AMD used the Computex show in Taipei this week to propose XGP - eXternal Graphics Platform, a slimline box you connect your GPU-lite laptop to when you need more graphics horsepower.
Fujitsu Siemens (FSC) was on hand to demo the concept with its Amilo GraphicBooster, an AppleTV-like unit with an AMD ATI Radeon HD 3870 GPU built in and hooked up to 512GB of GDDR 3 memory. The box can drive four displays simultaneously, the company claimed.
AMD's pitch is that users will be able to connect their slim'n'light laptops to an XGP, which will supply the level of graphical grunt that they don't need when they're on the move and, more importantly, running on battery power.
XGPs are designed to be hot-pluggable, the driver knowing about and enabling the use of the discrete GPU as soon as it's connected to the host.
With that multi-monitor support, XGP will undoubtedly also be pitched at businesses who want to give their laptop-equipped workers multi-display desktops.
Of course, this is the same notion companies like DisplayLink are peddling, but they're delivering multi-screen support over USB using the host system's GPU. AMD's approach - since it's in the business of selling more graphics chips - is to add a second GPU to the system.
That said, Fujistu Siemens has its eye on the consumer market - we understand it's pitching the technology to Dixons and other big retailers - as a way to allow ordinary punters to effectively upgrade their older laptops' graphics capabilities. The technology doesn't require an external monitor - the XGP can render images on the host laptop's own screen.
Yet another video connector for your laptop
© The Register
7 comments:
I think this is gonna fail. AMD is falling behind, with their stock being as low as it is compared to Intel. Unless they get their head out of the clouds and put some better GPUs and CPUs, they will fall like the USSR did.
^ you wish
AMD does indeed need to step it up when it comes to their cpus, but their gpu chips are fine. The thing holding back the newest Radeon graphics cards are poor quality drivers, but they are (slowly) getting better.
If AMD does nosedive, then we can look forward to Intel holding out on the good stuff, and stringing us along again like they did before AMD made them up their game.
Ati has always had issues with their drivers. That's why I will never again buy one of their cards. After a year of loading different drivers to play different games I went back to Nvidia. If you only play one game or maybe two you'll be fine. But I jump around a lot. I like playing old & new games. Sometimes I have two or three games I alternate between. Ati's crap drivers kept me from doing that or made it very annoying at the very least. Not that Nvidia drivers are perfect. Just less of an obstacle.
I'd buy this thing in a heartbeat!
Do you guys know what it's like to by a $3000 laptop and only be able to play the latest games for a year or so and have the gpu be obsolete?
You could buy a cheap laptop and plugin this baby when you want to save the world! It's an awesome idea.
The idea is sweet. This will be welcomed by (case)modders and overclockers and any laptop owners.
The new port looks a bit bulky though.
Uh... AMD is NOT doing well in the GPU market. While you are satisfied with your card, the fact is they are not able to compete with Nvidia.
I am not happy with this, btw, but this is the truth. They need to develop some advanced technology or they will go belly up.
I really hope that the day will come again when AMD offers faster chips at cheaper prices... only this time with Intel suffering from an anti-trust sack and an inferior market share.
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