DIY eGPU experiences

Alright I'm having some issues with 1.x setup. I'm doing it because I'm trying to run optimus on my laptop screen and I'm getting error 43.

I have:
T400, P8700, intel 4500MHD, GTS450

I enter 1.x setup from boot menu, then turn on card and plug in mini hdmi just like instructions say. Before I do anything, it is reading that my GTS450 is there. Using devcon file-yes/ pci alloc valid- yes*/ free@- 256MB.

So I run bridges compaction. Everything then be comes yes with no * and then I have free@ 512MB.

What do I do from there? Normally I'll select chainload and then start windows7 but then I still get error 43.

Also, the only reason I'm doing 1.x is because I'm having problems running an external monitor because of a dvi to vga converter. If I just buy a mini hdmi to hdmi cord/converter will I still need to run 1.x?

any help would be greatly appreciated

 

EDIT: also I have intelHD on port 2 and Nvidia on port 4 if that is a problem

 

Use the latest devel version of Setup 1.x. It does a Video cards->Initialize to correct the error 43 as part of PCI compaction. I'd also advise doing a 32-bit selective PCI compaction on the iGPU+eGPU.

 

do I need to uninstall the previous version before I can install the new one?

 

Better uninstall & then removed the eGPU folder. Do clean install of Setup 1.x.

 

Hey guys, after a bit of...difficulty with the large size of the GTX460, and several battle scars from the overpowered fans on that thing, I managed to get it to work. Here is a photo:
http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/8597/img20110906020813.jpg

I will do some 3dmark06 right now, and upload. Should be some good results I can't quite overclock this thing as Nvidia Control Panel likes to crash on me, but I was honestly pretty happy with the GT240 already so I don't think it'll be an issue.

EDIT: NEVERMIND, my power supply was making very bad buzzing sounds and I smelled something bad, although 3dmark was running fine...I hope I don't need to replace it. . Nvidia Control Panel is still messed up, BSODs when I try to view fan settings. Will try again on Friday I suppose, when I don't have all this homework piling up. In the meantime, is there any easy way to run this card at lower clocks (reduce power consumption) without the Nvidia software?

 

Did you managed to get 3dMark06 score? Anyway, good job. I think you can use Rivatuner or MSI Afterburner to lower the clocks.

 

Was so looking forward to some benchmark results. Can't pester a friend for a better ATX PSU to do a benchmark run and confirm x1 2.0 Optimus functionality? A stock clocked GTX460-1GB will require 160W of peak power (12V/16.7A if calculate 80% efficiency). A GT240 gives 4/10ths the relative performance of a GTX460 as shown and requires 69W peak power.

 

will this eGPU work with a Ati Radeon x850pro on Win7 x64 or WinXP x86? I know its an older card, but i dont need more gpu power...

 

I did some inspection and I think this might be able to make it through a 3dmark06 run. It was giving wierd flashes of yellow and stuff during a game, but it mostly worked. The sound is really disturbing though. Maybe tomorrow...

 

Just got my PE4H.
I have a Lenovo X220 and a GTX560 TI.
All I did was plug the expresscard adapter in, let windows install drivers, installed the latest nvidia drivers for the desktop card, and then restarted.
Do I need to do anything else?
I ran 3DMark06 and got over 18000. I didn't do anything with mobile drivers or the nvam thing. Did I just luck out that it works without such minimal tweaking? Or should I still do something to get even better performance? I am assuming based on my score that optimus is already enabled. Does that sound right?
Thanks a lot.

 

Couple of questions about PSUs and notes. I can not spend hardly any more money on this project b/c I have tons of other toys and my wife is not happy that I spent this much so far.

Anyways which one of these cheap PSUs would you recommend? I am trying to get it for around $20, preferably $15 with shipping

Silver Broadway Com Corp 500W ATX 12V Computer Power Supply OKIA-500-RB PSU Supports SATA 80mm Fan-Best Computer Online Store Houston Buy Discount Prices Texas-Directron.com

Pixxo PL-500RPF 500W ATX Computer Power Supply 500 Watt PSU Pixxo Power Supplies Supports SATA and PCI-E 80mm Cooling Fan-Best Computer Online Store Houston Buy Discount Prices Texas-Directron.com

New OKIA 500w ATX Power Supply with 20/24pin SATA | eBay

500W Power Supply for HP/ HiPro HP-D3057F3R HP-P4017F5W | eBay

Amazon.com: Dynex DX-400WPS 400 Watt ATX PCIe SATA PC Power Supply: Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: iMicro IM400W 400W ATX12V Power Supply: Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: Coolmax 300W M-ATX Power Supply CM-300: Computers & Accessories

Newegg.com - LOGISYS Computer PS480D2 480W ATX12V Power Supply

Sorry for all the links, but this is my missing piece for my setup. I know these are crap brands, but I am figuring with 150 more watts than I need I should be alright?

