eGPU And 5 Things Laptop Users Need To Know Before Buying

eGPU is becoming a powerful support solution for laptops chosen by many users. So what is eGPU? What are its advantages and disadvantages? What types are there?

eGPU is becoming a powerful support solution chosen by many people to overcome the limitations of space, temperature, battery life,. of laptops. So what is eGPU? What are its advantages and disadvantages? What types are there? What protocol port does it connect to the laptop via? How to connect?

1. What is eGPU?

eGPU And 5 Things Laptop Users Need To Know Before Buying Picture 1 eGPU And 5 Things Laptop Users Need To Know Before Buying Picture 1

eGPU is an abbreviation for External Graphics Processing Unit, which means a discrete graphics card. As the name suggests, eGPU is not located inside the computer like iGPU or dGPU but is located outside, connected to the computer through connection ports.

Putting GPUs in laptops has certain limitations such as reduced space, not reaching the maximum performance, poor heat dissipation. Therefore, Intel has been thinking about the idea for many years and launched eGPU. They create a big step forward, helping to upgrade the performance of laptops without overheating or draining the battery.

eGPU is made up of one or more VGA graphics cards combined with a motherboard, cables, power cords and heatsinks. There are also some other accessories. After plugging in the eGPU, installing the driver, and restarting, the computer will automatically transfer all default graphics processing tasks on the computer to the graphics card in the eGPU. From there, the laptop's processing performance is increased many times without causing the computer to overheat or consume battery.

2. Advantages and disadvantages of eGPU

eGPU And 5 Things Laptop Users Need To Know Before Buying Picture 2 eGPU And 5 Things Laptop Users Need To Know Before Buying Picture 2

Every product has its own advantages and disadvantages, and so does eGPU.

2.1. Advantages of eGPU:

- Simple connection protocol, diverse number of connection ports.

- Compatible with many different smart devices.

- Easy to move, more flexible than PC case while still ensuring powerful graphics capabilities.

2.2. Disadvantages:

- High risk of damage due to impact force during movement.

- Some laptop models must use a separate screen because the screen does not meet the resolution, scan frequency,.

- The number of laptops that support eGPU is not much.

- The price of eGPU is still high.

3. eGPU connection ports

eGPU And 5 Things Laptop Users Need To Know Before Buying Picture 3 eGPU And 5 Things Laptop Users Need To Know Before Buying Picture 3

Currently eGPU can connect to laptop via the following protocol ports:

3.1. mPCie Port

This is a popular connection port between eGPU and laptop. However, it is also the most inconvenient connection method because you have to remove the laptop case and wifi card to be able to plug in the eGPU connection cable. Not only that, some computer models have a whitelist, the wifi port only accepts genuine cards.

3.2. Express Card Ports 34 and 35

Connecting the eGPU to the computer via Express Card port 34 and 35 is the most convenient way. Because you just need to plug the eGPU directly into that port on the laptop body, no need to remove the cover.

3.3. NGFF Port

NGFF (M.2) connection port is commonly found on computers with CPU core i5 or higher, with larger bandwidth than mPCie port. The way to connect eGPU via this port is similar to mPCie port, requiring disassembling the computer.

3.4. Thunderbolt Port

Because of the high bandwidth of the Thunderbolt port, it has become the best way to connect an eGPU to a laptop. However, the number of laptops with Thunderbolt ports is still not popular and the price is high.

4. Steps to connect eGPU to laptop

Connecting an eGPU to a laptop is not too difficult. If you are not familiar with it, you can ask the seller for advice. For devices that do not require removing the case, you just need to use the connection cable that comes with the eGPU and plug it directly into the computer. However, for devices that require removing the case, the operation is a bit more complicated. Specifically, the steps are as follows:

Step 1: First, you need to uninstall the old graphics driver on your computer.

Step 2: Next, turn off the power and unplug the device.

Step 3: Next, use a screwdriver to remove the back of the laptop case.

Step 4: Then, you insert the eGPU into the compatible slot.

Step 5: Finally, you reassemble the case, boot and run the new graphics driver.

eGPU And 5 Things Laptop Users Need To Know Before Buying Picture 4 eGPU And 5 Things Laptop Users Need To Know Before Buying Picture 4

In Vietnam, the eGPU market is still in its infancy, with not many choices. However, we can take a look at some popular brands that are widely favored by users around the world such as:

EXP GDC Beast: EXP GDC Beast is manufactured in China. They support connection to the machine via mPCle, EC 34, EC 35, NGFF ports. Thanks to their low price, eGPUs from EXP GDC Beast are very popular and used.

PE4C: eGPU PE4C connects to laptop via mPCIe, EC, NGFF protocol. This is a product originating from Taiwan, with similar features to EXP GDC Beast.

Akitio Node: eGPU Akitio Node is a high-end product line, connected via Thunderbolt port. However, due to the high price, they are not yet widely used in Vietnam.

Alienware Graphics Amplifier: A line of eGPUs that connect via PCIe. They are designed specifically for Dell's Alienware computers and not for use in regular laptops.

Above is the basic information compiled by Hoang Ha Computer , users need to know about eGPU. Hopefully through this, readers will have more useful knowledge, make purchasing decisions, and find the best eGPU product for their needs.