DIY eGPU experiences

Please post the computer model & full specification. Without this information it's difficult to advice you. Also please boot with eGPU Setup 1.x & take a screenshot of Setup 1.x main screen. To access the screenshot in windows:-

1. navigate to C:\eGPU folder
2. double-click eGPU-Setup-mount.bat file
3. navigate to V:\
4. screenshot can be found in DIAG folder.

Post the screenshot here.

Anyway, Optimus setup (x1.Opt) only possible if your computer have Intel 4500MHD or HD Graphics or HD 3000 iGPU.

If your notebook have Intel HD Graphics, you can do Optimus setup, x1.Opt. So, you only need one mini-PCIe port or ExpressCard slot. x1.Opt is better than x2. Series 5 chipset have PCIe v2.0 2.5GB/s. Only Series 6 chipset have PCIe v2.0 5GB/s (<-- the later is called x1 2.0 in this thread to differentiate between the two chipset). On side note, x2 2.0 is not possible on Series 6 chipset due to hardware/BIOS configuration. Only x1 2.0 is possible with Series 6 chipset but no eGPU kit can support it yet.

In your case, no advantage at all. You only need to use one PCIe connection if you do x1.Opt with Nvidia eGPU.

Optimus only engaged at x1 link.

Because you have Intel HD Graphics, recommend getting a Nvidia card. GTX460 or GTX560 Ti are my choice. Avoid dual-GPU card.

 

This is correct one:-

HTML:

[URL='http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/2396/img20110831160530.jpg'][img]http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/2396/img20110831160530.jpg[/img][/URL]
[URL='http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/11/img20110831160512.jpg'][img]http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/11/img20110831160512.jpg[/img][/URL]

(removed the " \" character)
Will look like this:-



EDIT: Sorry, just want to confirm again. Did you use nando's modified INF file?

 

I thought you switch the modded INF file after the driver installs? The installer just plain refuses to install, it says no hardware detected...
And thanks for the html tip, that was embarassing.

 

<strike>Congratulation! I will add " FAQ #2: even after successful compaction I still get a error12 in windows" in eGPU Troubleshooting FAQ page.</strike>
Which method did you use to solve the problem?
" FAQ #2: even after successful compaction I still get a error12 in windows"@ http://forum.notebookreview.com/7375587-post3465.html?
or
Using another mini-PCIe port?
or
Sleep/connect/resume method?

In your DIAG folder, the PCI.bat is not created. I failed to noticed it before. This is compaction bug though. nando is looking into it.

 

Oh sorry I misinterpreted those instructions, it seems to be working now...I hope. Moment of truth will come soon I have it set to Generation 1, we'll see if it goes to 2.0 when I turn it back to Automatic.

btw, sorry if this is a stupid question but can I use the same nvam.inf for say, 280.26?

 

[/QUOTE]
Anyway, Optimus setup (x1.Opt) only possible if your computer have Intel 4500MHD or HD Graphics or HD 3000 iGPU.


If your notebook have Intel HD Graphics, you can do Optimus setup, x1.Opt. So, you only need one mini-PCIe port or ExpressCard slot. x1.Opt is better than x2. Series 5 chipset have PCIe v2.0 2.5GB/s. Only Series 6 chipset have PCIe v2.0 5GB/s (<-- the later is called x1 2.0 in this thread to differentiate between the two chipset). On side note, x2 2.0 is not possible on Series 6 chipset due to hardware/BIOS configuration. Only x1 2.0 is possible with Series 6 chipset but no eGPU kit can support it yet.

In your case, no advantage at all. You only need to use one PCIe connection if you do x1.Opt with Nvidia eGPU.

Optimus only engaged at x1 link.

Because you have Intel HD Graphics, recommend getting a Nvidia card. GTX460 or GTX560 Ti are my choice. Avoid dual-GPU card.[/QUOTE]

Okay got it all and was this close to ordering the PE4L, but I am going to be using an my internal display so I thought that yes x1.opt is faster than x2, but I would be taking a hit on x1.opt b/c of the int. display. Should I go with x2 (PE4H) since there is no possibility of ext. display or is x1.opt still better with this setup?

Also I am looking at a MSI N560GTX-Ti Twin Frozr II 1GB. Is this adequate to run Crysis 2 and maybe Bioshock Infinite when it comes out?

 

I don't think so. nando released different nvam.inf for different driver version. Can you check the eGPU hardware id, for example like this:-

Code:

PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0405&SUBSYS_15D21043

Check it against the original INF file.

 

x1.Opt still better than x2.

I dunno for sure but look like some people recommended GTX560 Ti for Crysis 2.

 

Okay good news, my eGPU is working, and GPU-Z tells me it is working at PCI-E x16 @ x1.1, as it should be. Now for the Generation 2 test

 

SUCCESS!


