External GPU for you Laptop users.

B1ackSmokeB1ackSmoke Join Date: 2011-01-25 Member: 78855Members
in NS2 General Discussion
<div class="IPBDescription">Village Instruments to be making External GPU</div>Well, this is a bit exciting. Hopefully it follows through unlike the Asus XG Station back in 2008.

I'm not sure if this is just for mac users but I'm sure there would be a way to hook it up to your laptop.

<a href="http://www.appletell.com/technologytell/article/village-instruments-will-release-an-external-thunderbolt-video-card/" target="_blank">Village Instruments Aug 2011 GPU Card</a>

<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/external-thunderbolt-graphics-card-for-macs-to-be-developed-soon/" target="_blank">External Thunderbolt Graphics Card</a>

Think it'll workout?

-B1ackSmoke
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Comments

  • BJHBnade_spammerBJHBnade_spammer Join Date: 2005-02-25 Member: 42431Members
    edited October 2011
    lol there called usb video cards they already have them evga has the uv+ external ones

    but having a full videocard would be cool too
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  • B1ackSmokeB1ackSmoke Join Date: 2011-01-25 Member: 78855Members
    Really? So I am still confused, would that improve my graphics card?
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  • MkilbrideMkilbride Join Date: 2010-01-07 Member: 69952Members
    Doesn't improve, it replaces. It would also drain your battery within like an hour or so, but as long as yer hooked up to the wall, yer fine.
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  • RaikoificationRaikoification Join Date: 2011-10-13 Member: 127076Members
    Oooh...this looks really intresting @.@ never knew these existed !
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  • vrexvrex Join Date: 2009-10-03 Member: 68931Members
    You can build your own connector, it's not that hard. The problem is : you need a real LCD to use this with (it won't work on the laptops lcd).
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  • B1ackSmokeB1ackSmoke Join Date: 2011-01-25 Member: 78855Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1880068:date=Oct 15 2011, 02:45 PM:name=vrex)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vrex @ Oct 15 2011, 02:45 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1880068"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->You can build your own connector, it's not that hard. The problem is : you need a real LCD to use this with (it won't work on the laptops lcd).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    So what your saying is I need to have another tv to display on. How come it wouldn't work with my laptop lcd?

    Also could you explain more on building my own External Graphics card?

    -B1ackSmoke
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  • ScardyBobScardyBob ScardyBob Join Date: 2009-11-25 Member: 69528Forum Admins, Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    <!--quoteo(post=1880087:date=Oct 15 2011, 06:22 PM:name=B1ackSmoke)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (B1ackSmoke @ Oct 15 2011, 06:22 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1880087"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->So what your saying is I need to have another tv to display on. How come it wouldn't work with my laptop lcd?

    Also could you explain more on building my own External Graphics card?

    -B1ackSmoke<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I suspect he means that for this to work, you have to plug your screen directly into the external GPU. Since laptop screens don't have an external connection to take input from the external GPU, you'd have to use a regular monitor instead.
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  • Chris0132Chris0132 Join Date: 2009-07-25 Member: 68262Members
    edited October 2011
    How on earth do you get the data transfer rate of a PCI-E port over a USB cable?

    I know USB3 is supposed to be fast but I didn't realise it was that fast. And even if it is, I thought the point of having the cards on the board was to reduce response time.
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  • vrexvrex Join Date: 2009-10-03 Member: 68931Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1880099:date=Oct 15 2011, 11:57 PM:name=ScardyBob)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ScardyBob @ Oct 15 2011, 11:57 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1880099"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I suspect he means that for this to work, you have to plug your screen directly into the external GPU. Since laptop screens don't have an external connection to take input from the external GPU, you'd have to use a regular monitor instead.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yep. Since it uses an express port to plug in there's no way to backrender through the system onto hardwire laptop lcd.

