DIY eGPU experiences

Im using an ATI card till my GTX 560ti gets here, but what does that mean "manually set the *.exe in the dGPU whitelist"

 

It was a consideration of an option in the nVidia Control Panel (i thought u already had the 560Ti). On the ATI counterpart i know that only in case of BACON, you have to set the rule for the executable, i don't think such option is enabled with an eGPU setup. Anyway the issue sounds quite strange

 

Fixed it. Right clicked the icon from desktop and used troubleshoot compatibility and whatever it did worked.

 

I was readng about usb 3.0 and thunderbolt, even with these two tech the full capability of gpu cannot be accessed.
Only x4 is max. So it cannot match the performance of the desktop...
Is my understanding correct ??

Sent from my HTC Vision using Tapatalk

 

I believe this is just a bug.. I will ask around..

 

Hello I run some tests on my HP 4530s and 460GTX and I am getting the sense that Nvidia shut us down, stopping the Optimus acceleration on SB motherboards. I first installed desktop drivers 270.11 that came with the card and the result was 10975 Vantage points. Then I did a clean install of Windows and installed Optimus driver 285.36 (the latest modded) and the result was 10934. This made me nervous, so I ran several tests but none was better. All of them were around 11000. I am sure that the Optimus driver was installed because I could run on internal screen. Uninstalling the drivers and installing 285.36 Desktop (I would like to have exactly the same driver for the test) and it gave me around 10904. This is ridiculous. There is no performance increase at all. Maybe NVidia put something in the driver and when it tests the port and it is pci-e 2.0 optimus “acceleration” doesn’t engage. Firstly I thought it was my CPU (2310M) that bottles the system but we have seen greater NVidia Optimus increase with worse or same CPUs (i5-430M, P8700, T8100, T5800 etc).

Furthermore since I am moving occasionally I usually don’t carry a TV screen with me, and that was the reason that I grabbed a 460 NVidia, internal screen mode with Optimus (I personally like more Ati GPUs). Lately Lucidlogix announced a driver that would provide internal screen mode on SB H61, H67, Z68. Luckily for me the driver worked fine on HM65 chipset (HP motherboard 167C) with a watermark showing that my motherboard is not Virtu GPU (that’s how it is called) capable. So I ran back to back tests between Virtu GPU (with 285.36 desktop drivers) and optimus Performance (with 285.36 modded verde drivers). On the Virtu GPU Control Panel I slide the slider towards performance and… unbelievable. Scores talk by themselves 7455 Vantage gpu points for Virtu GPU driver while 6732 Vantage gpu points with optimus, both tests on internal screen 1366x768 (CPU: 2310M, 4GB DDR3 mainstream). As soon as I saw those results I was so disappointed by NVidia (for disabling Optimus acceleration on SB) that I decided to trade my 460s for a 6950 and yet I am looking for a new psu and waiting for pci-e x1 2.0 compatible hardware. Pictures below are added to show the facts. This also explains why serialk11r would score that low with GT240 @x1 2.0 Optimus. If anybody doesn’t believe me, he can try installing plain Desktop drivers and see the “difference” by himself. I am done with NVidia! Not only they don't add support but they cut for new hardware?

Images added

Hewlett Packard 4530s GTX 460 @ x1.1 (270.11 Desktop)

Hewlett Packard 4530s GTX 460 @ x1.1 Opt. (285.36 Verde)

Hewlett Packard 4530s GTX 460 @ x1.1 (285.36 Desktop)

Hewlett Packard 4530s GTX 460 @ x1.1 Opt. (285.36 Verde) internal screen 1366x768

Hewlett Packard 4530s GTX 460 @ x1.1 (285.36 Desktop) internal screen Virtu GPU 1366x768

Adding some more OC images just for instance @810 core 1860 memory

Hewlett Packard 4530s GTX 460 @ x1.1 (285.36 Desktop) @ 810 core 1860 memory Physx on

Hewlett Packard 4530s GTX 460 @ x1.1 (285.36 Desktop) @ 810 core 1860 memory

Hewlett Packard 4530s GTX 460 @ x1.1 (285.36 Desktop) internal screen Virtu GPU 1366x768 @ 810 1860 memory