Alright I suppose I need to do some benchmarks.

 

hi mate, i used "FAQ #2: even after successful compaction I still get a error12 in windows" that you suggested and now i can have my egpu perfectly working ! thank you mate , great job .

 

Okay! Here it is:
NVIDIA GeForce GT 240 video card benchmark result - Intel Core i5-2410M Processor,LENOVO 4286CTO score: 8977 3DMarks

Any idea if this looks right? No one really has used a GT240 with a Arrandale/Sandybridge. It's between the performance of a GT540m and GT525M, which I suppose seems about right.

First x1.2 Opt setup? I hope so. With my GTX460 hopefully we'll have some interesting results

Summary:

1. Take 4 pin MALE molex connector, solder to poles. Joint will be sketchy at best since there is practically no clearance between the wires, but anything that holds it in place will do. I used electrical tape to insulate 12V, GND, and 5V, GND, since I had a nasty short 2 days ago. Not going to risk it.

2. Plug everything in, that means molex connected to PSU too, with Win7 running.

3. Run driver installination for nVidia. After copying files, it will give you an error saying hardware not detected.

4. Replace nvam.inf as instructed in the "modded drivers" link in the yellow bar on the first post of this thread.

5. Rerun setup.exe from nVidia folder where the folder containing nvam.inf was. It should install.

6. Enjoy!

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/12/img20110831160530.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/3/img20110831160512.jpg/

EDIT: So with Intel HD3000 on BFBC2, I had to turn down my resolution to 1024x768, set refresh to 50Hz, FOV to 50 degrees, everything low to make it playable. Now I am getting higher framerates with high settings on 1920x1080 resolution. BF3 here I come.

 

I have reading quiet a lot and frankly some things are still fuzzy to me. Highly appreciate any help..

1>Does Express card and mPCIe provide the same performance?

2>Is x2 link(EC2C and mPCIe) required if i am going to game/require eGPU for external monitor only?

3>Does a laptop with dGPU 6770 provide the same performance as eGPU 6770 for external monitor?

4> How can i find the TOLUD of a laptop?

Am looking fore a thin n light Laptop after knowing abt eGPU,rather than gaming one.
It is my understanding that Lenovo's are no more viable option dude to their bios limitations.
Therefore turned to HP, Dell or Asus. Dell were more heavy so i opted for Hp's or Asus.So after much research i have short listed
a)HP probook 4430s
b) Dv4-3016tx(ATI6750 dGPU/not sure if its switchable).
c)probably N45SF(unknown price/availablity)

The first two fit my bill. But i am not sure if Dv4 has a accessible WLAN card from back panel or is it under the Keyboard.
Any other suggestions on laptop would be really helpful.. I have been looking at the nando's SB notebook compilation to make my decision.

Non-eGPU question:-
5> If i change the CPU , do i need to change drivers or bios or anything?(from i5 dual core to i7 quad)

 

Where I can buy 4500MHD iGPU / HD3000 / 4500MHD / Intel HD to upgrade my laptop. I googled for those terms but didn't find relevant results.

Thanks.

 

Congrats! <strike>How did you able to install the driver? Installed manually?</strike> (Never mind. Saw your previous post.)

Congratulation!

Yes, both deliver same performance.

x2 (either EC2C & mini-PCIE or mini-PCIe & mini-PCIe - depend on the PCIe arrangement on your notebook) is preferred if you use ATI eGPU or doesn't have Intel 4500MHD or HD Graphics or HD 3000 iGPU.

With x2 link, eGPU HD6770 might outperform dGPU HD6770M <strike>just a bit</strike>.

• ATI HD6770M: 3dMark Vantage 6495
• ATI HD6770: 3dMark Vantage 10688

On x2 link, approximately eGPU will perform 80% from it actual strength. So, 10688 * (80 / 100) = 8550.4.

You need to have access to the laptop to know the TOLUD. Look in Device Manager window, set View to " Resources by connection" & expand the Memory tree. Look for first PCI bus with 8 digits memory address.

i5 dual-core will do fine.

 

Thanks kizwan... That was really helpful..

How do i figure out this layout(EC2C&mPciE or mPciE&mPciE)?

 

Kizwan, nando4 can you please help me out on upgrade GPU as previously recommended by nando4.

Thanks.

 

Regarding your question on the HD6770M vs HD6770, I did simple calculation. eGPU roughly will perform 80% from it actual strength with x2 link.

• ATI HD6770M: 3dMark Vantage 6495
• ATI HD6770: 3dMark Vantage 10688

10688 * (80 / 100) = 8550.4

So, look like HD6770 will outperform HD6770M but not too much though.

 

You can not upgrade iGPU. iGPU is integrated GPU. Notebook need to come with it for it to be available.

