Advise on External GPU Dock

[mini_cow]

Space is an issue (for me). Which is why I've recently been interested in SFF PCs and the like. I stumbled upon the Razer Core recently and found out that people have been doing eGPUs for a few years now.

I wanted to ask the community how this can be achieved. ie to build an e-GPU unit that can be plugged into a HTPC SFF PC/notebook and yet still be powerful enough to game.

I understand there will be some performance loss but so long as its nothing major (5-10% is ok) and its easy to use (plug and play will be the best), it is something I will seriously consider.

Any words of advice on how to go about building such an eGPU?

 

[Krabs.]

because of latency

 

[ZrE0_Cha0s]

well i did this search back when i gotten a laptop like 6 years ago, but kinda drop it due to the fact that i might as well build a pc.

anyway this is the links on how they do it maybe u can try have a look on how they do.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/diy-egpu-experiences.418851/

(btw this is an old build)

 

[Krabs.]

in a few years even external gpu may become obselete if Steam MS Playstation can perfect cloud gaming ....

it means your computer send your control inputs to the server which store the game data and run the graphics to stream to you over internet like a video
become a monthly subscription fee , no need to buy individual game

 

[mini_cow]

in a few years even external gpu may become obselete if Steam MS Playstation can perfect cloud gaming ....

it means your computer send your control inputs to the server which store the game data and run the graphics to stream to you over internet like a video
become a monthly subscription fee , no need to buy individual game

the real issue is always latency as someone mentioned above. If there is latency with thunderbolt to PCIE, i cant imagine the latency of "live streaming" even 10 gbps of graphics. Singapore is also known to be in a bad spot geographically. Far from Europe, the US and even major gaming hubs Korea and Japan.

 

[FlushX]

Luckily for me, CSGO's server is based in Singapore.

the real issue is always latency as someone mentioned above. If there is latency with thunderbolt to PCIE, i cant imagine the latency of "live streaming" even 10 gbps of graphics. Singapore is also known to be in a bad spot geographically. Far from Europe, the US and even major gaming hubs Korea and Japan.

 

[devilwahaha]

Space is an issue (for me). Which is why I've recently been interested in SFF PCs and the like. I stumbled upon the Razer Core recently and found out that people have been doing eGPUs for a few years now.

I wanted to ask the community how this can be achieved. ie to build an e-GPU unit that can be plugged into a HTPC SFF PC/notebook and yet still be powerful enough to game.

I understand there will be some performance loss but so long as its nothing major (5-10% is ok) and its easy to use (plug and play will be the best), it is something I will seriously consider.

Any words of advice on how to go about building such an eGPU?

Grab a razer blade stealth, a razer core and throw in a GPU, no building required.

 

[mini_cow]

Grab a razer blade stealth, a razer core and throw in a GPU, no building required.

I probably will. In time But till that time, I was wondering if I can make my own eGPU unit so I can have a SFF PC as well

 

[yodajedi01]

I probably will. In time But till that time, I was wondering if I can make my own eGPU unit so I can have a SFF PC as well

Firstly, you will need to have a True THUNDERBOLT port in your system.
Be it the 1st Gen Thunderbolt or the latest Thunderbolt 3 Type C connector.
USB3.0, USB3.1 still can't cut it. Their Bandwidth is still not fast enough.

Solve The Thunderbolt Port first if you wish to go into EGPU.

 

[mini_cow]

Firstly, you will need to have a True THUNDERBOLT port in your system.
Be it the 1st Gen Thunderbolt or the latest Thunderbolt 3 Type C connector.
USB3.0, USB3.1 still can't cut it. Their Bandwidth is still not fast enough.

Solve The Thunderbolt Port first if you wish to go into EGPU.

That would be the PCIE Thunderbolt card right? Any idea where to buy it?

 

[yodajedi01]

That would be the PCIE Thunderbolt card right? Any idea where to buy it?

Yes, there are PCIe Card Thunderbolt.
Like the Asus ThunderboltEX II
https://www.asus.com/Motherboard-Accessories/ThunderboltEX_II/
But it only supports on selected models with TB_header

I can't say for other brands of PCIe Cards.

 

[mini_cow]

Any thunderbolt 3 pcie cards on the market yet?

 

[devilwahaha]

I probably will. In time But till that time, I was wondering if I can make my own eGPU unit so I can have a SFF PC as well

What's the practical gain in having a desktop sff machine without strong gpu in one case and then the gpu in another case?

It's definitely doable now with skull canyon nuc and probably any external TB GPU solutions but that separation gonna raise the cost so much higher without any practical gain it doesn't even make sense.

Might wanna take a look at some sff cases like Dan A4(production run kick starting soon), ncase M1, NFC systems S4 Mini. As small as it gets fitting TOTL GPU's without most of the dumb designs of mass production cases and maximum space efficiency in each of its class (7.2l, 12.6L, 4.3L)

 

[mini_cow]

I like options I guess. I eventually see my home set up with HTPCs and Laptops (for work/play etc). So the HTPCs can have onboard graphics and ram for streaming video/internet streaming etc. And if ever I wish to game, its just a plug the eGPU into whichever unit I happen to be using and game. Its more of an options kind of thing I guess. An eGPU also has upgrade potential ie you should technically be able to swap out GPUs as and when you like and it doesnt affect the main rig in anyway.

I guess tl;dr i'm entralled with the Razer Stealth/Core idea but wish to extend the Core to my future home pc