DIY eGPU experiences

Roy50's T400 port listing shows port3=mPCIe (turbo memory) and port4=expresscard slot. So you could do a x2 link using port3+4. However since you have a 4500MHD I'd recommend a x1.Opt link instead with the cheapest possible GTS450 or GTX460 you can find. It will be a simpler solution, give internal LCD functionality, allow concurrent wifi usage, be the best bang-per-buck setup and be a good candidate to do a x1.2Opt installation if you upgrade to a Series-6 system like a T420 or X220.

Update on pci-e 2.0 cabling from bplus copied from the eGPU PCIe 2.0 and Thunderbolt update

We see bplus are going to try an active transmitter/receiver pair solution specifically designed for reliable pci-e 2.0 signal transmission over copper.

2011-9-3: GerryChen

 

thanks nando,

I'm gonna see if I can get the HD4670 working before I buy a new card. Then perhaps I'll upgrade

 

Big thx again!
Before i read your posts i managed to make the hd-audio a unknown device again. Now x2 is stable again and 3dmark2006 runs properly. Even with port 4 still active.

I will not install the hd-audio-drivers again. But i added the code to startup.bat and will see the result when i boot next time. It is really strange because i manually deactivate port4 in setup 1.x when egpu is detected and runs at x2

Now i can reproduce the procedure to run x2.

What i do to get x2 is the following:
1) Put the WLAN card to the WWAN-mpcie-slot(port1). WLAN-mpcie-slot would be port2.
2) Connect lane1(egpu) to port3(mpcie) and lane2(egpu) to port4(ec), then turn on laptop
3) deactivate LAN and card-reader in Bios(if not done already)
4) Boot to setup 1.x, egpu still turned off
5) activate pcie-port3
6) set pcie-port3 to x2(this also sets port 1 to x2 and deactivates port2 and port4)
7) turn on egpu
8) reboot to setup 1.x, egpu is detected now and runs at x2
9) deactivate port4
10 reboot to windows(port4 still seems to be active, as shown in aida)

 

That's because you are rebooting where the bios changes pci-e details. You want to chainload to Windows instead.

You'd need a two-pass 'automated startup via startup.bat' (\config\startup.bat) like below since you have to reboot to get a x2 link going midstream. Just 5mins ago I sent the same info to Kizwan so talk about synchronicity!!

Code:

@echo off
:: enable disk caching to speedup processing time
call speedup lbacache

:: Check if doing pass1 or pass2
if exist %DRV%:\config\pass2.txt goto pass2

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:pass1
printf "\nDoing Pass1:  setup the x2 link and reboot to activate it.\n\n"
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

:: Ensure HD6670 is on the pci-e bus
call vidwait 60 1002:6758

:: enable x2 link mode on port3, which disables port2+4
:: and as a side-effect sets port1 to x2 width
call iport x2 3

:: Create pass2 flagging file
echo pass2 > %DRV%:\config\pass2.txt

:: reboot to get x2 link going. Re-select the Setup 1.x
:: 'automated startup via startup.bat' to run pass2
reboot

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:pass2
printf "\nDoing Pass2:  ensure valid x2 link is seen,  run PCI"
printf "\ncompaction's resultant pci.bat and chainload to XP.\n\n"
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

:: Delete pass2 flagging file so next run will do pass1
del %DRV%:\config\pass2.txt

:: enable x2 link mode on port3, which disables port2+4
:: and as a side-effect sets port1 to x2 width
call iport x2 3

:: visually confirm in 5secs the iport output shows [email protected]
call wait_e 5 "Confirm [email protected] else CTRL+ALT+DEL and try again"

:: Run result of last PCI compaction if it was run
if exist pci.bat call pci

:: Chainload to WinXP (change mbr to xp below if using
:: grub2 bootloader to bypass an additional hop)
call grub4dos mbr

 

AIDA64 reported eGPU is running at x2 & Port4 is enabled? As nando pointed out, you'll need the two-pass script to prevent Port4 from re-enabled.

On my Dell, I don't need the two-pass script because Port2 is remain disabled after reboot.

 

kimchoo you do realize your i5-470UM 1.33 [email protected] installation will run Crysis 2 significantly faster if you connect an external LCD to the GTX550Ti? Running it using Optimus' internal LCD mode means the x1 1.0 link has use a part of the bandwidth to send display traffic to animate the internal LCD.

 

Yes, port4 is shown active in aida. Port2 remains deactivated.

