How often can we say that we do not compromise on a particular product? The PC industry is awash with products that are studies in compromise, whether it be price versus performance, power versus efficiency, or innovativeness versus compatibility. When it comes to laptops and other portable devices, the compromises become more distinct – especially when it comes to power versus portability. Asus aims to alleviate this little problem with the Republic of Gamer’s XG Station.

                                             Looks like the "Engine Start" button on the dashboard of a sports car.
 

The XG Station is an external device that connects to your laptop through the PC Express slot, the successor of the PCMCIA of yore. It contains a stock 8600GT PCI-E videocard with 256MB of RAM – an older, mid range offering from Nvidia. Basically, the device provide a means to increase your laptop’s graphics capabilities through a simple plug-in device and enables the user to run games that are otherwise too demanding for the laptop. The XG Station looks like a piece of very attractive bumper that fell off an expensive sports car, putting aside the equally impressive looking LCD and knob. Everything feels over-engineered, which is by no means a criticism. A solid feel and the heavy chassis makes it seem like the perfect “docking station” after a hard day’s work for you and your laptop.

                                               First reaction: What the heck is it? Second reaction: Whatever it is, I want one...

                                             Peeking from behind the cool-looking mesh, a desktop 8600GT stands ready to power your laptop graphics.

Other key design cues include the carbon-fibre look of the panels, a steel-like bottom section that feels like it came off a bank vault and painted wrinkle black, and hugger-orange side panels that connotes racing tendencies. The steel mesh is a practical heat dissipation feature that looks great as well. The LCD and large knob speaks for themselves, dominating the front and gives off a definitive “control station” feel. Everything is finished in a hefty manner, and lifting the device could count as a daily exercise regime, if you were so inclined.

                                             It's not as massive as say, a Ford Expedition, but it's plenty massive for a laptop peripheral.

                                             A rear view.

A little back story for the device before we proceed: the XG Station was actually announced in the 2007 CES, and was intended for a Q2 2007 release. For whatever reason, Asus delayed the launch of the device, and fortunately or unfortunately depending on your point of view, no other big-name competitor came out with anything similar. In the meantime, the included graphics card was changed from the 7900 GS to the current 8600GT, which also brings with it a DX9 to DX10 capability upgrade. In the intervening year-and-a-half, some sample units that found their way to tinkerers were disassembled and upgraded with higher-end graphics, so it’s reasonable to assume that it is also possible with this unit.

                                             A look at the unit's right side reveals 2 USB ports and sound jacks for mic-in and speaker-out.

                                             The left side reveals the rear of the 8600GT, with two DVI, TV-out, plus the unit's PC-Express slot and power connector.

A number of connections adorn both sides of the unit, starting with the dual DVI connectors and a TV-out that come standard with the 8600GT. A proprietary connector for plugging into the PC Express slot of a laptop is also located on the left side, along with a 4-pin power connector that leads to a hefty power brick. The right side plays host for dual USB sockets plus mic-in and speaker-out ports. All these connectors work through the PC Express slot’s bandwidth, which means no extra wires to and from your laptop. In addition, the XG must be connected to an external display of some kind, which is a negative point for some, although this gives the user the ability to run 3 monitors at the same time (for normal desktop usage at least).

                                             Exquisite detailing makes you want to own one even if it's a bit limited in function.

The XG Station includes common Asus applications like Gamer OSD, which gives the user the ability to dynamically overclock the core clock of the 8600GT and at the same time provide a safety net for over-enthusiastic overclocking attempts. Asus’ Splendid video playback enhancement technology is also along for the ride – giving the user’s laptop an above average capability in high-resolution video playback. The form, size and capabilities of the XG Station puts it firmly in the “stay-at-home” club, making it a perfect companion for the power-user who carries a super-portable laptop for work at the office but wants to have some wind-down gaming time when he or she gets home after wards. Asus makes the portability versus performance compromise inherent in this situation null and void. The only thing left to consider would be the price versus performance compromise, which I will leave to the reader to determine for themselves. More pictures to follow.

                                              A crazy number of connections was necessary to get the XG up and running; power, external monitor, laptop interface, power for the laptop, power for external monitor, etc etc. A quick look at the work bench.

                                              The LCD only lights up when an external monitor and a laptop is connected and powered up.

                                              The included XG to PC Express slot cable and connector.