DIY eGPU experiences

I'm having some SERIOUS driver issues now. Not with the egpu, just with my laptop in total. There is no CCC, nothing, my internal GPU isnt recognised, All CCC installers do NOT install, just get errors, and AMD'd auto detect and download will not open. Help please?

 

Could you provide a link to the pay site? I don't mind paying you and whoever developed this wonderful tool but I don't want to get into other people's fights.

 

Setup 1.x license purchase

For the time being, please contact HIT to arrange manual purchase. That will highlight to HIT that an automated webpage needs to be up and running sooner rather than later for Setup 1.10+. I expected a webpage to have been up already.

Purchasing a license will entitle you use the latest version 1.10 beta (available via PM, screenshot below), which uses a significantly more responsive FreeDOS kernel with no Microsoft licensing issues, uses a HDD image (with ~9MB free), has UEFI chainloading, cleaner Status window and Function key bar item layout, various fixes, etc. The UEFI chainloading may be important for the W520.

It seems too that the VD4+ can negotiate a pci-e 2.0 link as shown, so would be great to get comparative x1.1Opt versus x1.2Opt gaming benchmarks on a i7-quad W520 + GTX4/5xx once you piece it all together.

 

Can you use system restore point? Have you uninstalled all Radeon HD drivers and reboot?

What eGPU adapter solution did you use?

I use PE4H ver 1.0 which needs to be modified i.e. an Amp fuse needs to be remove and bridged with soldier beads.

 

It is possible. According to W520 specification, <strike>it doesn't have Intel HD 3000 iGPU, which means you won't be able to do x1.Opt setup. You'll can only do x1 link setup & the performance will not good.</strike> You might want to get PCIe 2.0/Gen2 compliant kit when they available. It will give better performance when running at x1.Opt 2.0 (5Gb/s speed).

EDIT: Sorry, my mistake. Yes, it does have Intel HD 3000 iGPU. It say so in the specification: "Extreme graphics with NIVIDIA® Quadro® 1000M / NIVIDIA® Quadro® 2000M with Optimus™ technology". So, you can do x1.Opt setup. Opt=Optimus will provide PCIe data compression which boost performance over PCIe x1 link. When PCIe 2.0/Gen2 compliant kit available, you'll be able to get much better performance.

Do you remember what is the error code when you tried last time? You <strike>might</strike> need to use Setup 1.x, to turn off dGPU and also probably PCI compaction. <strike>Please post screenshot of the Device Manager (set View to " Resources by connection" & expand the Memory tree).</strike> When dGPU off, eGPU will be able to use the vacant PCI space.

You might want to consider doing fresh windows installation. When CCC failed to work/run as it should be, it's hard to troubleshoot & get it to work again. D.N.A. drivers should be able to detect dGPU (discrete). Recommended to use D.N.A. drivers because dGPU & eGPU are ATI. If you don't want to use D.N.A. drivers, you can use official ATI desktop drivers for both dGPE & eGPU (by adding the dGPU PCI ID in .inf file). You'll need to boot with “F8 -> Disable Driver Signature Enforcement” for successful driver installation.

 

Nando, I have a ES GTX480. Is there a way to add the hardware id's to the nvam.inf so I can install the optimus verdi drivers (either 275.33 or 285.62)? As is, the installer states "This graphics driver could not find compatible graphics hardware.

 

Add GTX480 PCI ID in 285.62 (verde) nvam.inf:-

Under " [NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.0]"

Code:

%NVIDIA_DEV.06C0.01% = Section004, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_06C0

and

Under " [NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.1]"

Code:

%NVIDIA_DEV.06C0.01% = Section005, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_06C0

After you added the PCI ID, run setup.exe to install the driver.

 

Looking to add a egpu to my dell inspiron 1520 but not sure about a few things:

PE4H or PE4L - If i wanted to run it in 2x 1.0, will i need to physically connect it to one of my pcie-m slots? While also having it plugged into the expresscard. Ideally though i would like to run my egpu through only the expresscard slot.

what video card to get for optimum performance from my system and setup
(I have a T6400 processor and 4gb of ram atm)
I'm thinking about a radeon 6770 and ill be picking up a 400 or 450w micro atx PS.

