External GPU connected to a Gaming Laptop? Is it possible?

[PetarV]

Hi guys, I've never been this excited to ask a question on tomshardware !
I bought a new laptop recently and it has served me great so far.But the problem is that I can't really run some modern games with decend fps and good graphics.And since games with become more and more demanding my problem will grow bigger and bigger.OC a laptop isn't safe neither is it a permanent solution.So I was watching some yt clips one day when a video with the title Gaming on a Laptop using an External GPU popped up in my recommended tab.I clicked on it with excitement.I watched it then googled a bit and I though that I can actually upgrade my laptop!Crazy, right?!
I didn't find that much info so I was wondering if some of you guys could help me.Is it complicated to do and is it dangerous in any way?Or is it possible to not work?And can I make both my laptop videocard and the external GPU run at the same time?I would appreciate any help!

P.S. If it matters I have a i7 quad core 2.6 ghz max 3.5, 960m, 1x8 gb RAM and 1tb hdd.

 

[k1114]

In most cases, it's not worthwhile to use an egpu and selling the laptop and getting a new one (or buying a desktop which is an even better value) gets better performance for the same price plus keeps it's mobility. We need to know your laptop model to know what ports it has available for an egpu and most importantly, if you would need to take apart to whole laptop just to get to it. You can't use both as mobile gpus don't have driver capabilities to be used an dedicated physx gpus.

 

[JeffDaemon]

Before the age of thunderbolt 3, there was a way to use the mPCI express port available in many laptops to connect an external PCIexpress card slot and run a video card. BUT, this port runs at 1x and is mainly a hack for those with no GPU or really low powered GPUs to utilise an external graphics card like a 750gtx.

You could not power anything faster then the 960m you currently have in your laptop.

 

[PetarV]

My laptop is Asus ROG GL551JW.So I can't use both video cards but thats not a problem.But taking the laptop apart is.I'm probably not going to do that soon because I don't really need more than my 960m right now but after a year or two I think I'm going to upgrade.So could I for example use a RX 480 or something with similar performance.
Edit: Actually doing what this dude did in his video isn't such a problem: https/www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP_8EYQ-2RA

 

[JeffDaemon]

Like I told you, it is only a 1x pci slot. People were using 750gtx's and not much more... so a 480 would be pointless. You would not be able to run a video card that is more powerful then your 960m.

 

[k1114]

Lots of people put more powerful cards than it and got more performance. It does get notably less performance (I've seen it cut in half on some games) than if it had the full x16 but you're not limited to lower end cards.

Your laptop has an easy access panel on the bottom so is easy enough to get to the mpcie like on the vid.

 

[PetarV]

Thanks a lot!
I don't want or need 100% performance, I knew that before I asked here and its not a big problem.Even 50% of RX 480 is more than my GPU.I just wanted to know if it will work or not.In a few years I'm going to try it out.And again, thanks!