USB-C eGPU connection

[kolioali]

1.
What is the difference between Thunderbolt and USB-C?
2.
Can i use USB-C to connect my laptop to an external GPU?

 

[WyomingKnott]

1) USB-C is a connector. It supports USB 3.1. Some devices will also push Thunderbolt over it; some will not. Every Thunderbolt 3 port will function as a USB-C port, but the converse is not true.

2) Because of the answer to 1), it depends on the notebook and the eGPU case. Although I don't imagine anyone would build an eGPU case with a USB-C port that did not support Thunderbolt.

 

[kolioali]

Is there is any adapter or connector that acts as USB-C to Thunderbolt
i mean aconverter from USB-C to thunderbolt so that i can connect a USB-C port to a thunderbolt eGPU?

 

[WyomingKnott]

The same question applies - If the laptop supports Thunderbolt over the USB-C port, this may work. With something like Apple's USB-C to Thunderbolt 2 adapter. However, if the USB-C port does not support Thunderbolt, only USB, then it won't work.

What make and model of notebook do you have? What make and model of eGPU do you have,or are you considering. And (rhetorically) why have I seen four eGPU questions this week and NONE previously?

 

[kolioali]

Asus rog gl502vy

 

[WyomingKnott]

Below is from their site. The port does not support 40Gbps Thunderbolt. Sorry.

"The reversible USB Type-C port gives you easier device connections and hyper-fast 10Gbps data transfer speeds via USB 3.1 Gen 1. Transferring a 2GB movie file just takes less than 2 seconds to complete!

You can even hook up ROG Strix GL502 to a larger display via mini DisplayPort for an even more immersive gaming experience."

 

[kolioali]

there is no way to do it ?

or make an upgrade

 

[WyomingKnott]

Not that I am aware of. I use a USB 3.0 to DVI active adapter myself sometimes. It isn't particularly fast. The difference between USB 3.1 and Thunderbolt is not just the speed. Thunderbolt will carry the PCIe protocol. USB 3.1 will not. So you won't have the right type of connection.

 

[JeffDaemon]

The key to thunderbolt is not just pcie speeds, it is because it is also a Display port connection! The way devices like the razer core work is it sends the data to the video card via PCIe link, and then the video cards sends the resulting video back over the displayport protocol where it goes directly to the screen. The internal gpu is probably not even active when the core is active.

 

[WyomingKnott]

JeffDaemon

I don't mean to contradict you, just trying to clarify my understanding. My understanding is that the Display port over Thunderbolt is actually pixel data AFTER the graphics-card step, not input to a graphics card. Data that has already been rendered. After all, I can attach a monitor directly to the output of my Macbook's Thunderbolt port with a non-powered adapter, which suggests to me that the data on that link is rendered.

I thought that the difference was having PCIe protocol over Thunderbolt, which is not available over USB 3.1. So you can extend the PCIe link to an external graphics card.

EDIT: So i reread your post. You describe PCIe data from the PC to the eGPU, and rendered data back over the Displayport link. My bad; I was thinking of plugging the display into the eGPU. That's what I do with my USB 3.0 graphics adapter.
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Warning: TL;DR

Ahh, can I reminisce about the promise of USB. It was supposed to get rid of the eleventy-seven wires running between my computer and my display. Now, all that it can replace is the keyboard and mouse. In theory, with DP over USB C I can run my display, mouse, and keyboard, power my display, run my USB hub, and do backups. Back to the single cable! Although it is daisy-chained; being able to break it out from the monitor would be more convenient. I've been watching USB and FireWire and Thunder and Lightning for many years, waiting for the single-wire solution.

Especially because I have a KVM so I can control either of my computers from the same mouse and two DVI displays. That means six video cables, a USB 3.0 cable from the portable machine to my USB 3.0 to DVI converter, six power cables, three audio cables, and so forth. It's such a rat's nest that I can't move my computer without knocking things over, even though I've rearranged everything three times. So I have a tremendous interest in a single-cable solution. One wire from each machine to the switchbox, one from the switchbox to my desktop.

 

[JeffDaemon]

The DP link should be both ways (although not at the same time). Don't quote me on this but from my observations it should be doing BOTH (different frequencies so over the same wire is fine) sending your video card data to the core (pcie link) and then the core (which is your current video card now) is simply sending its output to the laptop via DP (at least this seems the most ideal. Any other type of frame buffer transfer like using USB3.0 would just require more hardware on the video card, it would be silly).

Lightning should lead us to that single wire solution for at least the pc connection. Maybe the monitor will be the part where keyboards and mice hookup to. After all if you were looking to daisy chain everything, everything would need lightning capable chips in them. That would lead to some pricey components.