Results with 2630QM and 6950 soon…

 

To me sounds like there is a piece of the puzzle is missing. So many successful experiences and now this bad experience? Have you uninstalled the nVidia Audio driver? On one screen the CPU score is quite different from the other ones (probably cause Physx pushed the CPU)

 

Yeah thats the physics pushing the CPU on the last one. this was just for fun.
Since internal screen was running fluently, this means that Optimus has engaged. My card was running @ x1 (not x2 or x3) so no excuse for Optimus "acceleration not to engage, just the obvious. Nvidia shut us down.However just to be fair I would like someone with a SB laptop to confirm, since it could be just my problem
oooorrrrr
perhaps the Optimus Driver just uncrippled the Intel pci-e ports using an smart way to Enhance them. As we can see similar performance cpu post similar results eg p8700 @ x1 Opt. 10331 (very close to my results since mine was an Evga FPB board with slightly higher clocks). That's my guess on that. This is also why Optimus wouldn't run on x2 implementations.

 

<deleted - incorrect>

 

Offcourse Optimus internal screen mode is what everybody wants, but Virtu GPU works as well. It also runs smoother than Optimus (at least that's what I believe), runs great on AMD too (tested my 6950 soon posting results) and they are going to add support for amd Intergrated drivers (at least that is what they claim).

 

< deleted - incorrect info based on wrong reading of pictured data>

 

Vantage gpu desktop 270.11 ---> 10957 No compression
Vantage gpu desktop 285.36 ---> 10901 No compression
Vantage gpu verde 285.36 --->10934 (Opt) "compression"
Vantage gpu verde 285.36 --->6732 INTERNAL SCREEN (Opt) "compression"
Vantage gpu desktop 285.36-->7455 INTERNAL SCREEN Virtu No compression

EDIT: Just found out that the Desktop 285.36 I used was a BETA driver.

dvmc4 runs better on less cores or threads due to higher turbo boost as proven on my scaling analysis of 5850. It is highly single core higher clock dependent and that's why KhEnglish had 138 fps. (3.5GHz clocked core 2 duo) Check previous post. by the way it would be more fair to sort DX10 scores according to vantage gpu, since dvmc is bound on the cpu.

It's Virtu. I can do that but I don't think it has better performance on external screen (since it is not working at all when dvi connects to dGPU). I am going to do a comprehensive post on how sb users with AMD can have internal screen mode soon.

 

I believe *ALL* of the above have pci-e compression enabled. The gpu score wouldn't be so high otherwise. 3dmark06 is a better indicator of pci-e compression. If you get a lowly score of ~5k then pci-e compression is disabled.

I believe that as of around 270.11, the x1 pci-e compression code was added to the desktop driver. Older Verde drives had it too. So if you want to see *uncompressed* results then would need to go to an older desktop driver like 258.xx. You'll be shocked at how choppy a 3dmark06 run is. That's what people without 4500MHD/HD/HD3000 iGPUs experience with Fermi cards.

 

3dmark06 scores posted SM2.0 score ~5K.
I still think that Optimus was just the Enhancer (x1E) mode for Fermi.
I don't have an Nvidia card to test right now. Maybe someone else could.
270.11 and 285.36 were both unmodded drivers.

By the way 5870 gpu vantage scores @ x16 ~16000 and @ x1 ~13500
while gtx 470 or 560ti gpu vantage scores @ x16 ~ 16500 and @ x1 Opt. ~13000.
which proves that the percentage of loss is almost the same (maybe a little bigger on the Nvidia side).
Also 460 saw a big step from 258 to 285 of 1,5k vantage gpu points on x16 ports. so the drivers performance may affect the results.

Anyway, there are maybe so many other things that matter.
For example mattlach runs a i5-520m and an 6850 and he scores a vant.gpu of 7051 while timrenzi with a i5-540m (one multiplier more on base and turbo) and an 6850 scores a vant.gpu of 10196 both on EC Q57. ~3K.

 

Can anyone confirm me that this cable works?

