Actually its simple provided your notebook support it. Looks messy due to cabling and TS use internal PCI-E connector instead the one provided by the notebook via PCI-E port.

Anyway, its great to see some local scene involve with egpu/vidock setup. Provided with decent laptop and external gpu, can easily reach 15k+ 3dmark06.
The difference with egpu and vidock is, vidock provide internal case including the wiring / jumper board in order for the card to operate. Plus, the setup automatically be remembered for the gpu used, plug and play. (not sure on egpu) (credits to ComputerCowboy from notebookreview)


Attach some setup from egpu (GTX470) + VAIO Z (Intel HD + GT330M) by notebookreview user, yuuma.



I can say its neat, and its like PMD approach which use by Sony for the flagship model, the new Z.
I love seeing this kind of technology. Its currently testing on Thunderbolt port, instead of already support port PCI-E.

This post has been edited by Miyabi: Sep 3 2011, 08:55 PM

The new Sony VAIO Z have the PMD aka Portable Media Dock where user can just dock it thru Lightpeak port on VAIO Z to use the AMD Radeon GPU on external screen or/and internal screen (Eyefinity). While on the go, the VAIO Z will using the Intel HD 3000 igp.

While the basic idea of eGPU /ViDock pretty much the same, the difference is the connectivity via PCI-E and customizeable external GPU. Tho, some issue user might face is unable to project back to laptop built in screen, resulting of the need of external display. And other thing, fps caps to 30 when using the built screen (Laptop -> PCI-E port -> eGPU -> PCI-E port -> Laptop internal display).

Not sure on voltage on Thunderbolt , but the thing can carry up to 20Gbps bandwidth.

This post has been edited by Miyabi: Sep 5 2011, 11:19 AM

The eGPU / Vidock is connected via PCI-E port. It wont use any USB port. From the setup screenshot, you can see those bulky power supply for powering up the external gpu.
While Lightpeak will make use of USB 3.0.