2020 15" HP Spectre X360 [11th,4C,G] + RTX 2080 Ti @ 32Gbps-TB4 (AORUS Gaming Box) + Win10 2004 // first Thunderbolt 4 build  

@General_Kramar, M.2 connection is still better due to higher bandwidth and no Thunderbolt encoding/decoding.

Posted by: @itsage

@General_Kramar, M.2 connection is still better due to higher bandwidth and no Thunderbolt encoding/decoding.

 

Yeah, the only downside is no laptops actually designed in a way which allow us to connect an M.2 eGPU without modifying the chassis (and void the warrenty) or opening the lid.

Is there any difference between Icelake and Tigerlake using TB3 enclosures? Hope we see TB4 enclosures soon

@ritterbutzke, Regarding Thunderbolt 3 connection, both Ice Lake and Tiger Lake should perform similarly. The CPU TDP for each laptop would be a more significant factor.

@itsage, I noticed that in the thunderbolt control center picture it says 'Thunderbolt 3". Is there a reason for that? I have a the same specs as you in a different laptop but mine says Thunderbolt 4

@ryan_zeelie, I believe the Thunderbolt Control Center on my unit was older so it didn't show the correct Thunderbolt 4 version.

@itsage, Ah I see! Thanks!

@itsage, I have been researching about TB4 for a while and If I am not misstaken your AIDA snapshot indicates that the enclosure is using only 22Gbit/s (like TB3 to TB3 enclosure).

I understand that this is because the limit of the TB3 chip inside the eGPU enclosure, that If I am not wrong means that the only advantage of TB4 in the laptop's side is the latency reduction.

In other word, It seams to mean that when TB4 enclosures arrive we would be able of reach the 32Gbit/s (with a ~45% gain of performace, in the best case scenario, it is only thinking in the bandwith).

I know that the difference between TB3 and M.2 is ~20% in terms of eGPU memory write performance (Best External Graphics Card Builds - eGPU.io), but M.2 don't reach the 32Gbit/s (maybe because of PCH wiring instead of CPU direct wiring??).

Now, I am waiting for the thunderbot 4 enclosures to see if the eGPU is a good option for only have a laptop/ultrabook for everything.

@david_marquez_mato, Yes the connection limitation is on the eGPU enclosure atm. I'm not sure Intel allows full 32Gb/s on eGFX products even with Thunderbolt 4 controller enclosures. We will have to wait for production units to test.

@david_marquez_mato, I don't think Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 devices will have greater PCIe bandwidth than 24 Gbps. While there exists USB4/Thunderbolt 4 host controllers (Tiger Lake, M1 Mac, Maple Ridge), there don't exist any high bandwidth USB4/Thunderbolt 4 devices yet. We have to wait until they exist before we can do benchmarks. NVMe enclosures that claim to be USB4 are actually only Thunderbolt with USB connection capability.