Gold Plated 1080P HDMI Mini V1.3 M-M Connection Cable - Black (1.5M-Length) - Free Shipping - DealExtreme

 

yupp.. i've been using it for 5 months now. no problem so far. Ordered same SKU.

 

Okay, for those who are having problem with their eGPU not working, here's what I did to make it work (For Nvidia only):

1- If you have installed the video driver by windows search, uninstall it, then you will see a VGA compatible driver

2- Download the latest modded driver+nvam.inf provided by this thread.

3- Follow the instructions:
a. Replace the nvam.inf which is in Display.Driver from Nvidia folder with the modded one.
b. Run install.exe from Nvidia folder.
c. Follow the on-screen instruction.
d. Restart your laptop and make sure that you set the PCI Reset Delay to 7/15s Before booting.

and that's it, enjoy using optimus. let me know if this work for you.

 

I see alot of people are using GTX460, is there a reason for that? I got a 570 but perhaps I won't get better performance than a gtx460 due to limitations in the pci?

If I sell my 570 I will get almost 300 usd while a used gtx 460 1gb costs around 100usd. Or will I still see a better performance from a 570 since it's a better gpu?

 

A better gpu have better performance. So it is up to you to decide if the extra 200$ worth the extra fps. I had a 460 and upgraded to an 6950. The performance difference is not huge, but sometimes it is just enough to drag some games from unplayable (25-35 fps) to playable (35-50 fps) in higher settings. I had two 460s and it was the best that time to swap for an 6950.
If any other day I would use the money for a second screen or an upgrade to my current.
First page benchmarks can give an overall performance for both cards. Offcourse your 570 is much better to my 6950 due to Optimus compression. A 570 would do around 17000 Vantage points while 460 will do around 12000-12500 Vantage points.

 

I see. I don't care about graphics as much as fps, I personally find anything below 60 fps almost unplayable, I'd rather lower the graphics alot than to play with low fps. I'll keep my 570 then since the gap is so big. Thanks!

 

Hi everybody, i'm new here and i'm following this thread for some month and i've bought a DIY eGPU.

a PE4H 2.4a exactly running @1.1E on Fujitsu SIemens Amilo SI2636/13"/T7500/3Go/i965M (probably ICH9m windows 7 x86 (32)

Tested with a 8600GT and a GTX570

First, a 3Dmark 06 compare of before and after eGPU install:

Result

as you can see, i'm really CPU and bandwith limited (what else with a core2 nowaday)

I haven't sent my score with a 8600GT but it was 2892

here's my vantage score (always with the GTX570)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 video card benchmark result - Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7500,FUJITSU SIEMENS MR030___ score: P6766 3DMarks

i'll try with 2 more graphic cards when i recieved them:

A quadro FX3800 (GT200b/192SP/256bits/1Go/108w)
and a 9800GX2 (lol, yeah, i know, you've thinked it too, but i'm curious to see what it could do with a x1 link)

ps: sorry for my approximative English, but i'm a French student, so be nice and correct me if i hit the English language

[edit:] just one question, can i benefits of the optimus compression with my x3100 Graphics?

 

No, you can not. You need at least Intel GMA 4500MHD which only available with Intel 4 series (GM/PM45) chipset. Yes, you're right, the low score are because the CPU & the limited bandwidth. The x1.1E setup should provide a bit better performance than x1 setup. Did you try any games yet? Games should show you eGPU true performance.

 

i haven't really tried

i'll download portal 2 and some origin games on the laptop when i've got some time

 

Great job!

No you can't benefit of the optimus compression unless you use an 4500, Intel HD, Intel HD 3000 and intel GMA 3150. Although 3150 is a product based on an x3100 there are no succesfull examples to prove that x3100 can benefit of the optimus compression.

If you want some extra performance you can disable Intel Speedstep in BIOS and use uncleweb's Throttlestop to enable Dual IDA and add a multiplier to your cpu. (Yours from 2.2 would go to 2.4). Use the provided guide

 

The Intel GMA 3150 graphic core does based on X3100 design but both of them are completely different. 3150 is integrated in the Intel Atom N4xx processors while the X3100 is integrated in Intel GM965 chipset. Unlike X3100, 3150 does support Optimus (see ION 2 netbook).

