Help! Trying to buy a eGPU with TH05

Hi there,

I have a MacBook Pro Retina 2.7 GHz I7
16Gb Ram
NVidia GeForce GT 650M 1024MB
750 Gb SSD

I want to create a eGPU with a TH05 thunderbolt using bootcamp.
I know that that model still have a limit of 2.0 x2 (Thunderbolt is x4)
What I'm wondering is if, still with that limitation, the power of the graphics in my pc will still be better with, let's say a GTX 690 compared to a GTX 670 or 680??

 

Before anything, I'd check your TOLUD in device manager. Id check out the post from nando on this page to get a clearer understanding.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/e-gpu-external-graphics-discussion/418851-diy-egpu-experiences-229.html#post6949956

Be aware that with 16gb of ram, it might be too high for external graphics; and it could especially be a problem since replacing it on the retina macbook isn't exactly easy.

 

I've heard plenty of success stories on the newer Macbooks because of the way the resources are laid out are much different than PC standards. Keep in mind that the iGPU wasn't even given any resources to initialize if you install and boot Windows using Boot camp and only the discrete GPU is shown. This greatly frees up resources.

 

True, but someone with a 2011 17inch macbook pro who had 16gb of ram installed had a tolud too high. Macs are definitely much better at dealing with it, but there still seems to be an issue at times.

 

I couldn't find my TOLUD here. Can you help me find it?
About the ram i could use a different windows version that automatically takes out some ram

 

So, by what I understand I have a TOLUD of C0000000, Is that correct? And is that good?

 

Your TOLUD is the lowest it can be at 0000000A000, which is very good (it's the very first pci bus in memory).

But back to which graphics cards, there comes a point at which high end cards don't benefit from the decreased memory. Even a 680 might be too high for that bandwidth. With an express card connection, the 560ti seems to be the highest in terms of best value for the bandwidth. I'd go with a 660 or 660ti, but if you need a better card then you could buy the 670.

 

But the bandwidth that you're talking about is the 2.0 x2??
Even if the GTX 680 is too high bandwidth it won't work like it as the 670? or it'll bring some problems to the graphics?
Because I prefer to get the best so that when they deliver better connections I won't have to change my graphics card
And besides that, soon they'll deliver a TH05 with 2.0 x4
With that in mind isn't it better to get a GTX 680 or 690?

 

I already know that a GTX 680 on 2.0 x2 I loose 27-20&
And with 2.0 x4 I'll lose about 10%
Will the GTX 690 have the same stats on x2 and x4? theoretically?

 

Eh, yeah if you have the money than the 680 would be the best bet. I wouldn't risk buying the 690 because it's just 2 680s, which could cause issues (and you probably don't want to have issues with a $1000 card).

680 actually does make a lot of sense as it'll still perform great with 2.0 x2 but once 2.0 x4 comes out, it'll only get better so performance wise, it'll feel like your buying a whole new card.

 

Ok, great =) thanks
I'll buy the GTX 680
there's been problems with the 680 in eGPU?
My TH05 will arrive between monday - friday
And just by curiosity, there's no way to connect 2 thunderbolts to 1 PCIe right?
And there could be a way to do an SLI using 2 different thunderbolt connections for each graphic card?
For example in 1 thunderbolt a GTX 680 and the other thunderbolt another one? or is it too hard to make sli by 2 different thunderbolt entries?


Okay I found the answer for the SLI:
"Both SLI and Crossfire need more than x4 bandwith to be enabled in both control panels. Tested also on a desk rig (p55) and and I couldn't enable Crossfire under x4-x4 (if I use lower than that I cannot enable crossfire). SLI was tested on techpowerup forum with Hypersli (chipset p67 without SLI certification very similar to my hm65). There on speeds x16-x1 people couldn't enable SLI while when they change their configuration to x16-x4 or x4-x4 the sli tab was enabled. There is a possibility that it is possible to do an x1-x1 with older drivers (192.xx) but I haven't try it yet since I need 9xxx or older cards)"
Therefore only possible when TH05 has x4 and connecting to both ports

 

I buy GTX 680 with 2GB or 4GB??

 

That's up to you.

 

It doesn't require more bandwidth?

 

When it comes to memory size, no.

Don't bother with even trying SLI or XFire, it's not going to work.

 

SLI works with 2 thunderbolt working in 2.0 x4

 

Not sure if a laptops bios will allow that much memory for two full sized graphics cards...

