eGPU with graphics module installed

Framework Laptop 16
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Does anyone here have experience with using the Graphics Module with an eGPU?

I previously used a Framework 13 (12th Gen Intel) with an RTX 4090 and while most titles were playable, Battlefield 6 noticeably struggled, being what I assume was bottlenecked by the Thunderbolt 4 connection. In-game stats indicated the CPU could not keep up.

Now I have the Framework 16 with the HX370 and the RTX 5070 graphics module, and the performance in Battlefield 6 is actually worse. I can only assume this is because of insufficient PCIe lanes. Maybe I have to disable the discrete GPU? I plugged the eGPU into the first USB-C port on the left side, instead of the one in the rear.

EDIT: yes disabling the discrete GPU was all I had to do. Now BF6 is actually playable

Let me know what, if anything you’ve all done to optimize this use-case.

I don’t think I’ve ever had so many GPUs connected to a single device.

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have you benchmarked both? i would be interested how much performance you gain from running a 4090 over usb4 vs just using the 5070 on the hx370 framework 16

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All benchmarks taken on an external monitor.
RTX 4090, HX370
FurMark2 Vulkan 2560x1440 Score - 19994

3DMark Steel Nomad 3840x2160 Score - 8436

RTX 5070 Laptop, HX370

FurMark2 Vulkan 2560x1440 Score - 6638

3D Mark Steel Nomad 3840x2160 Score - 2999
Furmark is an inappropriate benchmark because it just sends a shader that gets spammed endlessly by the GPU and isn’t link limited at all. Scores are practically identical to the mean for those devices.

Steel Nomad is probably more accurate. It’s a really simple level, so I’m not sure to what degree objects are being streamed in and out. For reference, 4090s seem to pull 95FPS on Steel Nomad where mine was 84FPS.

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thanks for doing that it’s nice to see usb4 is performing that well.

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