I remember reading about an external GPU that could be hooked up via TB. Is that still vaporware at this point or has anyone heard/read anything recently about that?
I was thinking something like this:
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/lucid-gpu-graphics-thunderbolt-external,17520.html
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Hey I like that. I would love to get one of those for my Mini. Stick one of my NV 560s in it and not have to worry about my gaming PC again..
I remember reading about an external GPU that could be hooked up via TB. Is that still vaporware at this point or has anyone heard/read anything recently about that?
The only bummer is that Sonnet Technologies' Echo Express line-up isn't really designed for graphics cards. A lack of auxiliary power connectors limits the number of boards you can use. Mainstream cards that get everything they need from the PCI Express bus are one option. Or, hooking up your own power supply, as we did with our Radeon HD 6970, could work too. Either way, we'd like to see Sonnet incorporate at least one six-pin lead to fully exploit the Pro model's 150 W peak power delivery.
If you do end up using a card with auxiliary power connectors, pay close attention to their orientation. As you can see in the image above, the chassis is designed to exacting specifications just large enough to accommodate full-height PCI Express cards. A top-mounted power connector will force you to use the enclosure with its top popped. Of course, that's wholly a side effect of our desire to see a potent GPU sitting alongside an Ultrabook, driving a demanding AAA title faster than any mobile graphics module could muster. Mission accomplished (even if we had to use a PC power supply to get there).
At least you don't have to worry too much about procuring a flagship graphics card, right? Our benchmarks show us that a GeForce GTX 460 is, in many cases, just as fast as the higher-end Radeon HD 6970 as a result of the interface constraints of Thunderbolt. Pinching off that bus means that, at a certain point, it doesn't matter how big of a GPU you attach to the host. The good news is that an old faithful GTX 460 fits perfectly in the $600 Echo Express.
I remember reading about an external GPU that could be hooked up via TB. Is that still vaporware at this point or has anyone heard/read anything recently about that?
This is all doable, but note that Thunderbolt connects to a PCIe slot that is slower than the slots a GPU would usually be seated in. So, while it can be done, it will not provide any benefits as you'll be limited to the throughput of the port and not the card.
It is possible and the solution can be purchased right now ...
Have you got a reference to mac solution of this type?
Isn't that exactly what I've just said. I even linked a pretty graph.
It is possible and the solution can be purchased right now, but it is insanely expensive and does not bring great results. The problem is that, despite the fact that TB is pretty fast, it still does not have the bandwidth that top end graphics cards need.
Adding a GTX 460 will certainly give a much better gaming performance than what the Mini is able to do now, but you have to ask yourself is it worth it, when you might as well just build a separate gaming PC.
However it would still be an option for someone wanting iMac performance but wanting their own monitor(s).
when instead of costing $600 they are $200-300, for those with a mini or laptop and only integrated GPU but want some more GPU for games.
Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you posted a question in an open public forum? Did you not? If you don't want anyone to criticize dumb ideas then don't post them.The question is why do you care?
Thanks. You make some good points and I didn't realize how expensive it could get. ~$600 for enclosure and $350-400 for GPU. However it would still be an option for someone wanting iMac performance but wanting their own monitor(s).
You don't need to spend that much on the GPU - it's a waste of money anyway due to the limitations of TB and the fact that you would have problems supplying the power to a high-end card. You can pick up a 460 for like $90, but it is a very old card. A more sensible solution would be to use something like a desktop 640 or 650.
So.....You'll have $200 for a monitor. If you give up the GPU or CPU upgrade, you're back to $500 and its still far more powerful for the same price.
Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you posted a question in an open public forum? Did you not? If you don't want anyone to criticize dumb ideas then don't post them.
FYI I am selling a very fast external Thunderbolt GPU rig (ViDock 4 Plus, Sonnect Echo Pro, NVIDIA GTX 670) that works great on my 2011 MacBook Pro (in BootCamp Windows 7). Check it out :
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190907502259