As the power gap between desktops and laptops slowly narrows, desktops are easy to upgrade. Upgrading laptops, on the other hand, is a crapshoot. You can upgrade some components (although not all laptop upgrades are worth it), while others, like the graphics card, can’t be upgraded unless you avoid the problem with an eGPU.
An external graphics card, or eGPU for short, is an add-on that allows you to use desktop graphics cards with laptops. Even though a laptop may include an RTX 5090 among its components, it actually uses a laptop-grade GPU, which is weaker than a true RTX 5090 designed for desktop computers. However, you can plug a real RTX 5090 into a laptop using an eGPU setup and use it to power games or other programs that require a ton of rendering calculations.
Despite what the name might imply, you can’t just plug any desktop GPU into your laptop and call it an eGPU. Instead, you need a specialized eGPU case, the graphics card you plan to use, a connection cable (usually a Thunderbolt), and an external monitor. After securing the GPU in the case, connect it to your laptop, turn on the case, and boot your computer. Assuming your laptop detects the GPU, connect an external monitor to the eGPU’s video output slot, set it as the primary display, and you’re good to go.
Everyone can use an eGPU, but it’s not for everyone
If you like to play games on your laptop, an eGPU will improve performance because whatever graphics card you insert into the eGPU enclosure will outperform the GPU that came with your laptop. According to MakeUseOf.com, this is especially true for thin laptops, which often have the weakest graphics cards (or overheat more quickly during gaming). However, much of an eGPU’s functionality is simply hypothetical.
The biggest issue holding back the potential of an eGPU is price. Of course, you need to buy a solid GPU, but the Thunderbolt cable, eGPU dock, and monitor increase the price exponentially, especially if you go for the premium models. Although many of these components are standard for most desktops and laptops, an eGPU station can cost several hundred dollars at outlets like Micro Center.
Let’s say you have a lot of money to spend and want to buy an eGPU dock and all the other components. When MakeUseOf.com tested its eGPU configuration, it discovered a significant design issue. Specifically, you’ll still experience some performance loss when transferring data over a Thunderbolt connection, and that’s assuming you buy an eGPU dock that even accepts those inputs. MakeUseOf.com found the Oculink connectors to be more reliable, but unless you turn everything on once connected, these cables won’t send any signals. Between these performance and price concerns, you’re probably better off building your own gaming PC, on a budget or otherwise.
