A high-end gaming laptop could cost over $2,000 or even $3,000, but if you have a standard laptop, you can get by spending around $1,000, and then you can keep using the external GPU you already have.

If you want to use your thin-and-light laptop for gaming, an external GPU may just be the solution. It gives you extra power only when you need it.

However, if your aging laptop is working sluggishly during games or other demanding applications and can accommodate either OCuLink or Thunderbolt 3 or 4, an eGPU utilizing a mid-range desktop ...

Most external displays are significantly larger than the laptop's 13 to 16" display. Thus, it doesn't make sense to use them side-by-side. In this case, closing the laptop's lid is more sensible.

To prevent the laptop from turning off when closing the lid and using an external monitor on Windows 11, use these steps: Open Control Panel . Click on Hardware and Sound .