I went to my city's local PC recycling center and they said there is no "scavenging".

Lastly, I purchased a GTX 465 and have read it can be overclocked to outperform the 460, but I am crossing my fingers that it has 10 memory chips and can be unlocked to a 470. If it can not I found a 550 ti for the same price.

If I end up getting the 550 ti, can I go even cheaper on the power supply and use a laptop power supply as these have low power requirements?

 

If it works, it works. Don't need to do anything. The 18000 with 3dMark06 look similar with other X220 ([email protected]) score (see first post).

 

+12V1@13A = 12V * 13A = 156W
156W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Not enough power.

+12V1@16A = 12V * 16A = 192W
192W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Not enough power.

+12V@18A = 12V * 18A = 216W
216W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Too close. When taken the PSU efficiency into calculation, this PSU won't be able to provide continues peak power to drive GTX465.

+12V@22A = 12V * 22A = 264W
264W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Efficiency at full load only 65%<strike>. When taken the PSU efficiency into calculation, this PSU won't be able to provide continues peak power to drive GTX465.</strike> Correction: This might work for GTX465. However, I doubt you can overclock with this PSU.

+12V1@14A = 12V * 14A = 168W
168W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Not enough power.

Conclusion: I can't find the 12V specification but this PSU efficiency only 68%. I don't think this PSU have enough power.

+12V@16A = 12V * 16A = 192W
192W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Not enough power.

+12V@16A = 12V * 16A = 192W
192W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Not enough power.

GTX465 required 200W. You'll need 80Plus rated PSU with maximum current at least 24A on the +12V rail (12V * 24A = 288W). 288W vs. GTX465 (200w): 288W is minimum, you can forget overclocking. Higher is better.

GTX550Ti only require 116W. This HiPro PSU should be enough.
+12V@22A = 12V * 22A = 264W
264W vs. GTX550Ti (116W)
500W Power Supply for HP/ HiPro HP-D3057F3R HP-P4017F5W | eBay

 

Okay I got my GTS450 to run on my internal screen (lenovo T400) for now while I wait for a mini hdmi to hdmi cord to arrive. My 3dmark was around 3500. I know that optimus on an internal screen isn't very good but isn't 3500 ridiculously low? Also, when I try to run Deus Ex with DX11 I get a black screen. Is that the issue with the fuse? Because when I run without DX11 it doesn't happen (although its really bad quality)

I have T400, P8700, Intel 4500MHD, GTS450, PE4H v2

 

Thanks Kizwan, now I understand, but I still have one question - since the 465 and probably the 550ti have two 6-pins does that mean I only need about 15+A on each connector?

Most newer PSUs seem to have one 6-pin, do you use a molex or adapter to attach to the other 6-pin (the one that needs to support the other half of wattage?

If I get a 12V@25+A and also plug in the other one would that be too much power?

Should I aim for around half on a 6-pin and half on an adapter (or other 6-pin) or just try to get one 12V with at least 25+A.

 

Well I should be receiving my PE4H any day now, so I will be able to hook my GTX 560 Ti up to my y460 in x1 optimus. The gtx 560 Ti came with the full paid version of 3dmark11, so I will be able to run both performance and extreme benchmarks with it.

 

You can easily find the Nvidia GPU specification at Nvidia website:-
GTX465 - required 2 x 6-pin PCIe power connectors
GTX550Ti - required 1 x 6-pin PCIe power connector

Not true. Many PSU have two 6-pin PCIe connectors. I use Corsair CX500 V2 (+12V@34A) to power 188W card & it have two PCIe power connectors.

There won't be too much power. The PSUs will only provide more power when GPU request/need it.

You should aim one 80Plus rated PSU with at least 12V@25A. For overclock you'll need higher current. Non-rated PSU usually only have at best 70% efficiency at full load. 80Plus rated PSU have minimum 80% efficiency.

 

Okay I'm not going to go cheap. If I get the 8 chip 465 instead of the 10 chip, maybe I can turn a profit on CL, get my 550ti and pay for the PSU with the extra.

 

Has anyone in the UK done one of these? I cant work out where to buy the kit.

 

Would a t500 under opt 1.1 setup do ok on modern first person shooters like battle field 3 or modern warfare 3?

