4 ms·

Love framework. My girlfriend needs a new gaming laptop. I'm setting her up with a framework and an external GPU.

by prettyStandard 4y ago

bogantech 4y ago
Nothing says "portable gaming" like an eGPU
- wongarsu 4y ago
  On the other hand I know multiple people who basically never move their laptop, and their list of reasons for getting a laptop boils down to "everyone has a laptop", "I've always had a laptop" and "it takes less space". For these people, an eGPU is a reasonable choice.
  - paraph1n 4y ago
    What about people who game on their laptop (at home) but don't need to game on the go? In that case an eGPU also sounds like a reasonable choice. They can just leave the eGPU at home and still be productive away from their desk.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
  - robotnikman 4y ago
    I'm one of those people. My current laptop came with an eGPU enclosure, and I recently put a 3090 in it. The battery life on the laptop is so bad that it's basically a desktop now constantly connected to the eGPU and power supply. For gaming and resource heavy tasks it works great though, even if a bit loud at times. I ended up getting a much better and slimmer laptop for actual portable work.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
- prettyStandard 4y ago
  Originally she asked for a desktop. I talked her into a laptop with an eGPU because she has a medical condition that significantly limits her strength and flexibility. I thought splitting the GPU would be best for weight and did not want to burden her with a chonky gaming laptop.
ginnungagap 4y ago
My gaming laptop's mainboard recently got fried from overheating, could you tell me a bit more about this setup/where to look to find out more? I've never even considered this possibility, I was tempted to just give up on laptops for gaming for good this time and build a computer, but your setup sounds very interesting
- wongarsu 4y ago
  In short, on a USB 3 port with thunderbolt (or a USB 4 port) you can connect an external GPU enclosure. I think the standard setup is to just get an enclosure (like a Razor Core X) and add your own full-sized GPU.
- prettyStandard 4y ago
  Sure, we are settled on these parts for now, and tested the PCIe to nvme setup on my framework laptop already. SilverStone Technology Ultra Small Form Factor Computer Case Mini-ITX in Pink SG13P https://a.co/d/exedSxn https://a.co/d/exedSxn SilverStone Technology SX800-LTI 800W, SFX-L, 80 Plus Titanium, Modular Power Supply with Japanese Capacitors https://a.co/d/3nPhC7D https://a.co/d/3nPhC7D Yes I know the PSU is overkill, keep reading to understand. ADT-Link M.2 NGFF NVMe Key M Extender Cable to PCIE x16 Graphics Card Riser Adapter 16x PCI-e PCI-Express for M2 2230 2242 2260 2280 (25cm) https://a.co/d/byrNLRB https://a.co/d/byrNLRB OWC Envoy Express Thunderbolt 3 Enclosure for NVMe M.2 SSD https://a.co/d/1j8j9T2 https://a.co/d/1j8j9T2 IOmesh Black Universal IO Shield Plate - for All PC Motherboards That was Lost Original Backplate, Make New Custom IO Shield for PC Motherboard https://a.co/d/cccJpiA https://a.co/d/cccJpiA Then we might share my 3060 until I feel like buying a 4000 series. Buying the parts in this way will also let us pivot back to this case holding a desktop if later desired. Weight is also a serious concern as she can't lift much due to a medical condition, so having a non chonky laptop for travel is useful. Even still, my 11th gen framework played my game FF7 Remake, and her favorite, Second Life, just fine. So I figure a low end 12th gen frame.work should be perfect. Which will also let us salvage memory, wifi, NVMe from her old laptop. Thinking about turning the old laptop into a lapdock. https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Convert-a-Laptop-LCD-into-an-External-Monit/ https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Convert-a-Laptop-LCD-in... Not sure if I should throw it in the trash, sell it for parts, or do a strange project with it. Also, I've already checked the dimensions, I should be able to retire the old framework mainboards into the case I picked up for her. There is a frame.work main board to ATX stand off design file out there, will need a small adaptation to fit that case, but it should be fine.

