Magma introduced a new peripheral, an External PCI Express entitled Magma ExpressBox. Taking advantage of the Express Card slot, it allows notebook users to attach a "desktop-only" PCI Express (PCI-E) card to a laptop.
While Magma is strongly advertising its product:
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For example, a user can turn a typical, middle-of-the-road laptop into a powerful gaming, scientific computer or audio and video editing workstation by simply adding the right PCI Express card to ExpressBox1 then connecting to a laptop.
No latency, 2000Mbps, Faster than USB and Firewire
Based on new PCI Express® technology, ExpressBox1 provides a no latency connectivity solution with a theoretical maximum throughput of 2000Mbps (or 250 MegaBytes per second) each direction... That's 2.5 times faster than Firewire 800 and 4.1 times the speed of USB 2.0!
No latency, 2000Mbps, Faster than USB and Firewire
Based on new PCI Express® technology, ExpressBox1 provides a no latency connectivity solution with a theoretical maximum throughput of 2000Mbps (or 250 MegaBytes per second) each direction... That's 2.5 times faster than Firewire 800 and 4.1 times the speed of USB 2.0!
it remains to be proven that such external devices can indeed massively speed up tasks.
This announcement is similar to the one made by ASUS last January even though it was mostly dedicated to external graphic cards. The ASUS device was already not cheap with its integrated GPU, US$600, but the Magma ExpressBox is even more expensive: 7300 to 750 US$ depending on the model, and provided as such (meaning empty). In addition, one will not really be able to install a powerful GPU inside due to power limitations as stated on Magma website:
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Attention Gamers and GPU Gurus! Magma ExpressBox1 is designed for "single-width" video cards that require 55 watts or less. "Double-wide" GPUs that require auxiliary power will be compatible with the next generation Magma ExpressBox to be available later this year.
NOTE: For external graphics under Windows Vista, Magma recommends laptops with ATI graphics technology paired with external ATI graphics.
NOTE: For external graphics under Windows Vista, Magma recommends laptops with ATI graphics technology paired with external ATI graphics.
At the end, one can ask if this product, basically an external PCI Express slot in a case is not simply overpriced, or promising, but not delivering; serious tests need to be done to conclude.
[translation by Linathael]
