Can my HP Envy - 15 support an external GPU?

[ElijahBoyette]

I would like an external gpu for a little bit more gaming power and wouldnt like to spend more than $200. Im thinking maybe a gtx 760 or maybe something a little bit more powerful. Which GPU's could i use around that range? Aslo im thinking the best way to do this would be using a USB 3.1 port which has a 10 gbs bandwidth and the gtx 760 has a 6gbs memory speed so that should work right? Im hesistant to connect to the mPCLE because to get to it i have to take off the whole bottom of my computer. Anyways i just got this computer and im exploring upgrade capabilities. Thanks in advance.

[Huffer]

USB 3.1 does not have sufficient bandwidth to support a gaming type video card. You might be able to find a video card for $200 but the mPCIe slot would be your only means of connecting it and the rig needed to connect the video card and other parts you need would bring the cost to much more than $200. You need an external power supply, a cable going to the mPCIe slot and a dock to put the video card in and then an external monitor. 

And then, bottom line, the performance of these rigs is disppointing because the mPCIe slot is 1 x bandwidth and on a desktop a PCIx slot for a video card is 8x or 16x. But people have gotten them to work and actually get fairly decent frame rates. This shows hooking an eGPU to an expresscard slot which your laptop does not have:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2984716/laptop-computers/how-to-transform-your-laptop-into-a-gaming-p...

https://www.amazon.com/Laptop-External-PCI-Graphics-Card/dp/B00Q4VMLF6

I also worry about heat and, as you mention, you have to leave the laptop half torn apart while you run this rig. Not ideal. USB-C Thunderbolt 3 is going to change all this. You will have a single port which will provide direct access to all the power the CPU can generate. Some laptop makers allow USB-C external video and others do not, however. 

Good luck.