 

Wait. I wrote " On my Dell, I don't need the two-pass script because Port2 is remain disabled after reboot." because I'm using mPCIe Port1 & Port2 for x2. That is why Port2 is disabled. Yours use mPCIe Port3 & Port4. So, In your case mPCIe Port4 need to be disabled. Did you tried the two-pass script?

 

I'm a noob with an MSI A6200-021, gtx460, and 600w mod xtream pro psu. The video card has two 6 pin connections. I can't get my computer to "see" the video card, and it seems like my PSU is not properly hooked up to my videocard, though I found instructions elsewhere that described how to properly connect my card to my PSU.

The cables I am using have 8 pin male connections on one side, and 6 pin male connections on the other (I don't know the proper names for these). One of the 6 pin ends has an extra two pin separate piece. So I have the 6 pin sides plugged into the card (with the extra 2 pin piece dangling) and the 8 pin ends plugged into the PSU, the PSU is on and its fan is spinning, yet my video card does not turn on at this point and only one green led on the PE4H comes on, the one that signals that the vidock is connected to the expresscard slot in my laptop. In addition my computer doesn't register any activity. However, when I plug my DC adapter into the PE4H, the other LED comes on and the videocard's fan starts spinning. If I then turn off the PSU the fan spins faster. With the DC adapter plugged in, I did the "boot, sleep, insert expresscard adapter" routine and it said drivers were installing, but when I went to the device manager, all that was listed under the display adapters were Intel HD graphics. Then if I try to install the Verde drivers provided on page 123, at the end of the process I get a popup saying the comp can't find compatible hardware. I also did that process with only the DC adapter in, and the PSU off, same result. I would be so appreciative if someone could explain to me what I'm doing wrong. Here are pics of my setup:

 

You forgot to connect the floppy power connector to PE4H.

 

Ah thanks so much! I've got my monitor up and running through the video card.

 

Please post your installation and benchmark results similarly to this if you want to be included on the first page, or at the very least the 3dmark06 and RE5 benchmark results with the GTX460's HDMI audio disabled. You'd give us the the fifth MSI DIY eGPU implementation.

 

I just wanted to point out this strange(in my eyes) behaviour. Even though port3 runs at x2 and i deactivate port4, it reactivates itself when rebooting and port3 stays at x2. The next step for me is implement the script and get in touch with the concept of chainloading. I will try it tonight.

But anyhow the way it is now seems to be also stable. But if i would install hd-audio-drivers i could not deactivate them. While doing so i get a bosd even at x1 without using setup 1.x. The consequence for me is to let the an unknown device in device manager with a big questionmark.

 

On my notebook, if chainload after setting x2 link, eGPU is not detected. Need to Reboot & then straight boot into windows. Fortunately, on my Dell, mPCIe Port2 remain disabled.

In your case mPCIe Port4 re-enabled after reboot. So need to use the two-pass script. Actually, there are two methods (including the two-pass script).

Your procedure is correct, except at #10, should Chainload instead of reboot:-

The two-pass script is useful to automated the procedure.

 

Wow, nice faq-post you did. I totally missed it til now. Will try it tonight when i m home

 

I'm still wondering how I can do system upgrade? Where should I look for it? I will love to go for it if there is such possibility.

Thanks.

 

"system upgrade" means you'll need to "upgrade" your notebook to better one. Meaning sell current notebook & buy better one:-

Any notebook with Intel 4500MHD, Intel HD or HD 3000 is preferred. You can't buy & install Intel 4500MHD, Intel HD or HD 3000 on your current notebook. It is integrated - came with the motherboard/processor.

 

Oh I see that is not possible for me right now and I already ordered kit for x2. I checked link in your signature but it is still not clear for me how I'm going deal with it (dell vostro 1510, 1 x PE4H-EC2C ver2.4 Package, 1 x PM3N card, 2 x PCIEMM-100 cable). Is there some article to demonstrate how to do it. Sorry for asking it in little advance.

Thanks.