 

so, i've tried the throttlestop tip, no way to disable the EIST ... and noway to enable the 12 multiplier (blocked at 11)

my system crash after applying (i've tried to get more V but without success)

for some bench results, i've on the 8600GT the next results:
All results are in 1280x800 on external screen (for evident reason of sh***y embeded graphics)

Crysis Warhead: everything on mainstream - no AA: MAP Frost:
12.13fps average - 16.46fps Max

FarCry 2: everything on Medium - no AA: MAP ??? good question cotage?
14.56fps average - 20.36fps Max

i've hope to launch the HAWX2 benchmark from Techpowerup, but it seem's not working (troubles with the update system, with the benchmark launch and the registration ...)

i'll try the GTX 570 later (lazy to disassemble my computer and my PSU)

 

I thought eGPU is connected to ExpressCard slot. What's there need to disassemble?

 

my desktop computer ^^"

the GTX is my mains graphic card in my desktop rig, but i'm more bored than lazy so i'll try now ^^

[edit:]i'm in testing, i've mistaked, i've got an ICH8-ME (9 for 3 series and 10 for 4 series, i've forgot this)

 

benchs result for the GTX570:

Crysis Warhead: everything on mainstream - no AA: MAP Frost:
25.52fps Average - 33.64 Max

FarCry 2: everything on Medium - no AA: MAP RANCH SMALL (got it)
29.84fps average - 37.14fps Max

Burnout Paradise: Medium Present - No AA: 2 race and some freerun
53.64fps average - 61fps Max (vsync enabled by default) - 23fps minimum

that's it, i'll try another game now

[edit:] oh, now i'm thinkin' of it, my first trial with the PE4h was with à non Graphic card. A DELL SAS5/iR SAS Controller. it worked really good, i've unmount my harddrive and install Windows on the controller, i was able to boot and configure the raid from the bios (no wait before plug)

 

I set PCI Reset Delay to 0s and did the following:

I resume windows while express card adapter is plugged in: screen stays black.

I did the same thing but I plugged in the express card after I resume windows: video card isn't detected and goes BSOD.

I think it is mHDMI cable's fault, but it works only when PCI Reset Delay is set 7/15s. Any suggestions?

Also, How can I make the expess card appears in safely remove hardware tool?

 

(On mobile) ICH9M & ICH9M-E is use with Intel 4 series chipset, not 3 series. ICH10 is use on desktop computer.

Interesting! Does windows start/boot faster? You might want to post details on this setup. Pictures will be good too.

 

I haven't got it anymore, windows boot up as fast as a windows booting in a 15k drive and i haven't seen any improvement after more than 2 Drive RAID (only tested with x1.1)

it's fast but not as a SSD (of course), i've took a picture before selling it(14MPix):


i've took this picture for proof to test a Windows XP (nlite modified) CD that integrate the RAID driver, so it also works in win7 and natively (no driver needed)

ps: 3Dmark11: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 video card benchmark result - Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7500,FUJITSU SIEMENS MR030___ score: P2263 3DMarks

 

I need ur help guys!

I own a Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E520 NZ3BBGE 1143BBG and a GTX 550 Ti. I installed the drivers and used the software solve the Error 12 problem. But still the card doesnt work! Windows says its working with nor problems, but i canno use it on my intern or extern LCD. Anys suggestions?

Sorry for my bad English.

 

Now when i boot with the egpu plugged i get the resources problem, but when i replugg them its gone. Still the card doestn work and when i open the nvdia setup it says no screen is plugged on the nvidia device.

 

first, don't boot up with the eGPU pluged (conflict inside)

second, have you assigned you screen on the external (right click => resolution => and activate the second screen as prefered?)

you would say that intel's got a die shrink of ICH9 and don't use it inside their laptops? (90 => 65nm is close to be the only difference in desktop between ICH9R an 10R)

 

The second screen is not displayd, so i cannot choose it.

