Question External GPU for Dell Inspiron 27 All-in-one 7777

Nov 30, 2022
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Hi, I have recently increased the RAM of my Dell Inspiron 7777 to 32 GB, but I need a better graphics card (I currently have a Geforce 1050) for Photoshop. I was wondering if I can add a Thunderbolt port to my computer, so I can use an external GPU to boost the graphics. Any advice please? Many thanks in advance!!!
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Hi, I have recently increased the RAM of my Dell Inspiron 7777 to 32 GB, but I need a better graphics card (I currently have a Geforce 1050) for Photoshop. I was wondering if I can add a Thunderbolt port to my computer, so I can use an external GPU to boost the graphics. Any advice please? Many thanks in advance!!!
No, you can't "add" a Thunderbolt port.

All In Ones are not upgradeable.
Basically, the non upgradability of a laptop, with the non portability of a desktop.
 
Nov 30, 2022
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No, you can't "add" a Thunderbolt port.

All In Ones are not upgradeable.
Basically, the non upgradability of a laptop, with the non portability of a desktop.
Thanks for your reply. I thought you could buy a PCIe Thunderbolt port. My desktop has a PCIe/SATA port. I guess that the ports are not compatible with all motherboards?
 
Nov 30, 2022
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Your All In One is basically a laptop motherboard.
Very for those to have additional unused ports.
Couldn't I use the internal PCIe/SATA for the new graphics card, and an external hard drive for the boot? Alternatively, could I replace the Geforce GTX 1050 with a more powerful card?
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Couldn't I use the internal PCIe/SATA for the new graphics card, and an external hard drive for the boot? Alternatively, could I replace the Geforce GTX 1050 with a more powerful card?
The 1050 is almost certainly just built onto the motherboard.
Not changeable.

An external for the OS drive?
Even if you get all the trials and tribulations to get that running (non-trivial)...you're exchanging one slowness for another.
Running a Windows OS from an external is vastly slower than a regular internal drive.

You are MUCH better served by buying a whole new system that actually does what you need.
Sell this fashion piece AIO, and get a real PC or laptop.


Alternatively...
Do you really need actual Photoshop?
It is a resource heavy application.
And only really needed in a production environment. There are loads of other graphics applications that do 98% of what PS does, without all the Adobe overhead.

And if you DO really need real PS, a functional PC is just another business expense.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Thanks for your reply, I will consider to buy a real desktop for Christmas :)
Could you please suggest an alternative application that does 98% of what PS does?
I use Paintshop Pro.

Can be had reasonably cheaply (FAR less than PS).
Up until Jan this year, using PSP 2021 on a i7-4790k/RX580/32GB system from 2014.

and PSP can even use the same plugins for PS.

There is a 30 day trial you can check out.

Fully free alternatives I also use are paint.net or GIMP.