Was also wondering if i could use a 120W laptop ac adapter instead to power the videocard? Or would it not work because that setup is ideally for 80w> setups?

Also was wondering if anyone has attempted to make a enclosure out of a 5.25 ide drive enclosure? Or anyone else know other things we can buy to convert into a egpu enclosure?

Thanks

 

If you wanted to run x2 setup, you'll need PE4H. For x2 setup on Dell Inspiron 1520, you'll need to connect one cable to ExpressCard & another one to mPCIe. You can see Moerf's eGPU implementation for more information. BTW, you might only be able to use 3GB of RAM when using eGPU due to high TOLUD on this notebook. Please post screenshot of Device Manager (set View to " Resources by connection" & expand the Memory tree). I want to check TOLUD. Your notebook also capable doing x4 setup base on the PCIe ports arrangement. Of course will need you to confirm the PCIe ports arrangement. Remember, there will be 4 cables connected to your notebook.

Power supply choice depend on your choice of graphic card. You can see few example of eGPU using AC adapter at Getting Started section (no.2). ATX PSU is always preferred for eGPU. When choosing power supply, remember to look at the max current on the +12V, not the total power. For example, ATI HD 6870 power requirement is 151W. So, the PSU must have at least 14A on the +12V (12V * 14A = 168W, calculated with 10% safe margin) - stock clocks only, not including overclock. Always buy reputable brand such as Corsair, Seasonic or FSP (to name a few).

 

Thanks, I think I will wait and see what this guy finds out http://forum.notebookreview.com/8079878-post5025.html as he has the same laptop, I dont have a GPU atm and I am not in dire need, might wait until 28nm parts are released as that should be Q1 and as I only play SC2 atm its not an issue

 

Heres a screen of my devmgmt wit memory expanded:

Changed to a url, easier on the eyes.
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/996/devmgmtmemoryshot.jpg

Anyway if i just wanted to use only the expresscard slot, then i'd go with a PE4L then right? But i heard that on PE4L, nvidia cards will run much better on x1 1.0 pci?

 

According to the screenshot, the first PCI bus with 8 digits memory address is 0xE0000000, which means TOLUD is 3.5GB. This show you'll need to reduced the memory from 4GB to 3GB to allow successful eGPU implementation.

Alternative solution is we can try adding " large memory" by modifying DSDT, which will allowing 36-bit PCI allocation. Amount of RAM will not be an issue.

 

My TOLUD may also change to 4gb when i do reformat with win 7 64 bit, but anyway how would i go about changing my memory down to 3gb?

 

By using one 2GB memory module & another one 1GB memory module. The other solution is by modifying DSDT to add "large memory". Then only need to load the modified DSDT into registry. With "large memory", amount of RAM will not be an issue anymore. Do you want to try the modified DSDT solution?

 

That's probably what ill end up doing.

Anyway if im limiting myself to a x1 1.0 connection, is it possible to do a x1.Opt setup with a PE4L or PE4H?

 

Dell Inspiron 1520 doesn't have Intel GMA 4500MHD to allow x1.Opt setup. BTW, if I prepared the modified DSDT, do you want to try it?

 

Oh, i guess it doesnt. Only got a 3100... Would it still be better to get a nvidia card over a radeon if i was limited to a x1 1.0 setup?

N using a PE4H at x1 won't cause it to be slower than a PE4L on x1 would it?

 

kizwan, that did the job... got a perfectly working now. Thanks!

 

@DaSinical1,

Enjoy!

@dero56,

PE4H & PE4L will deliver the same performance. PE4L is much smaller, cheaper & limited to one PCIe x1 link only. PE4H can support four PCIe x1 link (up to x4 link setup) & have sturdier base. Regardless graphic card, with x1 link only, performance will not good. You'll experiencing stuttering & lagging while playing games. x2 setup will deliver better performance (near x1.Opt performance).

