An eGPU dock that's actually SFF (name TBD)

[SeñorDonut]

Wouldn't a PCIe to MXM board be relatively easy to design? Of course that probably doesn't matter much given how uncommon MXM GPUs are

 

[jtd871]

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/gigabyte-aorus-gtx-1070-external-graphics-box,33876.html

Commercial version at PAX East

 

[Runamok81]

Interesting to see Gigabyte getting into the game.

 

[Phuncz]

Interesting although hard to gauge the size. It certainly looks smaller than most other eGPU enclosures if the mouse in the background and the Kensington lock is a reference.

 

[Runamok81]

Where are the calipers when you need them?

 

[RobonHood]

So I've been drooling over E.Gpu docks for the last few weeks because sexy and I ran across the Mantis Venus. More Importantly I ran across their daughter board for the enclosure the will be releasing https://egpu.io/forums/thunderbolt-enclosures/mantis-venus/. It's pretty killer and solves a lot of the electrical design problems if we could design the chassis to meet SFF expectations while also using a ready made board.

 

[HansWursT619]

USB and Ethernet are definitely a huge plus in my opinion.

 

[iFreilicht]

Very cool find! I really like the idea of having an eGPU dock as the ultimate docking station. It just makes so much sense.

 

[Runamok81]

Looks like eGPU.io just did a review of the Mantiz. Here is a look at the two TB3 boards they use.

What I would give just to be able to purchase these two boards and wrap them in a Mini PCIe chassis.

 

[Sebastien Schellaert]

Okay, here's what I came up with for the vents:

Look good?

Hello

What is going to happen with the latest design of the egpu enclosure made by Aibohphobia?
I am asking because I will buy pretty soon an egpu enclosure or thinking to build my own based on inXtron Developer kit.

Thank you !!!

 

[jeshikat]

I need accurate measurements of the Thunderbolt port on the Akitio Node since that's what will need to be used. I've been too busy to do anything else with this project unfortunately.

 

[XeaLouS]

I prefer this cutout:
http://i.imgur.com/OC7CnKg.png

 

[Runamok81]

Unfortunately Aibohphobia doesn't have time to complete this project. However, for those that are still interested in a Mini eGPU the conversation continues over on eGPU.io

https://egpu.io/forums/thunderbolt-...hunder3-gpu-size-to-close-the-akitio/paged/1/

People continue to modify the Akitio Thunder 3. Some folks have even fit 1070 and 1080 Minis!

 

[Runamok81]

Just spotted. Akitio Node Lite. On the right.

Aktio Node Lite product page below. Still 25W power limit. Hmmm...

https://www.akitio.com/expansion/node-lite

 

[Pendra]

Quick question. Why does it have to be a box? Why can't just make it an actual docking unit like this:

That thing seems to have the space to house a full blown GPU inside.

 

[benr]

Just spotted. Akitio Node Lite. On the right.
…
Still 25W power limit. Hmmm...

Despite the name change, it's my understanding that the Node Lite is simply a Thunder3 with TI83 instead of TI82.

 

[jeshikat]

Quick question. Why does it have to be a box? Why can't just make it an actual docking unit like this:

Most laptops don't have docking ports though.

 

[Pendra]

Most laptops don't have docking ports though.

Yeah, mostly business laptops have those ports. It was more of a concept. Imagine something like this
http://www.coolermaster.com/peripheral/peripheral-others/sf19v2usb3/
With the extended back section of the other docking unit for the GPU. The GPU is lying flat on its back. Power comes from an external brick.

 

[VegetableStu]

Think there was a working concept from CES a few years back (when TB3 was new) showing off a GPU brick (with a few extra connectivity ports a-la those regular thunderbolt docks). Forgot the exact company and the exact GPU (think it was a GTX 970 or something). Should be a reason why this hasn't caught on...

 

[Pendra]

OK, this is what I have in mind. It is a laptop docker that requires no special docking features from the laptop. You position the USB/Power/eGPU cables to the actual position on the laptop then lock them in place. I added a USB to the back and a USB and a power connector to the right side to see what I mean. After this, you can slide the laptop in from the front, slide the sides from left and right and you are done. Everything is locked and loaded. Because of the sliding sides, the width is not an issue. You slide it is as far as you need to.
It also has CPU cooling on the bottom. Plus you can still open the laptop, but actually, why would you do that? You have the big LCD hooked up to the eGPU, that is the whole point .

The eGPU compartment is 50x18x7cm. A normal GPU and an SFX PSU were modeled on the animation. Didn't add cabling, I leave it to your imagination.