Love framework. My girlfriend needs a new gaming laptop. I'm setting her up with a framework and an external GPU.

bogantech 4y ago

Nothing says "portable gaming" like an eGPU

wongarsu 4y ago
On the other hand I know multiple people who basically never move their laptop, and their list of reasons for getting a laptop boils down to "everyone has a laptop", "I've always had a laptop" and "it takes less space". For these people, an eGPU is a reasonable choice.
- paraph1n 4y ago
  What about people who game on their laptop (at home) but don't need to game on the go? In that case an eGPU also sounds like a reasonable choice. They can just leave the eGPU at home and still be productive away from their desk.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
- robotnikman 4y ago
  I'm one of those people. My current laptop came with an eGPU enclosure, and I recently put a 3090 in it. The battery life on the laptop is so bad that it's basically a desktop now constantly connected to the eGPU and power supply. For gaming and resource heavy tasks it works great though, even if a bit loud at times. I ended up getting a much better and slimmer laptop for actual portable work.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
prettyStandard 4y ago
Originally she asked for a desktop. I talked her into a laptop with an eGPU because she has a medical condition that significantly limits her strength and flexibility. I thought splitting the GPU would be best for weight and did not want to burden her with a chonky gaming laptop.

ginnungagap 4y ago

My gaming laptop's mainboard recently got fried from overheating, could you tell me a bit more about this setup/where to look to find out more? I've never even considered this possibility, I was tempted to just give up on laptops for gaming for good this time and build a computer, but your setup sounds very interesting

wongarsu 4y ago
In short, on a USB 3 port with thunderbolt (or a USB 4 port) you can connect an external GPU enclosure. I think the standard setup is to just get an enclosure (like a Razor Core X) and add your own full-sized GPU.
prettyStandard 4y ago
Sure, we are settled on these parts for now, and tested the PCIe to nvme setup on my framework laptop already. SilverStone Technology Ultra Small Form Factor Computer Case Mini-ITX in Pink SG13P https://a.co/d/exedSxn https://a.co/d/exedSxn SilverStone Technology SX800-LTI 800W, SFX-L, 80 Plus Titanium, Modular Power Supply with Japanese Capacitors https://a.co/d/3nPhC7D https://a.co/d/3nPhC7D Yes I know the PSU is overkill, keep reading to understand. ADT-Link M.2 NGFF NVMe Key M Extender Cable to PCIE x16 Graphics Card Riser Adapter 16x PCI-e PCI-Express for M2 2230 2242 2260 2280 (25cm) https://a.co/d/byrNLRB https://a.co/d/byrNLRB OWC Envoy Express Thunderbolt 3 Enclosure for NVMe M.2 SSD https://a.co/d/1j8j9T2 https://a.co/d/1j8j9T2 IOmesh Black Universal IO Shield Plate - for All PC Motherboards That was Lost Original Backplate, Make New Custom IO Shield for PC Motherboard https://a.co/d/cccJpiA https://a.co/d/cccJpiA Then we might share my 3060 until I feel like buying a 4000 series. Buying the parts in this way will also let us pivot back to this case holding a desktop if later desired. Weight is also a serious concern as she can't lift much due to a medical condition, so having a non chonky laptop for travel is useful. Even still, my 11th gen framework played my game FF7 Remake, and her favorite, Second Life, just fine. So I figure a low end 12th gen frame.work should be perfect. Which will also let us salvage memory, wifi, NVMe from her old laptop. Thinking about turning the old laptop into a lapdock. https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Convert-a-Laptop-LCD-into-an-External-Monit/ https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Convert-a-Laptop-LCD-in... Not sure if I should throw it in the trash, sell it for parts, or do a strange project with it. Also, I've already checked the dimensions, I should be able to retire the old framework mainboards into the case I picked up for her. There is a frame.work main board to ATX stand off design file out there, will need a small adaptation to fit that case, but it should be fine.