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Blackmagic's Mac-friendly eGPU Pro adds Vega 56 power for $1,199
Blackmagic's first Apple-oriented external GPU was helpful for pros who needed more graphics power for their MacBooks, but it was a tough sell when you were paying $700 for strictly middling Radeon Pro 580 graphics. However, the company is back a few months later with a somewhat better value. Its newly launched Blackmagic eGPU Pro melds the familiar Thunderbolt 3 enclosure with much faster Radeon RX Vega 56 graphics. It's nearly twice as fast as the original, the company said, and promises up to a 22X performance boost over the 13-inch MacBook Pro's Intel-based video. That's a huge deal for GPU-aware creative apps, and might even make it a viable choice for more intensive games (what intensive games exist on the platform, anyway).
Razer's Blade Stealth laptop now packs a quad-core processor
Like the thought of Razer's Blade Stealth ultraportable, but wish it had a bit more oomph for multitasking? You're getting your wish. Razer has released a version of its 13-inch ultraportable with a quad-core 8th-generation Core i7 processor (namely, the 1.8GHz i7-8550U) inside rather than the usual 7th-gen dual-core chip. This doesn't magically turn it into a gaming machine -- you'll still need a Core enclosure for that -- but it could make all the difference when editing a video or juggling numerous apps. The CPU update also gives you an extra hour of estimated battery life (10 hours total), so you're more likely to make it through a long day.
Adding an external graphics card to your MacBook Air isn't practical, but it's possible
The MacBook Air isn't exactly known for its raw graphical might, and its super slim form factor means integrated Intel HD Graphics is as good as you're going to get -- unless you spend some time and cash to build an external graphics processor, that is. Tech Inferno forum user Kloper has put together a rather in-depth guide on building an external GPU setup which connects to the MBA via its high-speed Thunderbolt port. All told, the setup isn't exactly cheap, as you'll need to drop around US$250 in adapters, cables and a power supply, plus the cost of a GPU which can run several hundreds of dollars or more. Oh, and you'll need to have Windows 7 installed on your notebook as well. The Frankenstein'd rig isn't even remotely portable, and it's only good for gaming when at home, but the setup described -- which uses an Nvidia GTX 570 -- manages to crank out some impressive benchmark FPS measurements using rather demanding games, like BioShock Infinite.
MacBook Air gets gaming credentials through home-built external GPU (video)
The MacBook Air's integrated graphics all but rule it out as a serious gaming machine. However, Larry Gadea at the Tech Inferno forums has found a way to make the Air a powerhouse through an ad hoc external GPU. His design mates a PCI Express video card to the Mac's Thunderbolt port through a combination of two adapters, a Boot Camp installation of Windows 7 and third-party software. The performance improvement is appropriately dramatic, leading to frame rates up to seven times faster than what Intel's HD 5000 can manage. Just don't expect to buy a pre-assembled version anytime soon -- the peripheral needs a desktop-class power supply just to run, and Intel won't issue the licenses needed to commercialize Thunderbolt GPUs. If you're absolutely determined to get a Crysis-worthy ultraportable, though, you'll find Gadea's instructions at the source link.
Sony Vaio Z gets the in-house teardown treatment (video)
Another official teardown, another predictable revelation: the new Sony Vaio Z's viscera are thinner, flatter and, er, more compressed than those of its predecessor. But at least this dissection is performed by an actual Vaio engineer who ought to know his stuff. In the video after the break, Shinji Oguchi explains how cooling was improved using a range of tricks, like aerating the laptop's guts via holes in the keyboard. He also splits open the innovative external media dock, which connects via Intel's Light Peak technology and uses a discrete GPU to give the Vaio Z some gaming oomph. Finally, there's a separate, speeded-up video of Shinji putting the whole thing back together again from memory. The poor guy must be sick of it by now.
Sony crafting VAIOs with Chrome OS, external GPUs and Thunderbolt tech?
Sony's top-secret prototype labs must be clocking hours like mad, as Sony Insider reports that the company has two more surprises in store -- in addition to a PlayStation tablet, dual-screen clamshell and sliding PC, the skunk works has cooked up a Chrome OS notebook, as well as a "VAIO Hybrid PC" that defies any sort of meaningful explanation in just three words. The Chrome OS device is reportedly modeled after Google's own Cr-48 reference design with roughly the same dimensions and keyboard but an oh-so-slightly smaller 11.6-inch screen, and NVIDIA's Tegra 2 running the show alongside 1GB of RAM and 16GB of flash storage. Sony's also shooting for eight hours of battery life, and a weight of just 2.2 pounds. All of that pales in comparison to what Sony's plotting for this "Hybrid PC," though. The publication says we're looking at a thin-and-light Core i7 notebook with an incredible 8 to 16.5 hours of battery life, Intel Thunderbolt and an internal SSD, all of which plugs into a dock of some sort that adds a Blu-ray burner and external graphics (by AMD) for gaming and multimedia. We don't have any pictures or proof at this point, but it sounds like a whopper of a tale, and just the sort of thing that Intel was talking about making possible with the 10Gbps of bandwidth that Thunderbolt brings.
MSI Graphics Upgrade Solution seeks an ExpressCard slot to call home
It seems like we've been talking about external graphics cards forever, but how many do you recall that look quite as raw and ready as this? The Graphics Upgrade Solution, set for a full unveiling at Computex, is MSI's latest answer to the eternal problem that is gaming on the move. Serving as a conduit -- via its own PCI Express interface and the oft-neglected ExpressCard slot -- between desktop GPUs and laptops, the GUS comes with its own power brick that can support cards with up to an 84W TDP. That, together with the limited bandwidth on offer, makes the ATI Radeon HD 5670 bundle pretty much the top of the GUS pile, but at somewhere around $229 that doesn't look like a terrible deal at all. Alternatively, you can buy the bare unit for around $100 and make use of some old GPU to give a little extra pep to your laptop. It's all good.
