RAZER Core

RoBoT

RoBoT

RoBoT

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I'm loving the new gadgets being Showcased at CES 2016 with several External Graphics solutions for laptops. And laptops with USB C (Thunderbolt 3) to top it off.

This gives laptops a bit longer before you need to update them....

Well it looks like I'm waiting to see what laptops I want to buy what with the introduction of the RAZER Core.

Will work with any laptop with USB C (Thunderbolt 3) so they say.....

Take My Money Now!

Peoples thoughts?

Which laptops look good to partner with the Core?
 
I was looking at the new Dell Inspiron 15 7000 (7559) but now...... I'm looking for something with a Thunderbolt 3 port and all the right specs.
 
Any laptop with a TB3 port would be compatible I guess.

I have the new XPS 15 (2015) with thunderbolt 3, and I think the refresh of the MSI GS60 has it as well?

I would imagine if the eGPU thing kicks off TB3 is going to become a standard connection almost in any high end laptop (especially those aimed toward gaming).

Not sure I'd ever buy a razer product again for as long as I live but I'm sure other more respectable companies will be releasing eGPU hardware as well.
 
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The main point for me is that Razer uses the laptop monitor, accelerated by the eGPU...

This would be the main selling point, if other makers come out with an eGPU which needs another monitor, I don't think many will go for it.

Also, I want a 15" plus screen, not 12!
 
Yeah there are a few laptops with the port but I think for it to work with "thunderbolt" devices it needs to be an Intel approved port to get the "thunderbolt" designation?

I know the port on the MSI GS60 is a USB Type-C port but isn't a "thunderbolt" port.

I think it's kind of unclear at the moment since these eGPU's are only just kicking off.
 
R3v4n said:
Yeah there are a few laptops with the port but I think for it to work with "thunderbolt" devices it needs to be an Intel approved port to get the "thunderbolt" designation?

I know the port on the MSI GS60 is a USB Type-C port but isn't a "thunderbolt" port.

I think it's kind of unclear at the moment since these eGPU's are only just kicking off.
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Is that a definite on the GS60? My GT72 6QE was only listed as having a super port that offers usb(c) 3.1 gen 2 speeds 10Gb, but I got a firmware upgrade through MSI and it is now listed as a thunderbolt 3 port...
 
stewski said:
Is that a definite on the GS60? My GT72 6QE was only listed as having a super port that offers usb(c) 3.1 gen 2 speeds 10Gb, but I got a firmware upgrade through MSI and it is now listed as a thunderbolt 3 port...
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It says Thunderbolt 3 on the MSI site -

http://www.msi.com/product/notebook/GS60-6QE-Ghost-Pro.html#hero-overview

However it does have it listed as optional so I guess you would have to check with whoever you buy it from that it has the thunderbolt port.

Looking at the ones for sale online most of the adverts just list it as a "super port".
 
Looking at both this and the Asus ROG XG 2. Hopefully one of them will work with current laptops that feature Thunderbolt.
 
Haven't these been around for ages. You use to be able to get a 50 - 100 dollar express card adapter for laptops that would allow normal graphics cards to be used if you had a desktop PSU lying around.....

Think it was called a PE4C adapter

Are these expense solutions any different?
 
R3v4n said:
Any laptop with a TB3 port would be compatible I guess.

I have the new XPS 15 (2015) with thunderbolt 3, and I think the refresh of the MSI GS60 has it as well?

I would imagine if the eGPU thing kicks off TB3 is going to become a standard connection almost in any high end laptop (especially those aimed toward gaming).

Not sure I'd ever buy a razer product again for as long as I live but I'm sure other more respectable companies will be releasing eGPU hardware as well.
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They have to be certified to work so not any TB3 will work for them AFAIK.

Electroshadow said:
Haven't these been around for ages. You use to be able to get a 50 - 100 dollar express card adapter for laptops that would allow normal graphics cards to be used if you had a desktop PSU lying around.....