    <!--quoteo(post=1880102:date=Oct 16 2011, 12:30 AM:name=Chris0132)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chris0132 @ Oct 16 2011, 12:30 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1880102"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->How on earth do you get the data transfer rate of a PCI-E port over a USB cable?

    I know USB3 is supposed to be fast but I didn't realise it was that fast. And even if it is, I thought the point of having the cards on the board was to reduce response time.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    You don't use usb for it (u can use usb3) but express card slots. There is a performance hit of course on the slower express slots but in general the performance of a real gpu still destroys everything laptops have integrated making it worth it if you want a desktop like pc at home and something you can always take to go out.
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  • Chris0132Chris0132 Join Date: 2009-07-25 Member: 68262Members
    Oh yes of course I forgot laptops have those external PCI slots.

    And that's true enough I guess, transfer speed isn't that important when simple power is your bottleneck.
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  • HybridclawHybridclaw Join Date: 2003-11-03 Member: 22271Members
    While we are on the topic of weird computer accessories:

    Does anybody know what CPU cards are for?
    It looks like an entire computer crammed onto a PCIe card.
    <a href="http://www.cpuboards.com/cpu-boards/picoe-gm45a.htm" target="_blank">Link to a picture of one</a>
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  • Chris0132Chris0132 Join Date: 2009-07-25 Member: 68262Members
    edited October 2011
    I would assume it'd be useful for rendering applications, like having a mini server farm plugged into your computer.

    At university we used to have a program which sent render jobs to idle computers on the networks, so I assume the card just reads somewhat like networked box or something.
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  • HughHugh Cameraman San Francisco, CA Join Date: 2010-04-18 Member: 71444NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Silver, Reinforced - Onos, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
    If you'd like to see proof that this technology works, and works well, check out the Sony Vaio Z.
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  • B1ackSmokeB1ackSmoke Join Date: 2011-01-25 Member: 78855Members
    edited October 2011
    <!--quoteo(post=1880185:date=Oct 16 2011, 02:42 PM:name=NS2HD)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NS2HD @ Oct 16 2011, 02:42 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1880185"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->If you'd like to see proof that this technology works, and works well, check out the Sony Vaio Z.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    What do you mean? What does the Sony Vaio Z have?
    Are you referring to this?

    <a href="http://mobbit.info/media/5/Sony_VAIO_Z-10.JPG" target="_blank">http://mobbit.info/media/5/Sony_VAIO_Z-10.JPG</a>

    -B1ackSmoke
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  • Chris0132Chris0132 Join Date: 2009-07-25 Member: 68262Members
    Isn't that an old serial port? I'm sure my amiga joystick plugged into one of those.
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  • HybridclawHybridclaw Join Date: 2003-11-03 Member: 22271Members
    edited October 2011
    <!--quoteo(post=1880193:date=Oct 16 2011, 07:38 PM:name=B1ackSmoke)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (B1ackSmoke @ Oct 16 2011, 07:38 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1880193"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->What do you mean? What does the Sony Vaio Z have?
    Are you referring to this?

    <a href="http://mobbit.info/media/5/Sony_VAIO_Z-10.JPG" target="_blank">http://mobbit.info/media/5/Sony_VAIO_Z-10.JPG</a>

    -B1ackSmoke<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    The Sony Vaio Z has “Light Peak.” It looks just like a USB 3.0 port but I’m too lazy to read the whole article about what exactly it is.

    Source: <a href="http://thisismynext.com/2011/07/07/sony-light-peak-apple-thunderbolt-intel/" target="_blank">How Sony accidentally did the right thing with Light Peak</a>