 

Hmmm if thats the case then i should probably look into a new i3/i5 laptop with expresscard34 on it. Just wanted to plug a egpu into my system to extend its life abit.

Well I would be willing to try a 2x setup if i hav to in order to run an egpu properly.

 

If you're looking for new notebook, make sure it have Intel HD Graphics or Intel HD 3000 iGPU. This will allow x1.Op setup with Nvidia Fermi graphic card.

I examined Dell Inspiron 1520 BIOS A09 & I found the DSDT table already contain the necessary entry for "large memory". What is the BIOS version are you using right now?

 

I think its A09.

Double checked, it is A09

 

Interesting. The Device Manager doesn't show "large memory". Look like you can only use maximum 3GB of RAM when using eGPU.

EDIT: Look like "large memory" tweak/fixed only applicable for notebook with Intel 4 Series chipset.

 

So i have to physically install 3gb of ram? n tats the only way?

 

Yes, you have to reduced the memory to 3GB RAM for successful eGPU implementation. If not, there won't be enough PCI space for eGPU.

 

Is there any difference between those 2 if you run x1 with optimus? I have the small one, and its a bit pricey getting the PE4H

Is that an issue with my laptop? I refuse to go down to 3Gb ram on my thinkpad :/ Then I would rather buy a new laptop with good dedicated gfx

 

When the W520's FX1000M/FX2000M is disabled using Setup 1.x, it's pci-e space is freed so can be hijaaked by the eGPU. TOLUD issues therefore do not exist for Optimus dGPU notebooks.

PE4L and PE4H give exactly the same performance when using a x1 link.

 

Hmm if i go ahead and instead do a PE4L setup with a 80 or 120w AC adapter n a gpu under 120w, with adapter like this, would it be pointless? I already have a 8600m gt card in my laptop and on the x1 1.0 setup i might not see much improvement.

Say if i put in a 6770 or a 550ti.

 

No difference at all. Performance will be the same.

No. This is an issue with Dell Inspiron 1520 notebook because TOLUD is 3.5GB. In your case, it will not...well, you can read my post for you here, especially the third paragraph.

In my opinion, not worth it if just do x1 link setup. While playing games, when too many effects, video will stutters & lagging.

 

Hmm ok then im stuck with downgrading to 3gb ram and doing a 2x setup to see any improvement?

 

Your choice are either:-
- reduced to 3GB RAM & x1 setup (definitely will experiencing stuttering & lagging)
OR
- reduced to 3GB RAM & x2 setup (deliver much better performance)

I also don't like the idea of reducing the RAM but what to do because "large memory" seems not applicable to Intel 965 chipset. You can go to my eGPU experience post to see game benchmarks between x1 & x2 setup. Of course I don't have problem with amount of RAM because my notebook have dynamic TOLUD (already low). It actually different platform & specification but should give you an idea on the performance difference between x1 & x2 setup.

 

Well what i could do is get a PE4H, and do a x1 first and if it really isn't much of an improvement ill get another PM3N and do x2 from there

 

Yes, you can do like that too.

 

Yeah right, a good day. Really nice marketing plan. A bottleneck free interface isn't a good thing?
oh and many notebooks have thunderbolt... like.... 1pc and some other brand that sells crippled overpriced marketing devices.

 

Can I use x2E link, if I remove the wi-fi adapter? If so, how?

 

Where were we? Did you checked & confirmed the other empty mPCIe port is PCIe port#2? If not yet, please check by moving the wireless card to the empty mPCIe port, boot into windows & check in AIDA64 the PCIe port number where the wireless card is appear now. Do you have ExpressCard device, for example ExpressCard to eSATA/USB/firewire?

 

I have an Express Card slot and I don't have empty mPCIe. I can release the port #2 and #4, because I don't use wi-fi and turbo memory.
Screen shows:
port #2 - intel turbo memory,
port #4 - wifi.
port #1 - is likely to express-card (I can not check, I don't have this device)

 

AIDA64 report is not conclusive. You need to open the memory & HDD compartment to visually check whether there is empty mPCIe port(s) or not. What we know so far PCIe port#4 is WIFI. If there is another empty mPCIe port available, move the WIFI card to the empty mPCIe port, then boot into windows & check with AIDA64 again.