 

Bit of an update after playing some Battlefield:
In a 16 player game all was well, but in a 32 player game I experienced "lag" in the form of the game freezing for about half a second at a time and then "fast forwarding". I suppose there is still a limit to the x1 link.

Anyone with a Lenovo Sandybridge Thinkpad have any idea how to overclock the PCI-e bus?

 

That is a great news! Thanks for trying!

Do you guys think we can ask HWTOOL to produce similar adapter with a proper plug for power? Also, as I can see the card should be pluged only "backwards", means with a bigger/wider card (2 slots) there might not be enought room between the PCIe and the laptop. What do you think?

D

 

Yea that's definitely an issue, as is, the highest point on the card is right over the edge of the keyboard, so I get my finger in it when pressing say, shift. With a thicker card I think I'd have to just use another keyboard.

Actually they did a pretty good job just providing the places to wire in power, I think they could've spaced them more though. It is seriously impossible to not short stuff when they're spaced so close.

 

Then is it ok for me to proceed for eGpu with current notebook? Which kit I should order?

Thanks.

 

Your notebook have PCIe port1=mPCIe & port2=ExpressCard. So you'll need PE4H-EC2C ver2.4 Package & PM3N card for x2 setup.

 

Finally got myself a z13, next step DIY Vidock!

 

Will you please give me link for x2 setup which is simple to understand for non-technical person?

Thanks.

 

Please go to my eGPU Experience post (link in my signature). There you can see pictures showing the physical connection for x2 link - I'm using 2 x mPCIe cards. Using Setup 1.x to set x2 link also not complex. Just choose PCIe Ports \ x2 link.

 

Hi again, today i got the 1.5m mHDMI cables from DX. So i will now try to setup the HD6670 in x2-mode at PCIE-ports 3 and 4 using WinXP.

Now i start using Setup 1.x and i seem to be a total noob.

In a WinXP shell i do like described here:

:: Install files, defrag disk image
c:\eGPU\setup-disk-image

:: Mount disk image as V:
c:\eGPU\eGPU-Setup-mount

:: Create devcon.txt file
v:\devcon\mkdevcon -> but this doesn't work

This message appears:
[mkdevcon] ERROR - failed to create V:\config\devcon.txt. Ensure UAC=off and you are an admin user. T

But i am an admin user. Does the eGPU needs to be connected? I did this without eGPU.

 

<strike>Does UAC already OFF?</strike> (sorry, missed "winxp" there)

 

Looks like the 32/64-bit detection routine is buggy on XP. So manually create devcon.txt by running:

Code:

v:\devcon\devcon resources ACPI\PNP* > v:\config\devcon.txt 

 

How many PM3N cards are required? I see 2 cards in pictures. Does it require some extra cable or just one PE4H package + one PM3N card?

Thanks.

 

UAC is used in Vista/7, but noch in XP, isn't it?

Thanks nando, your code created the file.

What does the file do? Is it somewhere explained? Because i didn't really get the point. Also the part with the TOLUD. What is the definition of TOLUD?

In my Vostro 1500 the max. ram without eGPU is 3.5GB, with eGPU it is 3.25GB. Is this important for the devcon?

 

Now you're getting confused. Don't I already told you which kit do you need at post #5277? (However, I forgot about the cable. ) In addition to the kit, you'll need 2 x mini-HDMI cable. HWtools called this cable PCIEMM-030, PCIEMM-060A & PCIEMM-100, where the length is 30cm, 60cm-flat-cable & 100cm respectively. Choose which one you want. 30cm cable will be a bit constricted. So, 2 x PCIEMM-060A OR 2 x PCIEMM-100 are good choice.

 

Sorry, my mistake. Missed the "winxp" in your previous post.

Yes, this is already explained in Setup 1.x post (read " Step 2"): http://forum.notebookreview.com/6295529-post641.html

TOLUD is acronym for Top of Low Used DRAM Register. TOLUD defined available PCI space & usable system memory.

Look like TOLUD is not hardcoded/ static on your notebook which is not common. This is good thing. To allow eGPU to have enough PCI space, TOLUD on your computer automatically adjust (lowered) & this causing usable RAM to reduced too.

 

I bought my new card (Gigabyte GTX 560 TI OC). I did everything the same way as I did with my previous card (HD 4870). I started win7 and simply plugged in the EC with the card powered on. Win7 noticed it and installed the driver automatically. Then restarded windows and installed the latest driver 280.26 without any problem. Then plugged in the card again, but nothing happens. The device manager shows the card, but with a problem (error code 43). Any idea? Do I need the modified driver from this page? My laptop is the old one still, so no optimus possibility. Is it possible that I need to do something different because I switched to NVidia card from AMD?

Thanks!

Newermind, it is working now! Will send the test results soon!

 

I really need some help here with this Optimus crap here.

So my model is an Sony Vaio VPCF1190X Laptop and I followed the instructions for installing the program/driver.

