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  • AdditionalPylons - Thursday, December 14, 2017 - link

    I know this is not a review, but what chipsets power these? Are they likely to be Mac compatible like the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box or does each box require vendor-specific drivers?
  • peevee - Thursday, December 14, 2017 - link

    "a full-length PCIe slot running in PCIe 3.0 x4 mode"

    Isn't Thunderbolt only PCIe x1?
  • peevee - Thursday, December 14, 2017 - link

    My bad, it is up to 2x capability on DP and LE controllers, and 4x on SP.
  • ddrіver - Thursday, December 14, 2017 - link

    Is my math right, is this a 830cu (13.6l) enclosure? I can fit a whole PC in there so what's the incentive to buy one of these?
    It's not portability because a laptop + this is about as portable as a PC + a monitor.
    It's not to keep on the desk and plug the laptop because you can just plug an LCD into a similarly sized PC.
  • nagi603 - Thursday, December 14, 2017 - link

    > I can fit a whole PC in there so what's the incentive to buy one of these?

    Simple: you don't want to buy a whole separate PC, you want something extra for your laptop, while still retaining the mobility it offers. Granted, you won't be packing it up, much like how you won't be packing up the extra monitor on your desk, or the office printer.
  • ddrіver - Thursday, December 14, 2017 - link

    That was the whole question. Since clearly you can't carry it around portability is out the window. So you're buying a big "something extra" which accepts "select cards" and that you have to combine with something else to get a half decent compromise? And at that price you're not saving much if anything.
    Why not put the $400 towards a proper small PC with better overall experience? It won't be portable but you won't be stuck half way either. For almost the same money and portability you'd get a gaming machine without the need to mix it with anything else.
  • Creig - Thursday, December 14, 2017 - link

    Some people might want to only have one PC to maintain instead of two, one PC for all their files instead of two, only have to purchase one license of certain programs rather than two, etc.
  • vanilla_gorilla - Thursday, December 14, 2017 - link

    The use case is really simple. I have a laptop, I do everything on my laptop, but I just need a little more oompf for gaming.
  • Notmyusualid - Thursday, December 14, 2017 - link

    +1.
  • nerd1 - Thursday, December 14, 2017 - link

    Yes, we already have 7.6L ITX case that houses a full 1080ti and 7700K CPU.

    Then we have full bandwidth (no performance loss), no headache with GPU connect/disconnect, and can keep one standalone system entirely for gaming.
  • ddrіver - Thursday, December 14, 2017 - link

    13.5” x 6.4” x 9.6” is 7.6l?
  • ddrіver - Thursday, December 14, 2017 - link

    Eh, misunderstood your comment and posted too fast. But yeah that was my point. You can squeeze a more than decent system in the same volume.
  • MrSpadge - Friday, December 15, 2017 - link

    Does that iclude a 550 W PSU? Half of the space inside this PowerColor case is "caused by" the PSU. Although it looks like they could easily have mounted it at the bottom and reduce the case to about half width.
  • nerd1 - Thursday, December 14, 2017 - link

    It's larger than Dan A4 case.... what's the point?
  • ddrіver - Friday, December 15, 2017 - link

    Apparently to pay as much as for a PC, to occupy the same space as a PC, but get "just a little more oomph". Not everything has to make sense. It's clear that we don't live in a sensible world.
  • PEJUman - Friday, December 15, 2017 - link

    Imagine a travelling business consultant, early 20 something millenials, plays AAA videogames, mobile lifestyle, making 160k annually. This person probably does not have the time or desire build a full ITX gaming PC, despite having the skillset to do so. It takes much more effort in research, build, and more importantly maintain the system with updates and backups, compared to a single laptop with thunderbolt 3. Not to mention the doubling of risk of a stolen identity with two digital footprints instead of one.

    I am not of the above group, but can understand why these eGTX might have a market. Value is only a single facet of product design, otherwise we all will be driving corolla/aveo.

    Just because someone have a unique preference of value, aesthetics, and functionality trade off; coming from having the understanding and time to properly build a gaming PC, does not mean everyone have to agree with that specific perception/proposition.
  • Zingam - Tuesday, December 19, 2017 - link

    I can't imagine that such imagined person would play games.
  • ddrіver - Tuesday, December 19, 2017 - link

    They can buy an ITX machine, not build it. This way they'll get a pretty tiny and elegant looking machine that's always ready for gaming.

    As for updates, backup, etc. that is less and less of an issue. I really doubt you need to backup you gaming machine. Most updates are performed automatically. This isn't a matter of maintaining 2 of each. An ITX gaming machine tied to your desk is almost self maintaining nowadays. It's the more flexible and powerful equivalent of a console.

    This is without a doubt a pointless product. Yeah, you can always imagine a scenario where this and only this can be used. But overall it's pointless. Or not really, it helps you part with $400.
  • Manch - Wednesday, December 20, 2017 - link

    Making 160K. Likely he can afford an ITX with a 1080ti in it just for games.

    "This person probably does not have the time or desire build a full ITX gaming PC, despite having the skillset to do so"

    You're making a lot of assumptions to justify the use case here.

    "It takes much more effort in research, build, and more importantly maintain the system with updates and backups, compared to a single laptop with thunderbolt 3."

    If he has the skillset as you say, then no. It's a minimal upfront effort. Can slap it together while eating a sammich.

    "Not to mention the doubling of risk of a stolen identity with two digital footprints instead of one."

    So much wrong with this statement. Does this hypothetical person with a "specific set of skills" at the same time cant handle the basic security of an online identity? Does he not carry a phone too? WTF? Are we talking about the dude from Taken?

    This product is supposed to be a docking station with a GPU. That's it. Its overpriced for what it is. Almost as much as the GPU you would want to stick in it. Granted, building a system or buying one would be pricier but also far simpler with less issues. That being said, these product do have a use case albeit one that's very niche. There are cheaper options. You can get one for about $250.

    Now, I have an old 390X that would work in one of these. I could sell it for a paltry sum or stick it in one of these to use with my laptop. How many people are in that boat though? This particular one isn't worth almost $400. One for $250? OK, Ill bite.
  • Manch - Wednesday, December 20, 2017 - link

    1600 for a decent mini itx build with a 1080 GPU in it vs 1K for this and a 1080. Doesn't make sense to me. Especially if were talking 1% of his pay check LOL
  • PEJUman - Friday, December 15, 2017 - link

    If you think this is expensive, lookup other (thunderbolt 3) docks from HP and the gang.
    PSU: $80
    TB3 dock: $200ish
    Chassis: $20
    Intel TB3 full lane(the 4, instead cheaper 2) to PCIe x4 chip & board: $20?

    so... relatively reasonable in TB3 realm.
  • ddrіver - Tuesday, December 19, 2017 - link

    Great, it sells you something you don't need at a better price than others. My point is that the whole product is more or less pointless. The fact that others sell it for more doesn't make it useful, just better value than other pointless products.

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