 1080 External GPU see better performance on my stealth than if i were to upgrade my current computer with the above components? 

Secondary Question: Is an EGPU something you can daily drive? Like is there any input lag or delay when playing? I am a very competitive gamer, so if there is even the slightest amount of input lag or delay it will be a complete turn off for me. I like a buttery smooth experience and i'd rather have higher FPS than better looking graphics.

 

Thank you!

[Cereal5]

Depends on your budget (and location). To answer your questions:

1. Yes
2. Technically yes, but carrying it around is annoying (so is carrying around a desktop I guess), and you can't run an eGPU without a thunderbolt 3 port. I don't know if your laptop has one.

For the same price however, you could get something like this (for example):

Spoiler

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD - Ryzen 5 2600 3.4 GHz 6-Core Processor	$159.99 @ Amazon
Motherboard	Asus - PRIME B450-PLUS ATX AM4 Motherboard	$104.71 @ OutletPC
Memory	G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-2800 Memory	$114.99 @ Newegg
Video Card	EVGA - GeForce GTX 1070 8 GB FTW Gaming ACX 3.0 Video Card	$349.99 @ Newegg
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total (before mail-in rebates)	$749.68
	Mail-in rebates	-$20.00
	Total	$729.68
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2018-11-14 23:18 EST-0500

 

 

If your current PSU is a good unit, you won't need to buy a new one, and this would play any esports type game at 1080p or 1440p. You can also sell your current parts to make some of the price spent back, maybe get an SSD if you don't already have one. And obviously desktop parts poop all over laptop parts.

[hconverse02]

I think reusing the 480 and getting a ryzen 5 system like @Cereal5 said would be more convenient because you will have your razer blade for whenever you need an actually portable system to do work on, and the desktop for specifically gaming.  It helps me get more work done (sometimes) when I use my laptop separate from my gaming machine.

[hconverse02]

4 minutes ago, Cereal5 said:

-SNIP-

I think the build is good, but he could save a shit ton of money if he keeps the 480, because no one is going to buy a fx + 480 machine for a decent enough price over just keeping the gpu in 2018. 

 

EDIT: yeah I get 1440p isn't really doable on that, but it's still really good for 1080p and if he gets a ryzen 7 2700x system instead of the r5 one, he can get a better gpu to upgrade to a higher res down the line.

[Cereal5]

Just now, hconverse02 said:

I think the build is good, but he could save a shit ton of money if he keeps the 480, because no one is going to buy a fx + 480 machine for a decent enough price over just keeping the gpu in 2018.

True. Considering the 480 is close to the 1060, and the 1070 is only one step above that (obviously). Could go for a 2700 and a good cooler, or a cooler for the 2600 and a PSU, or something like that.

[hconverse02]

Just now, Cereal5 said:

True. Considering the 480 is close to the 1060, and the 1070 is only one step above that (obviously). Could go for a 2700 and a good cooler, or a cooler for the 2600 and a PSU, or something like that.

check edit

[Cereal5]

3 minutes ago, hconverse02 said:

EDIT: yeah I get 1440p isn't really doable on that, but it's still really good for 1080p and if he gets a ryzen 7 2700x system instead of the r5 one, he can get a better gpu to upgrade to a higher res down the line.

To get 200+ fps in anything other than CSGO though, it'll have to be a good balance of GPU power and CPU clock speed. Probably better off going with a 2600(X) and a cooler for OCing, and seeing what the 480 will put out. Can always upgrade the GPU later.