DIY eGPU experiences

hi, hallucinate.
this is insufficient information, only for your supplementary reference.

i think the things below should be adjusted, i would recommend to, by just now.
set io_win= 0x1808

setpci -s 00:1c.%port% 20.l= 0xF2F 0F000

 

Got grub to chainload w7. it was definitely the setpci lines that was stalling it. I've narrowed it down to the last setpci line -- to allocate the additional 48M window for nvidia.

Thanks for all your help thus far!

 

good..

try it again, furthermore..

 

latest memory map attached. <strike> no problems chainbooting W7 anymore, I figured out the prob in my memory space selections (chose the END not the beginning).

still, even with both a 256 and 48 megabyte window the GT240 yields a code 12.

could this vid card possibly require a different window configuration than others? unfortunately I don't have another to test with...

EDIT - pretty sure my 48M window is actually only 4M. still not 100% on how to set these address windows using setpci.</strike>

EDIT2 - think I got it! Will test when I get home to the ViDock rig.

 

it's been seen to me that your system didn't recognize gt 240, though 256M & 48M memmory spaces were already allocated for the port4.

i refered just now your attached screen shots, as this
http://forum.notebookreview.com/gam...51-diy-vidock-experiences-54.html#post6220980

0x3000-0x3fff i/o space was allocated to your port 4 by system.

so.. i recommand to apply this value to set "io_win".

set io_win=0x3030 this means to the i/o space range of 0x3000-0x3fff.

setpci -s 0:1c.3 1c.w=%io_win%

 

Hi!

I have read these posts and also where you started to discuss this issue but I still don't know if I can use this methid to speed up my graphics on my laptop. I'm not an expert...

I have a:
Acer Extensa 5620
C2D 2.00 Ghz
Intel X3100
2 GB RAM
Express card

I read some problems with the integrated X3100 card, so I'm not sure if I should invest in it. Could you please help me?

Thanks in advance!

 

Hi,

I just bought a Lenovo T500 - will this work in x16 with the PE4H? So far I've read that it's possible, will it require connecting BOTH the expressPCcard slot AND the inside expresspci slot (i.e. PE4H-EC2C AND PE4H-PM3N)?

If this doesn't work, is there an ideal laptop to purchase for x16 connectivity (preferably lenovo t/x series or dell latitude)

Thanks in advance for the clarification. In case I keep the t500 I'll see if I can help the community out with some testing.

 

Yes.. it will work. Suggest you check what your port layout is and decide what link speed you want to use, then purchase a PM3N (mPCIe) or EC2C (expresscard) solution.

PE4H will run a x16 card at x1, x1E, x2 link peed. If the T500 is x4500MHD based T500 then the software config will be easier if hit error 12 issues.

Likely the T500 has port3=turbo memory, port4=expresscard, like the T400 shown here. So x2 would require port3+port4. Firstly, how accessible is the turbo memory slot? The port3+port4 x2 setup has one other sideffect. It sets port1 to x2 mode as well so if have two devices using port1+port2, then one will have to be physically removed for it to work.

The mPCIe port3 may also be whitelisting. The PM3N has a 6.5s reset delay jumper on it so can overcome whitelisting that halts the boot process. whitelst.bat as used for the 2510P may be require to enable the port.

I believe the T500 can be made to do x2, just requires a bit more attention. List of x2, x1E capable systems as they are discovered is added to the first post.

 

Thanks nando!

I just got my laptop, here's an everest screenshot if it helps anyone:



As you'll see, port3 seems missing. I'm assuming this is the whitelist issue you were talking about?

P.S. are there any limitations in whether I run a 32-bit or 64-bit edition of windows 7? I'm asking to help me influence my setup on this computer, I have 32 and 64 bit win7 professional, along with winxp. I'm planning to just put 64-bit win7 on here, is there any need for me to keep a 32-bit win7/xp install for vidock purposes?