 

i don't know what appends to you. The only time i've this trouble, it has been soved by a reboot and installing the Egpu Software inside the hard drive in multiboot + Nvidia Desktop driver.

are you sure of your screen? what does your hardware manager says?

 

Ok here we go: If i plug in
the device after booting i once got a blank desktop shown own the internal lcd and the external had no signal than it crashed with a bluescreen.
Now i boot unplugged into win 7. Deactivate internal intel graphics and plug it. Hardware manager says device working. PCI Bus 0 device 0 function 0.
But now under resolution i just see 1 screen. the external screen only is working when plugged into the thinkpad via vga but i think it uses the internal graphics.
How to set up the egpu software? Maybe i did something wrong.

edit: if u dont mind contact me on skype - same nick as here - for me it is less difficult to express myself in spoken english.
that would be real nice.

 

download this: DIYeGPU-Setup-10f-pre28.exe

extract in C:\egpu

and launch as administrator setup-disk-image.bat

once it's finished, reboot and you've got five second to choose eGPU setup or win7

and plug you egpu INSIDE the eGPU setup (choose the menu mode to have something "user-friendly")

 

I got there and it had me a little confused. Check the edit on my last post and at least consider contacting me on skype for a short talk. would help me a lot.

 

sorry but no skype, msn if you have?

[edit:] for spoken english i'm not really good and i don't have mic' so, it'll be hard ...

try to explain in your natal language and i'll try to answer you (german if i'm right)

 

ok i am installing msn right now what is ur contact information?

 

address sent by private message

 

Still: ThinkPad Edge E520 NZ3BBGE 1143BBG and a GTX 550 Ti and Intel HD 3000 IGP.
Ok now i set up the drivers and egpu software with the Help of softreaper.
Now when i go and set the graphics card to g2 it freezes at welcome screen.
But without it the performance isnt that good.

Any suggestions?

Thx!

 

Gave up waiting for Thunderbolt stuff for my MBP and just scored a sweet Lenovo T420s off ebay

In case anyone else is interested in a thin and light high res you really only have the T420s and the Toshiba R840 with express card slots. The R840 is capped to sata II speed which sucks, although battery life is very good.

Just over a grand for a slim and light laptop with i7-2620m, 128gb SSD, NV4200m/Optimus, 14" 1600x900 LCD, and 3 year extended warranty was just too good to pass on.

Hopefully the NV4200m/Optimus won't cause any eGPU issues.
If anyone has done this setup I would love to hear from them

I'll throw in an Ultrabay battery that will extend life to 6-8 hours
It can also take an msata SSD as well as the main hard disk so even with the battery in the optical bay it should be flexible enough to get enough storage. Main bay will take any 2.5" drive as long as they are only 7mm high

Now to wait for the PE4H ver3.0 to get released

 

The ICH9M & ICH9M-E is use with Intel 4 series mobile chipset (meaning on laptops), not 3 series. Actually Intel 3 series chipsets (Q35/Q33/G33/P35) are desktop chipsets & yes, they coupled with ICH9/ICH9R/ICH9DH (south bridge). ICH10 is use on desktop computer. ICH9R & ICH10R are use on desktop, not on laptops (except some Sager/Clevo laptops because they use desktop chipsets). Let's focus on mobile platform only.

I think you can follow useafo's eGPU experience since both of you have similar notebook series.

 

Platform Description

OS:
Windows 7 Pro x64 (upgraded from Windows Vista Ultimate x64)

System:
HP Pavillion DV6500
Intel core 2 duo T7250 2GHz processors
Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family display adapater

RAM:
Four (4) Gb

eGPU used:
PE4H-EC2C ver 2.4a
NVIDA GeForce GT 440 GPU
ATX 400W Power Supply for PE4H (no additional 6/8 pin connectors on card)
All drivers installed.

The Problem:
Briefly:
Error 12 on PCI port (and also on the graphics card, but that's only a small part of the problem).

Lengthy:
Without trying to use Setup 1.x, Error 12 shows up on the NVIDIA GeForce GT 440 in Device manager. As a side note, I can only get the card to show up if I plug in the express card adapter while windows is running (I think this is called a hot plug?). If I try to plug in the eGPU while my laptop is in sleep mode (the method suggested in the forums), when I wake the laptop up, it immediately shuts down, and won't restart until I unplug the eGPU.

