GL502VM and Thunderbolt 3 confusion

[andvoy]

I decided to create this post because I wanted to buy a GL502VM but was faced with a similar problem that a lot of people are having, where half the internet claims that this laptop has Thunderbolt 3 while the other claims that it doesn't.

Mine was bought in Poland and has a product number: GL502VM-FY053T.
I can confirm that indeed it DOES have the Intel Alpine Ridge Thunderbolt 3 chip.
The problem was that the shop claimed that it's only a USB-Type C, ASUS doesn't mention Thunderbolt 3 in their product description and the laptop itself doesn't have the thunderbolt logo next to the port. The only reassurance I got was from the polish ASUS support line where I was told that indeed the VM is the ONLY one out of all the GL502 that has the port.

After coming home I checked the BIOS that indeed it's really there and there is also a Windows app that shows your connected Thunderbolt 3 devices (don't have one yet so couldn't test that out). From a device/driver standpoint, in the control panel, I think it's impossible to tell (I think) as everything is governed by the Intel USB drivers.

[peggy]

Such a shame.
I've a fan of their desktop parts because they are usually one of the best around in terms of performance and reliability.

Actually, my purpose of wanting the Thunderbolt 3 is to plug a dock into it.
That's way more comfortable then having a million cables running out of the sides.

Also, with a 1060/1070 dGPU, you won't be needing an eGPU anytime soon. By the time you need a upgrade from those GPU, you will also need more bandwidth than 40Gbps. A 1070/1080 is at the bandwidth limit of 40Gbps.*

[link626]

peggy wrote:
Such a shame.
I've a fan of their desktop parts because they are usually one of the best around in terms of performance and reliability.

Actually, my purpose of wanting the Thunderbolt 3 is to plug a dock into it.
That's way more comfortable then having a million cables running out of the sides.

Also, with a 1060/1070 dGPU, you won't be needing an eGPU anytime soon. By the time you need a upgrade from those GPU, you will also need more bandwidth than 40Gbps. A 1070/1080 is at the bandwidth limit of 40Gbps.*

where did you find information stating that the 1080 pushes 40Gbps?

Even so, the 1080 is a huge upgrade, even if there is a 30% penalty for using thunderbolt as compared to an actual desktop pcie slot

[peggy]

link626 wrote:
where did you find information stating that the 1080 pushes 40Gbps?

Even so, the 1080 is a huge upgrade, even if there is a 30% penalty for using thunderbolt as compared to an actual desktop pcie slot

Check out PCI Express Scaling articles by Techpowerup.*
They tested the last gen AMD/NV Fury/980 cards across different PCIe slots and the PCIe3 x4, which is 40Gbps, limits the cars by 3-10% depending on game and that's for last gen cards.*
Also, if you look at the 1080 benchmarks, those in eGPUs are significantly slower than in a desktop with a similar setup.
*

[link626]

peggy wrote:

Also, if you look at the 1080 benchmarks, those in eGPUs are significantly slower than in a desktop with a similar setup.
*

yeah i know. But hopefully next generation gpu's will not need so much bandwidth, and maybe thunderbolt drivers will be more mature.

[andvoy]

Well looks like ASUS has given us the answer. Official press statement for the ROG XG 2 is out and the GL502VM is on the supported laptops list :cool:

[andvoy]

mconan wrote:
this laptop has a type c connection which is 10gbps, the actual thunderbolt 3 interface is 40gbps. Which was far from clear on the store sites. The issue is , external gfx will not work at this speed, making the whole thing pointless, I too chose this laptop for the option to upgraded to a external gpu in the future, I am pretty unhappy as the information was not clear At All!
Now I am also having issues with the right click on trackpad no longer working, all in all i would love to return the laptop and get something that works as advertised, my last time buying from asus at this point really. on top of this asus told me i am not entitled to a refund from them.

Could you please check if you can see the thunderbolt settings in your BIOS, like in this thread:
https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?88490-Requesting-Information-about-GL502VM-Virtual-Machine...
Also check if you have a Thunderbolt 3 app preinstalled on your latop.

I have both, now I just need to check with a Thunderbolt 3 device.

[Imlorien]

The GL502vm is compatible with the Asus xg station 2 so the laptop must have the thunderbolt 3 port.
https://www.asus.com/Graphics-Cards-Accessory/ROG-XG-STATION-2/#pcs_spec

[link626]

it appears the kaby lake gl502vs might be getting thunderbolt 3 as well.

the GL502vsk has thunderbolt drivers.