Update Laptop Video Card via Express Card Slot

[Czarcas7ic]

I know many of you will be thinking "why don't you just get a new desktop, that would be a cheaper option". The circumstance I am in I am only able to update what is on this specific laptop. The laptop I own is a Lenovo X230 Tablet. It currently uses integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics card to play my games, which I can barely play. I was hoping someone could let me know what exactly I need in order to use the PCI Express slot to get an external video card working. One last question as well.
What graphics card should I get because I know the express card slot bottlenecks cards up to a certain level.
Thank you so much to whoever can help me in the right direction!

 

[Czarcas7ic]

I was watching the videos here
http://www.jessebandersen.com/2010/11/vidock-4-unbox-hardware-setup-software.html
I was just wondering if there was something less expensive then the vidock? Don't know why something to simply enclose the video card is like 200 bucks and if its even necessary. It was even discontinued so I was wondering if there was another option. I would love to find a way to get this to work.

 

[Tom Tancredi]

Okay first off a PCI Express is a 'slot' inside on the motherboard on DESKTOP computers, this is a Laptop not a true Tablet (http://www.cnet.com/laptops/lenovo-thinkpad-x230/4505-3121_7-35313302-2.html) and is made for business purposes AS SOLD. It is NOT MADE for gaming purposes, if you needed a 'portable' gaming platform then you needed a laptop with a dedicated SEPERATE GPU built into it for gaming (and adding on a significant cost as well to deal with heat, lighter weight, etc.)

That said, I think your 'thinking' of using the ExpressCard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExpressCard) External Video Card as your solution that was suggest three years ago to solve similiar situations as yours before manufacturers INCLUDED the video card inside the laptops. That also is the problem, there is no support for this solution anymore and is considered a DIY Hack (http://www.harmonicinversion.com/index.php?product_id=191&page=shop.product_details&category_id=1&flypage=shop.flypage&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=6&vmcchk=1&Itemid=6 http://hackaday.com/2011/10/19/beefing-up-your-laptops-gaming-chops-with-an-external-gpu/ ).

The worst problem is, the current set of video cards out there all need higher power then comes 'out of the box' with desktops, and with the 'low power consumption model' for laptops it is impossible for them to power these cards 'out of the box'. So this gets to be even a harder solution to wire up a external power to the external card wired externally to external LCDs and ISN'T setup to be 'portable'. This leads to ALOT of risk that a electrical short can happen (which will FRY your Lenovo), something being bumped and broken, and so on.

As you suggested, your REAL solution is buying the proper device (a portable gaming laptop) to meet your demands, or adjust your demands (laptop for school /work, game console to 'game on').

 

[Czarcas7ic]

Okay first off a PCI Express is a 'slot' inside on the motherboard on DESKTOP computers, this is a Laptop not a true Tablet (http://www.cnet.com/laptops/lenovo-thinkpad-x230/4505-3121_7-35313302-2.html) and is made for business purposes AS SOLD. It is NOT MADE for gaming purposes, if you needed a 'portable' gaming platform then you needed a laptop with a dedicated SEPERATE GPU built into it for gaming (and adding on a significant cost as well to deal with heat, lighter weight, etc.)

That said, I think your 'thinking' of using the ExpressCard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExpressCard) External Video Card as your solution that was suggest three years ago to solve similiar situations as yours before manufacturers INCLUDED the video card inside the laptops. That also is the problem, there is no support for this solution anymore and is considered a DIY Hack (http://www.harmonicinversion.com/index.php?product_id=191&page=shop.product_details&category_id=1&flypage=shop.flypage&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=6&vmcchk=1&Itemid=6 http://hackaday.com/2011/10/19/beefing-up-your-laptops-gaming-chops-with-an-external-gpu/ ).

The worst problem is, the current set of video cards out there all need higher power then comes 'out of the box' with desktops, and with the 'low power consumption model' for laptops it is impossible for them to power these cards 'out of the box'. So this gets to be even a harder solution to wire up a external power to the external card wired externally to external LCDs and ISN'T setup to be 'portable'. This leads to ALOT of risk that a electrical short can happen (which will FRY your Lenovo), something being bumped and broken, and so on.

As you suggested, your REAL solution is buying the proper device (a portable gaming laptop) to meet your demands, or adjust your demands (laptop for school /work, game console to 'game on').

Thank you for your post. I just feel there has to be a way to do it. As long as I have an external video card with a separate power supply I feel it should totally be able to attach to my express card slot. I know it will be hard but I would really like to try. The reason I said it would work is because I have an Intel HD 4000 graphics card which I have seen others with this able to use a eGPU

 

[Czarcas7ic]

Couldn't I just do this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-PlvDuHRIQ
Its also a Lenovo just not my model

 

[Tom Tancredi]

Couldn't I just do this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-PlvDuHRIQ
Its also a Lenovo just not my model

Did you read my response fully? If so you should have clicked the links and I said the very same thing, but like him he is 'hacking' a DIY (do it yourself) solution, and notice how it all is just 'laying out' exposed. I said that ALL in my response. There is no 'go to Bestbuy and get this in one plug in solution', as I said, your on your own, and if you mess any of it up (there is a HIGH RISK) you can FRY your laptop. Again though your still externalizing it all, you can't 'mod' the laptop to put all this INSIDE it, if your thinking that is what he is doing.

 

[Czarcas7ic]

Couldn't I just do this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-PlvDuHRIQ
Its also a Lenovo just not my model

Did you read my response fully? If so you should have clicked the links and I said the very same thing, but like him he is 'hacking' a DIY (do it yourself) solution, and notice how it all is just 'laying out' exposed. I said that ALL in my response. There is no 'go to Bestbuy and get this in one plug in solution', as I said, your on your own, and if you mess any of it up (there is a HIGH RISK) you can FRY your laptop. Again though your still externalizing it all, you can't 'mod' the laptop to put all this INSIDE it, if your thinking that is what he is doing.

I read your response, I apologize if it sounded like I ignored your post. Thank you for your help