 

Looks exactly like the T400 port layout. port3=turbo memory slot, appearing when plug in the card. port4=expresscard slot. x1 1.0 is easy, x1E via expresscard not possible, x2 requiring combining turbo memory slot + expresscard slot + (likely) anti-whitelisting PCI config script. Win7/64 is the best choice to have full access to > ~3GB of RAM.

 

Looks exactly like the T400 port layout. port3=turbo memory slot, appearing when plug in the card. port4=expresscard slot. x1 1.0 is easy, x1E via expresscard not possible, x2 requiring combining turbo memory slot + expresscard slot + (likely) anti-whitelisting PCI config script. Win7/64 is the best choice to have full access to > ~3GB of RAM.

 

Great fun playing w/my GT240 and SC2 beta today. Even at x1, it beats the heck out of the integrated 4500MHD.

I'm hoping to go x1E once I remove the turbo memory card at port 3... but not sure it's possible yet. nano4, any idea if port3+4 can be joined?

Going to work on grub4dos to automate the process so I don't have to boot off the USB flash, now.

 

Thinkpad X200, 8GB@1066MHz DDR3 RAM, [email protected], ICH9-M, Win 7 64bit + PE4H<->EC2C @ x1 + nVidia GT240 1GB GDDR5

Benchmarks:
3dmark06 scores 7496
RE5 dx10 variable scores 52fps
...

PCI reallocation script, everest screenshot (may help others with X200's) and RE4 benchmark result attached

 

Thanks Nando!
I checked my ports with Everest, but to be honest I have no idea what it shows. Could you help me to decide how I should link PE4L or PE4H?

PCI-E 1.0 x1 port#1 Used @ x1 (Broadcom NetLink BCM5787M PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller
PCI-E 1.0 x1 port#2 Used @ x1 (Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection)
PCI-E 1.0 x1 port#3 Empty

 

x1 1.0 can be done. x1E is possible too but since it would use port3 you'd lose concurrent wifi usage running off port2. So PE4L is adequate for the job.

x1E requires an odd numbered port, so you can't do it using the expresscard slot port4. I'd suggest ask hwtools to send you a 'test' PM3N, buy a $6 DX extra mini HDMI cable and go for x2 1.0. There's a huge difference in FPS between x1 1.0 and x2 1.0. See here.

Could you please concentrate all the info (scripts, everest port screenshot some 3dmark06/RE5/vantage/dmcv4 benchmark results) into one post so I can link the x200 details from the first post? Would help other x200 owners.

 

Thanks Nando! So you mean if I would link through the Express slot (which is empty now) I would loose the wifi?

 

no, nando4 didn't mean that.

in x1 mode, it is possible to utilize port 3 for diyvidock without any wifi lose, if the port information is true.

but in x1E mode, or in other words, x1.2 mode( 20% up mode than x1 mode), NOT THAT !!

perhaps ..

 

Ok, got it, thanks!

 

nando4, how's http://forum.notebookreview.com/gam...51-diy-vidock-experiences-56.html#post6232081 for a start (I will fill in more benchies sooner or later).


This might help those who have trouble automating the pci realloc script using grub4dos...

Issues with Error 11 "unrecognized device string"?
- make sure you have a space between diyvdock.img and (fd0)
- make sure your map (hd0,partition#) matches -- windows 7 installs to partition 1 rather than 0 by default (a 100mb root partition is created as "system")

Issues with Error 60
- get and run contig.exe on your floppy image

Issues w/Win7 boot manager (bcd) not finding grldr
- original line "bcdedit /set {id} device boot"
- set the bcd "device" parameter to "partition=c:" instead of "boot"
- like so, "bcdedit /set {id} device partition=c:"

My menu.lst now looks like this:

The BCDedit entry looks like this, (your {identifier} will be different!):

 

If I understand correctly, entire issue with x1 and x1E mode of pci-e port is applicable only to intel southbridges and "default" intel x1 mode should be inferior to x1 port mode on nVidia or ATi/AMD chipsets. Or did I oversight something and x1E mode is some "turbo" or overclocked in comparison with ATI/nVidia chipsets ?

