HP and Compaq Notebook Forums

Trying to get some more life out of my rock solid ZD8000, well solid as long as you blow the dust out with 120psi every month...

Anyways, I'm looking for an external video solution for gaming - I've come across a POSSIBLE few solutions.

ATI XGP
-http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/ati-xgp/Pages/ati-xgp.aspx
Very interesting, but I'm unclear on how it connects to the laptop and if my ZD8000 supports said connection.

ViDock Pro/2
-http://optimitza.cat/news/2009/07/01/vidock-2-are-external-graphics-cards-finally-here/
Another interesting solution, but again.. need to confirm it can connect.


ExpressCard to PCI Express Adapter
This one is to hard to cover with just a link, there's several solutions out there from pricey to cheap.

For example;
-http://sewelldirect.com/ExpressCard-to-PCI-Express-Adapter-Full-Length.asp

There should be some cheaper alternatives around, but again just wanted to get a post up and started.
(edit: maybe -http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5324240)

Please let me know your thoughts on the above, as I understand it our laptops were issued with the ExpressCard/54 v1.0.

I'm also interesting ( and have not looked yet ) as to a solution that utilizes the docking port.

Cheers,

-Tad

Real cheap solution..
http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4H.html

Reading more about it here;
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=397667

Looks like the best solution is to get the PE4H- EC2C and your graphics card of choice.

http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4H.html

The EC2C goes into our express slot , mini-hdi cable connects to the PE4H, which is a PCI-E adapter that you can install your desired graphics card in. Some/most cards will need external power - just find out how many watts it needs - there are two built in power connections on the PE4H that you can send power to, either with a desktop power supply, or in my case a laptop power supply, simply find one that has the some connection as listed in the PE4H specs, along with matching power requirements for your chosen card - of course.

If your handy you can build your own case around this for improved mobility - I saw someone use an old Xbox 360 case and it's power supply.

At any rate, the two technical down sides to this is you need to use an external monitor and there is some performance loss from using expansion slot instead of a traditional PCI-E slot, but it's what we have to work with and performance is still going to be 10x what the laptop is capable of currently.

For more info see;

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=418851

Good luck, hope someone finds this useful.

-Tad

Very interesting. I'd like to try their ExpressCard adapter with my dv4z. I wonder how well it'd drive my 1920x1200 external display? I'd be concerned about the bandwidth constraints of PCIe x1.