BoostR is an eGPU and Multi-port I/O Dock Undercutting the Ayaneo OneXGPU

[btarunr]

BoostR is an Indiegogo crowdfunded project that seeks to integrate a multi-functional I/O dock with an external GPU. It's a rather brilliant idea—the dock draws connectivity from a USB4 (40 Gbps) connection, which it uses to connect an AMD Radeon RX 7600M GPU, an M.2-2280 NVMe SSD slot, a 1 GbE networking interface, an SD 4.0 card reader, and a bunch of USB 3.2 downstream ports.

The device comes with a power brick, and by default draws 100 W for all its functions, including the eGPU. You can boost the power limit to 120 W, which should improve the GPU's performance. The GPU puts out a couple of HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.0 connectors. BoostR was briefly available on Indiegogo at an early-bird price of $499, at which it would undercut the Ayaneo OneXGPU, a similar contraption of an eGPU+M.2+port dock that's priced at $699. One area where the BoostR has an edge over the OneXGPU is its 120 W mode that give the GPU improved boost frequency residency. It remains to be seen what the regular price of BoostR will be, but the company is offering a 5% discount on the final price if you sign up for their newsletter.



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[Lianna]

If your product uses just 100 W, make it USB C PD-in powered.
If you use an external power brick, make it over 200 W, so you can provide PD out, at least 65 W, and preferably 100 W. Better yet, make the PSU internal and, say, 300 W (for better GPUs, below).
Base the USB4 connection on ASM2464PD[X], as it apparently gives 1.5x bandwidth of the older solutions and allows for better avg and especially min fps.
I'm not sure about M.2 expansion, as it may take lanes from the GPU, unless you use a PCIe switch, raising costs. May be moot if OCULINK connection requires the switch (does it?).
Keep 3+ USB A inputs (keyboard/mouse), just make them 3.2 Gen 2 for external storage support - more flexibility and may eliminate the need for internal M.2 slot.
Then, give us better GPU inside, say, 4070/4080 Laptop or 7900M, but still mobile, to limit the power draw.
Then, make it 10% heavier and 20% bigger, but quiet - it should not be noticeably louder than the handheld/miniPC it is connected to.

I'm still waiting for a product that finally gets it all together.

 

[friocasa]

If your product uses just 100 W, make it USB C PD-in powered.
If you use an external power brick, make it over 200 W, so you can provide PD out, at least 65 W, and preferably 100 W. Better yet, make the PSU internal and, say, 300 W (for better GPUs, below).
Base the USB4 connection on ASM2464PD[X], as it apparently gives 1.5x bandwidth of the older solutions and allows for better avg and especially min fps.
I'm not sure about M.2 expansion, as it may take lanes from the GPU, unless you use a PCIe switch, raising costs. May be moot if OCULINK connection requires the switch (does it?).
Keep 3+ USB A inputs (keyboard/mouse), just make them 3.2 Gen 2 for external storage support - more flexibility and may eliminate the need for internal M.2 slot.
Then, give us better GPU inside, say, 4070/4080 Laptop or 7900M, but still mobile, to limit the power draw.
Then, make it 10% heavier and 20% bigger, but quiet - it should not be noticeably louder than the handheld/miniPC it is connected to.

I'm still waiting for a product that finally gets it all together.

Just build a mini ITX computer on a compact case

Price would be similar and you can upgrade components

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

Just build a mini ITX computer on a compact case

Price would be similar and you can upgrade components

Just build an ATX PC. Cheaper price and more choice of components!

Oh wait, that's not what the consumer wanted. Hmmmm.....

If your product uses just 100 W, make it USB C PD-in powered.
If you use an external power brick, make it over 200 W, so you can provide PD out, at least 65 W, and preferably 100 W. Better yet, make the PSU internal and, say, 300 W (for better GPUs, below).
Base the USB4 connection on ASM2464PD[X], as it apparently gives 1.5x bandwidth of the older solutions and allows for better avg and especially min fps.
I'm not sure about M.2 expansion, as it may take lanes from the GPU, unless you use a PCIe switch, raising costs. May be moot if OCULINK connection requires the switch (does it?).
Keep 3+ USB A inputs (keyboard/mouse), just make them 3.2 Gen 2 for external storage support - more flexibility and may eliminate the need for internal M.2 slot.
Then, give us better GPU inside, say, 4070/4080 Laptop or 7900M, but still mobile, to limit the power draw.
Then, make it 10% heavier and 20% bigger, but quiet - it should not be noticeably louder than the handheld/miniPC it is connected to.

