That’s because external graphics cards currently rely on a USB-C Thunderbolt 3 connection in order to work. But, unfortunately, for the majority of people who could benefit from the use of an external GPU (users with older laptops), using one isn’t actually possible. So, really, an external GPU is only a viable option for laptop users that don’t have a strong GPU inside of their system. A GTX 1070 inside of an external closure that is connected to a desktop computer won’t deliver as much performance as if that GTX 1070 were installed directly into the PCIe lane inside of the desktop.
Since eGPUs must be connected to your computer or laptop via a cable (USB-C Thunderbolt), there will be a loss in performance. While external graphics cards can give users access to more GPU-computing power, they aren’t without their own drawbacks. Budget Pick: Sonnet eGFX Breakaway BoxĪn eGPU (or, external GPU, or external graphics card) is, essentially, a graphics card that sits in an external chassis apart from the main computer (be it a laptop or a desktop.) It’s basically the same idea as an external storage device (like an external hard drive.) In the same way that, if you plug an external hard drive into your computer you’ll have access to the storage on that device, if you plug in an external GPU to your laptop or computer, you’ll gain the ability to use the external GPU rather than the GPU that your existing laptop or computer is using.
ASUS EXTERNAL GRAPHICS CARD FOR LAPTOP FULL
Expect a full review before its February 2007 release date.3. It's perfect for anyone who wants a thin and light laptop for daytime use and a monster gaming rig for the home. The XG Station is one of those products that makes you wonder why it wasn't released ages ago. Best of all, there's a large silver knob you can twist to overclock the graphics card in real time - you literally crank up the performance as desired.
The front of the unit houses a large LED screen that shows info such as GPU (graphics processing unit) clock speed, GPU temperature, Dolby Headphone status, current frames per second and GPU fan speed. The device also features enhanced audio functionality, specifically Dolby Headphone, which gives you 5.1 surround sound in, you guessed it, your headphones. The model we saw has dual DVI output ports, though Asus says future revisions will feature even faster cards that also support HDMI and HDCP - which you'll need if you want to watch encrypted HD DVD or Blu-ray flicks. The XG Station incorporates a proper desktop graphics card, in this case Asus' own Nvidia GeForce EN7900GS, and connects via a cable to your laptop's ExpressCard slot. Behold the XG Station, an external graphics card that transforms your weak, non-games-playing laptop into a polygon-munching monster that can eat an Alienware laptop for breakfast. Asus has come up with a use for it, and a pretty good use at that. See that pointless ExpressCard slot on the side of your laptop? Rubbish, isn't it? Well, not any more.