External GPU through usb type c gen 2

[Srijan Verma]

I am using a hp pavilion x360 laptop with a i5-8250u processor, it has a GeForce mx 130 graphics card in it but it is too weak for the games I like run.

The laptop has a usb type c gen 2 port(not thunderbolt) can I use an external GPU dock through it?

[Crunchy Dragon]

Not likely.

 

Even Thunderbolt 3 bottlenecks external GPUs due to bandwidth problems.

[Srijan Verma]

20 minutes ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

Not likely.

 

Even Thunderbolt 3 bottlenecks external GPUs due to bandwidth problems.

@Crunchy Dragon but a GPU like the gtx 1050 has a memory speed of 7gbps, usb type c gen 2 supports around 10gbps, should it not be able to run it?

[Crunchy Dragon]

Just now, Srijan Verma said:

@Crunchy Dragon but a GPU like the gtx 1050 has a memory speed of 7gbps, usb type c gen 2 supports around 10gbps, should it not be able to run it?

No.

 

You need to look at PCIe bandwidth to run a GPU. USB Type C Gen2 doesn't give any PCIe lanes, which will make running a GPU pretty much impossible. Even Thunderbolt 3, which gives PCIe Gen3 x4 bandwidth, will bottleneck a GPU.

 

For a GPU, you want at least PCIe x8

[pstarlord]

Without a Thunderbolt 3 port, it's a moot conversation because you can't even connect one.  

 

If you did have one, going the external GPU rout isn't very cost effective anyway.  After the price of an enclosure,a GPU and your laptop, you're almost at the price of a pretty decent gaming laptop.  The soul advantage of the mobile GPU idea that I can find is that you've got a GPU on hand if you ever want to build a desktop gaming PC in the future. 

 

There are products like the Gigabyte Game Box, that include the enclosure and GPU for a fairly reasonable price, but I don't see too many success stories with them, plus the GPU isn't really usable outside of the enclosure so it's a one trick device.  When you take that into account, it's not a very good option either.  

 

Long story short, using an external GPU is a rather expensive way to get sub par gaming performance from nice hardware.