Pictured: The Razer Core graphics enclosure with an AMD Radeon Nano | Photo via Robert Hallock on... [+]
Is AMD working on an external graphics card solution for amplifying your gaming notebook's capabilities? If the tease AMD's Robert Hallock just dropped on Facebook is any indication, the answer is a confident yes.
External GPU docks like Alienware's Graphics Amplifier and MSI's Gaming Dock solve a very real problem for many gamers. Laptops are great for gaming on the go, but they simply can't provide the kind of raw graphics processing power a dedicated desktop graphics card can. That means at home, you're more likely to invest in or build a desktop PC.
Hallock correctly points out that ultrathin notebooks are increasingly more popular compared to 10-pounders like MSI's GT80 or other dual-GPU notebooks, which means even less power to utilize at home. "I also bet there's a bunch of gamers out there who, as they get into their 30s and 40s, wouldn't mind condensing their entire computing life down into one device that does it all," Hallock says. "I ALSO bet that some people wouldn't mind giving up an mITX LAN rig if their notebook had the potential to serve that role with gusto."
I get the potential appeal. I'm one of those guys who wouldn't mind simplifying.
Existing external GPUs are awesome, but there's a snag. All the existing ones have some manner of proprietary connection, locking it down to that company's hardware ecosystem. Hallock's
That doesn't necessarily mean AMD is designing their own hardware. The fact that Hallock shared an image of the Razer Core enclosure lends weight to that argument. But clearly they're working on some kind of solution that presents consumers with a more elegant external GPU option, potentially with widespread appeal.
Believe it or not, AMD's no stranger to this type of peripheral. Way back in 2008 they launched the ATI External Graphics Platform. Here's to hoping whatever they're planning catches on in 2016.
I reached out to AMD for an official comment but they're staying silent for now. That said, GDC is right around the corner.