 

Do you know how to connect EC2C to ExpressCard slot? and PM3N to mPCIe port?
- PCIe ports you're going to use on the PE4H are x1 & x2

- Plugged in EC2C to ExpressCard slot (PCIe Port2)
- Plugged in PM3N card to mPCIe Port1

Use the two cables (PCIEMM-100) to connect PE4H & EC2C & PM3N:-
- PE4H's PCIe port x1 connected with EC2C (PCIe Port2)
- PE4H's PCIe port x2 connected with PM3N (PCIe Port1)

Connect power connector from PSU to PE4H & GPU:-
- Floppy power connector to PE4H
- 6-pin PCIe power connector to GPU (if GPU required two 6-pin PCIe power connector, make sure plugged in both)

This is connection alone. We'll work on how to configure them after you received everything. Anyway, roughly, you might need to do like this:-

1. Install Setup 1.x. (You can do this now to get familiar with it.)
2. Connected everything.
3. Power on system. eGPU remain OFF at this moment.
4. Enter Setup 1.x
5. At "PCIe Ports" menu, set x2 link on Port1
6. Power ON eGPU.
7. Select "Reboot" in Setup 1.x
8. Boot into windows
9. Install driver.

What desktop graphic card are you planning to buy?

 

What PSU should I buy? I see there are different option depending on Volts. Do I also need to buy floppy power connector, 6-pin PCIe power connector? or they come along PSU? If you please can show me example like on ebay I can get them at local store or order on ebay.

I have ATI Radeon HD 6570 2gb DDR3 on my deskop pc. So I will test eGPU setup with current graphic card. But I'm planning to buy one for eGPU. I see lot of technical stuff around but don't understand it well. If you please can recommend me which is cheap and performing good will be helpful to me.

Thank You Very Much

 

Floppy & 6-pin PCIe power connectors come with PSU. PE4H package also come with 4-pin molex to floppy power connector adapter.

How about any of these:-
GTS450 (106W): gts 450 | eBay
GTX460 1GB (160W): gtx 460 | eBay
HD6870 (peak 200W): hd 6870 | eBay

Comparison between GTS450 & HD6570:-
GeForce GTS 450 vs Radeon HD 6570 (OEM) 2GB – Performance Comparison Benchmarks @ Hardware Compare

Corsair CX500 V2 500W is suitable for all three cards: corsair cx500 | eBay

 

Thank you for reply. I will keep your post handy until I receive shipment. GTS450 looks good choice; tomorrow I'll inquire details of mentioned graphic cards at local store. Corsair is little expensive for me so think for now I will go with something "workable" option.

Thanks.

 

Applying the script works now fine and fast for me if x2 is needed.
Port 4 is not shown in Aida64. So it remains deactivated.

Strangely the performance is now slightly decreased in the HDR-tests of 3dmark2006.


x2(port 4 disabled) : x2(port4 enabled) : x1

3DMark Score 9238 : 9370 : 8486
SM2.0 Score 4117 : 4125 : 3917
HDR/SM3.0 Score 4252 : 4391 : 3567
CPU Score 2222 : 2233 : 2224
GT1 - Return To Proxycon FPS 32 : 32 : 30
GT2 - Firefly Forest FPS 36 : 36 : 35
CPU2 - Red Valley FPS 1 : 1 : 1
HDR1 - Canyon Flight FPS 41 : 42 : 35
HDR2 - Deep Freeze FPS 43 : 45 : 35

(EDIT) Results vary sligtly. I repeated the benchmark twice and got 1st 9293, 2nd 9371 3dmarks(lower cpu score, equal HDR score, compared to x2 port4 enabled) (/EDIT)


The HD-audio remains an unknown device in device manager. I would like to install the amd-hd-audio drivers, but deactivating the device afterwards leads to bsod independent from pcie-bus multi. It is doing so at x1 and at x2. Or may it be possible to deactivate it without bosd at x2 with deactivated port4? Hd-audio-drivers also lead to instability when running at x2 with port4 still active. I didn't test for x2 port4 inactive though.

 

First I want to thank everyone for all the work they've put in to make the DIY vidock possible. I now have an MSI A6200 running with a GTX460 as its preferred graphics card. Using 3Dmark06 it ran as high as 70 fps which seems great to me.

Now the problem. When I start using Adobe Premiere, it is only giving me the "Mercury Playback Engine Software only" option. The card seems to be working great elsewhere, yet Premiere isn't allowing me to use it for the MPE. Does anyone know how to solve this problem? I did try updating the driver software for the GTX460, but for some reason it couldn't complete the installation. The drivers I have are: Verde 275.33 + nando's nvam.inf (64-bit). Adobe premiere says it's fully updated.

I'd greatly appreciate the help, and very much appreciate all the work everyone's already been doing.

 

Congratulations on it all working. Please supply bench results if want to add another MSI to the list on the first page.

