External video cards?

[ConstipatedVigilante]

I'm going to be getting a laptop in the next few months, and I'll probably just use that for the rest of college. Right now I have a desktop, but the only thing really worth salvaging is the 8800GT. Is there some way to hook up the 8800GT externally, or just get an external GPU that I can hook up to the laptop so I can play some games? I'm a student, so buying another computer just for gaming isn't really an option, and I know how fast tech (especially laptop tech) becomes obsolete.

 

[yh125d]

Do what I did and spend a little more on the laptop for one with decent discrete graphics. You can get laptops with a 2-2.4gHz C2d, 4gb ram, and 8600GT of 9600GT graphics in the 1000-1400 range

 

[vj8usa]

I remember ASUS trying to bring something like this to market (XG Station), but it never caught on. Video needs so much bandwidth that an external video card isn't really feasible. I'd advise just using a dirt cheap desktop with that 8800GT for gaming, and the laptop for portability, or getting a gaming laptop if you can afford one (my friend just got a 15" laptop with a 9800M GT, P8400, etc. for $1k; if you don't mind having to lug around a 17" laptop, I've been seeing refurbed Gateways with 9800M GTSs in the $700-800 range, which is a great price).