Question Need a guide on how to connect external (desktop) GPU to a laptop.

[TYPICALHUMAN]

Is it doable to do such things with most (any) laptops? I need to know if there's a verified general rule to transform an office laptop into gaming laptop. Have anybody got any experience with that?

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/g1kc4BAxpiI

 

[USAFRet]

This is called an eGPU.

There are many 'guides' for this.

But generally, it is a way to turn a poorly performing laptop into a poorly performing desktop.

And it can't be done with "any" laptop.
It needs a certain level of ports and connections.
And of course, a reasonably good CPU to work with the better GPU.

An "office laptop"?
Just stop right there. That is far worse than trying to turn an "office desktop? into a gaming system.

Just....don't.

 

[TYPICALHUMAN]

I won't then. I have an old used elitebook 2570p with SATA SSD and 2x4 GB RAM. I've read that the cpu is "replacable". Would it be worth to go from i5-3360m for an supported i7 to increase FPS in old games?

 

[USAFRet]

I won't then. I have an old used elitebook 2570p with SATA SSD and 2x4 GB RAM. I've read that the cpu is "replacable". Would it be worth to go from i5-3360m for an supported i7 to increase FPS in old games?

It MAY be replaceable.

That CPU is either PinGridArray (replaceable) or BallGridArray (not replaceable)

"FCBGA1023,FCPGA988"

Intel® Core™ i5-3360M Processor (3M Cache, up to 3.50 GHz) - Product Specifications | Intel

Intel® Core™ i5-3360M Processor (3M Cache, up to 3.50 GHz) quick reference with specifications, features, and technologies.

www.intel.com

In addition, the motherboard BIOS needs to support some different CPU. As well as the overall cooling situation.
This is not guaranteed.


Search for other people who have tried this exact same swap.

 

[TYPICALHUMAN]

It MAY be replaceable.

That CPU is either PinGridArray (replaceable) or BallGridArray (not replaceable)

"FCBGA1023,FCPGA988"

Intel® Core™ i5-3360M Processor (3M Cache, up to 3.50 GHz) - Product Specifications | Intel

Intel® Core™ i5-3360M Processor (3M Cache, up to 3.50 GHz) quick reference with specifications, features, and technologies.

www.intel.com

In addition, the motherboard BIOS needs to support some different CPU. As well as the overall cooling situation.
This is not guaranteed.


Search for other people who have tried this exact same swap.

If someone managed to replace the CPU on this laptop model and it has worked, does it mean it will work for me too (assuming said person hasn't installed custom BIOS) If have the latest bios installed?

 

[USAFRet]

If someone managed to replace the CPU on this laptop model and it has worked, does it mean it will work for me too (assuming said person hasn't installed custom BIOS) If have the latest bios installed?

No.

To start, you need to take it apart, and verify if the CPU is socketed or soldered.

 

[TYPICALHUMAN]

No.

To start, you need to take it apart, and verify if the CPU is socketed or soldered.

It's not soldered. I remember I removed it once.

 

[USAFRet]

It's not soldered. I remember I removed it once.

Well, thats step 1.

 

[DSzymborski]

Gotta be honest; I don't really see the merit here of trying to upgrade this. If you were using this laptop mainly for productivity tasks, that would be one thing, but for gaming it'll be your non-upgradeable part that's holding you back, not your possibly upgradeable one. So for gaming, it's not really worth the expensive and risk, and there is risk with any laptop upgrade. And while you can use an external GPU, it's janky unless you're using a Thunderbolt enclosure. Even then it's a bit on the janky side.

Laptops are basically disposable PCs. You use them until they no longer meet your needs. If you want a PC that upgrades over time, you want a desktop, not a laptop. Most people never even upgrade their desktops and there's just only a very tiny market out there for upgradeable laptops (else Framework would be a huge company rather than a small one).