With advances in technology, GPUs have become very powerful over time. In fact, the GPU is so powerful that it can play 4K games at over 60fps (NVIDIA’s latest RTX 3080 and AMD’s Radeon 6800 XT). But did you know there is another type in GPU called eGPU? In this article, we will learn what is eGPU? Stronger or weaker than traditional GPUs, does your laptop support this type of external device?
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Manufacturers are trying to design laptops as thin and light as possible, modern ultrabooks miss out on powerful GPUs, which creates a demand for eGPUs.
What is eGPU?
eGPU stands for External GPU, which can be connected externally to a Laptop or PC. If your laptop has an integrated GPU but is not powerful enough, you can buy an eGPU, connect the device to external ports to use, increasing image processing performance.
So, the graphics card inside an eGPU is no different than the discrete card inside your PC.
AMD has recently promoted battery saving features with its 5000 Series gaming processors, but it cannot be denied that the battery on a gaming laptop will still not be enough for gamers without a charger.
Another problem when playing games is: The laptop needs to be plugged in while playing games because the battery cannot provide the desired power to the GPU. In contrast, most eGPU devices require an external power source.
Disadvantages of eGPU
Why aren’t eGPUs popular? That’s a good question, and the reason is: imagine you just bought a cheap laptop 20 million but the graphics performance is not enough for the job. To get started with your eGPU setup, you’ll need to spend minimal extra 10 million for an eGPU case (case) along with a graphics card.
With the 30 million you spent, you can build a more powerful gaming computer or buy a gaming laptop worth 25 million and save another 5 million. Therefore, unless you have a lot of money, using an eGPU is not a viable option at all.
Advantages of eGPU
If you are looking for a used Windows Laptop or Macbook. While CPU performance may be fine for everyday use, high-end gaming won’t be possible.
Therefore, in this case, you can think of buying an external GPU (eGPU) and in the end, you will have a complete gaming machine.
One of the other reasons to use an eGPU is portability. Gaming laptops are bulky if used for work, while you can have a lightweight MacBook or Windows Laptop for use at work and plug in an eGPU at home to enjoy on the weekends.
If you own a Laptop with a “not too old” CPU and if you want to buy a Gaming Laptop or PC, you can save money by choosing to buy a relatively cheap eGPU like an AKiTio Node for about 7 million and add an RTX 2080 for 14 million. A super good gaming laptop RTX 2080 costs 30 million, which means you will save 20 million.
Not to mention, desktop graphics cards are almost twice as powerful as mobile graphics cards. Therefore, an eGPU will perform better than a laptop’s dedicated graphics.
Check if the Laptop supports eGPU?
If your Laptop has a slot Type-C Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 2, M.2 NVMe, mini PCIe or slot ExpressCardthen your Laptop/PC supports eGPU. Most modern eGPU enclosures plug-in via Thunderbolt 3, while some operate via the Thunderbolt 2 interface. Alternatively, you can also use any available M.2 NVMe slots on your Laptop/PC or the mini PCIe slot where the WLAN (WiFi) attachment would normally be.
One of the important things to remember is that Thunderbolt 3 uses USB Type-C ports, but all Type-C ports on laptops do not need to be Thunderbolt ports. Most modern MacBooks use a Thunderbolt port for charging, but most Windows Laptops, especially inexpensive ones, don’t necessarily have Thunderbolt.
In addition to Thunderbolt 3 ports, a common approach for eGPUs, the use of slots such as M.2 NVMe, ExpressCard and mini PCIe. These ports are usually located on the bottom of the laptop.
To connect a GPU to an M.2 NVMe slot, you will need a separate accessory costing about 2 million. One of the popular accessories we know is called GDC EXP.
Another thing worth mentioning is that Apple only offers eGPU support for Intel Macs. Newer Macs with The M1 chip still does not have this function. Apple has one separate support page about how to connect and use an eGPU, as well as a list of eGPU and GPU boxes that work with MacBooks.
Comparing Discrete Graphics vs eGPU: Which performs better?
It is discrete graphics that will work when the GPU is connected directly to the Mainboard. However, there won’t be a big difference when you feel that you are using an eGPU.
Slot M.2 NVMe and gate Thunderbolt 3 sometimes cause bottlenecks due to their connection type. Sometimes you will get a blue screen error if there is a hardware conflict.
Use eGPU to mine virtual currency
With the rise in popularity of cryptocurrencies, mining has become one of the most popular and profitable jobs. Mining requires a lot of CPU and GPU resources, so if you plan to mine, your Laptop with an integrated GPU may not be enough. Therefore, you can use eGPU to mine virtual currency.
Although mining cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin is currently not feasible (because many large Bitcoin miners have so many powerful resources, they will eventually take all the mined resources, leaving individuals with almost nothing). You can mine cryptocurrencies like ETH and Litecoin
Should I buy an eGPU?
And the answer is: Are notunless your Laptop has a Thunderbolt 3 port and you have a lot of money to buy an eGPU box and a GPU. For those who need a more powerful GPU, it is best to buy a gaming laptop or build a new PC.
However, like any technology, expect eGPUs to become cheaper in the future.
Frequently asked questions
Is eGPU really more efficient than integrated GPU on laptops?
The eGPU offers significant graphics performance compared to an integrated GPU, allowing for more intensive gaming and image processing. However, performance may be limited by connection speed (e.g. Thunderbolt 3).
What ports does my laptop need to support eGPU?
Most eGPUs use Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 2, or slots such as M.2 NVMe, mini PCIe, and ExpressCard. However, not all Type-C ports are Thunderbolt.
Should I buy an eGPU?
You should only consider it if you have an eGPU-compatible laptop (with suitable ports), have a large budget, and need strong graphics performance without wanting to completely replace your laptop. Buying a gaming laptop or building a PC is often the more cost-effective choice.
