Is there a way to implement an external graphics card on the Helios 500 AMD build?

antihero26
antihero26 Member Posts: 5 New User
edited November 2023 in 2019 Archives
Hello I have the Acer Predator Helios 500 PH517-61-R0GX 
Ryzen 2700
Vega 56
DDR4 16Gb 2400

Has anyone with this build tried to implement an external graphics card?  If so how does one go about setting that up?

Thank you for the help!

Best Answers

  • ven98
    ven98 ACE Posts: 4,073 Pathfinder
    Answer ✓
    Your device doesn't support external GPUs. The AMD helios 500 doesn't have thunderbolt port, which is required for external GPUs. There is another way of connecting an eGPU to your device and it is by removing the wifi card and using the port for the GPU with an adapter.
    This will give a rough idea of what you need:

    Of course beside that you will need a PSU to power the graphics card. The port of the wifi card is with x1 Pcie interface, which means the GPU will be very limited on bandwidth and will perform much worse. It is very possible that even RTX 2080Ti as an external GPU will perform worse than the Vega56.

    Always post the following characterisitcs of the device:
    -Model number
    -Part number(not required, but helpful)
    -CPU
    -GPU
    -Operating system

    Helios 300 and Nitro 5 users DO NOT update the BIOS to version 1.22 if you don't want the keyboard's backlight to turn off after 30 seconds even when the device is plugged in.


    Hit 'Like' if you find the answer helpful!   
    Click on 'Yes' if the comment answers your question!

  • ven98
    ven98 ACE Posts: 4,073 Pathfinder
    Answer ✓
    Theoretically, yes, but that depends if the BIOS supports it. After all the M.2 port is meant for storage. You also have to make sure that the adapter has a 6pin power connector for the PCIe slot, because M.2 is able to provide 25W max, while a x16 or x8 is able to provide 75W. There are many uncertainties involved with this and even with the wifi card's port. In other words it might work or might not work.
    Always post the following characterisitcs of the device:
    -Model number
    -Part number(not required, but helpful)
    -CPU
    -GPU
    -Operating system

    Helios 300 and Nitro 5 users DO NOT update the BIOS to version 1.22 if you don't want the keyboard's backlight to turn off after 30 seconds even when the device is plugged in.


    Hit 'Like' if you find the answer helpful!   
    Click on 'Yes' if the comment answers your question!

Answers

  • ven98
    ven98 ACE Posts: 4,073 Pathfinder
    Answer ✓
    Your device doesn't support external GPUs. The AMD helios 500 doesn't have thunderbolt port, which is required for external GPUs. There is another way of connecting an eGPU to your device and it is by removing the wifi card and using the port for the GPU with an adapter.
    This will give a rough idea of what you need:

    Of course beside that you will need a PSU to power the graphics card. The port of the wifi card is with x1 Pcie interface, which means the GPU will be very limited on bandwidth and will perform much worse. It is very possible that even RTX 2080Ti as an external GPU will perform worse than the Vega56.

    Always post the following characterisitcs of the device:
    -Model number
    -Part number(not required, but helpful)
    -CPU
    -GPU
    -Operating system

    Helios 300 and Nitro 5 users DO NOT update the BIOS to version 1.22 if you don't want the keyboard's backlight to turn off after 30 seconds even when the device is plugged in.


    Hit 'Like' if you find the answer helpful!   
    Click on 'Yes' if the comment answers your question!

  • antihero26
    antihero26 Member Posts: 5 New User
    What about the M.2 ports since those are also pcie would they work as well?
  • ven98
    ven98 ACE Posts: 4,073 Pathfinder
    Answer ✓
    Theoretically, yes, but that depends if the BIOS supports it. After all the M.2 port is meant for storage. You also have to make sure that the adapter has a 6pin power connector for the PCIe slot, because M.2 is able to provide 25W max, while a x16 or x8 is able to provide 75W. There are many uncertainties involved with this and even with the wifi card's port. In other words it might work or might not work.
    Always post the following characterisitcs of the device:
    -Model number
    -Part number(not required, but helpful)
    -CPU
    -GPU
    -Operating system

    Helios 300 and Nitro 5 users DO NOT update the BIOS to version 1.22 if you don't want the keyboard's backlight to turn off after 30 seconds even when the device is plugged in.


    Hit 'Like' if you find the answer helpful!   
    Click on 'Yes' if the comment answers your question!

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