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ASUS external graphics for laptops

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  • 05-02-2007 2:40pm
    #1
    hk797
    Closed Accounts Posts: 206 ✭✭


    Thinking about upgrading to a dual/quad processor - spotted this from ASUS.

    Anybody know anymore about it or got some opinions on it based on spec?

    Had planned to go with a mod tower build - not so sure if I need to now.

    Any advice appreciated.


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    #2
    SirCuddlesworth
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭SirCuddlesworth


    It's bandwidth starved at pci-ex*1. Buy a desktop if you play games.


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    #3
    8T8
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,757 ✭✭✭8T8


    Well no-one has see any benchmarks yet so it remains to be seen how much the PCI-e x1 link will affect it.

    Impressions from the conventions where it was demoed showed it to run fairly well though it has a draw back in that you need an external display you cannot use the laptops built in one.

    It might never see the light of day either so I'd contemplate on alternate options.

    The internals of it were a 7900GS so not bad but notebook with ExpressCard slot + external GPU + monitor don't make it very portable though the the no gas guzzling GPU in the notebook is a desirable feature.


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    #4
    hk797
    Closed Accounts Posts: 206 ✭✭hk797


    The potential bandwidth issue and external monitor requirement were news to me - sticking with a desktop for gaming - many thanks SirCuddlesworth and 8T8.


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    #5
    Blazer
    Registered Users Posts: 17,434 ✭✭✭✭Blazer


    SirCuddlesworth wrote:
    It's bandwidth starved at pci-ex*1. Buy a desktop if you play games.

    exactly..pci-e*1 was designed for audio/network cards etc..definitely not enough bandwidth there for graphics..


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    #6
    TerrorFirmer
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29,930 ✭✭✭✭TerrorFirmer


    SirCuddlesworth wrote:
    It's bandwidth starved at pci-ex*1. Buy a desktop if you play games.

    There are pci-e 1x cards out for desktops that can play games as well as their agp counterparts, although they are only released in the low end models, the x1300 and I think there's one or two others.

    Point: Don't totally rule it out yet although at the same time it'd be stupid to bank on it right now as an option


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    #7
    Cuddlesworth
    Registered Users Posts: 13,986 ✭✭✭✭Cuddlesworth


    HavoK wrote:
    There are pci-e 1x cards out for desktops that can play games as well as their agp counterparts, although they are only released in the low end models, the x1300 and I think there's one or two others.

    Point: Don't totally rule it out yet although at the same time it'd be stupid to bank on it right now as an option

    Yeah but a 7900GS is not a card that is put on a pci-ex*1 slot with ease. What I would hope to see is a revision of the slot with a *4 or *8 slot. Then I would find the concept hard to fault.

    -Games at home
    -Work laptop for on the move.


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    #8
    8T8
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,757 ✭✭✭8T8


    Now this is interesting, the PCI-SIG which maintains PCI-e have just completed the specification for external PCI-e supporting all the way up to x16 connections.

    That would be even more ideal with no x1 link issues to deal with like with Expresscard.

    The only fly in the ointment is that look how long it took for eSATA to take hold or ExpressCard hopefully future laptops will come with the connector. As with out an install base the vendors wont go to the trouble of building an external PCI-e GPU.


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