The market for external graphics or eGPU does not just take off . Despite its potential, few have ended up betting on one of these devices that allow increasing the graphic performance of the equipment. Perhaps it is because they remain somewhat unknown or, simply, that their price does not just convince.
eGPU and the market that does not take off
The idea of using external graphics arises a few years ago , when new connection standards that allow greater bandwidth appear, we refer to Thunderbolt 2 and especially Thunderbolt 3. Until then, anything that needed fast and efficient communication should go connected to the motherboard directly, to the PCI connections. Because USB, Firewire and similar external connections gave no more of themselves.
With the arrival of Thunderbolt 3 all this change and after the first eGPU proposals began to arrive new more complete models such as Blackmagic , Asus , HP or Razer that have always been very well focused on that gaming sector that so well control .
And the truth is that the proposal was and still is great. Because being able to increase the graphic power of your equipment without having to make internal changes in its components is interesting. Even more so if it is portable or All-in-one equipment where, for ease or size of its components, being welded, etc., it is not comfortable or directly impossible.
Of course, beyond the connection there was also another problem: the software . Windows was the system that always gave the best support, and macOS had to wait for the arrival of recent versions to be able to say that it is optimally compatible. Even so, it is insufficient because applications must also be able to squeeze out that extra power and it is not. The developers do not seem to want or need to do it, and even Blackmagic itself does it completely with its DaVinci Resolve application.
The price makes access to eGPUs difficult
We are in 2020 and as we said, the eGPU market does not just take off. eGPU.io, one of the websites specializing in topics of external graphics with more activity, is one of those pages that I check from time to time to see how everything progresses. And the problem still seems to me that in the end it is always the same: the price.
Reviewing the list of current eGPUs, valuing prices and how it affects the direct performance of the equipment that makes use of them in the different operating systems, applications, etc., I am clear. Investing in an eGPU remains somewhat unprofitable for the vast majority.
Beyond very specific uses, and still it should be considered, it is not worth buying an eGPU. Because without going to the highest range models, an external graphic (only the box) usually costs between 250 and 350 euros. If you add the graph, either Nvidia or AMD, you will have to add between 200 or 300 euros more minimum. And even if you go to more powerful graphics models, the performance you get from them through these boxes is never the same as if you connected them internally.
Therefore, a high investment does not compensate because you do not squeeze the hardware. And a more moderate investment either. So it is better, if what you want is to play, mount a PC with which you would invest in more graphic eGPU.
So, although I want to get an element that compensates for that extra investment for price and performance, if today you had planned to buy an external graphic it is better to buy or mount your own PC. As with folding phones, I have no doubt that in a few years they will be a very popular solution, but right now: eGPU yes, but no.