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.

    External monitor not necessary for ATI external graphics

    Discussion in 'Notebook News and Reviews' started by Charles P. Jefferies, Feb 4, 2009.

  1. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    22,339
    Messages:
    36,639
    Likes Received:
    5,080
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Last edited by a moderator: May 7, 2015
    Charles P. Jefferies, Feb 4, 2009
    #1
  2. enby

    enby Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    36
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Oh wow, that's just perfect! Are the dreams of playing games on an ultra portable screen coming true?
     
    enby, Feb 4, 2009
    #2
  3. Phinagle

    Phinagle Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,521
    Messages:
    4,392
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    It would but carrying around the XGP would make your ultra-portable less portable.

    The XGP is more of a stay at home device while you use your notebooks integrated graphics on the go.
     
    Phinagle, Feb 4, 2009
    #3
  4. alslayer

    alslayer Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Are these available for sale?
     
    alslayer, Feb 5, 2009
    #4
  5. Phinagle

    Phinagle Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,521
    Messages:
    4,392
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Yes but they're only usable by the
    It's called the Amilo Graphics Booster.

    No other notebook is currently equipped with the necessary port to plug it in.
     
    Phinagle, Feb 5, 2009
    #5
  6. Phinagle

    Phinagle Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,521
    Messages:
    4,392
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    The XGP is a great device but it won't hit it's stride until it becomes available as an option to allow for Crossfire configs either combined with internal discrete cards and/or multiple external cards.

    e.g. an MSI GT727 with it's internal Mobility 4850 set up as a quad crossfire with 3 external 4850s. -or- an OCZ Whitebook running two internal 4870s paired with 2 external 4870s (or a single-card 4870x2).


    Then you've got the added benefit that external cards allow for easier heat management since the notebook itself doesn't require as sophisticated or as bulky a cooling setup.
     
    Phinagle, Feb 5, 2009
    #6
  7. Vision33r

    Vision33r Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    19
    Messages:
    162
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Why would anyone want to waste their money on a multiple external GPU setup when they can simply just get a desktop gaming PC for less than the price of these external GPU boxes.
     
    Vision33r, Feb 5, 2009
    #7
  8. Red_Dragon

    Red_Dragon Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,017
    Messages:
    7,251
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    because they are going on vacation and want to use it where they are going? :D
     
    Red_Dragon, Feb 5, 2009
    #8
  9. Phinagle

    Phinagle Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,521
    Messages:
    4,392
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    If you have to ask there's no point explaining it.

    But good luck luring the geek-chicks into your basement to show off your cheap gaming desktop. With all that money you saved you can get yourself a t-shirt made up with a pic of your desktop on the front and it's specs printed out on the back. :rolleyes:
     
    Phinagle, Feb 5, 2009
    #9
  10. Xibalban

    Xibalban Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    This has got to be the coolest thing pretty much ever. I wonder if the XGP is user upgradeable?
     
    Xibalban, Feb 5, 2009
    #10
  11. Red_Dragon

    Red_Dragon Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,017
    Messages:
    7,251
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    i dont think so youd probably have to get a whole new unit

    Id love to see a ATI 4870 on a 13" *drools*
     
    Red_Dragon, Feb 5, 2009
    #11
  12. Xibalban

    Xibalban Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    So if new drivers are out for it that means it's on sale somewhere, though I haven't been able to find it anywhere. Any reason that may be?
     
    Xibalban, Feb 5, 2009
    #12
  13. Phinagle

    Phinagle Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,521
    Messages:
    4,392
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Phinagle, Feb 5, 2009
    #13
  14. Xibalban

    Xibalban Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I assume there will be more models with this tech in them soon enough so I'm sure we won't be waiting forever to see them updated and stateside.
     
    Xibalban, Feb 6, 2009
    #14
  15. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,557
    Messages:
    6,682
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    205
    This is really cool news chaz! I wonder when a company such as dell will make an ultraportable with an addon dock with this device in it.
     
    nizzy1115, Feb 6, 2009
    #15
  16. Phinagle

    Phinagle Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,521
    Messages:
    4,392
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Fujitsu-Siemens have been selling the AMILO family of laptops in Europe for about a year now and we're still getting new Lifebook releases. :confused:

    The Sa3650 was announced 7 months ago but still no one else has picked up the XGP. Though that may be because it's hitched to the AMD platform.

    Like I said until it starts offering more options like Crossfire, faster GPUs and open support for Intel platforms (or AMD offers more competitive platforms) the XGP tech is going to be cool but not awesome.
     
    Phinagle, Feb 6, 2009
    #16
  17. Bungalo Bill

    Bungalo Bill Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    97
    Messages:
    806
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Last I checked, this unit makes you lose performance from the slow transfer rates. Laptop lovers are ridiculous....
     
    Bungalo Bill, Feb 7, 2009
    #17
  18. Jaguar

    Jaguar Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    3
    Messages:
    185
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    True, that this is one step closer to the limit where you'd just be better off with a desktop PC, but can't help it.. being able to carry my comp anywhere with the snap of my fingers is just too good and just gives my comp a dozen more advantages. I don't want to be 'chained' to my desk anymore, so if I can get similar (or almost) performance.. why not ? :rolleyes:

    Im hoping this type of solution becomes popular. No-one uses a laptop for hardcore gaming with just the battery, so when you need to take your laptop with you for some other stuff, it could use the integrated gpu. This makes the actual design of the laptop much lighter and a bunch of other advantages.
     
    Jaguar, Feb 9, 2009
    #18