I first checked if my card was compatible for this tweak; it was; it is 460GTX Zotac

Then I tried to check what Intel Chip I was using. So far the Intel IGP program doesn't support 64 bit systems so I am still in the dark about that.

So then I did the next step: installed the new drivers and the edited nvam file and got that to work.

But now when I check it still doesn't show me that I don't have optimus installed and its tell me that my band with is at 115 mb! (curtosy of GPU-Z). Please I need some good help with this.

 

notebookcheck tells me the VPCF1190X has a 1st gen i7 quad. They don't have an iGPU on them so the Optimus tweak will not engage. It has a GT330M and uses a PM55 chipset.

 

Thanks for saving me from bashing my head on the key board in frusteration

Anyhow, I have one more question: it says here on your first post:

"Link two x1 ExpressCard and/or mPCIe ports to get a x2 link, like hwtools' PE4H does."

How do I achieve this? I know how blatantly noobish of a question that was, but I am utterly confused on how to dual link it.

 

Ok so I got a pe4h, a 19v 6.3A 120w dc power supply and a gts 450. I wired it up as nando described and the graphics card doesn't spin up. Any idea what I could be doing wrong? I've only seen pe4l dc implementations, anyone have any experience with pe4h? Help please

 

The port requirements to do x2 are covered in the first post. You'd need to confirm that have an accessible mPCIe+expresscard or mPCIe+mPCIe that map out to port1+2, port3+4, port5+6 or port7+8. Do that by attaching a device to the mPCIe and expresscard slot and seeing what port number they appear on in Aida64.

PE4H DC jack does 15-19V to 12V regulation with the power being used to drive the slot [up to 75W]. A PE4L doesn't do any DC voltage regulation hence could split the 12V line so could attach the 6pin pci-e connectors as well. This is why there aren't any > 75W PE4H implementations using the DC jack.

A GTS450 requires up to 106W of power so it has an additional 6pin pci-e connector.

You could technically do the 12V power splitting idea with a PE4H but you'd be modding the PE4H to pass-thru 12V input OR would be using the floppy molex 12V+GND as input. Your 19V AC adapter would need to be replaced by a 12V unit if wishing to try that.

The simplest solution is to use a ATX PSU with your PE4H OR a get a PE4L so can split a 12V/120W AC adapter's power.

 

Nando, glad that you're back.

can you read a pages back and tell me if the pe4h is bought is faulty?

 

Ok got it. Today I will order kit and 60cm flat cable.

Thanks.

 

Wow thanks for the quick response. That makes sense I guess, I ordered the pe4l as mentioned in the examples but harmonic inversion was out of stock after they took my order and they offered to send me a pe4h instead. I do have a 12v adapter as I'd ordered it beforehand.

"would be using the floppy molex 12V+GND as input."

can you please expand on this? If I have a 12V 120W adapter, what do I need to do short of modding the pe4h to do that? Again, thanks so much for the help.

 

Need your GTX560 to appear on the PCI bus as a starting point. Simplest test is to power on the system, power on your PE4H+GTX460, hotplug the EC2C into the expresscard slot then check with either Aida64 or Setup 1.x to see if the GTX560 is shown in the pci-e port listing. In Setup 1.x can also use Video cards->NVidia-nvflash to display any detected NVidia cards.

A GTX560 requires 150-160W TDP peak so not a high powered device. Fuse bypassing therefore isn't necessary as Redtron Tech may have hinted at.

 

Has anyone here actually ordered from harmonic inversion? I placed my order a week ago and it doesn't seem to have shipped yet even though it says on their site that the PE4H is in stock; I sent them 2 emails but they have not responded. Is this a reputable company? It doesn't seem like they are to me.

 

I ordered mine a month or so back. I ordered the pe4l but they called me the next day saying that they were out of stock and offered to send a pe4h at no extra charge. I personally didn't have any problems with them though they unwittingly ruined my planned egpu implementation

 

That's who I ordered mine from and had it four days after ordering. You can call them directly and speak with a rep. That would be my first course of action before making any rash decisions.

 

The non-flat cable is easier to work with, bending to accomodate so is recommended over flat cable. The flat cable isn't pci-e 2.0 specced as yet so only real reason to get it would be if wanting over 2m of cable length or if were somehow threading it in your system where a thinner profile is preferred. Not many users would be in that situation so the non-flat cable would be better suited for most users.

 

ok thanks for telling. Two PCIEMM-100 cables should be fine isn't it?

Thanks.

 

I just realized that with the adapter I am getting tomorrow, that either the laptop or the graphics card is going to have to be upside down since the E2C2 and PE4H connectors are opposite from each other.

Well this is a nice complication.

Update:
OK my graphics card is now upside down! A pillow was involved. Ready for 5.0gt/s!