PCIe port#2 is Intel Turbo Memory. What is this? Is this mPCIe device?

 

I opened the RAM & HDD compartment. There are no empty mPCIe. Intel Turbo Memory Controller - yes, this is mPCIe device (1Gb of flash memory).
I have two mPCIe slots, they are both busy, but may be released.

 

Thank you for the picture. This is what I want you to check. Assuming ExpressCard slot is PCIe port#1, you can do x2 link with ExpressCard slot & PCIe port#2. This means, you will need to disconnect the Intel Turbo Memory card.

Right now, we're assuming ExpressCard slot is PCIe port#1. We don't have any evidence yet. I think you can safely order PE4H-EC2C-PM3N kit & two miniHDMI (PCIEMM-XXXX) cables. Because, if somehow ExpressCard slot is PCIe port#3 (which I think unlikely), you still can do x2 with ExpressCard & PCIe port#4.

Regarding the x2E, you must use PCIe port#1 & port#2 with either PCIe port#3 or port#4 or both having NO physical device attached to them. PCIe port#1 is set to x4 mode, running with only the first 2 lanes (PCIe port#1 & port#2). x2E also offering 15-30% faster performance than x2 alone. However, PCIe port#3 is not visible in AIDA64. We will know for sure whether you can do x2E or not when you have everything for eGPU.

 

kizwan,
OK, thank you! I'll write more when I have everything to eGPU

 

Good luck!

 

Should the V2 of PE4L perform better than the normal? I thought the V1 was pcie2.0 capeable?

 

I had a quick question. So I'm waiting for my x3 mPCIe cards to do my x4 setup. I was able to get my x1 working with no errors, so should I foresee any problems getting the rest going if x1 is working fine? Can't wait to get it all setup.

I was also curious but when i had my x1 HD4850 going flash was giving my errors in Firefox and Chrome. I'm using the latest DNA driver. When I went back to my iGPU it was working fine.

 

I have bad news. I learned that the Intel Turbo Memory (ITM) has a different pinout, which does not coincide with the mini-PCIe pinout (mPCIe port #2 is used for ITM and TV-tuner).
I inserted the Wi-Fi adapter in the slot for ITM (mPCIe port #2), and Wi-Fi card is burned!
But ITM normally works in mini-PCIe slot for Wi-Fi (mPCIe port #4). I think that the Acer 5920G is not possible to get a x2 link. I think it is necessary to remove such information from the first post.
This explains the failure of user antichamp ( link)

 

Can I get the link to where you got the information that ITM have different pinout? As far as I know it is mPCIe card & connect to mPCIe port. I can't find any info to suggest otherwise. Also 5920G schematic show it's PCIe lane. antichamp's post didn't mention it have the same problem, only unable to get x2 working. According to antichamp's previous post, connecting WIFI to PCIe port#2 doesn't caused any problem, in fact WIFI is detected. Also, the picture show that PCIe port#2 & port#4 doesn't show up if no device connected to them. This means using the mPCIe port for eGPU will be tricky. Setup 1.x anti-whitelist should be able to make eGPU to work with mPCIe port on this notebook.

BTW, ExpressCard is PCIe port#1 based on the information here & here.

 

I can not give a link because it was found out during our correspondence in Russian Acer-fans forum, it's all written in Russian. I have wi-fi card is detected, but after 5-7 minutes the laptop was freezed and no longer start with Wi-Fi card. Without it - normally starts.
I will check the mPCIe port #2 when I get PE4H... But I think it will feil

 

Using eGPU with mPCIe port on your notebook will be a bit tricky (I edited my previous post ^^) but Setup 1.x should be able to get it to work.

 

Ok, you reassured me
I will try ...

 

If you put back the Intel Turbo Memory to PCIe port#2, does it detected in AIDA64? Also, if you put back WIFI card to PCIe port#4, does it work again? If Intel Turbo Memory is not detected anymore, I'm afraid PCIe port#2 is burned.