How to connect a video card to a laptop

Any laptop has one significant drawback - this is the complexity, and sometimes the inability to do an upgrade. For example, you cannot usually install another video card on this device. Therefore, modern games do not start. Most users need to buy a new laptop, which is very expensive. But you can try to install an external video card in the laptop.

Which graphics card is suitable for a laptop

Today, the most common and powerful are the GeForce video cards from NVIDIA. Alternatively, AMD's Radeon cards are also used, but they are not so popular.

According to the test results, AMD graphics cards are best installed for the Thunderbolt interface (MacBook laptops). For other interfaces, it's best to choose NVidia graphics cards.

The video card level is an additional aspect. It would seem that if we spend money on an external video card, then on the most productive one, but on the other hand, there are limitations on the PCIe bus.

That is, to acquire the most expensive card from existing today is inappropriate, since it will not be able to fully disclose its performance. The best solution is an inexpensive high end video card.

For NVidia, this is the GeForce prayer line:

• GTX560, GTX570;
• GTX660, GTX670;

For AMD, this is the Radeon HD7850, HD7870 series.

Important points before connecting the video card

Today, there is a large range of docking stations on the market that allow you to connect an external video card. A docking station is a device that is equipped with a PCI-E slot, controls and 220 V power supply.

The station is connected to the laptop through the Thunderbolt connector, it is he who has the maximum throughput.

The advantage of the docking station is its ease of operation: plug and play. The disadvantage is the cost comparable to the price of a powerful video card. In addition, the Thunderbolt port is not on all laptops.

But in any laptop there is an integrated Wi-Fi unit that connects to the internal miniPCI-Express port. If the decision is made to connect a video card like this, the wireless connection will already be disabled.

Connection is made using the adapter EXP GDC. The design is a PCI-E slot with ports for connecting to the gadget.

What is required to connect

To connect a graphic card you will need:

1. Power supply for the video card.
2. Adapter.
3. Directly video card.

Connecting an external video card: step by step

There are two ways to connect: a docking station and a miniPCI-E slot.

Connection via mPCI-E

First you need to say that most mobile PCs are not designed to connect graphic cards. But despite this, many laptops have a special connector, this is miniPCI-Express. It is with the help of it that the video card is connected. You only need to find this connector. For what:

• turn off the gadget;
• we get the battery;
• remove the cover from the bottom of the case;
• find the miniPCI-Express connector;
• As a rule, the connector is located near the Wi-Fi unit. More specifically, this box is connected to the port.

Using the mPCI-E connects the game graphics card. But it will need a separate device called EXP GDC. Approximate price - 2.4-2.7 thousand rubles. Simultaneously with the equipment included, there is an adapter and two wires (for connecting to the connector and the power cord).

Attention! The adapter can be used for both Windows operating systems and any MacBook.

When the adapter was purchased, you can begin the process of connecting the video card to the gadget. This is done like this:

1. Turn off and de-energize the laptop. We take out the battery from the laptop.
2. Unscrew and remove the bottom cover to get access to the miniPCI-E connector.
3. Next, you need the appropriate wire, which is bundled with the adapter. We connect one end (miniPCI-E) to the connector on the device. The second is via the hdmi-port to the adapter.
4. Then set the video card. What is the mPCI-E slot on the EXP GDC adapter used for? It can not be confused.
5. Now proceed to connect the power supply. What is needed is the second wire, which is included with the adapter. On one part of the wire port is 6-pin, on the second - 6 + 2-pin.
6. Connect the wire to the EXP GDC 6-pin port to the video card.
7. We connect the PSU (often located with EXP GDC, if not present, it is used from the laptop). Most often this is done using an 8-pin connector. In some cases, connecting will require different adapters that are included with the EXP GDC.
8. Turn on the mobile PC. Download the required drivers for the new video card. And sometimes you also need to go to the BIOS to activate the option "Graphic".
9. It is necessary to install the bottom cover very carefully, putting all the wires carefully, avoiding fractures and bends.

That is, there is nothing complicated. Connection can be made independently, without seeking the services of specialists. And the most difficult job is to carefully remove the bottom cover from the case without breaking or damaging its fasteners.

Attention! Do not forget that while connecting to a graphic card gadget using the mPCI-E connector, WiFi will not work. Exceptions are only those motherboards on which two mPCI-E are simultaneously located.

Docking connection

Connect a graphic card to the device can be different. In this case, there will also be a need for separate equipment - a docking station. This device is equipped with a PCI-Express connector, where the video card is connected. And directly to the laptop is connected via the Thunderbolt connector. It is he who today has the highest throughput data transfer capability.

The design of the docking station, as a rule, has the appearance of a box that looks like a small miniature computer system unit. And there is enough space in the case for both graphic