Modding the M17X R4 for eGPU(build research)

Since I have a stable place to live but not a lot of income I've been looking at options to get better performance for gaming, and I've been pushed to 2 different options both with their benefits and downsides.
I'm set on basing the next project which ever option on the R9 290X AMD GPU for single card eyefinity.

Option 1. Build a desktop, which includes everything from the ground up, since I have nothing previous except a mouse keyboard and headset and a couple of old hard drives to contribute to the build.

Option 2. Mod my M17X into a "Desktop" with an eGPU.


The 2nd option I'm researching parts out for it and I'm not exactly sure what I'm suppose to be looking at here. the M17X R4 has a mPCI-E slot under the keyboard and if I remove the optical drive( I don't use it anyways) and manage to squeeze the cables through the slot then I wont need to mod anything.

There's a few items out there i'd need to do this including
the r9 290X GPU, external power supply, Enclosure, mPCI-E to PCI-E adaptor componants.
The cost of option 2 would be Significantly cheaper because of the4 build for a desktop I would go with.
I already have a CPU Motherboard ram ect, and my CPU sits pretty at 4ghz and pulls 10k+ physics in firestrike, which isn't all that much slower than an overclocked i7 3770K, which is still a relevant chip for gaming.

Why go buy a brand new PC?

There are downsides, obviously the GPU will be limited to x1 PCI-E 3.0 spec, but I saw a bench of a GTX 680 drop 8600 using an egpu and an i7 2580(2.5ghz baseclock), which my CPU would out pace it, and I saw a GTX titan run fire strike extreme at x4900+. That's nearly double my 7970M at 972mhz/1225mhz OC'd, (x2500).
I could imagine a R9 290X completely decimating my highest OC bench ever(P7754/Firestrike X2564) with ease.

So no brainer right? Well problem.
I don't know what to get, what items would be appropriate and stuff like that.

The most pratical approach would be DIY, hwtools offers all the parts, but I don't know what parts to get.
I know I need the PCI-E 3.0 adaptor.. or do ? I obviously need to adapt the mPCIE slot inside the machine to outside so first off im thinking I should get a ribbon extender to put it outside the laptops case

This I hope: KZ-B22 (mini PCI Express / MiniCard Extender) so this will provide a way to move the lane outside of the laptop, feed the ribbon out through the optical slot, no mods needed.

But theres the more direct one too...
This: PE4L-PM060A PE4L V2.1 (PCIe Adapter )

the problem I have with this, is that's a mini HDMI cable, and there's an issue I can already see with it, its not flexable enough to be bent and tapped down like a ribbon and 2, I looked at the minipcie slot, and its almost right up to the chassis.

Id have to get the PE4L-PM060A to plug into the extender, or is that the right part?

What about this? PE4H v2.4a + PM3N? It says its PCIE gen1 but this has the full x16 slot in it. From what I understand is that the length of the slot doesn't matter, what does is the source slot, which is PCI-E 3.0 x1
there's a note:
1. PE4H is PCIe 1x bandwidth limit passive adapter in compliance with Expresscard and mPCIe specification
3.Basically, PCIe add-on card designed for desktop. We can’t guarantee it compatibility with your laptop. Depends on OS version, notebook’s BIOS, device driver,
4. Almost PCIe 16x video card can’t get enough memory resource are allocated. Can’t work in your laptop.

So im assuming I wouldn't need a full x16 slot since its pretty much limited to the x1
Also the other one appears to have power input, but the PE4H does not.

I'm thinking I should forget the PE4H.
however the PE4L-PM060A, does have a power input, but what goes into it?

So im assuming the part connectivity should go like this: KZ-B22(extend) --> PE4L-PM060A --> Radeon HD R9 290X

according to the page the default cable length is 60cm, too short for my build plan, I'd need at least 200cm...

All of this is all find and dandy and I think these are the parts I need for DIY outside of what I need to build the run the GPU itself. except, what do I need for that power input on the PM060A adaptor?

But then there's this: EXP GDC

I wonder how I could go about getting this imported? its the same thing but with more built into its adaptor board.

Excuse me if this seems like a pointless ramble but I'm just trying to research things out, so I don't get the wrong parts and end up wasting money, time and effort.

I'd love to run games on ultra at 4800x900, and have easily upgradable GPU options, until this i7 3740QM either quits or just isn't enough, but considering the games I'm playing and will probably keep on playing for the next few years, I don't see that there'd be a big problem with staying with my 4ghz OC'd i7-3740.


As for an enclosure and power support.
I'll be looking into the best possible rated PSU for under 50$ USD, (LEPA or seasonic), along with an actual desktop case that I like, probably the NZXT phantom 530 or BitFenix Colossus M or build something myself. Its not going anywhere anyways, might as well get something pretty. Probably hit up fedex with a brand new piece of artwork to vinyl print and then clear coat on the side. then shove everything inside the case, including mounting a pair of USB hubs inside the case in PCI slots so I have some extra USB ports to play with.
I just need to know what power source the PCIE adaptor piece needs.

Any insight would be appreciated, if I made any mistakes please let me know.

 

Are you even sure the mini pci-e is gen3? If it's from the chipset it may only be gen2.

 

its ivybridge, on HM77, which is primarily PCI-E 3.0 lanes, however periferals appear to be PCIE 2.0 x8 lanes.

From what I understand its backwards compatable anyways because the GPU will support PCI-E 2.0 connectivity.
So I don't know, id have to find the m17X R4's schematics.
Mobile Intel® HM77 Express Chipset: Product Brief

 

True, it's backwards compatible so there should be no problem with that.

 

I also posted this on the arena, but I was curious if you would be able to check that information for me? if that lane is 2.0 or 3.0?