A GTX460 needs a hack applied to be supported by CS5: Hacking Adobe Premiere CS5 to enable more nVidia CUDA cards | KRAMA i.news - blog.krama.tv

Another good result. Could you please do a RE5--dx9-var 1280x800 bench with your set above? Then I can add you to the right place on the first page leaderboard.

Perform a 32-bit dGPU + eGPU PCI compaction in Setup 1.x as a measure to prevent the BSODing when using the HD-audio drivers.

 

I got my GTX460 yesterday, but I am not in my dorm for the weekend where my PE3A is. It seems the issue with clearance is rather big now with the GTX460: with my X220, the fans are almost certainly going to be hovering over the left column of keys. I do have a keyboard I can use but it's not really as good as my amazing Thinkpad keyboard, and this means my desk will be cluttered even more. Someone with a larger laptop probably won't experience this issue, as 13" notebooks I've seen have enough clearance from the side of the keyboard to the edge of the notebook, but well, I just have to hope my finger doesn't get chewed up too badly D:

In addition I'm not sure how well the weight of the GTX460 will be held up by the flimsy PE3A, but we'll see how that goes.

 

x2: RE5 fixed dx9 1280x800x32bit 36.9 fps
x1: RE5 fixed dx9 1280x800x32bit 24.9 fps

 

3dMark06 is CPU dependent. If the CPU is throttling a lot, the score will be lower. I wouldn't worry with lower 3dMark06 score. I'm also getting lower score with 3dMark06. My Dell's CPU score use to be 3XXX but now struggling to get 28XX. Run 3dMark Vantage or 3dMark11 instead. I found both of them very reliable. Running game benchmarks like I did will show real performance too.

BTW, the correct configuration is Port4 disabled. You don't have to test with it enabled. If you're thinking if Port4 enabled, the performance is better; it is not correct.

 

Has anyone had any experience in getting AMD Switchable Graphics to work on AMD-based systems? I've got my Ideapad still with it's Radeon HD 4270 and am considering doing an eGPU setup with a Radeon HD desktop card. However, if I'm going to essentially be tethered to a monitor, I might as well not even bother.

 

is redtron and HWtools the same seller?

because redtron is being an absolutely jerk, send me a faulty now refuse to refund. Con me into giving him positive feedback and now refuse a refund.

 

CPU is not throtteling. It just varies 10-20 Points. For example if task manager runs on the laptop screen 3dmark2006-cpu shows slightly lower values. During the 3dmark2006-cpu-tests max cpu-temperature is 67°C.


SMALL GUIDE for Dell Vostro 1500 users:

The standard Vostro 1500(=Inspiron 1520) pcie-port layout:
port1: mpcie(WWAN)
port2: mpcie(WLAN, in use by wlan card)
port3: mpcie(WPAN, empty)
port4: expresscard

I got the PE4H, mpcie(PN3M) and expresscard(EC2E) adapter for setting up x2 at port 3 and 4. This way i have good flexiblity for future laptops using expresscard or mpcie and for the vostro 1500 i have still the possibility to use the expresscard slot for other things when setting egpu to x1 at any mpcie-slot.

Setting egpu to x2 disables port2 and port4. Since i set up x2 using port3 and port4 i put the wlan card into the WWAN-slot/port1. You need to put the unused antenna cables a little bit aside and pull the wlan-antenna cables a little. <strike> I also deactivated in bios LAN and card reader.</strike> EDIT: The last sentence is not true anymore. Nothing needs to be deactivated.

For getting x2 it is necessary to install setup 1.x. I now only use the automated startup.bat, which disables port4 properly.
(As i described at the end of this post, it is also possible to set up x2 manually in the menu based setup 1.x, <strike>but i didnt manage to deactivate port4 properly.</strike> When rebooting port4 gets automatically activated by bios, so not recommended)
EDIT: I didn't do chainloading to WinXP. With chainloading XP port4 remains deactivated.