 

Hi!
I have a T420 with an i5 2520 2,5 Ghz, 4GB and the nvidia nvs 4200m. I was hoping to speed up 2D and 3D work with the NVS, but photoshop just shuts down immediately at some tasks (which it does not using the intel HD graphics) and Autocad isn't faster as well.
So I thought of using the Nvidia Quadro 600 ( Quadro 600 ) or the ATI FirePro V4800 ( ATI FirePro? V4800 Professional Graphics ) as an egpu, which are both supported by adobe und autodesk.

My Bios Version is 1.30, but cause I am using a different CPU than the T420 user i read about, i would like to know if I can use their BIOS downgrade or where to find one for me.

Second i would like to know which graphic card is better as an egpu und which adapter I would need.

Thank you in advance

 

Looking at the specs, it appears that the ATI card is more powerful, but the Nvidia card should be the better choice due to the extra performance from optimus, and the ATI card would run in a crippled x1 mode instead of full x1.

Even though the NVS4200 is weak (hardly any faster than the HD 3000), it shouldn't be crashing. I'd go make sure you have the latest driver off of Nvidia's site.

 

The XPS15 L502 on the first page also has an Optimus dGPU. It was possible to disable it and hijaak it's pci-e space so the TOLUD issue with iGPU-only T420 doesn't apply to the Optimus model. This will require booting up via DIY eGPU Setup 1.x.

A GTS450/GTX460 or better is recommended. Avoid 1st-gen Fermis like GTX465/470/480 since they have hefty power requirements and generate a lot of heat.

 

There acctually was a newer veriosn for the driver. So right now both programs work much smoother. I have only checked the lenove updates and the nvidia update program didn't find the newer version as well. Stupid not to have checked the nvidia side...

THX I am reading it at the moment.
But one more question: why would you recomend a geforce over a quadro?

 

Quadros are just Geforces with a small tweak, and several hundred percent price hike. Geforce will do everything you ask it to do, don't worry.

Hijack subtopic: Am going to test 3dmark06 on this right now, I hope my PSU doesn't explode.

 

Alright, I ran 3dmark06 and the score seems...low?
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 video card benchmark result - Intel Core i5-2410M Processor,LENOVO 4286CTO score: 14747 3DMarks
I see people getting closer to 17000...and I have a factory "overclocked" model Gigabyte GTX460, so I wonder what's wrong. It displays 0MHz and whatever for the clocks, but I don't know if that's directly related.

Here are links to my previous posts on my build, for the reference page on the first post.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/gam...851-diy-egpu-experiences-541.html#post7888066

Original GT240 build:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/gam...851-diy-egpu-experiences-527.html#post7873895

 

It display 0MHz because Futuremark SysInfo service is not running. It just for reporting. It won't causing the card to underperformed.

 

Bad news, my PSU now shuts off when a graphics intensive app starts...gonna try underclocking in the meantime. Probably will have to order another one sigh.

 

280.26 desktop driver gives x1.Opt but only to an external LCD

I just tested the 280.26 desktop driver and found:

- it does give a Preferred processor option in the NVidia manage 3D control panel (integrated versus NVidia), so Optimus features appear enabled. Good.

- 3dmark06 posts x1.Opt performance. Good.

- problem is that the internal LCD mode refuses to engage. I disconnected the external LCD and ran 3dmark06, forcing it to use the High performance processor (eGPU) via the control panel whitelist. 3dmark06 would only run using the iGPU. Not good.

So if you are running an external LCD Optimus setup then the standard desktop driver can give you the x1.Opt pci-e compression. If you want to run the internal LCD only option then will need to resort to the Verde driver + modded nvam.inf.

apac's i5-2410M+GTX460-1GB got 3dmark06=15385 so your score is lower than expected. It isn't a GTX460SE by any chance? They have 288 shaders as opposed to the GTX460-1GB which has 336, or 14.3% less.

Can you confirm your card is running x1 2.0. 3dmark06 doesn't stress the pci-e link. I was seeing 100pts more for a 25% overclock here so interpolating those results we'd expect 400pts more for a 100% overclock that pci-e 2.0 provides.

 

Nope, it's not an SE, it's this: Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GV-N460OC-1GI GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

GPU-Z says it's running x1 2.0...
Trying to underclock, see if this thing still works. My PSU is 17A 3 rails, but only 2 rails are going to this card because one rail is reserved for ATX and CPU power connectors. It was probably damaged by that last short...
EDIT: alright, card works at 405MHz, the lowest setting MSI afterburner gives me. The PE3A's own 12V converter is buzzing, suggesting the PSU still isn't pumping enough juice...but it runs. I'll see how this goes. I'll have to order another PSU I guess. Time to give that 80plus gold Dell RM112 17A PSU a shot...at 17A but with a single rail, it is rather close to the 150W rating of the GTX460.