I am going to try adding external VGA to notebook that has already pci-e ports in x2 mode (both for gbit ethernet and express card slot) on ATi RD480. So x1E (intel) vs x1 (non-intel) is informative only for me.

 

Has anyone faced the same problem at HWTOLS.NET that they could not put PE4L and SWEX in the same cart? I should pay double freight charge this way...
I can put PE4H and SWEX for instance, but not PE4L and SWEX...

 

some bugs there.

don't worry about that seriously.

just e-mail to :

International Business Sales: [email protected]

Taiwan Business Sales: [email protected]

China Business Sales: [email protected]

Tech. support: [email protected]


wait for the reply.

i guess the reply will arrive the next working time 'cause it from Taiwan base.

then.. you can consult the problem with the person in charge.

 

What would be the best choice as a video card for max. 100 USD? I'm thinking about HD 4670 1GB... Anyone has a better idea?

 

1GB HD5670 for $105 here and here. There's a 1GB HD5750 for $120 here and here.

If wanting higher performance, theres a 2GB HD4870 at $145 atm here. Hope someone buys it instead of a HD5770. The 2GB VRAM desirable in our limited bandwidth setup. Benchmarks would help validate the theory.

 

Does anyone know how to purchase a PE4H V2.0? They are supposed to be available for purchase, but all I can find on hwtools.net is the PE4H V1.0. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

I wouldn't recommend a nvidia GT240... it's okay, but leaves aome to be desired. in fact, probably best to skip nV altogether. go with a midrange ATI card as others have suggested. the 4870 is good, a 5x series in that price range (tho a lil higher) is generally comparable speeds and less power required.

General rule seems to be - buy a card with high quality RAM (GDDR5) and lots of it (1GB+).

 

In the paypal field for notes to seller (or something like that), request that they please send you revision 2 of the PE4H. I had mine arrive last week with no issue (works great too).

 

Hi nando4 hallucinate

Last time I asked for my pci reallcation.

But I still can't find any solution.

Hopefully hallucinate has been succeed 4G RAM with Nvidia card recently.(Thinkpad X200, 4GB RAM, P8600, ICH9-M, Win 7 64bit + PE4H-EC2C + nVidia GT240 1GB GDDR5 @ x1 pci-e
)

Is that similar case to my laptop?

so I've captured pci snapshot. Can you check it out for me?

-> snapshot
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?yhdyygkzzvd

I want to use 4G RAM.

what can I do?

many thanks. ~


Right now, My system is working fine with below setting.

Laptop:
- Compal JHL90
- CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 2.80Ghz
- Intel(R) ICH9
- VGA: Geforce9600M GT 1680*1050
- RAM: 2GB PC6400
- OS: Windows 7 Home Preminum X64

Connected via ExpressCard/PE4L/x1:
- VGA: Geforce9500 GT 512MB
- Monitor: lm300w01-a1(2560 * 1600)

 

Use grub4dos to do a 32-bit memory write if pt GPFs for whatever reason

On the DIY ViDock bootdisk you have menu.w7, menu.mbr, menu.xp used by the grub4dos bootloader. The same memory write as attempted to switch into the more desirable x1E mode using pt can also be done by adding "write 0xFED1c224 0x81", without quotes, one line before the chainloader line in all of these menu.* files.

Running 'grub --config-file="menu.w7"' will apply that memory write as part of chainloading Win7.

 

Thanks Nando4!

Unfortunately these site are not shipping to my country or the freight charge makes it more expensive...

Considering the prices here I have the following options:
HD 4670 1GB - around 80 USD
HD 4770 512 MB - around 110 USD
HD 4850 1 GB - around 120 USD
HD 4770 has a quite good rating here.

 

deleted...

 

hey all,

I'm pretty bent on doing an x2 link on the t500 using the turbo mem slot. Do you guys think I'll be able to route the cable from the PM3N to the PMCIA slot within the laptop? Any info on the thickness or length of the cable?