Achieving x2 i put the following script provided by nando4 into the v:\config\startup.bat(mount the image to v: with eGPU-Setup-mount.bat (see)):

Code:

@echo off
:: enable disk caching to speedup processing time
call speedup lbacache

:: Check if doing pass1 or pass2
if exist %DRV%:\config\pass2.txt goto pass2

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:pass1
printf "\nDoing Pass1:  setup the x2 link and reboot to activate it.\n\n"
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

:: Ensure HD6670 is on the pci-e bus
call vidwait 60 1002:6758

:: enable x2 link mode on port3, which disables port2+4
:: and as a side-effect sets port1 to x2 width
call iport x2 3

:: Create pass2 flagging file
echo pass2 > %DRV%:\config\pass2.txt

:: reboot to get x2 link going. Re-select the Setup 1.x
:: 'automated startup via startup.bat' to run pass2
reboot

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:pass2
printf "\nDoing Pass2:  ensure valid x2 link is seen,  run PCI"
printf "\ncompaction's resultant pci.bat and chainload to XP.\n\n"
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

:: Delete pass2 flagging file so next run will do pass1
del %DRV%:\config\pass2.txt

:: enable x2 link mode on port3, which disables port2+4
:: and as a side-effect sets port1 to x2 width
call iport x2 3

:: visually confirm in 5secs the iport output shows [email protected]
call wait_e 5 "Confirm [email protected] else CTRL+ALT+DEL and try again"

:: Run result of last PCI compaction if it was run
if exist pci.bat call pci

:: Chainload to WinXP (change mbr to xp below if using
:: grub2 bootloader to bypass an additional hop)
call grub4dos mbr

Most Dell laptops allow DualIDA with throttlestop. If you have a IDA capable CPU you should consider applying this easy software-based (small)overclocking.


GPU/psu choice
I ended up using a passive 66Wmax. AMD HD6670 which doesnt need a pcie-plug and an old 300W ATX-PSU. When i started thinking about egpu i planned to use a 90W-19V-loptop-psu, but PE4H can only provide up to 3A at the 12V-lane. when using the 15-19v plug for powering the gpu. So i had to use the atx-psu. So if you use PE4H you have the choice of either using a gpu which needs less than 3A at the 12V-lane with a 15-19v-psu OR using an atx-psu and any gpu limited only by the capability of the atx-psu. If i had known this before i probably would have gone for a passive 108Wmax. HD6770 or 106Wmax. nvidia GTS450.

Problems(in my case):
When using the HD6670 a unknown device with a big questionmark in device manager appears. This is the AMD HD-audio. I guess installing the AMD-HD-audio drivers may be a problem. The questionmark disappears, but when i tried to deactivate the device i got immediate bsod. x1 and x2 showed the same behaviour. Also at x2 the system became totally unstable. This may be the case because at that time i was still using the manual procedure for setting x2 which didn't deactivate port4. At x1 the system was stable though(except the bsod when trying to deactivate).

I will not check if hd-audio works stable at x2 with port4 deactivated. Or if then deactiving hd-audio in device manager also leads to bosd. I managed to make it an unknown divice again and stick with it.

Standby mode
Setting the laptop into standby mode and/or awake it from standby often leads to bsod (or freezes with a black screen while switching onthe external screen) when egpu is used.
The following is working:
If the external screen is deactivated, standby and awaking from standby is possible at x1. At x2 waking up from standby is only possible if the connection to the 2nd pcie port is removed(otherwise you ge bsod). In my case i need to removed the express-card module. Then the laptop wakes up and i can activate windows desktop to the external screen. egpu is then running @x1 and pcie-ports 2 and 4 remain disabled. If egpu is disconnected while waking up windows is working normal, but it would not go into standby again, reboot is necessary.

General rule: egpu has to be powered on before the laptop is powered on. This applies for booting, as well as for awaking from standby.

Benchmarks:

15.4" Dell Vostro 1500
[email protected](oc with throttlestop)
4.0GB
HD6670@ x1
3dmark2006 8505 3DMarks
RE5 var. 1280x800x32bit 47.4fps
ICH8M mPCIe
WinXP/32


15.4" Dell Vostro 1500
[email protected](oc with throttlestop)
4.0GB
HD6670@ x2
3dmark2006 9371 3DMarks
RE5 var. 1280x800x32bit 63.1fps
ICH8M EC+mPCIe
WinXP/32


-Just for information-
RE5 1280x800x32bit fixed benchmark:
x1: 24.9 fps
x2: 36.9 fps

3dmark2001:
x2: 35045

Many thanks to all of you but especially to nando4, kizwan and moerf

 

Nando4, you are a demi-god! Thanks so much for your help, my system is up and running with mercury playback engine in premiere.