 

With 280.2# it seems Nvidia has introduced a new kernel mode driver that may have something to do with Optimus. I wonder if changes relating to this new file have anything to do with the issues you are experiencing. I will mod up a set and post it for testing.

 

Hey could anyone give me some advice on what to do?

Okay I got my GTS450 to run on my internal screen (lenovo T400) for now while I wait for a mini hdmi to hdmi cord to arrive. My 3dmark was around 3500. I know that optimus on an internal screen isn't very good but isn't 3500 ridiculously low? Also, when I try to run Deus Ex with DX11 I get a black screen. Is that the issue with the fuse? Because when I run without DX11 it doesn't happen (although its really bad quality)

I have T400, P8700, Intel 4500MHD, GTS450, PE4H v2

 

@Gravy9872: that seems possibly a bit low, but I don't know. Maybe someone else can help.

So as far as my own setup, being an officially poor college student, I have a hard time bringing myself to buying that 22 dollar PSU on ebay...
I had an idea, since my PSU was 3 rails, it might be worth a look to see which rails went to which places...so I opened it up, and it turns out when I shorted the PSU, it was always on 12V3! My PSU is modular, and the way it's arranged is 12V2 services 2 6 pin modular connectors and 2 pins on the motherboard, 12V3 covers the other 3 modular connectors, and 12V1 is for CPU only. I am currently using just 12V2 to power my video card, and the buzzing noise is considerably weaker, but still present. I will try to run it a bit, and see how it goes. I think I will do some PSU surgery later and patch 12V1 into 12V2, see if that works. The theory is overloading the rail when I shorted it damaged the power rail current limiting circuit, so there is hope that the untouched rails would be able to provide power without issue.

I really shouldn't be doing this as my homework is piling up but this is rather fun

 

kizwan, I think you are wrong with your efficiency explainations. If a PSU is rated @ 22A on the 12V rail, it should be able to provide 12V * 22A = 264W. Right. This would mean it is enough to drive a 200W card.

A PSU generally just converts AC to DC power. This conversion technically is lossy by a specific amount. Efficiency of a PSU defines the ratio of input to output wattage of the PSU. Due to the conversion losses, AC input power is always higher than the true DC output power. So, the higher (the better) the efficiency, the lower its losses during conversion. A 65% efficiency at full load (given the max power of the PSU above is 500W) means, that it takes 500W / 0,65 = 770W from the wall.

No matter how bad the efficiency is, the DC output power should remain what the wattage sticker on the PSU says so should be able to power the GPU without issues. A good efficiency certainly helps to keep the electric bill lower and the PSU cooler (in the above example, the PSU alone generates 220W of heat under 500W full load!), so this is without a doubt recommended.

 

I couldn't find this tip on the front page but if it isn't already in some FAQ somewhere.

DISABLE VSYNC - it will kill your game no matter what resolution/graphics options you have enabled.

 

you probably mean disabling vsync causes tearing in many games. I can confirm that.

 

Thank you for correcting me. Yes, that is correct, PSU efficiency is ratio of (useful) output & input, e.g. 500W/770W = 65%

I must have missed this when I check & calculate available power on these PSUs for elicash80.

 

OK I have a problem. When I try to install the 275 driver, it says "the graphics driver could not find compatible graphics hardware." I tried replacing the INF with the modded one, but the extraction process is directly followed by the compatibility check, so I fear that during this extraction process it overwrites this modded INF. What do I do to get it to recognize my card?

EDIT: Ok now it is looking like the card might simply not be showing up to my computer; how should it appear in the device manager before any drivers are installed? I have all of the cables plugged into the card and the card is plugged into the expresscard slot; what else do I need to do?

 

I've been digging around this thread for a while now, and have just ordered a PE4H adapter. The laptop i use is an HP Probook 4530s i ordered specifically for an eGPU setup from ebay. It has an expresscard 2.0 port and has an i7 2630QM that was put into it that I got for about $700 which i thought was a pretty good deal. It's also one of the models with a USB 3.0 port, hopefully which will give it more potential for developing further down the road.

Anyway I was looking for a PSU that would be capable of running a GTX 570. I've come across this one on newegg

Newegg.com - PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk II PPCMK2S650 650W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Active PFC Power Supply

and just wanted to make sure that it should be capable of powering the GPU adequately. Thanks!

