External Graphics Card for notebook :/

[vinh834]

So a few months back I bought the following PC for $1200

HP Pavillion Dv7
8GB Ram
I7 2.2Ghz
2GB AMD Radeon 7690mxt

I know that I could have gotten a better performing desktop, but I travel often, so a laptop is preferable.
What I learned so far is that the graphics card is only supported with a driver from 2010. Which is terrible when trying to play games like Shogun 2 or Witcher 2 on max settings, which I should be able to, but cannot.
I inquired HP about this, but they said to ask AMD for a driver and AMD said to ask HP.

After long sessions of arguing with HP, they suggested I use an external graphics card.

The problem is that I have no idea or know anything about external graphics card. I saw a few, but they seem to be for using multiple monitors, yet I see some people that hooked up an external to boost their notebook.

I would like to know what could I do for the external graphics card and links to Amazon or an electronics store would be helpful for me in getting better performance for my notebook.

[karamazovmm]

In here you will find info about egpu, the only possible way for you is to use your mpcie slot, you dont have expresscard slot and thunderbolt.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/e-gp...cs-discussion/

In here you will learn how to install new drivers. The fascination behind new drivers is something that baffles me.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-pavilion-notebooks/

you can also learn to oc the 7690m in there.

here is one strange thing, HP saying to you to use egpus, WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED THERE!

[The Useless Member]

My opinion towards HP.

If they don't give you a back-up disk for your operating system... Yeah, exactly.

I remember when I bought a laptop. I couldn't replace the graphics card because it was integrated.

Too bad you couldn't return it and get a better brand.

[karamazovmm]

my opinion regarding that ^^ post, learn what MXM means, and learn what laptops uses that. Look at the elitebook 8560w or 8760w

also learn what a notebook gpu costs

[Bolkonsky]

I have this same problem. My 5650 should be able to play Napoleon, but cannot because of the drivers being updated in 2010 last. I asked about it on Notebookreview, but never got a response.

[karamazovmm]

I have this same problem. My 5650 should be able to play Napoleon, but cannot because of the drivers being updated in 2010 last. I asked about it on Notebookreview, but never got a response.

I know for your model that you can lock in the bios for amd, install the drivers, lock the bios again for intel and install the drivers.

some people hack the inf of the amd drivers and cobble those together with the available drivers

External GPUs stopped upgrading years ago. They'd not be any better than your current card

far from true.

the recent development is thunderbolt powered egpu, that is a pcie 2.0 x4, and if you look at the results available for that bandwidth, you can see that the difference in fps is around 0%

for the usual expresscards the best is to use a nvidia gpu, and install drivers that support optimus, which would give you a pcie 2.0 x1.2, with the compression that optimus provides its better than a amd in gpu in pcie 2.0 x2. Aside the benefit of plug and play.


If you use a gtx 560 ti, you can have around 80-90% of that gpu in terms of performance.
The tech aint stagnent.

[AqD]

External GPUs stopped upgrading years ago. They'd not be any better than your current card

[Bolkonsky]

Oh really? Nice I'll give that a try, thanks.

Also, there seems to be eGPU setups for PCI-E 2.0 x16

http://www.harmonicinversion.com/ind...emart&Itemid=6

Cheaper than I'd have though, too.

[karamazovmm]

that still going to provide a pcie 2.0 x1, since that is the limit for the expresscard slot.