Beelink mini-PC docking station supports desktop GPU

[heresie-dabord]

https://liliputing.com/beelink-gti12-ultra-and-ex-docking-station-review-mini-pc-dock-adds-desktop-graphics-support/

[kristianp]

Link to the product without the skimresources.com/fave.co tracking: https://www.bee-link.com/products/beelink-ex-docking-station

[layer8]

I’d rather have the whole thing in a single case of the same size. Unless you want to be able to unplug the mini PC for standalone use, or you happen to already own the mini PC and want to upgrade to a dGPU without migrating to a new PC, I’m not sure what the benefit of this setup is.

[open-paren]

Previously discussed: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41997703

[daft_pink]

Proprietary instead of thunderbolt? :(

[undersuit → daft_pink]

Looks like they just route 17 PCI-E lanes out of the chassis by shoving a 16x and a 1x slot next to each other. Not the best, but hackable.

[daft_pink → undersuit]

Just would rather pay for an expensive device that I can use with other devices like a laptop or future mini pc. Not super interested in hacking.

[gorkish → daft_pink]

It's a proprietary edge connector that connects the dock and the mini PC, but it carries standard PCIe, so it's at least twice as fast as Thunderbolt.

To me all of these Mini PCs are essentially uselessly uninteresting without fast network connectivity. When is an actual vendor that is not Quotom or whatever ship one with 10GBaseT or SFP+/SFP28 ports already?

[projektfu → gorkish]

https://store.minisforum.com/products/minisforum-ms-01

[polishdude20]

Idk, with the money you use for a docking station, graphics card and the mini PC itself I feel like a regular desktop or mini atx build is more suitable.

[grahamj → polishdude20]

yeah I'm not seeing the benefit over a SFF build. The overall size has to be bigger than the GPU anyway so why not just enclose it all?

I'd also rather stick with Thunderbolt so at least the dock could be used with a different brand of miniPC.

I do like Beelink products in general though; great for homelab servers.

[phendrenad2]

Anyone remember the Powerbook Duo?

[grahamj]

Imagine putting the power button where you can actually reach it. Ridiculous!