Now many are actively using laptops. This decision is understandable. These devices are compact and surprisingly powerful. In their performance, they come close to full-fledged computers. And only one of their components can not be compared in performance with the "full" version - a video card. Good gaming laptops are expensive. Video cards are much cheaper. Few people know, but you can connect a video card to a laptop (external) using improvised methods. However, some conditions must be met for this. You will learn about them a little later. As well as how to connect a video card to a laptop.
Which laptop is needed for this?
Connecting a video card to a laptop can only be feasible if the laptop itself does not have a discrete graphics adapter. That is, devices with hybrid graphics (like NVidia Optimus) are categorically not suitable. It is also highly desirable that the laptop had interfaces like Thunderbolt, PCI Express, USB 3.0, FireWire or mini PCI-E. The first is found exclusively in devices from Apple, the second is most often found in full-fledged computers, the third and fourth have a fairly low data transfer rate. But the fifth is quite suitable. Usually a wireless adapter is connected to this connector. But under certain conditions, you can connect the video card to a laptop.
It is also worth considering the fact that old laptops with a low-power processor and weak RAM are not suitable for the implementation of such plans. They simply can not cope with the amount of work. Sometimes you may also need an external monitor, because not all laptops will be able to adequately scale the image on the built-in display. It is also worth noting that the laptop must be equipped with a mobile processor from Intel. Here it is not a matter of preference, but that it is these “stones” that have the most suitable performance. Mobile solutions from AMD can not boast of the right power. Connecting a video card to a laptop in this case does not pay off.
Which graphics card to choose?
Now let's move on to choosing a video card. Not everyone is suitable here. For example, AMD products should be immediately excluded. These devices only work well when connected using Thunderbolt. But not everyone has a MacBook available. Moreover, the Mac OC is not particularly suitable for games. This means that there will be no positive result when using an external video card. To implement this idea, it is better to use products from NVidia. And even that is not all. For example, there is no reason to take terribly expensive top cards for these purposes. In any case, they will not be able to prove themselves in tandem with a laptop.
The video adapters of the GTX series (from 560 to 760) are best suited for this task. They have decent power and are easy to operate. In general, products of a green brand are best suited for connecting a video card to a laptop. And this is an indisputable fact.
Which connection method to choose?
And here it’s worth considering. If you decide to connect the video card to the laptop via USB, then be prepared for the fact that you will not see a good performance gain. The fact is that the specified interface does not have sufficient bandwidth. The Thunderbolt option is already better. But not every laptop is equipped with this interface. The best option looks with a mini PCI-E slot. He has the right bandwidth. But you will have to sacrifice a wireless transmitter. Or purchase USB-Wi-Fi “whistle”.
In any case, this is how it will be possible to achieve almost full disclosure of the potential of an external video card. Now let's move on to the connection process itself. It is quite complicated. Beginners are not recommended to perform these actions on their own. Too high a risk of serious error.
What else do you need to make a connection?
First, you will need a standard format power supply, which is usually installed in computer cases. The fact is that an external video card must be powered by something. She will not be able to take energy from a laptop. The best solution is a standard computer power supply. But here you need to correctly calculate the required power. In general, you can purchase a more powerful unit. A sort of "hurt for the future." Secondly, you need a mini-PCI-E adapter - a slot for connecting a video card. Or, if using the USB option, the same for the USB 3.0 interface. Thirdly, in some cases, you need a special case, which simultaneously serves as a protection for the video card and has the necessary set of interfaces for connection. However, such a pleasure is quite expensive.
It should be noted that if you connect the video card to the laptop via USB 3.0, then it still will not be able to power from the laptop (there will not be enough current and power). So the presence of a power supply is necessary in any case.
USB connection
The USB port is not very suitable for this, but this option is the simplest. All you need is the right adapter and power supply. So, how to connect a video card to a laptop via USB? Very simple. It is necessary to connect the power supply to the power connector on the video card, connect the adapter, and "plug" an external monitor into the port on the video card. It is important to verify that the connection is stable everywhere. If necessary, push the connectors tight. Now you can turn on the laptop.
