FW13 AI5340-RX9060 eGPU project
Hi, I used to be on the FW discord, but I think it's closed now so I'll post my situation here.
I already quit gaming years ago, as between minimum wage jobs, younger siblings, advanced classes, work experience, etc, I was barely sleeping. This was effecting my health and performance.
I also needed a laptop, and thought this brand was worth supporting (consumer rights, sustainability and other values I think are super cool).
So, I sold my pc, kbm, monitor, etc and ordered a FW13 DIY edition (AI 5 340). I then ordered a 16gb stick of memory and a 512gb stick storage from Amazon (this was before the prices went up, so I only paid the equivalent of 84 USD total).
However, the iGPU struggles with basic software I have to use for my classes, e.g. Davinci Resolve and various Arc GIS products. Even the most basic multiplayer games, like CS2 at 1280x960 & low settings, or even Roblox at 1080p & level 3 graphics, don't stay above 60fps. This means I have to use other people's machines, and cannot game, which effects my productivity, social life and mental health.
I thought another stick of ram and an eGPU could solve this, but the resources I have been using (official FW13, egpu.io and LTT forums) have left me thinking the value is bad, as a USB4 to pcie enclosure, 9060XT and 16gb of ddr5 costs as much as my laptop already. And I can't use them without buying a monitor, psu, cables, stand, keyboard etc.
What do you guys think? I'm not asking for financial advice, how much money I should borrow is obviously my own responsibility. I just want to know if you think this is worth it from a purely technical perspective, considering the bottlenecks of USB4, and the current global market prices.
Would you buy a cheaper, used AMD card then upgrade? Or would you purchase a 16 gig one immediately, for longevity, and keep it for a dedicated pc build?
I'd love to hear your ideas, and if you have advice on where else to research or post, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you!