Chestnut – eGPU dock with open-source firmware • Hacker News Board

Re: Chestnut – eGPU dock with open-source firmware

#51

Post by roosterIllusi0n » Tue, Aug 18, 2026, 9:48 AM UTC

gymbeaux wrote: post #40

Gracana wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm surprised that it's pretty much the same as the adapters you can get on aliexpress. Not even a case to protect it from feet in the passenger footwell. Especially compared to the windshield-mount unit, which looks like a very slick product. I suppose they can always improve it if there is interest in this first version.

It’s an incredibly dumb implementation and it feels like yet another case of “AI startup gettin’ while the gettin’s good”. It’s the dotcom bubble all over again. Do anything with AI and people will buy what you’re selling. The RX 9060 has a TDP of 160W, but that’s the high end of what you can continuously draw from the 12v DC plug in a car, so it looks like they cap it at 100W. It has to be on the floor or under the…

You forgot to ask "does it work". If the answer is yes, then what is the complaint? They can let other people 3d print cases and make wiring harnesses.

Re: Chestnut – eGPU dock with open-source firmware

#52

Post by eikonoklastess » Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 12:28 AM UTC

Numerlor wrote: post #9

shrinks99 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're like me and also wondered "huh, what's tinygrad up to?" apparently they now let you place $100,000 USD pre-orders on a $10M shipping container full of GPUs which they say will ship (literally it seems) in 2027.

They're claiming a lot, but don't have much to show for it

actually they arent claiming much. and they already are doing better than 99% of other companies by having a buy button on their product page.

Re: Chestnut – eGPU dock with open-source firmware

#53

Post by eikonoklastess » Wed, Aug 19, 2026, 1:03 AM UTC

bellowsgulch wrote: post #14

Two things: 1. they have a cheap fuse (cents on the dollar) that’s not automotive-grade so your windshield mounted device fails in hot weather and doesn’t last past the hardware warranty. Known issue, doubt they ever fixed it. 2. 1B parameter model to stay between two lines. Why. Waste of time. Their product hasn’t actually changed in several years because they will never advance past lane keeping SAE Level 2. I susp…

comma 4 was built from the ground up to avoid this problem. also they are building it in the us for about 500$ the 1000$ price tag isnt super unreasonable.

Re: Chestnut – eGPU dock with open-source firmware

#54

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Aug 21, 2026, 5:04 AM UTC

eikonoklastess wrote: post #53

bellowsgulch wrote: post #14

Two things: 1. they have a cheap fuse (cents on the dollar) that’s not automotive-grade so your windshield mounted device fails in hot weather and doesn’t last past the hardware warranty. Known issue, doubt they ever fixed it. 2. 1B parameter model to stay between two lines. Why. Waste of time. Their product hasn’t actually changed in several years because they will never advance past lane keeping SAE Level 2. I susp…

comma 4 was built from the ground up to avoid this problem. also they are building it in the us for about 500$ the 1000$ price tag isnt super unreasonable.

[deleted]