    *Edit*
    According to <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-20075239-64/sony-vaio-z-renders-macbook-air-less-cool/" target="_blank">this article on cnet</a>, the Light Peak port can be used as a USB 3.0 Port as well.
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  • SkymanderXSkymanderX Green Marine - The Few, The Proud, The Green. Join Date: 2011-07-29 Member: 113006Members
    honestly, my laptop video card is good enough for ns2
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  • HughHugh Cameraman San Francisco, CA Join Date: 2010-04-18 Member: 71444NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Silver, Reinforced - Onos, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
    Yes, it's Light Peak. I was considering a Z as a mobile NS2HD editing machine. Because you never know when I'll need to make NS2 videos non-stop while away from home... ;) There are better value choices for mobile editing, but as a no-compromise machine it's great! I was giving it as an example to prove that external GPU technology works well and works now. I was a doubter until I saw it!
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  • B1ackSmokeB1ackSmoke Join Date: 2011-01-25 Member: 78855Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1880263:date=Oct 17 2011, 02:31 AM:name=NS2HD)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NS2HD @ Oct 17 2011, 02:31 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1880263"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Yes, it's Light Peak. I was considering a Z as a mobile NS2HD editing machine. Because you never know when I'll need to make NS2 videos non-stop while away from home... ;) There are better value choices for mobile editing, but as a no-compromise machine it's great! I was giving it as an example to prove that external GPU technology works well and works now. I was a doubter until I saw it!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Oh, okay. That makes sense. I use my macbook which has a thunderbolt port. I think my graphics card will be fine though once the games fully done.

    I have a NVIDIA GeForce 320M 256mb.

    4gb Ram
    2.4ghz intel core 2 duo

    I know it's not the best, but I think it'll be fine right?
    And how does the video card stand against others?

    Also for some reason I can't load the page that shows system requirements.
    -B1ackSmoke
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  • KoruyoKoruyo AUT Join Date: 2009-06-06 Member: 67724Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    edited October 2011
    <a href="http://www.extremetech.com/computing/92160-external-thunderbolt-graphics-card-for-macs-will-not-blow-you-away" target="_blank">http://www.extremetech.com/computing/92160...t-blow-you-away</a>

    Thunderbolt, still a bit too slow - but a lot more usefull than expresscard for this.

    Since the combination of CPU and GPU is important...
    If thunderbolt is available for the rest of the pc market(2012?), i could see it cost effective if you could buy a "cheap dell" with a fast cpu and this dock + gpu...


    But i dont think we ll see thunderbolt in anything else than macs, and sonys for some time...
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  • Corporal_FortierCorporal_Fortier Join Date: 2005-03-22 Member: 46079Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1880308:date=Oct 17 2011, 11:54 AM:name=B1ackSmoke)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (B1ackSmoke @ Oct 17 2011, 11:54 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1880308"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I know it's not the best, but I think it'll be fine right?
    And how does the video card stand against others?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    You can take a look at this list:
    <a href="http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html" target="_blank">http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphi...List.844.0.html</a>

    Yours seems to be pos. 181, low-midrange graphics card. I'm surprised to see my 4 years-old card not too far from there.

    Of course, as with any benchmark, it is better to look at multiple sources to get a global picture.
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  • B1ackSmokeB1ackSmoke Join Date: 2011-01-25 Member: 78855Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1880323:date=Oct 17 2011, 11:25 AM:name=Corporal_Fortier)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Corporal_Fortier @ Oct 17 2011, 11:25 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1880323"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->You can take a look at this list:
    <a href="http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html" target="_blank">http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphi...List.844.0.html</a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Oh wow finally! This is very good to see that my card is still good.
    Thanks so much.

    -B1ackSmoke
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  • BJHBnade_spammerBJHBnade_spammer Join Date: 2005-02-25 Member: 42431Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1880148:date=Oct 16 2011, 10:10 AM:name=Hybridclaw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hybridclaw @ Oct 16 2011, 10:10 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1880148"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->While we are on the topic of weird computer accessories:

    Does anybody know what CPU cards are for?
    It looks like an entire computer crammed onto a PCIe card.
    <a href="http://www.cpuboards.com/cpu-boards/picoe-gm45a.htm" target="_blank">Link to a picture of one</a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    looks like one of the cards out of the hack box that is used for decrypting any encrypted radio signal.
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