Desktop Parts on a Laptop

gamer2 · Post by **gamer2** » Thu May 03, 2007 4:52 pm

Ok,

My mom is getting me a Laptop computer for my graduation, one with a lot of balls (gaming balls). Is there a way I can have Desktop parts connected to a laptop. Something along the same lines as a External Hard drive, but with PCI things (like Video Capture Card).

Rekarp · Post by **Rekarp** » Thu May 03, 2007 6:23 pm

no you can't have PCI devices connected to a laptop. But i think they have USB capture cards and the like out there.

Reaperman@home · Post by **Reaperman@home** » Thu May 03, 2007 7:00 pm

sure you can hook pci cards to a laptop--through the docking station. try to figure out which docking stations are available for your laptop and look at the features on them.

I'm sure some crazy laptop manufacturer even has the external pci enclosure like you mentioned, but I've never seen one--just PCI docking stations.
if you decide you can get around needing the PCI a good docking station provides, you can save a ton of money and just get a port replicator.

Post by **Sparkfist** » Thu May 03, 2007 7:53 pm

There are PCMICA cards that offer things like video capture. As for external hard drives, my main computer is a laptop and I have it connected to to two external hard drives via USB most of the time. It works out fine, unless someone is going to make an external SATA connector or you're going to buy some of those Linksys Network Storage solutions and use ethernet, USB is the way to go.

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Thu May 03, 2007 8:07 pm

If you really want a laptop that can use desktop components, make one with desktop parts or just get a desktop. I'd personally rather have a desktop for gaming, and a slower laptop for surfing the web and writing when I'm not at home. If you want portable games, get a PSP, DS, or GP2x, they actually last more than an hour on their battery while gaming.

Just my $0.02.

cowsgoquack101 · Post by **cowsgoquack101** » Thu May 03, 2007 8:14 pm

Video capture card: Yes they sell them, but expect to pay at least twice for a PCMCIA card, they also make them in USB.

External Hard Drive: Yeah no worries, anything usb will work on a laptop (unless the device doesn't support it.

bgnome · Post by **bgnome** » Thu May 03, 2007 8:38 pm

the expresscard port allows for higher bandwith connections:
http://www.mobl.com/expansion/products/ ... sbox1.html

Felino · Post by **Felino** » Fri May 04, 2007 5:40 am

Just get a macbook pro that has built in balls, (and fry your own).

Post by **Sparkfist** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:49 am

Felino wrote:Just get a macbook pro that has built in balls, (and fry your own).

Ahh, that doesn't answer either of his questions. The Macbook (Pro) doesn't have a video capture card, and really we already know a USB hard drive will work. Look I'm not attacking the Macs, thing is having one is not always the answer.

Also quick question, the video capture, what were you planning to do with it? Export/Import video? Because most computer have S-Video and likely with a little searching you can find a way to use the S-Video for both. However audo will be something else you have to tangle with.... maybe use the mic input.

I also want to note that the USB video cards are not something you want to use if you're planning to do DVD quality video. They potentially can but due to the limitations of the USB 2.0's bandwidth they are best not. Only way to get around it is to use a USB capture card that has a hardware encoder and does the work it's self. But expect to shell out $100+ for one.

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Fri May 04, 2007 8:45 am

Im not saying I know what Im talking about here, but Im pretty sure that the S-video connection on most laptops that you speak of is entirely one-way. that way being "out".

Theres a whole bunch of extra hardware you need to take video in, and if you had it im sure it would be advertised as it is pretty expensive hardware and therefore a selling point.

gamer2 · Post by **gamer2** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:39 am

I was thinking, a box that can hold 3 PCI cards (including video capture equipment), that powers on and hooks into a USB port on the computer. Sort of an expansion bay or so.

tom61 · Post by **tom61** » Sun May 06, 2007 1:53 pm

I've encountered USB to PCI expansion adapters, but they were for special purpose prototyping, and cost more than $200.

As for video capture, Cardbus capture cards (pending your laptop will take one) don't cost very much on eBay last I checked.

Other than video capture, what else do you need?

gamemasterAS · Post by **gamemasterAS** » Sun May 06, 2007 3:26 pm

Felino wrote:Just get a macbook pro that has built in balls, (and fry your own).

Are you trying to be more annoying then retromaster was ? Every thread I read that has the word PC in it has you going " OMG MACS IM NOT GONNA EVEN STATE A RELEVANT FACT TO WHY I AM POSTING THIS I LOVE MACS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

Post by **bicostp** » Sun May 06, 2007 4:28 pm

<img src="http://www.skytroniks.com/images/databa ... es/wtf.gif">

Where did THAT come from?! He's just saying the MacBooks have decent hardware. (That and they come with good movie editing software... which is probably what he wants to do with the laptop in the first place.) Fine, he suggested something. That's no excuse to fly off the handle and scream at him.

Anyways, gamer2, you should look at a laptop with a real docking station. (They can take desktop cards.) Any video input device that works on USB will be hindered by the bus's limited bandwidth. If you want on the go video capture, you could look for a PCMCIA capture card...

Post by **Triton** » Sun May 06, 2007 7:42 pm

I was thinking, a box that can hold 3 PCI cards (including video capture equipment), that powers on and hooks into a USB port on the computer. Sort of an expansion bay or so.

interesting fact the toshiba tecra 730CDT i just bought had the deskstation V plus docking station which containes 3 PCI slots 2 ISA slots and 2 cardbus slots unfortunatly the laptop is not all too powerful