Think it was called a PE4C adapter

Are these expense solutions any different?
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Not worth the hassle! I have one, used it 2-3 years ago and you don't get the performace out of the ExpressCard port.Wiki says the ExpressCard 2 supports 2.5 Gbit/s. TB3 supports 40 Gbit/s (5 GB/s)

I would like the TB3 eGPU to support passthrough so you wouldn't have to use a external display.
 
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I think eGPUs were demonstrated on a TB2 interface at a previous CES but were never released, possibly due to bandwidth limitations. There is really no reason why you couldn't use TB2 to drive an eGPU besides the following issues:

Thunderbolt 2 only has half the bandwidth and a different physical connector. Ergo you would need a legacy adapter and be willing to, possibly, not get full performance.

It's highly unlikely that you would be able to use the eGPU to drive your laptop screen.
 
I am 100% sold on these external graphics enclosures as a concept, although not yet convinced by the devices on offer. The Core is the most promising, and would mean that my gaming PC gets thrown out and I just retain the graphics card and monitor and use my XPS15 as the PC.

Monitor(s), keyboard, mouse and gamepad connected to the Core with a graphics card in it, and then just plug the laptop in over USB C and bosh, gaming PC. Disconnect it and leave the house, bosh, laptop.

Imagine what this would be like if there was a Surface Book style device available with a decent i7 and 32GB RAM? Tablet, laptop, and gaming desktop all in one!
 
Ouch.

So the Core (on its own) is going to be $500! That will easily translate to well over £400. For a metal box with a small PSU, a PCIe port and a USB hub in it that is a lot of money. I was totally sold on this and willing to jump aboard, but at that price point they have lost me :(.

My last full PC upgrade (CPU, RAM, Mobo and Graphics) came in at less then £400.
 
When I built a DIY external GPU for my mac, it cost a fortune. Was around £100 for the PSU, £75 for the PCIe port to can't remember the adapter, another £180 for the adapter to Thunderbolt and then £25 for the Thunderbolt cable!
Oh and they probably still have to pay Intel a licensing fee for Thunderbolt :s
I welcome the idea as hopefully this will work across different hardware. I'm looking forward to the UK release of the Razer Blade Stealth also :)
 
Dangerous said:
New technology :p What do you expect, give it 2 years and they'll be £100 ;)
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Its not really new at all? Its a small form factor PSU, a USB 3 hub and a PCIe extension. The only newish thing in it is TB3.

The idea of this is that it replaces your gaming PC an you don't need 2 devices. But at ~£500 it currently costs more than my gaming PC did to build (excluding graphics card).

Shame :(. I was hoping this would storm the market and push external graphics forward. But it seems they don't really want you buying one without also buying a Razer laptop (its $100 more to buy it on its own, and they haven't announced any partnerships with 3rd parties or even confirmed that it will work with 3rd party laptops).

I'll stick with a gaming PC for now then.

traveyb said:
I'm looking forward to the UK release of the Razer Blade Stealth also :)
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Unfortunately their laptops are ruined by stupidly high yet not 4K resolution, super glossy touch screens :(
 
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Skeeter said:
Its not really new at all? Its a small form factor PSU, a USB 3 hub and a PCIe extension. The only newish thing in it is TB3.

The idea of this is that it replaces your gaming PC an you don't need 2 devices. But at ~£500 it currently costs more than my gaming PC did to build (excluding graphics card).

Shame :(. I was hoping this would storm the market and push external graphics forward. But it seems they don't really want you buying one without also buying a Razer laptop (its $100 more to buy it on its own, and they haven't announced any partnerships with 3rd parties or even confirmed that it will work with 3rd party laptops).

I'll stick with a gaming PC for now then.



Unfortunately their laptops are ruined by stupidly high yet not 4K resolution, super glossy touch screens :(
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It is the first version to come out with TB3, it has no competition at the moment. I paid something silly for ExpressCard version.
 
TB3 is basically PCIe over USB-C, and the (all be it proprietary) PCIe Dell Graphics Amplifier has been around for a while. Its almost literally the same thing (especially if the Core turns out to be just as propriety) and it costs under £200.

The Core is identical in terms of functionality, just using a different connector, yet is more than double the cost.
 
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