Hybrid tablet PC with discrete GPU on the dock

[rituraj]

While there are several Windows 8 devices with detachable keyboard dock, how long one may have to wait till discrete GPU is possible in the keyboard dock ?

It is difficult to achieve as we are talking about pci-e level connectivity which might get detached accidentally in such a device, but any news on such developments? And I think thunderbolt is still underused compared to its capability.

Any thoughts??

[dagamer34]

In talking with some of the editors of AnandTech, apparently the limiting factor here is how DirectX applications would react if you were to disconnect the external GPU from the device and Microsoft would need to be the one to architect a better system reaction than a blue screen of death. There is one MSI demo showing this working, but it was never released.

So maybe 1-2 years? Heck, we'd need Thunderbolt on more non-Mac computers first.

[rituraj]

So the "fault" is in windows! I hope it gets fixed soon or intel gets better iGPU or AMD gets better power management. Thanks for the info. Now I can die in peace

[MrX8503]

You may be waiting awhile. External GPU ideas have been around forever, but nothing worthwhile has come from it.

[Midwayman]

Why not make it onboard with optimus, power gate it in tablet mode and auto activate when plugged in. Not like we don't have dual gpu solutions already. No need for a weird bus.

[Red Storm]

I've been waiting and waiting for a plug in GPU. It's a perfect idea for mobile devices.