It is worth noting that some laptops can detect an external video card and install drivers on it independently. But most often you have to do everything manually. Therefore, it is worth pre-stocking up-to-date drivers for the graphics adapter. After installation, it is highly recommended that you restart your computer. If the image after the reboot behaves unstably, then most likely the fault is the adapter for connecting the video card to the laptop. It is worth replacing it. And then everything will be fine.
Connect using mini-PCI-E
The most preferred option among all of the above. However, in this case, a special adapter is required. One end must be placed in the laptop case, and the second should be brought out and connected to the video card. The disadvantage of this option to connect the video card to the laptop is that you have to open the case of the latter. And therefore, for some users this method is not suitable. Nevertheless, it is he who allows to achieve the highest performance. What needs to be done to make a connection?
First of all, we connect the power supply to the corresponding connector of the video card. Then we connect the monitor to the VGA or DVI port on the video card (which one is more suitable). Then you need to plug one end of the cable into mini-PCI-E on the laptop motherboard, and the second to the desired port on the video card. Now you need to turn on the laptop. After the first start, you will need to install the necessary drivers. Moreover, this will have to be done manually, since the operating system will not be able to determine the device connected to the Wi-Fi transmitter slot. Then you need to restart the laptop. And only after that you can enjoy incredible performance.
Thunderbolt Connection
You can only connect an external video card to a laptop through Thunderbolt if the laptop was made by Apple. They have this interface in the kit. There are two connection options: using an adapter or a special case. The variant with the adapter is much cheaper, but not as reliable as the variant with the case. In this case, the user builds on their financial capabilities. It should be noted right away that the method with connecting via mini-PCI-E is not suitable here. Macbooks are extremely sensitive to opening and picking in the insides. In the order of compromise, we choose the option with an adapter. You can purchase it on Ebay or AliExpress.
Features of connection on MacBooks
What needs to be done before connecting? Install Windows on a MacBook. Not only is the Mac OC not designed for games, but this operating system also reacts extremely badly to such incomprehensible new equipment. After installing Windows and the necessary software, you can start connecting the video card to your laptop through Thunderbolt. We connect the adapter (on both sides), turn on the power on the video card using the unit, connect the external monitor to the video card. We start the macbook. We install drivers, reboot and use.
Connect using ExpressCard
Connecting a video card to a laptop via ExpressCard can only be done on laptops that have an appropriate connector and interface. But the trouble is that only older laptop models were equipped with this connector. And it makes no sense to connect an external video card to them, since a low-power mobile processor will not be able to open the video card. And the amount of RAM may not be enough. But you can try. All you need for this is to purchase the appropriate adapter. The power supply and the necessary video card should already be with us.
So, we insert one end of the adapter into the ExpressCard connector on the laptop, and the second we attach to the video card. We connect an external monitor and power to the graphics adapter. After that, turn on the computer. It is worth noting that you will have to configure everything manually, since the OS on such laptops will not be able to recognize the new device. After installing the necessary software, reboot the device and use it. Unless, of course, a weak laptop pulls a powerful graphics card.
Connection using a riser
Connecting a video card to a laptop via an extension cable can be done using various interfaces. The fact is that the riser itself is a device that connects to mini-PCI-E with a special micro-USB port. Also included is a second board with a full-fledged USB port for connecting to a computer and a PCI slot on the board for connecting a video card. This option allows you to connect an external video card to a laptop with almost no problems. However, the data transfer rate with this connection option raises serious doubts. Nevertheless, connecting a graphics adapter to a laptop using a riser is a couple of nonsense. It is enough to connect everything together, connect the power to the video card and an external monitor.
Now you can turn on the laptop and install the necessary software for the normal operation of the entire system. It should be noted right away that you can’t wait for a special performance gain when using this connection method. The throughput of such a “stray” raises serious doubts. Nevertheless, many use this design and even praise it. Be that as it may, this is one of the simplest options for connecting an external graphics card to a laptop. Its use can help even those with a laptop with hybrid graphics. It is only necessary to disable the "switchable" graphics in the BIOS settings and make the laptop work exclusively on the built-in adapter.
Conclusion
So, we examined the question of how to connect an external video card to a laptop (including via USB). There are several ways to do this. But the most preferred option is to use a mini-PCI-E connector on the laptop motherboard and the corresponding adapter.