That being said, for those applying the hack to adobe premiere cs5 and 5.5 to get the mercury playback engine working, as Nando4 said, you can go here for instructions: Hacking Adobe Premiere CS5 to enable more nVidia CUDA cards | KRAMA i.news - blog.krama.tv
HOWEVER, after I followed all of the instructions, premiere would give an error when opening saying that it couldn't find the video player drivers (something weird that wasn't as obvious as unable to find graphics card or graphics card drivers, plus all my drivers were up to date) and it would shut down. The only solution I could find was uninstalling then reinstalling Adobe Production Premium. After that I simply followed the first step of the hack; adding the GTX 460 to the list of supported video cards in the file "cuda_supported_cards.exe". When I opened premiere after this I was able to select mercury playback engine for hardware. My recommendation then when doing the hack would be to check premiere after each stage of the hack to see if MPE for hardware is enabled, because you might not have to do everything in the instructions.

Now my specs:
MSI A6200-021us
i5-430M
8GB ram (MSI claims that the bios only supports 4GB, but I heard that wasn't true and in my case it was not true)
64-bit windows
GTX 460 (not OC'ed, might do that, will get back)

3Dmark06 results:
12539 3DMarks
SM2.0 Score: 5464
HDR/SM3.0 Score: 6526
CPU Score: 2604
GT1 - Return To Proxycon: 44 FPS
GT2 - Firefly Forest: 46 FPS
CPU2 - Red Valley: 1 FPS
HDR1 - Canyon Flight: 78 FPS
HDR2 - Deep Freeze: 52 FPS

The website says that my score is low for similar systems, but my scores were an average of 86% of comparable systems which seems pretty damn good to me through an X1 connection!

I paid $550 for this comp, adding the 4gb of Ram and now this video card is really giving me amazing value and doing as much as can be hoped for as far as future proofing (for at least another year right )

Thanks so much again Nando4 and everyone else who participates in this forum, you guys rock!

 

Hi

Can a egpu set up on a Vostro 1000?

Got myself a z13 now but curious, at least, if my Vostro 1000 can do a egpu set up too and whether I can use whatever egpu set up i eventually get for the Z on the Vostro

thanks

 

Do I need a PSU that has 2 6-pin connectors for my GTX? Are they kind hard to find?

I am seeing a 6-pin or a 6+2pin connector, but not many that have two 6-pin connectors.

If I have an older PSU with no 6-pin, can I get adapters for the two 6-pin?
If I buy a new one does it have to have 2 6-pin outputs?

 

6+2pin works with 6 and 8 pin connectors. There are adapters from molex to 6pin. It's likely that the graphics card will come with them.

 

I need help. I have a lenovo T400 with P8700 and intel HD graphics. I'm trying to set up optimus with a GTS 450 (PE4H).

I installed the verde drivers with the replaced nando file (275.33) and restarted computer. I sleep the computer, plug in the express card and resume.

the GTS450 shows up in everest and in device manager as the video adapter but when I plug a VGA cord into the GTS450 (other end in my hd tv), nothing appears on the screen (laptop screen is black). However when I unplug the vga from the card, my laptop screen turns back on. Also, I see no improvement in 3dmark so I know it's not working

 

The GTS450 is labeled "video adapter" in Device Manager?

 

Sorry. It's video adapter in everest, display adapter in device manager

 

You mean GTS450 appeared under "Display Adapters" in Device Manager?

 

yes that is correct

 

Since GTS450 don't have VGA port, are you using VGA-to-DVI adapter?

 

ya I'm using the one that came with the GTS450

 

Optimus drivers newer than 258.96 & coupled with a DVI-to-VGA adapter have known issue. However, your problem is a little bit different. Anyway, avoid using DVI-to-VGA adapter.

 

Okay thanks. I'll have to order a mini hdmi to hdmi in order to connect it. How do I run optimus on my laptop screen? I'd like to do that for now if possible

 

Does Nvidia control center detect the GTS450 card? Does the Intel 4500MHD also listed under "Display Adapters" in Device Manager? If yes for both, you might need to follow Optimus_FAQ3 workaround.

 

Nvidia control center does detect the GTS450 and my Intel 4500MHD is also listed under display adapters in device manager

 

Please try the ^ Optimus_FAQ3: "I can't get internal LCD mode to work" method.

 

I'm getting the same error in win xp but mentioned code doesn't create any text file in config folder.

Thanks.

 

You're replacing v with the actual drive letter right? The v is supposed to be whatever your flash drive letter is.

 

Nope I'm not replacing V, but surprisingly when I click mkdevcon.exe it gives error message and on other hand it creates 4kb devcon.txt file in config folder.

Thanks.