AMD hints that it’s working on a new external graphic card solution that could be the answer to gaming on modern ultra-thin laptops.
According to AMD’s Robert Hallock:
Ultra-thin notebooks are awesome to carry, but nobody in their right mind would confuse one for a gaming notebook. But there’s still a HUGE appetite for thin notebooks that can game. I also bet there’s a bunch of gamers out there who, as they get into their 30s and 40s, wouldn’t mind condensing their entire computing life down into one device that does it all… External GPUs are the answer. External GPUs with standardised connectors, cables, drivers, plug’n’play, OS support, etc.
The solution may lie in Thunderbolt 3, a type of USB Type-C connection that can deliver up to 40Gbps of bandwidth. Laptop makers such as Asus and Razer have recently unveiled the ROG XG Station 2 and the Core GPU enclosure to accomplish this goal by offering ultra-light portability but power from a desktop graphics card when needed (and plugged in).
As far as AMD, the solution could come at GDC 2016, but a quick scan of the sessions seems as if most revolve around DirectX 12. That said, it’s still the most likely place to drop a product that could fill this need.
➤ AMD wants to standardize the external GPU [ArsTechnica]
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