HumanGobo

So realistically, as much as I'd like to have the most recent variation, I'd likely see no benefit getting a V3 (when they're back in stock :-\ ) versus a V2.1, when running with my 2012 15" MBP (with Nvidia 650M) and Thunderbolt 1? I've already got the Sonnet Echo Expresscard dock for video data management purposes, so I'm deciding to go that route. I'm going to wait for Thunderbolt 3 to start showing up in laptops, and the various companies' desktop GPU chasis to be released likely next year, before I spend the big bucks and invest in a more powerful eGPU rig.

should also note that there seems to be a fair bit of instances with people experiencing screen flicker, which from my understanding has to do with ASUS using PWM to control screen brightness.. Still debating this laptop...

That's good to know, thank you! That's actually one option I'd just been pondering.. That's too bad it doesn't work :-/

Oh dangit, I knew I was forgetting something... sorry for not giving specifics! Here's my intended situation.. I was hoping to make a build for my MBP (1 x TB1 port) I currently have first to at least test out a build as proof that I can do it, but mainly running on Windows 8.1 (bootcamp). Then the plan was to move to a proper windows-only laptop, likely the Asus G501 (which depending on model has 1 x TB2 port). The problem is, I don't know if it'll be that simple of a switch-over as I'm not sure if there are any crazy specifics I'll have to do to make it first work with the MBP, that might hinder later setups... I've got the 2012 MBP with Nvidia 650m, which from my understanding has some hitches with getting to work seamlessly, as opposed to if it just had an on-board intel GPU. As for it not being plug & play, that's totally cool and pretty much what I'm expecting I know my desktop wouldn't like it if I suddenly unplugged my GPU, so I can't imagine one of these rigs dealing with it any better! The thing that I'm at least hoping for is that it won't be a scenario of having to plug at a specific time at bootup because I know that'll just be a pain in the butt... I know already that my particular GPU's specs require at least a 300W PSU, which is easy enough to get, but I'm hoping to build it all into one unit and make it somewhat portable (I frequently game at my brother's place, and I'll actually be out of town for a while for work shortly), which might be tricky with the Akitio. I'd looked at the Sonnet III-D, it's just waaaay bloody expensive! I was pondering taking the board from something like the Sonnet Echo Express SE II (still kinda expensive..) and putting it into another case that'll fit a proper PSU and make it all one solid unit. Now as much as I'd really love to have an all-in-one eGPU+USB hub docking station, I've always got a USB 3 external hub I could add in, and at least then it'd only be a single USB plug extra. That's the crappy thing about either my current MBP or the Asus one I'm looking at only having one TB port.. The other question... how easy/difficult is it to actually have the eGPU run the internal screen, if it's not a MBP? that may determine whether or not I look to get the 4K version of the Asus laptop. Sorry for all the inquiries! I try to be technically minded, but I'm nowhere near the level of savvy that you and some of the other contributors are I may build my own desktops, but I've got what I'd think is a minimum of knowledge about the electronics therein.. something I sadly never got into learning :-\ I truly appreciate you taking the time to respond!

Hey all! First, let me say I'm ridiculously glad that I found this site.. I've been curious about eGPU setups for a little bit, but only started to seriously look the the last two or so weeks. This is such a bloody great resource for it, so thank you to all the smarter-than-me folks that contribute to it Second, I do apologize if this is repeating a topic, but I've been looking around on numerous posts (the past few days especially), and haven't quite found anything like what I'm wondering about. Here's my situation.. I've currently got a nice desktop system (I think a i5-2500K CPU, Asus 770 GTX, SSDs, etc) that I use for gaming, a 2012 non-retina MacBook Pro 15" for when I'm on the road for work and otherwise, and a Surface Pro that I had originally got as a lighter on-the-road system that just ended up not being quite as powerful as I'd hoped. I'm wanting to move to a single-computer streamlined setup with a nicely powered but portable laptop, and an eGPU, but after looking into the Alienware 13 + Graphics Amp, I'm curious if it's possible to build something similar that also incorporates some USB connections to it to act almost like a docking station. Is it as simple as just finding an enclosure with PCB that has the slot for a GPU and another slot that I could use for a PCIe USB card? I'll likely try to modify an enclosure like the EVGA Hadron that I only just found about today thanks to the post at http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/8675-egpu-cases.html Basically want to have a setup where I can take the decently powered laptop with me places, but then come home and plug in a thunderbolt cable to get eGPU and keyboard, mouse, external drive or two, all in one go, instead of plugging it all directly to the laptop. I'll be doing a mix of gaming, and video/photo editing on it! Thanks in advance!

Interestingly, it all depends where you look! On the Asus Canada website, it just quotes as 10Gbit/s, but if you look here it shows TB2: ASUS G Series ROG Gaming Laptops - An Ultimate Gaming Rig Wherever You Go As well, on Newegg.com (sadly not even on newegg.ca), the one showing also quotes TB2! ASUS G501 ROG G501JW-DS71 4K Thin and Light Gaming Laptop - Newegg.com It may end up all depending on region as well, because from the looks of it, anything in EU territory won't have TB at all I'm quite keen on this thing actually.. right now I've got 3 systems I switch between.. custom built desktop, 2012 15" Macbook Pro (non-retina), and an MS Surface Pro (gen 1) and would really rather just have one solid laptop for photo/video editing and mild gaming, then with an eGPU for higher quality gaming. I have a severe problem with files disorganized on 3 diffferent computers, and I don't even want to get into how split up my Lightroom libraries are and probable duplicates