Editing PCI Express (section)

=== External GPUs ===
Theoretically, external PCIe could give a notebook the graphics power of a desktop, by connecting a notebook with any PCIe desktop video card (enclosed in its own external housing, with a power supply and cooling); this is possible with an ExpressCard or [[Thunderbolt (interface)|Thunderbolt]] interface. An ExpressCard interface provides [[bit rate]]s of 5&nbsp;Gbit/s (0.5&nbsp;GB/s throughput), whereas a Thunderbolt interface provides bit rates of up to 40&nbsp;Gbit/s (5&nbsp;GB/s throughput).

In 2006, [[Nvidia]] developed the [[Nvidia Quadro Plex|Quadro Plex]] external PCIe family of [[Graphics processing unit|GPUs]] that can be used for advanced graphic applications for the professional market.<ref name="gxHZT" /> These video cards require a PCI Express x8 or x16 slot for the host-side card, which connects to the Plex via a [[VHDCI]] carrying eight PCIe lanes.<ref name="zJYg8" />

In 2008, AMD announced the [[ATI XGP]] technology, based on a proprietary cabling system that is compatible with PCIe x8 signal transmissions.<ref name="HgxXj" /> This connector is available on the Fujitsu Amilo and the Acer Ferrari One notebooks. Fujitsu launched their AMILO GraphicBooster enclosure for XGP soon thereafter.<ref name="WHU07" /> Around 2010 Acer launched the Dynavivid graphics dock for XGP.<ref name="mvR09" />

In 2010, external card hubs were introduced that can connect to a laptop or desktop through a PCI ExpressCard slot. These hubs can accept full-sized graphics cards. Examples include MSI GUS,<ref name="ZAJ0y" /> Village Instrument's ViDock,<ref name="J5UtH" /> the Asus [[XG Station]], Bplus PE4H V3.2 adapter,<ref name="jWWJt" /> as well as more improvised DIY devices.<ref name="ERk1e" /> However such solutions are limited by the size (often only x1) and version of the available PCIe slot on a laptop.

The Intel Thunderbolt interface has provided a new option to connect with a PCIe card externally. Magma has released the ExpressBox 3T, which can hold up to three PCIe cards (two at x8 and one at x4).<ref name="CvJwZ" /> MSI also released the Thunderbolt GUS II, a PCIe chassis dedicated for video cards.<ref name="OLzu7" /> Other products such as the Sonnet's Echo Express<ref name="5LOrR" /> and mLogic's mLink are Thunderbolt PCIe chassis in a smaller form factor.<ref name="apXPa" />

In 2017, more fully featured external card hubs were introduced, such as the Razer Core, which has a full-length PCIe x16 interface.<ref name="PXbHS" />