NVIDIA pursuing external graphics accelerators for laptops?
It's not everyday that we can say there's external laptop GPU love in the air, but right on the heels the appearance of the Gigabyte M1405 with its GeForce GT220 dock, NVIDIA is expressing interest in external laptop GPUs as well. Manager of notebook GPUs Rene Haas told X-bit Labs that he thinks external graphics adapters for laptops are a "big opportunity" for NVIDIA, though he noted the drawback of their high price tags. We assume he is referring to AMD's ATI XGP box (or Fujitsu Siemens's Lasso) which is the only one available -- the ASUS XG station (pictured above) that seemed to vanish into thin air after its brief appearance at CES 2008. Either way, Haas very clearly states that the large market appeal of affordable external GPUs is just his opinion, though we're going to assume his opinion holds a bit of water in Santa Clara.
Gigabyte M1405 spied hauling around its external GPU
Happened upon the Taipei Game Show? No? Us neither, but Nicholas Khoo of 9eekonomics was, and we're glad he made it. Spotted at the event was Gigabyte's latest docking laptop, the M1405. On the go, there's a 14-inch, 1366 x 768 resolution TFT LED, Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300, up to 4GB memory and 500GB storage, DVD, Windows 7, and graphics provided by an Intel GMA 4500MHD -- attach that external GPU and you've got extra ports and GeForce GT220 with 1GB discrete memory. It's got a 6-cell battery, but you can add an addition 3-cell if you don't mind ditching the disc drive. No prices or release date, but expect an even grander unveil next month at CeBIT. More pictures via the source link, video after the break.
Gigabyte's M1305 ad campaign says docking a laptop is like picking your nose
External graphics cards may well be a rarity these days, but we're not sure if this simple fact justifies the launch of a grotesque and debatably heinous ad campaign. As you can so clearly see above, Gigabyte disagrees. In order to promote its Taiwanese M1305 CULV laptop cum external graphics card dock (housing an NVIDIA GeForce GT220 desktop VGA card), it released posters featuring a disoriented person poking his / her nose, each of which were presumably in the process of "doing some soul searching." Curious as to what these ads actually say? "How good is an expansion dock with integrated graphics card? Plug in a Gigabyte laptop and you'll find out!" Thanks, but no thanks Gigabyte -- we're currently preoccupied with flushing our memories of this visual disturbance you've just forced upon us. Psst... two more posters after the break for extra raunchiness! [Thanks, TheLostSwede]
Gigabyte Booktop M1305 ultraportable gains external GeForce GT220 GPU (update: now with video!)
Gigabyte's Booktop M1305 was shown as far back as June, but now it seems the stark white ultraportable is nearing its ship date. Nothing about the 13.3-inch rig seems too special at first glance -- after all, a Core 2 Duo, GMA 4500MHD graphics set, 1,366 x 768 panel, 4GB of DDR3 memory and a 320GB or 500GB HDD won't set any carpets on fire -- but it's the docking station that makes this one special. When situated in the dock, the M1305 can take full advantage of the discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT220 GPU that's squeezed within, making it entirely more capable of pushing out 3D graphics or HD multimedia to connected displays. We know, docking stations are all but dead outside of the enterprise, but who's kvetching about more power once your portable gets home? Update: hands-on video now after the break! [Thanks Thomas]
Acer's Congo-based 11.6-inch Ferrari One: finally, a netbook with speed
We've seen a couple of netbooks that we'd actually consider to be mildly quick, but given that locating an Ion-based netbook is about as easy as entering North Korea with a US passport, we haven't had much of a chance to really love on 'em. Today, Acer is extending its boutique Ferrari lineup with the Ferrari One, an 11.6-inch machine that is among the first to rely on AMD's newly announced Congo platform. Packed within the chassis is a dual-core 1.2GHz Athlon X2 L310 CPU, ATI's Radeon 3200 graphics, an XPG port for connecting an external graphics solution, a 1,366 x 768 panel, WiFi, Bluetooth, optional WWAN and a 6-cell battery. You'll also notice AMD Vision and Windows 7 badges alongside the obligatory prancing pony, but you can bet you'll be paying dearly for this when it ships on (surprise, surprise) October 22nd. How dearly? Try £435 ($724), or roughly the cost of a single lug nut on an F430. [Via TrustedReviews]
More details surface for Asus' XG Station
Gaming-inadequate lappies will soon have the chance to grace their ExpressCard slots with Asustek's performance-enhancing XG Station to run (something) like a legit gaming machine. Between our own first impressions and Asustek's newly loosed set of deets, this external GPU should give laptops a sufficient boost, as they'll be bundled with a varied selection of ASUS PCIe graphics cards -- barebones enclosures aren't an option. Aside from the heightened graphical processing and Dolby Headphone-supported simulated 5.1 surround, the XG Station's sizeable screen displays vital system info including the system's master volume, GPU clock speed, current GPU temperature, Dolby Headphone feature status, current actual Frames Per Second (FPS) information, and GPU fan speed Indicator. You can also tweak GPU core overclocking with the hard-to-miss control knob. Pricing on XG-specific graphics cards and XG Station bundles are still unknown, but units are planned ship soon to OEMs and channel partners, with availability to eligible customers sometime next month. [Via Notebook Review]
