ExpressCard slot in a thinkpad - what is the newest system you can get one?

[wujstefan]

Hello fellow thinkpadders,

I have recently replaced my trusty P50 for a P500 thinkstation and I love it.

However! I still need some system to travel with, and I still have an eGPU set that works really nicely. Hence, what is the newest system you can get with ExpressCard slot aaand is viable for carrying with yourself? P50 had one, but this thing is heavy. X230/T430 and the series have it too, but these are getting just too old for my needs.

Would be grateful for suggestions! I'm pretty sure lots of you are still using your thinkpads with eGPUs

[axur-delmeria]

The P51 is the newest with Expresscard AFAIK, but that's no different from your P50.

IIRC eGPU is done with Thunderbolt 3 these days, but enclosures are rather expensive.

[SAIYAN48]

Some Thinkpads will allow the use of an M.2 slot for an eGPU:
https://egpu.io/forums/builds/2020-14-t ... n10-linux/
https://egpu.io/forums/builds/2018-14-t ... xp-gdc-v8/

[axur-delmeria]

I see a few problems with M.2-based eGPU solutions.

1. Because M.2 is an internal connector, it's up to the laptop owner to devise a way to get the cable outside the chassis.

2. In all M.2 --> PCIe risers I've found online, the cable is not detachable from the M.2 side, which means there's a cable dangling from the bottom of the laptop when you carry it around-- the OP specifically mentioned "carrying with yourself", so portability is his primary concern. Sure, you can remove the M.2 adapter if needed, but that's a big hassle compared to ejecting an Expresscard adapter.

Because of this, Thunderbolt 3 is IMO the better option. A quick search gives me this: https://egpu.io/forums/thunderbolt-encl ... ck-review/

[SAIYAN48]

M.2 may have some issues, but a thunderbolt eGPU dock can be as much as a graphics card itself.