The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Advanced Dock PCI-E GPU queries

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by maverick85, Feb 18, 2012.

  1. maverick85

    maverick85 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    i want to hook up my 4870 1gb gddr5 to the advanced dock (Lenovo ThinkPad Advanced Dock 39T4572) via a pci-e riser ( http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PCIe-PCI-...omponents_InterfaceCards&hash=item256c533390). i have a spare psu laying around which i could use to power the 4870.
    basically, i've ordered a t60, lenovo advanced dock, which will be delivered soon. will this work? any insights/wisdom?
    ===
    also, i'm looking into purchasing a 6570 1gb/2gb gddr3 (need help on deciding which one to get from either of the following three):
    http://uk.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/AMD_Series/EAH6570DI1GD3LP/ 1gb gddr3
    or
    Sapphire Technology Web Site 1gb gddr3
    or
    Sapphire Technology Web Site 2gb gddr3
    has anyone tried these before with success? do they fit? what are your thoughts?
     
  2. miro_gt

    miro_gt Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    433
    Messages:
    1,748
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    56
    there's limit in the speed that the advanced dock can communicate with the laptop, so check that out. I've seen reports on that speed to be somewhere at about 38MB/s for T61 dock.

    I assume that you want better video performance for your laptop ? What laptop do you have anyways ?
     
  3. maverick85

    maverick85 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    i've ordered a t60 laptop with x1400 ( http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180820134298?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649), which will be delivered some time next week (i have owned a t60 with intel 945/950/965gma?? gpu in the past which i had given to my sibling as a uni laptop). just getting the bits together atm, want to see what my options are before ordering gpu
    also the advanced dock (bagged it from fleabay for £25, brand new apparently http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280828304593?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649) is,
    http://www.equanet.co.uk/catalogue/item/IBMSP554
    it's only for the t60, r60, z60 apparently
    ==
    gaming-wise, civ5, dota1&2 and l4d 1&2 wouldn't go amiss. i've got rid of my pc setup and would like to scale down, keep portability and have the thinkpad ruggedness without losing too much coin
     
  4. miro_gt

    miro_gt Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    433
    Messages:
    1,748
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    56
    you cant increase video performance with the dock + another video card. The only way for you to do that is to use the express card slot to build external video dock, but there are lots of issues with those.
     
  5. admlam

    admlam Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    221
    Messages:
    1,203
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Back in the day, I remember reading a review here where someone stuck an old GeForce 6600 into the advanced dock in conjunction with his z61t. Lenovo ThinkPad Z61t Review (pics, specs)

    I think there might be some more material on this on the forum.thinkpads.com site. I believe that the power supply and half-height aspect of the dock was the limiting factor in the past. But like miro_gt said, even with the riser, bandwidth will be your enemy.
     
  6. admlam

    admlam Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    221
    Messages:
    1,203
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55