Project Request: Make a desktop function like a external GPU enclosure

Operating Systems & Open Source Linux
1

I don't know if this is possible but I think t would be really cool. I am a linux noob but managed to get PCI passthrough working thanks to GrayWolfTechs guide after watching Wendell's GTA V setup.

It got me thinking, I have TB3 on my laptop and my desktop and it would be sweet if I could just bring my ITX system and laptop without having to bring a monitor, keyboard, mouse, power adapter, etc when going to a lan party.

Based on my very limited knowledge it seems like the hardware would be able to support it. Is it theoretically possible? I'm thinking something along the lines that the desktop passes the GPU(and possibly hard drives) to TB3. The laptop runs a VM that recognizes the GPU over the TB3 and voila... no more lugging around all the extra hardware...

I heard that getting the Razer Core to work took a lot of software magic to function but I think this would be really cool even if I personally couldnt get it to work haha.

What do you all think?

2

Or just use synergy?

3

What about the display?

Frankly, I haven't tried streaming besides in home streaming with steam but I don't think it works headless... and wouldn't 4k streaming have latency problems?

Regardless, I know there are probably other solutions but I think this would be much cooler...

4

Theoretically: maybe.

In practice: not without a LOT of duct tape code and configuration, along with god knows how much validation and trailblazing.

You'd probably be better served running VNC or synergy on your laptop to start a headless graphical session on your lanbox, or taking a PCI-based eGPU platform in place of your full system with you.

see:

http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4C%20V3.0.html

These work without any special software, but check your laptop model to make sure the m.2/mpcie slot isn't whitelisted before buying.

2 Likes