Can we also have this without the GPU (and thus smaller)? I'd pay a lot of money for a power adapter/USB-C charger that also acts as a hub to expand my laptop's ports with USB-A, ethernet and HDMI. The only solutions so far are hubs with pass-through charging plus a separate power brick, but that's two separate devices.
Why would you like a power brick combined with a hub? Power bricks are big, hot boxes that often break down before the laptop dies or becomes obsolete.
Why would you want to put them on your desk - let alone glue them to something as expensive as a complex hub?
Because it would take less space when travelling for example. I bring my power adapter with me almost every day when I expect to do some work on the laptop, and sometimes it would be nice to also have access to more ports. And no, power bricks are not big, at least mine is smaller than many hubs I've seen. And I've never had one break before the laptop itself. Hubs aren't expensive, unless you look at the really bulky ones or if it has TB.
My power brick already has both the USB-C port with PD for my laptop, as well as a few USB-A ports for charging devices. So close, everything already connected to a single power brick, but still not connected to each other...
These are not full USB ports. They only include power wiring. And there's no logic in the brick to work with data.
If they added USB hub functionality to the power adapter, it would be as big as the 2 separate devices glued together. They're usually quite packed inside.
2 smaller objects are easier to pack than one object of the combined size. And there's always the possibility that you won't need one of them.
Huh? I know they are just charging ports. Hence why they only charge. I don't believe they will be the size of two separate devices. Especially hubs are full of air, plus all of the plastic packaging of two devices makes them larger than a single device. And I disagree on the easiess of packing. Oh well, it looks like I'm the only one requesting something like this, so it probably won't happen.
Hubs that charge are not full of air. They're very expensive. The Anker USB-C and USB-C/TB docks sound like what you want, though you perhaps need a higher wattage. Those are probably as small as anyone would get.
This would still plug into the wall too, so I don't see the real advantage to something like this over something like the HyperDrive Qi Charger and hub that I use (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/hyperdrive-7-5w... plus a USB Type C PD Charger (which I have wall outlets installed in my office so I can avoid the 2nd brick, but even a USB PD charger for a laptop isn't that much of an extra to carry, and you would have the charger anyways to directly connect to the laptop if you weren't using the hub anyways when traveling).
I do hope basis will supply 4000 series gpus in the external solution as well so that this laptop can still remain very relevant for many years and take advantage of the PCI Express 4.0 bandwidth in future gpus. Will Asus make any new egpus for the laptop, who knows not holding my breath
And why is this proprietary sGPU connection succeed where XGP, MSI Shadow, Alienware Amplifier and others failed?
Might as well just wait for PCIe 4/5 based thunderbolt adapters, or even USB 4 ones. These companies should be aware by now that proprietary connectors have little hope of getting wide adoption.
Internally the X13 split into 2, x4 connectors. Don't see much of a reason to do this unless they're dedicating the peripherals to a x4 bus. Discrete GPU I bet is internally on x8 because bifurcation topology of x8/x4/x4 is a thing. In other words, I bet that this still runs the GPU on a x4 bus. However, if its PCIe 4, not 3, that won't be a problem.
Per the article: "The unnamed connector is split into two segments, with one carrying PCIe 3.0 x8 data while the other segment is a USB-C connector for carrying power and USB data."
It's PCIe 3.0 and the GPU is run on 8x, not 4x. The peripheral parts run over USB-C.
This looks like a very well-engineered solution. Good on Asus for making what IMO is what eGPUs should have been like all along. The proprietary connector is a bummer, but also understandable. Not Asus' fault, ultimately.
One question: does the laptop-side USB-C port in this dock port work as a normal USB-C?
Also, saying this is "comparable in size to a second laptop" is grossly misleading, unless your concept of "laptop" is one of those niche ultraportable 7" GPD devices. This is compact and thick, more like a paperback novel than a notepad in size. The volume and weight are indeed likely laptop-like, but not the shape.
You're right on the last point, but I think the intent was to point out that it doesn't have the bulk of eGPU boxes that are merely carriers for a desktop add-in card and a server PSU.
What are the odds Asus will offer additional compatible laptops? Like a Flow x14 or x15 - something with similar specs but larger battery and a little more display area? A 14-15" 16:10 version would be amazing.
I don't understand the use case on this product. E.g., for most of their high-end ROG laptops already equipped with RTX3 series GPU. What's the point of buying another "laptop" grade RTX external case just to gain a few ports? I will opt for something like a Razer core x kind of product if one wants to tap on full fetch RTX power if $ is no object. Or, even easier solution is 1 laptop + 1 desktop.
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ajp_anton - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link
Can we also have this without the GPU (and thus smaller)? I'd pay a lot of money for a power adapter/USB-C charger that also acts as a hub to expand my laptop's ports with USB-A, ethernet and HDMI. The only solutions so far are hubs with pass-through charging plus a separate power brick, but that's two separate devices.notb - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link
Why would you like a power brick combined with a hub?Power bricks are big, hot boxes that often break down before the laptop dies or becomes obsolete.