Here's some pictures to help describe what i want to do:




I want the cable to route like this:


and end up outside of the lower pcmcia slot on the right (expresscard slot is right above it)


I am guesstimating the required cable length will be 12 inches to let the cable stick 1 inch out of the machine

Is there a maximum length for these types of cables? The easier option of course is to just go through the ultrabay (i.e remove the cd drive), or possibly remove the modem jack on the right side, but then I'll be stuck with a cable always sticking out with no easy way to remove it. Connecting will also be hard as the cables will be on different sides of the laptop.

 

the round cable from hwtools is roughly 0.25 inches thick. thera are flat hdmi cables, but i only found HDMI to miniHDMI like this http://www.advancedlamps.com/images/FS081.jpg so you'll nedd to find a miniHDMI to miniHDMI or use a HDMI tominiHDMI adapter.

 

nice nowai, I want to do the same with my X200. Having the cable come out the open space between the expresscard and chassis is probably the simplest, but pretty ugly, how to hide it when portable? I also like your idea of utilizing the modem port, I sure don't use that thing. Definitely more work though.

Wouldn't worry about hdmi length, shouldn't be any potential signal degradation under 10'. coupling a few of hdmi cables might degrade signal if the adapters aren't HQ... and we'll likely need at least one to make the cable disappear when away from desk / vidock.

Anyway, good luck, looking forward to your progress

 

@nowai, @hallucinate. Lenovo whitelist their mPCIe slots. With the turbo memory card removed, can you boot Win7, standby the system, attach the wifi card into the turbo memory slot, resume and it detects it? If not, can you try the whitelst.bat workaround on the first post to see can get the wifi card detected?

If either of these tests works then port3 is electrically connected and can be combined with port4 (expresscard slot) to give a x2 link. If not, then Lenovo are doing hardware based whitelisting. Not likely, but possible.

 

nando4, i can try this assuming i can easily reroute my wifi card inthe turbomem slot. would hibernate mode suffice?

UPDATE: I put my computer into hibernate, plugging in the wifi card into the turbomem slot, and tried starting up.

I ended up with this error message after the bios screen:


I did not try going back into the bios to disable wireless usb, but I may be able to try that later.

That said, do you think getting this thing to work may require a modified BIOS? I'll try to use whitelist.bat later to see if it helps

Question: does anyone have a link to the lenovo version of whitelst.bat?

 

The bios error error message will not appear if you set the jumper on the PM3N to provide a 6.5s reset delay. The bios will never see the video card so will not halt the process. Only problem then is if the bios still disables the mPCIe slot, which would require whitelst.bat to enable.

The way to test that condition is to remove the turbo memory card, start Win7, standby (not hibernate), put wifi card into the turbo memory slot, resume. See if Win7 detects the card wifi card. If not, then need to customise whitelst.bat for your system. That will become the Lenovo version

 

OK, I will try this in standby then. NOTE: I do not have a turbo memory card, so I am trying this with just swapping the wifi and an empty slot. I think this actually makes more sense, unless your PM3N can fake a turbomem or wireless usb card for 6.5seconds

I think I understand your idea now, if the standby method works no modified bios is needed, otherwise I'll have to make a whilelst.bat / do something like this: Do-It-Yourself and remove the "White list" in Lenovo's S10 Netbook

 

Tried moving wifi card while in standby instead. No port3 was shown, and wifi card was not detected.

Guess we'll be whitelisting or modding the bios then, eh?

In case you're curious: the everest screenshot with the wifi card put into the turbo mem slot looked like this - http://imgur.com/fxgsQ.png

In other news, I think it's possible to route a wire to the PC-card/Expresscard slot area. It may require cutting into the receptacle that holds the cards, but would make for a very clean x2 install. This said, is there any technical explanation of how x2 works? do graphics cards support dual pci slots, or is this some special hack only for the PE4H?

