ASUS Unveils External Graphics Card

[**TOLLI**]

Please explain how that would be physically possible since the interface it uses to connect to the laptop uses a PCIe x1 connector

hey, its just a rumour, i did say that. I know that cardbus interface is only PCIe x1 but there are always ways around things, for example turbocache technology, bad example i know but good on paper!

[DanceswithUnix]

If the connector is PCIe, then in theory it can access any memory and should be able to bus master the pixels straight into the memory of the original laptop graphics chip, hence using it to shift pixels onto the laptop display.

That would hammer the x1 interface in 3D, but might make for a better dual screen support in 2D?

[jimbouk]

Think of the other possibilities as well! Other uses of PCI-E are just coming into mainstream now, TV cards, sound cards, etc.

My dad's first work laptop had an external box with 2x ISA slots, we had a sound card in there as there was no sound on the machine itself. Theme Park was sooooo much better with the sound effects and music. Hassle to get working in DOS mind...

Docking stations have always been either proprietry or more recently USB and slightly crummy (not to mention expensive). Fingers crossed it's pin compatable with PCI-E for cost and that they make the most of the possibilities. The screen with build in GFX sounds like a great idea Lucio!