Why would you want to put them on your desk - let alone glue them to something as expensive as a complex hub?
ajp_anton - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link
Because it would take less space when travelling for example. I bring my power adapter with me almost every day when I expect to do some work on the laptop, and sometimes it would be nice to also have access to more ports. And no, power bricks are not big, at least mine is smaller than many hubs I've seen. And I've never had one break before the laptop itself. Hubs aren't expensive, unless you look at the really bulky ones or if it has TB.My power brick already has both the USB-C port with PD for my laptop, as well as a few USB-A ports for charging devices. So close, everything already connected to a single power brick, but still not connected to each other...
notb - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link
These are not full USB ports. They only include power wiring. And there's no logic in the brick to work with data.If they added USB hub functionality to the power adapter, it would be as big as the 2 separate devices glued together. They're usually quite packed inside.
2 smaller objects are easier to pack than one object of the combined size. And there's always the possibility that you won't need one of them.
ajp_anton - Thursday, January 14, 2021 - link
Huh? I know they are just charging ports. Hence why they only charge. I don't believe they will be the size of two separate devices. Especially hubs are full of air, plus all of the plastic packaging of two devices makes them larger than a single device. And I disagree on the easiess of packing. Oh well, it looks like I'm the only one requesting something like this, so it probably won't happen.lmcd - Thursday, January 14, 2021 - link
Hubs that charge are not full of air. They're very expensive. The Anker USB-C and USB-C/TB docks sound like what you want, though you perhaps need a higher wattage. Those are probably as small as anyone would get.Myrandex - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link
This would still plug into the wall too, so I don't see the real advantage to something like this over something like the HyperDrive Qi Charger and hub that I use (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/hyperdrive-7-5w... plus a USB Type C PD Charger (which I have wall outlets installed in my office so I can avoid the 2nd brick, but even a USB PD charger for a laptop isn't that much of an extra to carry, and you would have the charger anyways to directly connect to the laptop if you weren't using the hub anyways when traveling).danwat1234 - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link
I do hope basis will supply 4000 series gpus in the external solution as well so that this laptop can still remain very relevant for many years and take advantage of the PCI Express 4.0 bandwidth in future gpus. Will Asus make any new egpus for the laptop, who knows not holding my breathkeshan - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link
look like Asus use oculink-2 to connect 3080.may it can DIY?ToTTenTranz - Thursday, January 14, 2021 - link
And why is this proprietary sGPU connection succeed where XGP, MSI Shadow, Alienware Amplifier and others failed?Might as well just wait for PCIe 4/5 based thunderbolt adapters, or even USB 4 ones.
These companies should be aware by now that proprietary connectors have little hope of getting wide adoption.
Spunjji - Thursday, January 14, 2021 - link
Those all used PCIe 4x, so the performance improvement was not great.That said, the Alienware Amplifier survived for 3 generations of notebooks and covered 5 generations of GPU - not a bad run, really.
Digital COrpus - Friday, January 15, 2021 - link
Internally the X13 split into 2, x4 connectors. Don't see much of a reason to do this unless they're dedicating the peripherals to a x4 bus. Discrete GPU I bet is internally on x8 because bifurcation topology of x8/x4/x4 is a thing. In other words, I bet that this still runs the GPU on a x4 bus. However, if its PCIe 4, not 3, that won't be a problem.Spunjji - Monday, January 18, 2021 - link
Per the article:"The unnamed connector is split into two segments, with one carrying PCIe 3.0 x8 data while the other segment is a USB-C connector for carrying power and USB data."
It's PCIe 3.0 and the GPU is run on 8x, not 4x. The peripheral parts run over USB-C.
Tams80 - Sunday, January 17, 2021 - link
Despite AnandTech not noticing the OCuLink connector, they did explain that in the article.I suggest you read it.
Spunjji - Thursday, January 14, 2021 - link
Pending costs and noise/performance tests, this could be very interesting indeed - especially the 3070 variant.Valantar - Friday, January 15, 2021 - link
This looks like a very well-engineered solution. Good on Asus for making what IMO is what eGPUs should have been like all along. The proprietary connector is a bummer, but also understandable. Not Asus' fault, ultimately.One question: does the laptop-side USB-C port in this dock port work as a normal USB-C?
Also, saying this is "comparable in size to a second laptop" is grossly misleading, unless your concept of "laptop" is one of those niche ultraportable 7" GPD devices. This is compact and thick, more like a paperback novel than a notepad in size. The volume and weight are indeed likely laptop-like, but not the shape.
Spunjji - Monday, January 18, 2021 - link
You're right on the last point, but I think the intent was to point out that it doesn't have the bulk of eGPU boxes that are merely carriers for a desktop add-in card and a server PSU.s.yu - Friday, January 15, 2021 - link
Nobody here is saying that it uses the L version of the GPUs...I just assumed that from the size but...kindesflaye - Friday, January 15, 2021 - link
What are the odds Asus will offer additional compatible laptops? Like a Flow x14 or x15 - something with similar specs but larger battery and a little more display area? A 14-15" 16:10 version would be amazing.Tams80 - Sunday, January 17, 2021 - link
The connector alongside the USB C one is an OCuLink one, which is part of the PCIe specification.So really, only the housing is proprietary.
I know it is a very rarely used connector, but come on AnandTech. You can do better than this.
onepunchman777 - Monday, January 31, 2022 - link
I don't understand the use case on this product. E.g., for most of their high-end ROG laptops already equipped with RTX3 series GPU. What's the point of buying another "laptop" grade RTX external case just to gain a few ports? I will opt for something like a Razer core x kind of product if one wants to tap on full fetch RTX power if $ is no object. Or, even easier solution is 1 laptop + 1 desktop.