 

Appears Lenovo use the same sort of whitelisting as on the 2510P. To be absolutely certain x2 works using port3, you need to get port3 to detect a wifi card.

To do that modify whitelst.bat, bootup DIY ViDock bootdisk, hotplug wifi card, run whitelst.bat, see if 'lspci -tv' output shows the wifi card under the 0:1c.2 (port3) branch. If you don't like hotplugging, proceed to boot win7 instead, standby, attach wifi, resume and see if wifi appears.

FYI: I had the 2510P bios modded to have the HD4670 (at the time) added to the whitelist. That then resulted in the halt message on bootup as it appears that upon finding a whitelisted device, the bios tries to access wifi specific features which would fail since the HD4670 is not a wifi card. So modding the bios was not the solution. whitelst.bat was the solution.

x2 is just connecting lane1 and lane2 of the video card to lane1 and lane2 of the port. In your case lane1 would be port3's electrical connections, lane4 would be port4's electrical connections.

 

Hello again,
I've been looking far and wide for a Radeon 4870 2GB model ($150-$200), but I can't find any at all which will ship to Canada.

Anyone have any links?

 

@hallucinate just to confirm the version 2 that you got is it the 4x capable one or just one with the changed fuse.

 

Whoops.. Jumped the gun. Need to enable port3 as explained here. Then see if the wifi card is detected when you "Scan For New Hardware". If not, then following the whitelst workaround in my last post.

Perhaps ask the seller of the one on ebay-US to see if would be willing to send to CA. The 2GB 4870 appears occasionally.

 

PE4L and Sapphire HD 4870 1 GB is on the way. I will inform you about the results...

 

Yep, tis 4x capable.
Crappy action shot attached.

 

hi, hallucinate.

R U using those all 4 ports?

how about it?

it's very interesting.:yes:

 

great. just one last thing is it the same price as the v1.0 or do you have to pay extra

 

Nope, I wish. There is only a possibility of using two with my current laptop. I bought v2 in order to be ready for upgrades.

Same price.

 

I am absolutely lost about what to set my mem_win to for IGP relocation.

I have a 2730p by the way (probably the same business as a 2530p).

The rig works on 2GB of RAM, and I can get it to boot from the boot disk and GRUB load to windows, I just can't figure out the memory relocation part.

I'm using the expresscard slot on port 3, and that's all...just 1x.

Here's a screenshot of what device manager has to say:



My autoexec.bat loads a file I called "igpreloc.bat" which has the following config lines:

set port=2
set mem_win=CFF1C001
set io_win=2020

setpci -s 0:2.0 18.l=0C
setpci -s 0:2.0 1C.l=3

setpci -s 00:1c.%port% 1c.w=%io_win%
setpci -s 00:1c.%port% 24.l=%mem_win%


Do I need to modify io_win too?

What are the steps to determine exactly what to put for those values (offsets? multiplication?)

Thanks in advance.

 

igpreloc is attempting to move the 4500MHD from C0000000-CFFFFFFF to 300000000-30FFFFFFF (36-bit/PAE). On two systems 4GB Dell systems it was found that 120000000-317FFFFFF was the 36-bit range that could be allocated to. Not sure if that is a general rule or not. Clicking on the 4500MHD device, then reviewing resources should show if the relocation was successful.

If so then you have a free 256MB window at C0000000 to allocate your ATI video card to. Device Manager will show this range as occupied by "PCI Bus".

If the IGP doesn't like being relocated for whatever reason, then would need to relocate all your devices from Dxxxxxxx to Fxxxxxxx to free up a 256MB window in the Dxx range.

Yes, the I/O win needs a setting that's not being used or else you'll still get an error 12. Can evaluate what I/O is free in Device Manager->View Resources->By Type->I/O->PCI Bus. Could just make it 8080 as that is likely not used.

The 2730P port layout means can do a x1E link too, but you'll lose concurrent wifi that I recall is on port2. x1E giving noticably faster FPS.

Which video card are you using?