External GPU for Extra Portability

The idea of an external GPU unit has been lying around pretty long. As far as I know, the idea has been present since 5 years ago (2007). I was recommended to get any laptop, then get an external GPU unit to power the laptop whenever I am going to play heavy games. Indeed, the pickup has been slow. Manufacturer prefers to make powerful GPU more mobile and fit for laptop. ASUS tried to make one, but sales have not been easy. The question is: why? I mean, doesn't the idea sounds extraordinarily great? You could get one laptop with integrated graphics then just power it up with the GPU unit. This includes netbooks which was popular 4 years ago.

Reason being the connection was not ready enough for the technology. Currently, the idea has been popularised by ViDock. The GPU can be changed in case newer ones come out and you want to get up to date GPU. But the dock needs PCI Express slot. This is true to even DIY external GPU. Why? Because that is the fastest connection you can get in which the GPU will work perfectly, otherwise the graphic in your laptop would be lagging behind still due to the information from the GPU not transferred fast enough to the laptop back. So, two problems here. Not all laptops, especially most netbooks and ultrabooks which is more possible to require powerful external GPU, do not have the PCI Express slot, thus shattered is the dream of external GPU. The other problem is that ViDock requires you to connect it to external monitor as well, thus the external GPU does not work with the dock and laptop only, thus it is not the answer to playing on your laptop if you do not want to have other gadgets lying around. Is the dream dead by now?

Meet Sony's Power Media Dock for VAIO Z Series. Compact, yet powerful. Indeed, it removes the possibility of changing the GPU every now and then, but then it does not require PCI Express, thanks to the new USB 3.0 which is faster, and it works with the laptop's monitor only. Although it uses USB3.0, it has proprietary connection to the laptop of USB and power slot, thus it only works for the VAIO Z Series. However, the idea is notable.

 

Now, why is the idea all the more important now? Because of Windows 8 hybrids. The convertibles most of the time pack only Intel HD 4000, which may deter gamers and content creators from picking up due to fear of lags or worse, programs not running. ASUS Transformer Book is quite different as the salesperson said that the 13" and 14" would have the keyboard dock packed with discrete graphics. But, there are many more lying around such as Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro and Sony's very own VAIO Duo 11, especially that they have active digitizer which would mean a lot to artists. While each brand could have their own, this would mean trouble because changing laptops means impossibility to reuse the external GPU. This is a new market. An external GPU unit that works with any devices with Windows 8 and USB 3.0 would become a very great product.

So, who should produce it? Any manufacturer who could achieve that general GPU unit should be okay, but I think Razer might be the best manufacturer for this. Why? It does not side with any manufacturer. Furthermore, being specialised in gaming should make external GPU unit for gaming within its main focus. Also, Razer design has been slim and simple, looking at Razer Blade and the concept projects.

The market is there, especially now that the notebook market is spammed with laptop-tablet hybrids and convertibles. It will be a matter of who could see the potential first.

Other Links on Sony's Power Media Dock:
Sony VAIO Z with Power Media Dock - PC World Magazine New Zealand
Hands on with Sony's external graphic card: it's superb - PC Gamer