AMD's ATI XGP external laptop graphics platform goes legit

We've been hearing about ATI's external graphics schemes for years, but apparently XGP is finally ready to go. The platform houses an external graphics card -- ATI-branded, of course -- which connects to your laptop via a proprietary 4.0Gbps PCIe 2.0 connector. The new tech is being initially launched with AMD's new ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3800, which can work in a multi-GPU CrossFireX configuration with your laptop's internal graphics card. The first out of the gate with the tech is Fujitsu's AMILO Sa 3650, which packages a Mobility Radeon HD 3870 cardbut there's still no word pricing or exactly when or where this all is shipping. XGP also supports some extra USB 2.0 ports, Blu-ray decoding, and outputs over HDMI with integrated audio and DVI, powering up to four displays.

[Del Hass @ Jun 4th 2008 11:02AM]

Shoot I just bought the vision tech 3870 for my desktop for $120 from bestbuy yesterday.
This could have worked for both, but I doubt it is the same performance.

[Pochi @ Jun 4th 2008 11:05AM]

You got it 24 hours ago? You can still return it.

[Del Hass @ Jun 4th 2008 11:30AM]

You are right, however considering the deal I got it at (120 after coupon/tax), and the fact that it is the last/max graphic card that my system (Dell Dimension 8400 with P4 3.0 GHZ with only a 350W PSU, 100 W less than 450W required by card) can/will handle.
Add to that the fact that I played Crysis at around 30 FPS. I'm happy with it and don't think Black Friday would offer any better deal.
I don't think the mobile one would be as fast, considering it is using USB. Plus it would probably cost north of $200

[Pochi @ Jun 4th 2008 11:48AM]

Why did you say "Shoot" then?

[Mike @ Jun 4th 2008 1:03PM]

@Del Hass

Read the story again. It does not use USB for the graphics data. It uses a "proprietary 4.0Gbps PCIe 2.0 connector."

It just happens that the device supports USB ports.

[Del Hass @ Jun 4th 2008 11:58AM]

It's that impulsive feeling of being outdated.

Kinda like if you buy an EEE 900 when the 901 is just around the corner.

[Ian @ Jun 4th 2008 12:33PM]

Actually it runs off a 4.0Gbps PCIe 2.0 connector, but it does sport a usb port or 2, just saying. i dont know how fast that will actually run but probably faster than usb.

[flanker @ Jun 4th 2008 1:40PM]

ATI XGP Technology requires a notebook equipped with an ATI XGP Technology connector

[Flashpoint @ Jun 4th 2008 11:04AM]

Once you buy this, you'll be able to play CRYSIS on your Eee !

[Pfanne @ Jun 4th 2008 11:05AM]

not really xD

[Trixstar @ Jun 4th 2008 11:06AM]

wow, AMD is doing uber great at Computex..

[d0od @ Jun 4th 2008 11:08AM]

awesome! amd are amaaaaaazing

[Chad @ Jun 4th 2008 11:25AM]

Uhh.....Matrox has been doing this for a couple of years now. The only thing different appears to be the PROPRIETARY PCIe connector.

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/special/products/rgseries/rg_200dl.php

[Eric @ Jun 4th 2008 12:22PM]

That matrox thing ins't for gaming 3d acceleration, and is built for desktops. It requires a full size pci or pcie slot to work, which laptops don't have. The point about the AMD breakout card is that it can be used to upgrade the graphics abilities of laptops, which up til this required a steady hand and some solder, not to mention a voided warranty.

[Chad @ Jun 4th 2008 3:26PM]

Matrox demoed it for me using a laptop connected to an ExpressCard.

But thanks for playing.

[packetsniffer @ Jun 4th 2008 10:38PM]

@Chad
Maybe Matrox does have one for laptops, but again, it "isn't for gaming 3d acceleration".

But thanks for playing.

[Ed @ Jun 4th 2008 11:28AM]

I hope an ExpressCard becomes available to add the prorpietary connector to other laptops.
Many-headed Macbook Pro FTW!

[John Stracke @ Jun 4th 2008 12:12PM]

Apparently there exist such products; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCIE#External_PCIe_Video_Cards

[Eagle @ Jun 4th 2008 11:35AM]

I am wondering if this will work with non ati laptop graphics as i have 8600m in my lappy and this would be very cool to have

[michael @ Jun 4th 2008 11:49AM]

I've been wanting something like this for years. Too bad now that's it's out my notebook doesn't have the swanky PCIe .

[John Stracke @ Jun 4th 2008 12:11PM]

Why would they use a proprietary PCIe cable instead of a standard one? Yes, they exist; see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCIE#External_PCI_Express

The press release says the cable also permits USB, but you don't need a special cable for that; you can just put a USB chipset in the external box.

[Alex H @ Jun 4th 2008 12:19PM]

That's because External PCIe 2.0 you referred to limit's PCIe's bandwidth from 16x (4 GB/s) to 1x (250 MB/s) compared to their proprietary interface that doesn't lose any bandwidth.

[rektide @ Jun 4th 2008 2:25PM]

Where do you see it stated there is a 16x connector for this external card? I rather doubt its 16x.

[james @ Jun 4th 2008 6:31PM]

@Del Hass

It's not USB, it's a PCIe connector, same as your regular computer video card: "a proprietary 4.0Gbps PCIe 2.0 connector." Instead of the card being inside the PC it's just connected to some cables so it's external.

