Modern laptops have solved almost every compromise that has been inherent in the form factor since the first clamshell computers in history hit the market.
In the past, having a laptop meant being happy with technology a generation behind what was in the desktop market. This means using a compromised display, cramped input devices, and a huge premium for privilege.
However, over time, technology has evolved in such a way that a modern laptop is virtually indistinguishable in terms of performance from a typical desktop computer. The basic performance of even the cheapest computer now far exceeds what most people need.
That is Internet access and media consumption with the addition of some small performance. Even professional users such as gamers and workstation users can get laptops with the work they need – for the price.
However, there is one area where laptops are falling behind. It is still not possible to simply update core components like they do on desktops. There is some progress in this regard. Some laptops use so-called “MXMs†to replace the existing GPU with something newer.
However, it is expensive, has compatibility issues, and doesn’t give you access to whatever GPU you need. External GPU enclosures are now available as an alternative way to boost the graphics power of your laptop and, depending on your use case, may be the perfect solution.
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What exactly is an external GPU enclosure?
These GPU enclosures are like tiny desktop cases that are designed to house a graphics card and nothing else. They have their own power supplies, a PCIe slot for the card itself, and a case fan.
There are also compact, on-board external GPU enclosures that prevent you from replacing the GPU internally. These technology examples do not use desktop components, but they also use mobile components.
The first type of external enclosure is portable, but not mobile. It is designed to be placed on a desk, so it is often used as a laptop docking station. They can include USB ports and even additional hard drive bays. Once your laptop is plugged in, it has access to all of these benefits, and you can permanently connect an external monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers to the case for just a few minutes.
The second case with built-in design may also have some docking functionality, but exists for a slightly different use case and can easily be stored in a laptop bag in case you need it on the go. They come with a pre-integrated GPU and generally cannot be updated by the user.
Thunderbolt 3 makes everything possible
The biggest obstacle to the viability of an external GPU is the technology that connects it to the computer. While I / O technology like USB 3.1 offers a lot of bandwidth, it’s still not enough to meet the needs of a hungry GPU. For this reason, we connect GPU cards directly to the motherboard using a tight connector.
With the advent of Thunderbolt 3 over USB-C, peripheral connectivity is more than enough bandwidth to meet the demands of a GPU. If you have a laptop or any other computer with a USB-C connector that supports Thunderbolt 3, you can plug in an external GPU enclosure.
It is important to confirm if a particular computer has not only Thunderbolt 3 over USB-C, but is also compatible with GPU operations over that connection. The manufacturer usually talks about it in advance, if it doesn’t mention it explicitly, it is a sign that some research needs to be done first.
Here’s the point – performance expenses
The biggest drawback of these external enclosures comes down to the simple issue of performance loss. While it depends on card to card, it seems that the overall performance loss over Thunderbolt 3 is 10-15 percent when compared to direct connection to the motherboard.
This will likely improve with driver optimizations and future Thunderbolt releases. However, you shouldn’t expect such high performance right now. However, this is not necessarily a fair comparison as you have no way of directly replacing the GPU in your laptop or small form factor PC.
In other words, even with a 15 percent drop, the external GPU will still be much faster than the internal GPU. Assuming you are connecting to a relatively higher end graphics card.
CPU / GPU mismatch
One of the most important things to keep in mind for anyone considering using an external GPU enclosure is that the GPU is not the only part that matters when it comes to graphics performance. The CPU has to do a number of things before the work can be handed off to the GPU, which will then do the job of rendering frames.
If the CPU in question can’t do it fast enough, it doesn’t matter how powerful the GPU is. It will always wait for the CPU to catch up and not running at full capacity. A situation that is called a “bottleneck”.
This is a very hot issue because the CPU and GPU built into your laptop have been chosen to work together. When you are in control of the choice of GPU, it is very important to choose the one that will work best with the processor in question.
This is why external GPU solutions work well with ultrabook-class laptops, as they tend to have very powerful processors even when paired with integrated GPUs to save power and space. Pairing these laptops with a very powerful GPU will provide a very good experience.
If your laptop has a lower-end processor, then save money and plug it into a mid-tier GPU. Still much faster than onboard graphics, but without sacrificing performance.
Display support
Obviously, you can connect any external display that supports your chosen GPU. Some enclosures also add their own connections. However, you don’t need to use an external display.
While it comes with a performance cost, you can transfer graphics from an external GPU back to the laptop’s built-in display. This performance degradation can be significant, depending on your equipment, and an external display is the optimal solution.
Power, Dimensions and Cooling
As mentioned above, these external enclosures are self-contained systems that provide power and cooling to the GPU you choose to install in them. Except of course for the integrated enclosures, which cannot be changed.
As with desktop computers, not all chassis are the same. Certain card sizes will be supported for each product. Likewise, the maximum power consumption will also be indicated in the technical specifications. This means that if you have a particular case, you need to make sure that the GPU fits and that the case provides enough power for that card to run smoothly.
Oddly enough, this is a big problem with older GPUs. Cards created using older manufacturing processes tend to use more power. However, they are an attractive choice for use with an external GPU. After all, you may have an old GPU card or you can buy last year’s performance cards at a bargain price. Payment of the cost of the fence itself.
Integrated VS external GPUs
As mentioned above, you get two main designs for external GPU enclosures. The most widely used types are those into which any GPU can be inserted that fits and does not overload the power supply.
The main drawback to this is that they are not particularly portable. There is nothing stopping you from taking the outer case with you, but it will be no easy task. Embedded external GPUs are not mobile, but much more portable.
You can easily put them in your laptop bag to use them with main power. Take this graphics dock from Lenovo as an example. It contains the GTX 1050 but is small and thin enough to take with you.
Here, too, there is a third option, somewhat halfway there. You can buy bulkier external enclosures with a more powerful card built in. They’re not as portable, but tend to be cheaper than their own card options.
Property connections
While almost every example of an external GPU enclosure works using Thunderbolt 3 over USB-C, there are a few exceptions. Notably, the Alienware Graphics Amplifier uses a connector unique to certain Alienware laptops.
This is not an issue in general, but consumers should be aware that compatibility should be double and triple checked before investing in external GPU technology.
Docking station features
Many external GPU enclosures offer more features than just the best GPU. They can be used as docking stations, allowing you to permanently connect your monitor, speakers, keyboard, mouse, and USB stick. Some have internal hard drive bays.
If both your laptop and chassis support it, a Thunderbolt connection can even provide power and charge to your laptop, making the only connection possible between you and ready to go with a fully functional desktop setup.
DIY solutions
EGPUs are an elegant plug-and-play solution for enhancing laptop graphics. However, you can save on their relatively high cost by developing your own solution. While this is certainly not for everyone and does not match the brilliance of a commercial product, you can assemble all the parts you need yourself.
It is relatively easy to import a Thunderbolt card dock. It’s basically just a PCIe slot with a small stand. You will have to plug in your own power supply, and the card itself will be just outdoors. On the plus side, if you already have an old card and PSU, this is a very cheap way to use them with a compatible laptop.
Welcome to the eGPU revolution!
With the advent of newer, faster versions of technology such as Thunderbolt 3, the future of eGPU technology looks bright. This allows us to extend the life of our mobile computers, share powerful GPUs between multiple users, and overcome some of the performance limitations inherent in the laptop form factor. Considering how much the cost of eGPU cases has already fallen, their popularity is likely to go nowhere other than here.
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