 

If I want to use an external PCIe solution like this

BUT don't have an ExpressCard slot... will it work with an adapter as this or this one??

And if it DOES work in the first place... what about bandwidth?? It's screwed right? Because all of the bandwidth is going to be limited to USB 2.0... which is lame... right?

If it doesn't work can anyone give me an advice on how to make things possible? Connecting such external PCIe if I don't have an ExpressCard slot.

 

OK now the video card status thing in setup 1.x says there is no nvidia card detected. is going on??????? I have read that a lot of people have had issues with bad mini hdmi cables; could that be the problem? In order to get this to fit in my arrangement with the absurdly short cable they provide I have to bend it in the shape of a U. Could this have damaged the cable?

If so, what the hell do they make these POS cables out of!?!?!? I am just about ready to throw the whole thing out the window right now; nothing I do results in the video card being detected AT ALL (not even any errors) despite the fact that I have every cable hooked up and a 500 watt PSU which should be MORE than enough.

Is there anything else I have to hook up or do with the actual PE4H board itself?

 

Wonderful, now it seems whatever I did has COMPLETELY screwed up my laptop's video cards as well. Whenever I try to switch from the IGP to the dedicated card it says it can't because of programs that are running, and whenever i try to hook up my monitor externally it doesn't recognize it. So now instead of having a functional GTX560 Ti giving my system a performance boost, I am stuck with only the horrible GPU on my CPU and I can't use my 1080P screen.

Could the setup 1.x have messed this up somehow? I already did a system restore to earlier today and it did NOTHING to help.

EDIT: rolling back drivers seems to have sort of fixed the issue but now I cant switch to integrated, and the external GPU still isnt recognized.

 

Okay guys bad news, my Antec 500W is pretty much completely dead
It pushes only enough power to keep the GTX460 stable at 40% load according to MSI afterburner. When it hits 50% it shuts off and I get BSOD. PSU surgery failed, I connected 12V1 and 12V2, no more buzz, but same problem. I will try to hook all 3 together before I pull the trigger on a new PSU.

 

The PSU got max current 46A on the +12V. So, 12V * 46A = 552W.
PSU (552W) vs. GTX570 (219W)
On peak 3D & overclock, GTX570 can consume up to 240W. So the PSU is more than enough to drive GTX570. BTW, does your notebook have Intel iGPU?

EDIT: On the manufacturer website, Silencer Mk II 650W PPCMK2S650 have +12V@54A (12V * 54A = 648W).

 

If you want to setup eGPU, better get proper kit. PE4L/ PE4H is suitable kit for eGPU. If notebook doesn't have ExpressCard slot, you can use mPCIe port (using PM3N card) available on the notebook.

 

Ensure you have plugged the floppy molex to the PE4H to power the slot and provided pci-e power to the video card and switched on your ATX PSU with the SWEX. If your video card isn't detect in Setup 1.x, then unplug/replug the mini HDMI cable and hit F5 to rescan. Swap the ends of that cable to see if get a better result. If nothing comes up then there is point of failure anywhere from the expresscard slot to the eGPU.

Yeah, that PSU is a monster 12V/46A (552W). A GTX570 requires 298W of peak power so it's more than adequate plus it's a good price. If you wanted a completely silent fanless PSU then consider a $125 12V/33A (396W) Seasonic X400. Comes with modular cabling to give a tidier solution.

 

Did you connect all the power connectors? Two 6-pin PCIe power connector to GTX560Ti & floppy power connector to PE4H? Are you using ExpressCard slot or mPCIe port? 500W PSU doesn't mean it have enough power on the 12V rail to drive a PCIe graphic card. GTX560Ti required 170W & can go up to 260W on peak 3D & overclock. May I know what is the PSU brand & model? If you can take a picture of the eGPU, that would be great. I want to see the cables connection to the eGPU.

 

I'm having trouble with the devcon file. I'm not sure how to generate it, I've followed the guide to making it but no luck. My adapter is working and I've gotten a 4650 to work with my hp tx2 1025 tablet laptop through the express card slot. But I get the code 12 error so I can't use it. I installed the setup 1.x and I can boot into it and use, but when I compact and chainload into windows 7 it hangs on the flag screen because I don't have a devcon file.


I'm just very new to this eGPU thing so I'm not sure how to generate the devcon file. Yes I read the guide under the spoiler, I just can't get past cd x:\devcon\x64

 

You may well have to go international and bite the potential customs bullet

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