More ASUS XG Station details pop up

[D_o_S]

A day after news about ATI's Lasso mobile-GPU technology, DailyTech has published an article highlighting more details about ASUS' XG Station.

The XG Station should be available to OEM and channel partners from next month. What is perhaps most interesting is the way that ASUS plans to sell these devices - they will not be purchasable separately, but will come bundled with the company's PCIe graphics cards. Pricing on XG Stations will vary depending on the bundled graphics card. There is no word on which graphics cards will be compatible and which won't - though squeezing in a 8800 GTX might be asking for a little too much.

In addition to the enhanced video capabilities, the XG Station features audio output capabilities. There is a single headphone output jack on the XG Station - unfortunately, there is no 5.1 output support. However, the XG Station supports Dolby Headphone technology for simulated six-channel surround sound audio.

Audio and video capabilities aside, ASUS equips the XG Station with a large LED display to monitor vital system information. The LED display shows the following information:

• System master volume
• GPU clock speed
• Current GPU temperature
• Dolby Headphone feature status
• Current actual Frames Per Second (FPS) information
• GPU fan speed Indicator

A control knob allows users easy overclocking controls too. Overclocking functionality of the control knob is limited to GPU core clock only though.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[KennyT772]

Doesn't Asus produce ati and nvidia video cards?

 

[EviLZeD]

Doesn't Asus produce ati and nvidia video cards?

yea they do

 

[newtekie1]

I know a lot of laptop users will be happy with just the ability to get away from integrated graphics, even if it is only upgrading to something like a 7600GT, they will pay out the ass to do it. ASUS has the potential to make a lot of money off this thing.

 

[shoman24v]

About time!

 

[ktr]

if i am not mistake, when using this external video card, you cannot use the internal lcd...which defeats the purpose of a laptop.

 

[KennyT772]

not really ktr. you can have a nice keyboard mouse monitor etc and a really lightweight laptop with a decent cpu. travel all day with nice battery life and come home to basically a desktop, just without the tower.

 

[devguy]

if i am not mistake, when using this external video card, you cannot use the internal lcd...which defeats the purpose of a laptop.

Meh, does it matter? If you did decide to use this thing, it wouldn't be fun to lug around the external video card regardless of whether or not the internal monitor displayed anything.

This is more for something like a "mobile computer", as opposed to a "laptop."

 

[ktr]

Then i would rather get some alienware ( or something else) laptop that can do that same thing as that without the external mumbojumbo.

 

[KennyT772]

Then i would rather get some alienware ( or something else) laptop that can do that same thing as that without the external mumbojumbo.

but then you no longer have the same portability, which is what this unit is trying to create, portability and power when you need it. obliviously a desktop replacement will be a much better unit for gaming but it really lacks on portability and battery life. however a ultra portable with a 13inch screen sucks for gaming but it has a battery that will last 5+ hours. this just gives the best of both worlds.

 

[ktr]

but then you no longer have the same portability, which is what this unit is trying to create, portability and power when you need it. obliviously a desktop replacement will be a much better unit for gaming but it really lacks on portability and battery life. however a ultra portable with a 13inch screen sucks for gaming but it has a battery that will last 5+ hours. this just gives the best of both worlds.

what if you are at a lanparty...so i have to get my lappy, that external video card, and a monitor...vs. just the lappy alone.

 

[KennyT772]

what if you are a business exec who travels most of the time and only wants to deal with one computer, but still wants to play games?

 

[ktr]

what if you are a business exec who travels most of the time and only wants to deal with one computer, but still wants to play games?

planes has power outlets, so i choose the one with the bulitin graphics.

 

[KennyT772]

why are we arguing? lol

either way this thing has a nitch market and will probably sell.

 

[OneCool]

With this connected to a laptop its not really a "laptop" anymore IMO.

Maybe it will sell but I dont see me getting one...ever.

 

[WarEagleAU]

Pretty cool I guess.

 

[tvdang7]

man right after ati anounces their thing asus information pops up again. only downside i see from this is u have to buy their card and i think some one said u have to use an external monitor.....which kills it for me some one please correct me if im wrong.....i dont want to buy an lcd.....

 

[ktr]

man right after ati anounces their thing asus information pops up again. only downside i see from this is u have to buy their card and i think some one said u have to use an external monitor.....which kills it for me some one please correct me if im wrong.....i dont want to buy an lcd.....

no, asus came before ati, we are just getting more info on it.

 

[newtekie1]

Yes, you have to use an external monitor.

The Asus setup comes with a video card, but from the looks of it you can swap it with another one if you want.

I see this used by a lot of people. The same people that bring their laptops home and plug them into docking stations will probably find a use for this.

 

[tkpenalty]

This is a great idea, however, what type of connection are you supposed to use anyway for this? A E-PCIE connector?! (doesnt exist yet lol).
Thing is, I say screw the screen, make the unit a bit longer but two slots tall, thus allowing dual slot cards. The unit should be made of CF and a carry handle dammit!!! (Imho a good way to transport GPUs)

Btw guys thinking about alienware, its like more than 7kg for their high ends... lower clockspeeds, and your lap will be on fire.

 

[kakazza]

This is a great idea, however, what type of connection are you supposed to use anyway for this? A E-PCIE connector?! (doesnt exist yet lol).

You mean ExpressCard which features PCIe x1?

 

[tvdang7]

no, asus came before ati, we are just getting more info on it.

i said more info on asus comes out AGAIN.

 

[newtekie1]

This is a great idea, however, what type of connection are you supposed to use anyway for this? A E-PCIE connector?! (doesnt exist yet lol).
Thing is, I say screw the screen, make the unit a bit longer but two slots tall, thus allowing dual slot cards. The unit should be made of CF and a carry handle dammit!!! (Imho a good way to transport GPUs)

It uses the ExpressCard slot, which is an external PCI-E x1 slot. The last article about this said the only real drawback was the limitted badwidth from the Expresscard slot really increased initial loading of the game into the graphics card memory, but after that the game performed simiarly to a card in a desktop PCI-E x16 slot.

If you look at the pictures it looks like it is 2 slots tall. As for carrying it around, I could see that being useful for people that want to take it to LAN parties, but that is what bags are for.

 

[FLY3R]

Nice for car audio and Video, you could do alot with that.