I'm still waiting for a product that finally gets it all together.

I agree on the better GPU and power output. 7600m is just way too weaksauce to justify the price. Now, a 7900m, or a 4080m? Now we're talking.

 

[friocasa]

Just build an ATX PC. Cheaper price and more choice of components!

Oh wait, that's not what the consumer wanted. Hmmmm.....


I agree on the better GPU and power output. 7600m is just way too weaksauce to justify the price. Now, a 7900m, or a 4080m? Now we're talking.

An external GPU is made to be portable with the laptop and/or to take advantage of the existing hardware of the laptop. If you make it bigger and more expensive than what already is, it defeats it's purpose completely.

A mini ITX has all the power of a ATX PC on a very small form factor that would appeal to those willing to have an eGPU but not an ATX PC due it's size.

There's no clear advantage on using a laptop + eGPU vs a different PC when in desktop, sync everything on the cloud and use every computer as needed, that's it.

 

[persondb]

I think the lack of a PD out for the portable device, is kinda disapointing. It would have been preferable to do a barrel jack connector or something if you can provide a 65W USB PD output.

With the multitude of ports that it has, you have to remember that it is a dock and not just a eGPU.

I agree on the better GPU and power output. 7600m is just way too weaksauce to justify the price. Now, a 7900m, or a 4080m? Now we're talking.

For $499 to $699 a 7900M or 4080M? I don't think you can make it so cheap, considering how many extra components you need. Those USB4 chips are probably still pretty expensive and they probably implement some PCIe Switch as well as the other USB 3.2 ports, Card Reader and ethernet.

 

[HOkay]

An external GPU is made to be portable with the laptop and/or to take advantage of the existing hardware of the laptop. If you make it bigger and more expensive than what already is, it defeats it's purpose completely.

A mini ITX has all the power of a ATX PC on a very small form factor that would appeal to those willing to have an eGPU but not an ATX PC due it's size.

There's no clear advantage on using a laptop + eGPU vs a different PC when in desktop, sync everything on the cloud and use every computer as needed, that's it.

Strong disagree, just look at all the full size eGPU enclosures. The primary use case is having a device you can dock up to it when at home working on your desk, then unplugging & taking your device around the house or to friend's houses or on trips etc. Yes you can do that with a desktop PC at home + a laptop & sync your data with cloud storage, but that will be more expensive than an eGPU enclosure. These more portable eGPU/dock things also have their place I think, though more for handhelds imho. I would like one for taking to friend's houses for some game time with more power than the iGPU in my handheld. But the extra cost for that slight bit more convenience just isn't worth it to me. Even $500 is way too high for me. You can get a secondhand eGPU enclosure for $100-150 & put whatever GPU you like in it. It's way bigger & heavy though so I can see some people who travel a lot wanting that extra portability from something like this.

 

[Minus Infinity]

If your product uses just 100 W, make it USB C PD-in powered.
If you use an external power brick, make it over 200 W, so you can provide PD out, at least 65 W, and preferably 100 W. Better yet, make the PSU internal and, say, 300 W (for better GPUs, below).
Base the USB4 connection on ASM2464PD[X], as it apparently gives 1.5x bandwidth of the older solutions and allows for better avg and especially min fps.
I'm not sure about M.2 expansion, as it may take lanes from the GPU, unless you use a PCIe switch, raising costs. May be moot if OCULINK connection requires the switch (does it?).
Keep 3+ USB A inputs (keyboard/mouse), just make them 3.2 Gen 2 for external storage support - more flexibility and may eliminate the need for internal M.2 slot.
Then, give us better GPU inside, say, 4070/4080 Laptop or 7900M, but still mobile, to limit the power draw.
Then, make it 10% heavier and 20% bigger, but quiet - it should not be noticeably louder than the handheld/miniPC it is connected to.

I'm still waiting for a product that finally gets it all together.

For $999 you can get a 32" 4K OLED monitor that has 140W+ power delivery as well as a host of ports and they want $700 for this!

 

[Lianna]

For $999 you can get a 32" 4K OLED monitor that has 140W+ power delivery as well as a host of ports and they want $700 for this!

For $999 you can probably buy a used car or a trip for a week to some hot destination - is that relevant as well?