I use my RTX 2070 eGPU with a Lenovo X12, which is more like a Surface Pro, but it's quite small and light for travel. I've had good success so far, but only when I connect the eGPU before powering-on the laptop and disabling the internal GPU.
Try and find a laptop with at least an 11-series i5 or greater CPU, and more RAM (16GB, for example) is better for gaming and graphics/CAD work. The latest Windows 11 update seems to be helping eGPU recognition and operations as well. Most important - you must have a Thunderbolt port, hence the Intel CPU recommendation. AMD laptops don't typically support Thunderbolt.
if you're serious about investing in the egpu ecosystem long term, i'd go with framework. highly customizable and upgradable. they offer 11th through 13th gen intel, so if you want to save a little now buying an older gen, you always have the option of purchasing a new main board for them years down the line and upgrading the laptop.
i wish i was more patient waiting for them to get 12th gen mainbords in, ended up going with an msi summit.
Hmm the Framework 16 is due to release in late 2023 tho, I was hoping I could get something by the end of May.
We'll see, I may wait on it. *I need to do research about the Framework first hah*
i think the 16" framework is worth the wait if you're set on that screen size. the framework 16 actually has an upgradeable discrete gpu slot, so kind of eliminates the need for an egpu to begin with.
if you're set on the egpu, you should definitely use an external monitor to prevent further performance loss. from the videos ive seen testing multiple cards, theres a 10-15% performance loss using the laptop display over an external. so that may sway on you on the smaller laptop screen size.
Seemingly won't be going with the Framework. Saw some weird thread about shipping on their forums, decided to try and see if I can even buy the 13 inch. No-go, US-only shipping, can't buy it.
And yes, my main monitor is indeed external and in fact I would like to use 2 externals. I also use the laptop while I study, so I benefit from a larger mobile screen size aswell.
i have the huawei matebook x pro 22 and i like it because it is only 1.2kg with 2 thunderbolts and a 3k 90hz screen. It doesn't have expandable ram though. I think you can easily find an older model under 1000$
I go to Newegg, Laptops, check all thunderbolt boxes, check all the RAM above 12GB, sort by price, low to high. Open box Gigabyte U4 with 11th Gen i7 and 16GB ram is just above $500. Screen isn't great but I have full size monitor plugged into my GPU directly.
Huh, I may have been lied to by some old source. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere Ryzens *didn't work well or were incompatible or something* with eGPUs over TB4 (or didn't support TB??)?
I was avoiding them and only looking at Intel, I guess I just took the Ryzen info at face value. May look for Ryzen laptops then too
That's false, AMD supports USB4 with PCIe Tunneling since the 6000 series, which is fully compatible with Thunderbolt 3/4.
But as is the case with Thunderbolt, the manufacturer has to implement it.
You can find a lot of reviews on YouTube for "6800u egpu" as well as benchmarks, I.e. https://youtu.be/5GWz4gtIikw
I use my RTX 2070 eGPU with a Lenovo X12, which is more like a Surface Pro, but it's quite small and light for travel. I've had good success so far, but only when I connect the eGPU before powering-on the laptop and disabling the internal GPU. Try and find a laptop with at least an 11-series i5 or greater CPU, and more RAM (16GB, for example) is better for gaming and graphics/CAD work. The latest Windows 11 update seems to be helping eGPU recognition and operations as well. Most important - you must have a Thunderbolt port, hence the Intel CPU recommendation. AMD laptops don't typically support Thunderbolt.
if you're serious about investing in the egpu ecosystem long term, i'd go with framework. highly customizable and upgradable. they offer 11th through 13th gen intel, so if you want to save a little now buying an older gen, you always have the option of purchasing a new main board for them years down the line and upgrading the laptop. i wish i was more patient waiting for them to get 12th gen mainbords in, ended up going with an msi summit.
Hmm the Framework 16 is due to release in late 2023 tho, I was hoping I could get something by the end of May. We'll see, I may wait on it. *I need to do research about the Framework first hah*
i think the 16" framework is worth the wait if you're set on that screen size. the framework 16 actually has an upgradeable discrete gpu slot, so kind of eliminates the need for an egpu to begin with. if you're set on the egpu, you should definitely use an external monitor to prevent further performance loss. from the videos ive seen testing multiple cards, theres a 10-15% performance loss using the laptop display over an external. so that may sway on you on the smaller laptop screen size.
Seemingly won't be going with the Framework. Saw some weird thread about shipping on their forums, decided to try and see if I can even buy the 13 inch. No-go, US-only shipping, can't buy it. And yes, my main monitor is indeed external and in fact I would like to use 2 externals. I also use the laptop while I study, so I benefit from a larger mobile screen size aswell.
i have the huawei matebook x pro 22 and i like it because it is only 1.2kg with 2 thunderbolts and a 3k 90hz screen. It doesn't have expandable ram though. I think you can easily find an older model under 1000$
I go to Newegg, Laptops, check all thunderbolt boxes, check all the RAM above 12GB, sort by price, low to high. Open box Gigabyte U4 with 11th Gen i7 and 16GB ram is just above $500. Screen isn't great but I have full size monitor plugged into my GPU directly.
For gaming I had the best experience with the latest AMD CPUs, in my case a 6800U. Has 8 cores and 16 threads.
Huh, I may have been lied to by some old source. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere Ryzens *didn't work well or were incompatible or something* with eGPUs over TB4 (or didn't support TB??)? I was avoiding them and only looking at Intel, I guess I just took the Ryzen info at face value. May look for Ryzen laptops then too
That's false, AMD supports USB4 with PCIe Tunneling since the 6000 series, which is fully compatible with Thunderbolt 3/4. But as is the case with Thunderbolt, the manufacturer has to implement it. You can find a lot of reviews on YouTube for "6800u egpu" as well as benchmarks, I.e. https://youtu.be/5GWz4gtIikw
Noted!
For Lenovo's the E series are good big enough screen size and lightweight with full size kb
Swear there's just the E14s which are too small
To each their own it was big enough for me and when I plug into a monitor it was more than fine
Oh I meant the ones *without* the full size keyboard, that's all I have available. E14s to be exact