This portable graphics box promises full discrete GPU performance for laptops

One of the downsides to an external graphics box is that there is usually a performance hit associated with feeding data through a Thunderbolt port, versus a GPU that is plugged directly into the motherboard. Startup company Exklim claims that is not the case for its eX Core, a sleek and portable GPU dock for laptops.

The eX Core is on Kickstarter where it has already surpassed its funding goal with still 21 days to go. According to the listing, it's the "world's smallest portable GPU for laptops," though as TomsHardware points out, Lenovo sells a similarly sized graphics dock.

Both solutions are powered by a GeForce GTX 1050 GPU. That's a relatively tame graphics solution, though compared to most integrated graphics solutions, it's a sizeable leap in performance.

Where things get interesting is looking at the performance claims. Have a look at one of the graphs Exklim assembled based on its own internal benchmarking:

Notice that the eX Core is shown to outperform a regular GeForce GTX 1050 installed in a desktop PC. How can that be? In the comments section, Exklim explains that it added a pre-renderer mode and special controller that "can help minimize bandwidth gaps by pre-rendering frames before being displayed." The company also suggest that there is overclocking going on.

"So expect full framerate[s] on both ways. Since we are using an optimized GTX 1050 4GB GDDR5, performance loss is minimal. Impossible to notice," Exklim says.

In the launch video, Exklim also makes the claim that eX Core runs quiet and will never throttle. Color us skeptical of the entire pitch, though we're also intrigued.

However performance shakes out, it's nice to see a portable solution, one that you can hold in the palm of your hand (and more importantly, tuck inside a bag without taking up a ton of room).

There is a Super Early Bird tier with a few units still available, priced at CA$499 (~US$397). Head to the Kickstarter page to view all the details.

Paul Lilly

Paul has been playing PC games and raking his knuckles on computer hardware since the Commodore 64. He does not have any tattoos, but thinks it would be cool to get one that reads LOAD"*",8,1. In his off time, he rides motorcycles and wrestles alligators (only one of those is true).

Latest in Gaming Laptops
The Lenovo Legion LOQ gaming laptop on a blue background
Okay, so it's not technically in the Amazon Big Spring Sale, but this is the cheapest RTX 4070 gaming laptop you'll find today
A promotional image for the Compal Adapt X modular laptop, as presented by the iF Design Foundation
If you've ever wanted to upgrade a laptop with 'modular AI units' then Compal might just have the very thing you're looking for
The Dell G16 7630 RTX 4070 gaming laptop on a teal deals background
It might be a bit of a chonk, but this 240 Hz RTX 4070 Dell gaming laptop is a seriously powerful machine for $1,300
The UHPILCL water cooled gaming laptop
This water-cooled gaming laptop packs a full-size desktop RTX 5090 and even fits in a backpack, but I sure wouldn't want it in mine
Lenovo Yoga Solar PC
Lenovo's clever solar-powered laptop can turn 20 minutes of sunlight into an hour of video playback but sun-powered mobile gaming still isn't a goer
The Razer Blade 16 (2025) on a glass table in a hotel suite at CES 2025.
Razer has seen sense and slightly lowered the Razer Tax with its latest Blade 16 gaming laptops
Latest in News
Assassin's Creed Shadows promo image
Ubisoft scores a legendary ratio against Elon Musk on his own platform—which hopefully marks a final end to all the Assassin's Creed Shadows' culture war nonsense
Tzarina Katarin Bokha, the Ice Queen of Kislev
Total War: Warhammer 3 rolls out a cool Kislev overhaul, changes befitting Tzeench’s magic, new projectile units and creakier skeletal horses
An image of a golden first place award from Geoguessr
'We're actually getting GeoGuessr on Steam before GTA 6': the Google Street View puzzler arrives on Valve's platform this April
Napster client circa 1999
Former music-pirating platform Napster to be reborn rather ironically as a metaverse for musicians to connect with their fans after $207 million deal
The snazzy red and black HyperX Cloud Alpha wireless headphones float in a teal void. The microphone is attached to the headset.
The best wireless gaming headset is now even better in the Amazon Big Spring Sale, boasting a more than $50 discount
A chip being held up in an Intel fab
Intel is reportedly 'working to finalize commitments from Nvidia' as a foundry partner, suggesting gaming potential for the 18A node