@Chad

No Chad, that's not the same. That's closer to a KVM for splitting a keyboard, mouse and video signal, but unlike a traditional KVM that degrades the video signal by splitting it the Matrox box has a simple 2D video chip so the video quality is better. More proof it's KVM: "Remote keyboard, mouse and audio support"

[poached @ Jun 4th 2008 7:22PM]

good call james.

Why can't people see the obvious benefits of this. It's not for retrofitting your current laptops, but it's an added feature of new laptops going forward. Think about it, you can get your 12 inch light weight with an integrated GPU like the 780G chipset for vista aero and light gaming and great battery life. Then when you want to play COD4, you simply plug your graphics card in and there you go. Having this flexibility is great.

[Syphon Filter @ Jun 4th 2008 12:40PM]

So yo use this thing to its fullest potential (or at all?) you need a new notebook with the new fancy dan interface?

[Ray @ Jun 4th 2008 12:50PM]

Yeah, im sort of confused here, my current notebook is not compatible, and literally, i'll have to purchase a notebook that can already run higher quality graphics to use this, and then i will use the external gpu to exceed that?

They need to make this thing work with the lower tier series so that i can save some cash and space, i thought the idea was that i can take a 12.1 incher, hook it up to this thing and a monitor and play high quality games... i wont be purchasing until i can do that.

[deliverinsanity @ Jun 4th 2008 12:53PM]

My question doesn't relate to ATI products specifically, I was just wondering - how limiting the use of PCIe would be on a grpahics card pefromance? 4GB/sec - is it a lot or not for a card?

[Stranger @ Jun 4th 2008 1:21PM]

Is it 4 Gbit/s or 4 GByte/s we're talking about? The yahoo post claims 4 Gbyte/s which makes sense if it's a 8 lanes running at 500 MB/s each. In such a case it's bandwidht enough as to not starve even the fastest of cards more than a little.

On the other hand it's 4 Gbit/s as Engadget reports it's more or less worthless since even a lowend card such as ATI Radeon 2400 HD would be bandwidth starved.

[Twist @ Jun 4th 2008 8:07PM]

Apple needs to add the port for this to all of their product (except the Mac Pro) ASAP. I have been wanting a new Mac and most of the Mac's have specs that would work for me except for the crappy GPU's they use on every system that is less than $2000. Come on Apple get this and eSATA standard on every system in the next redesign.

[Brandon @ Jun 4th 2008 8:54PM]

?? A laptop doesn't have a PCIe slot, maybe a MINI PCIe slot, not a full sized one...

is the "proprietary 4.0Gbps PCIe 2.0 connector" a PCMCIA/Express card?

Please, someone confirm this with a definitive answer.

[Thomas D @ Jun 4th 2008 10:19PM]

Has nobody seen the double-head and triple-head to go products? Been used quite successfully by many Mac & PC laptop users alike for a couple years now.

[loosely_coupled @ Jun 4th 2008 10:40PM]

To me, this is pointless if they use MOBILE GPUs! Isn't the whole point to have a fast card to be able to offload to? They should have used a DESKTOP Radeon 3850/3870. I guess it's better than nothing.

I think the new tech that allows you to switch between a low-power integrated graphics chip along and a high-powered discrete mobile GPU in the same laptop is even better than this! You get both awesome battery life and great graphics performance when you need it. The only disadvantage compared to the above solution is that the discrete GPU takes up room in the laptop, so you wouldn't be able to use that in a small ultraportable.

[Charles Han @ Jun 4th 2008 11:39PM]

well it can also boost the life of your laptop because you can't update discrete graphics on notebook, this way you can get better graphics without purchasing a new one. And i am sure in the future they will allow for desktop gpu's to be used also

[palehorse @ Jun 8th 2008 11:34PM]

If/When they make it so I can throw in the Desktop PCIe GPU of my choice, I'm there... until then, it's glorified proprietary crap.

[grey2vs @ Jun 30th 2008 10:01AM]

I was happy that my nasty 5 year old Vaio with a Radeon 345m is going to get a boost! and then I read about this propierrerer (I can't even spell the damn thing!!)...how the hell do they expect old laptops to have new technology!....All I'm saying will they provide the propiererrer (damnit!) cable? as long as it will work with the pci slot I got in my laptop, I don't care!.
Plus I'm tired of waiting I mean the XG Station was meant to be released Q3 2007 and we're about to enter Q3 08. I'm not believing anyone until I see one of these on a shelf.

[RAC_Gump @ Jul 26th 2008 7:19AM]

So whats the latest? Looks like a winner to me :)

There seems to be confusion about a few things thou, heres what I reckon:
ATI have done the smart thing here......they have realised that all the current standard cable connections (USB, Firewire etc) and card slots (Express etc) simply dont have the bandwidth to handle a decent full size PCI video card, so they have invented their own (to quote "proprietary 4.0Gbps PCIe 2.0 connector").
Yes, thats a probem for current model notebooks because they dont come with one, and I can imagine getting their new type of connection as a standard component on notebooks is proberly the thing which is holding them up. But I am guessing that AMD themselves or someone else will make a hybrid connector that will allow you to hook it up in a standard slot/connection.
This WILL limit the bandwidth available and once you reach a certin point, it wont matter how fast the GPU in the XGP is, it'll only work as good as the bandwidth allows.
Now this isnt as bad as it seems, because you will still get an improvement over the standard on board graphics (specially if you have a middle to low range notebook), just how much is yet to be seen.
ASUS have a system thats available now and use's a standard notebook slot to connect it. It works, it improves things greatly, but its limited to the bandwidth on the cables connecting it to the notebook.

Cheers Gump!