I can get succesful compaction with Setup 1.x, but when I chainload into windows, and plug in the eGPU (again while Windows is running, not asleep), the card won't show up. In fact, after 'successful compaction,' the Error 12 moves to my Express card port: "Intel(R) ICH8 Family PCI Express Root Port 2 - 2841". This happens regardless of whether or not the eGPU is plugged in. I haven't found a similar problem anywhere else in the forum.

I've also tried the suggestion in the Error 12 section of the Troublshooting FAQ, by including in the approproate place in the startup.bat file:

Code:

setpci -s 4:0.0 BASE_ADDRESS_5=##01
setpci -s 0:1c.1 1c.b=## 1d.b=##

where for ## I've tried numerous things, since I'm not entirely sure how to determine where

(the directions in the FAQ). (Also, I changed the first line slightly because my "pci.bat" file was saying "4:0.0" rather than "2:0.0".) I've taken all these possible ##'s from Device Manager, by looking at the "Intel(R) ICH8 Family PCI Express Root Port 2 - 2841" entry in the various 'Resources by type' options in the 'View' menu. At first I took the ## from the "Memory" listing (which looked promising because it matched the number that showed up in Setup 1.x). I've also tried the Input/output listing. These addresses actually change depending on whether or not I have chainloaded the Setup 1.x-generated startup.dat file, and I've tried all four. Maybe if I could find the proper address, of make better sense of the FAQ on the issue, my problem would disappear?

In Setup 1.x, I can only use 36bit compaction (neither 32bit nor 32bitA works for iGPU, eGPU, or iGPU & eGPU). When I run 36bit compaction, I get the following:

36 bit on {iGPU}, 32bit on {none}, 512mb free at c0000000
{iGPU}, {eGPU}, 512mb free at c0000000
{iGPU & eGPU}, {none}, 512mb free at c0000000

{iGPU}, {iGPU}, 256mb free at c0000000
{iGPU}, {iGPU & eGPU}, 256mb free at c0000000
{eGPU}, {none}, 256mb free at c0000000
{eGPU}, {iGPU}, 256mb free at c0000000
{eGPU & iGPU}, {none}, 256mb free at c0000000

For the 512mb results, my laptop won't succesfully chainload if I try to apply the corresponding setup config (the laptop just shuts down). I can successfully chainload with the 256mb results. I'm not totally sure which of these I should be trying to use.

I started today off as a n00b, but I am pretty familiar with what's going on now, and have only a heaping pile of failure to show for it. I'd really, really, really appreciate it if someone out there had some idea what was going wrong! I feel like I'm right on the doorstep of getting this to work!

 

@ spezzlk
Do you use an DVI to VGA adapter to connect the screen? then it is a problem because Optimus doesn't allow this adapter to work. If you don't have any DVI, hdmi screen try non modified drivers to check if that is the problem.
Other problem for not being able to connect external screen is lack of power.

@jjstankowwicz
Try to use only 2GB of memory. 965 systems when they recognize that an external gpu is connected would boot only with 2,5GB ram and enable the external gpu disabling the internal. This will probably work. If this also causes an error 12 to Intel(R) ICH8 Family PCI Express Root Port 2 - 2841 then your problem can be, either faulty cabling or psu? Try also to readd the card on clean installation or after restore. For some reason a 460 that I used to have, wouldn't work, no matter what, because the first time I connected it caused a blue screen. Somehow windows blocked it to be enabled.

 

Ok, this is embarrassing.
I installed a new copy of Win7 over my old one before running "uninstall-disk-image" because I assumed that the installation would write a new MBR.

Now the selection menu shows every time I boot the machine, and I still didn't get around to installing the eGPU again.

Any idea how I can fix/edit the MBR and remove the ePGU menu item?
The WinXP disk was able to do it under recovery mode, but it doesn't seem to work with the Win7 disk.

Thanks

 

i don't know the commande, but it's under CMD within the BCDedit -store /enum software.

You should have some information about BCDedit on google