AMD has announced a new attempt to make external graphics attractive. XGP (eXternal Graphics Platform) sinply is an external module that you connect to your laptop through an external PCIe 2.0 connector delivering up to 4.0 GB/s in each direction. The module can house different graphics cards, but since the main purpose is to deliver performance not otherwise available to laptops we can only assume AMD is going to fit it with something from its Radeon HD 3800 series or perhaps even 4800 series. The module supports up to four monitors, but it seems that it won't work with all laptops though, you need a special XGP connector which will be found on coming Puma-based laptops, but perhaps not with laptops based on other platforms from e.g. NVIDIA or Intel.
"With ATI XGP Technology, notebooks can switch between everyday computing and hard-core gaming with a simple plug-in that’s also portable enough to bring powerful 3D performance on-the-go. This technology allows users to choose notebooks with slim, lightweight and elegant designs, yet enjoy the full performance of a traditional desktop gaming rig wherever it’s convenient." - Matt Skynner, vice president of AMD's Marketing, Graphics Products Group
The box can also act as a USB hub via its external USB ports. It also supports CrossFireX, by linking with the built-in graphics card of the laptop to the GPU inside the external module. It also sports all of the regular multimedia features of the Radeon HD 3000 series. It's not an entirely new idea though, Matrox has been doing something similar for many years, but still very interesting with this new focus. AMD now has an ace for selling more laptops based on its own platform.
More information can be found over at AMD/ATI's website,
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AMD launches external graphics for laptops - XGP
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