Technoglitch
Core Member
AMD is hoping to capitalize on the external graphics card phenomenon with its latest Radeon driver update.
Radeon Software 16.3 includes a new technology called AMD XConnect that allows for a seamless plug-and-play connection between laptops and external GPUs. If you have a laptop with Thunderbolt 3 input, AMD’s driver could allow you to connect an external GPU and enjoy the added gaming power without having to reboot the machine.
For now, the only external GPUs available are tied to specific laptop brands, such as the Alienware Amplifier and MSI Shadow. But a couple months ago, Razer announced a manufacturer-agnostic enclosure called Core, which can stash any graphics card up to 375W TDP, and connects to any Thunderbolt 3-equipped laptop. AMD says it worked closely with both Razer and Thunderbolt to make XConnect work.
Beyond just plug-and-play convenience, AMD’s software also includes some management tools for gaming with an external GPU. From the system tray, users can quickly view any applications that are using the added graphics, close those applications, and safely disconnect the card. The laptop also remains running if users unplug the Thunderbolt cable without disconnecting the software first, though the software itself may crash when you suddenly yank out the graphics card.
AMD XConnect aims to make external graphics cards for laptops much more reliable | PCWorld
Radeon Software 16.3 includes a new technology called AMD XConnect that allows for a seamless plug-and-play connection between laptops and external GPUs. If you have a laptop with Thunderbolt 3 input, AMD’s driver could allow you to connect an external GPU and enjoy the added gaming power without having to reboot the machine.
For now, the only external GPUs available are tied to specific laptop brands, such as the Alienware Amplifier and MSI Shadow. But a couple months ago, Razer announced a manufacturer-agnostic enclosure called Core, which can stash any graphics card up to 375W TDP, and connects to any Thunderbolt 3-equipped laptop. AMD says it worked closely with both Razer and Thunderbolt to make XConnect work.
Beyond just plug-and-play convenience, AMD’s software also includes some management tools for gaming with an external GPU. From the system tray, users can quickly view any applications that are using the added graphics, close those applications, and safely disconnect the card. The laptop also remains running if users unplug the Thunderbolt cable without disconnecting the software first, though the software itself may crash when you suddenly yank out the graphics card.
AMD XConnect aims to make external graphics cards for laptops much more reliable | PCWorld
