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    [Request]eGPU How-to?

    Discussion in 'e-GPU (External Graphics) Discussion' started by ssassassa9, Jan 19, 2012.

  1. ssassassa9

    ssassassa9 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have a Toshiba M900 with these specs

    Processor 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU P8700
    Memory 4GB
    Hard drive 320GB 5,400rpm
    Chipset Intel PM45
    Graphics Nvidia GeForce 310M(GT218M)

    And these are the PCIe ports I have:
    [​IMG]

    My laptop looks like this:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    So what I'm wondering is whether I am able to setup an eGPU with equivalent performance as the 2x link setup. I did my homework reading through the information on this forum already but I still have no idea how to do it. Any help provided would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
     
    ssassassa9, Jan 19, 2012
    #1
  2. User Retired 2

    User Retired 2 Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

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    You have:

    port1 = SD controller
    port2= wifi
    port4=empty (probably expresscard slot)
    port6=lan

    So you can't do a x2 link using [port1+2] since LAN is port1; nor can you do it using [port5+6] since the LAN is port6. Leaving the only remaining possibility being [port3+4]. Problem there is you don't have a port3 however your pic of the wifi card shows two sets of pads for mPCIe connectors that Toshiba didn't provide. If you wanted to solder on those connectors then it may mean one is port3 and you could do a x2 link. Unforunately I wasn't able to find a schematic that could tell me without doing such system probing.

    Do note that when you run a x2 [port3+4] it switches port1 into x2 mode (an Intel limitation) so port2 (wifi) would need to be disconnected to prevent it acting as lane2 of the SD controller and freezing the system. So no concurrent wifi while running x2 using port3+4 for you.

    You can decide if you are prepared to go to the trouble of getting it to work. If you are in the US then I'd advise to offload the system and buy an inexpensive Dell E6320/E6420 or Lenovo E420 with an expresscard 2.0. It will outperform your system by quite a margin at a similar pricepoint when you factor in the extra cost a x2 1.0 capable PE4H 2.4 costs over a x1 2.0 capable PE4L 2.1 + hassle of soldering + connectors.
     
    User Retired 2, Jan 19, 2012
    #2
  3. DEagleson

    DEagleson Gamer extraordinaire

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    Edit: I knew i that i write to slow. :3

     
    DEagleson, Jan 19, 2012
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  4. ssassassa9

    ssassassa9 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Alright, seems like an eGPU aint a solution for me, I'm so sick of the GPU i have now... nVidia G 310M, I can't even run NFS smoothly except in 800x600 resolution.. Anyway thanks for your help guys :D Really do appreciate it.
     
    ssassassa9, Jan 19, 2012
    #4