Laplet(2-in-1) with de-attachable keyboard that has a built-in GPU. Does such a thing even exist?

[Pendrokar]

Hey,

I've tried searching for keywords related to this, but nothing seems to come up. The idea is that it is unlikely someone will perform some heavy duty stuff on a tablet without a mouse and keyboard. So why not also have a GPU inside the keyboard? Has someone done it?

It seems that most 2-in-1 laptops are simply ok with having an APU. Having to reboot would not be a big deal.

I know only about Alienware's external video card, which is simply a box that contains a power supply and a video card. Cumbersome.
http/www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/alienware-graphics-amplifier?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&sku=452-BBRG&redirect=1%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2%80%B9

 

[Someone Somewhere]

GPUs generally cannot be hot-plugged. It would crash the moment you disconnected the keyboard. I think Alienware's setup still requires a reboot.

You'd also run into issues with lack of CPU power - the 7 or 15W CPUs in those types of devices is going to be as much of an issue as the GPU.

 

[Pendrokar]

GPUs generally cannot be hot-plugged. It would crash the moment you disconnected the keyboard. I think Alienware's setup still requires a reboot.

A reboot is fine, as an Android OS would not fit heavy duty work anyway. But I can see how even a Windows RT OS would require a reboot.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

The GPU driver is quite heavily hooked into the OS. If you want to try pulling a GPU from a running PC, feel free to. Don't complain to me if you break something.

 

[USAFRet]

Such a device does not exist because there is no market for it.

You're trying to turn a laptop into a hi perf graphics machine, AND a tablet. Resulting in a heavy, hot, expensive tool that does nothing very well.
I certainly would not buy such a thing. I'd much rather get a good laptop, and a tablet. Or a 2 in 1, for those tasks where I wanted such a device.

But also trying to shoehorn big graphics into that removes a lot of the portability. Short battery life and too heavy.

 

[velo3100]

I don't think those exists as the gpu would need a lot of power to keep it working which would produce a lot of waste heat.

 

[vithrell]

Hey,

I've tried searching for keywords related to this, but nothing seems to come up. The idea is that it is unlikely someone will perform some heavy duty stuff on a tablet without a mouse and keyboard. So why not also have a GPU inside the keyboard? Has someone done it?

It seems that most 2-in-1 laptops are simply ok with having an APU. Having to reboot would not be a big deal.

I know only about Alienware's external video card, which is simply a box that contains a power supply and a video card. Cumbersome.
http/www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/alienware-graphics-amplifier?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&sku=452-BBRG&redirect=1%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2%80%B9

Some time ago I was curious about that kind of device as well. Closest thing i can find is AMD Turbo Dock technology, which takes similar route to Asus with their ROG GX700 - extending cooling capacity of device by docking it to some kind of additional cooling solution. Unfortunately, due to huge technology gap, AMD Temash ULP APUs were not efficient enough to compete with Intel's Bay Trail Atom SoCs in slim, light, fanless tablets. But considering a fact that AMD supports some kind of hybrid graphics technology with full control over drivers Temash successor paired with low power mobile Radeon in keyboard could support hot swapping better than BayTrail + Nvidia GeForce combo with optimus technology.

 

[vithrell]

Such a device does not exist because there is no market for it.

You're trying to turn a laptop into a hi perf graphics machine, AND a tablet. Resulting in a heavy, hot, expensive tool that does nothing very well.
I certainly would not buy such a thing. I'd much rather get a good laptop, and a tablet. Or a 2 in 1, for those tasks where I wanted such a device.

But also trying to shoehorn big graphics into that removes a lot of the portability. Short battery life and too heavy.

Well, Microsoft begs to differ. 😉
http/www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/10/microsoft-surface-books-secret-nvidia-gpu-what-is-it/

 

[Someone Somewhere]

I don't think there's anything in there that contradicts what we've been saying. It's described as being useful for 'light PC gaming', not high-performance.

Nothing about being hot-swappable.

 

[USAFRet]

Such a device does not exist because there is no market for it.

You're trying to turn a laptop into a hi perf graphics machine, AND a tablet. Resulting in a heavy, hot, expensive tool that does nothing very well.
I certainly would not buy such a thing. I'd much rather get a good laptop, and a tablet. Or a 2 in 1, for those tasks where I wanted such a device.

But also trying to shoehorn big graphics into that removes a lot of the portability. Short battery life and too heavy.

Well, Microsoft begs to differ. 😉
http/www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/10/microsoft-surface-books-secret-nvidia-gpu-what-is-it/

Pretty sure I can be forgiven in not knowing about a device that hasn't been released yet.