And 2gb vs 4gb won't really matter too much; most are just starting to take advantage of 1gb vram. And anyway, you'll be limited by the THO5 before you're limited by the cards memory.

 

So, I buy the 2gb or 4gb knowing that it'll get to 2.0 x4 in the future?

 

2gb will be plenty.

 

Last question of all
I get FTW or not FTw?

 

Looks like the FTW version increases bandwidth usage and ups the clock speed, which has been proven to have a minor effect when it comes to external graphics. But same call, if you have the money than why not but I would suspect there wouldn't be too much of a difference.

 

Thank you very much for all your help. I'll probably gonna use Evga Geforce Gtx 680 Ftw 4gb
When I get it all I'll write again in this thread
Thank you again

 

Ok, i still have doubts that my TOLUD is the best as said before
Can anyone look again please? (Knowing I'll use thunderbolt)
Unless when I disable the iGPU i can use it in A000 as suggested before

 

You'll have to disable the 650m anyway. And the intel hd4000 does not appear in windows. Sorry about saying you had the lowest beforehand- I was looking at the wrong one . You might check your TOLUD after you disable the 650m.

 

How do I do that? just disable? its easy to put it back on?
in the properties of the Nvidia it says that localization is PCI 1, dispositive 0, function 0
it helps?

 

Here it is with 650M disabled... what can you tell me about my TOLUD?
My Nvidia is in A0000000, C0000000 and 90000000
Better if you take a look at the screenshot

 

Hmm not really sure how to calculate the new TOLUD. It might be that you negate the resources of the 650m from the initial? Makes sense . But I'm not entirely sure. It'd be hard to test without actually trying

 

tunico5, I don't think you understand the problem fully. TOLUD can be determined dynamically by bios/efi, for example when I first powered on my Thinkpad T520 with an eGPU connected through the expresscard slot, the notebook shut down after the initial post screen, powered on automatically and it booted to Windows without any TOLUD related issues. Now, I assume that this process was carried out by the bios to set the new TOLUD after it recognized the new device, so in your case, you might not be seeing your adjusted TOLUD when there is no device connected to the pci-express bus during boot.

 

Here the thing is, I still don't have my GPU to try it out and I'll use thunderbolt
I hope that apple is good at TOLUD subject and pray^^
the way it seems gotta do a leap of faith

 

Almost all Apple computers do not have TOLUD issues (error 12 does appear, but it is avoided with a specific boot sequence). I don;t see it being a problem though.

 

But let's say my TOLUD in the end is too high... what can I do? use different version of windows to disable some RAM? or I have to play with bios?
You know of many cases with error 12 being solved like that?

(I'm gonna try it anyway... i believe that just plugging and drivers it'll work. But I'm trying to prepare for the worst)

 

Usually, you either have to free up some resources by disabling stuff in your device manager or put in less than 4gb of ram (but since it's a rmbp that option isn't possible). Setup x1 also helps with error 12.

 

So a windows that disables my 16 GB and only uses 4GB won't work if that problem appears?
And when I free some resources what can I take out? only ports that I don't use right?

 

Yeah I don't think theres a way to disable your ram while keeping it inside the laptop. If there is then I'd give it a try. And yeah mostly ports you wouldn't use. If you look online there are a few lists for what you can and should not disable.

 

I believe thunderbolt controller is on the pcie bus, so my guess is the main bios will sill see the pcie expansion cards as natively residing on the pcie bus. After all what thunderbolt does is it combines a multitude of signals from different buses, so the odds are pcie data packages are temporarily converted to a signal which the thunderbolt driver interprets and transmits to the pcie bus as they were native pcie packages.

If I am correct here is how it works...

pcie data plus displayport data > thunderbolt controller on pc > thunderbolt protocol > thunderbolt driver on TH05 > pcie data plus displayport data

 

Yeah I believe it's like that too...
On my screenshot of my TOLUD there was a space for my 2 thunderbolt ports
And since thunderbolt is used as PCIe as it is, and uses other companies thunderbolt > PCIe expanders 2.0 x4 with success, and without trouble, this will be the same
look at this website: Thunderbolt Paves The Way For Discrete Graphics, Externally : Echo Express Pro: Desktop Graphics In A Thunderbolt Chassis
There's a man using thunderbolt > PCIe 2.0 x4 with a graphics card and he said its just plug, install drivers and play

Knowing that my 2 thunderbolts are inside a PCI Express root port inside a PCI bus port... take a look again on this screenshot
PCI bus: 8FA00000
Inside it PCI express root: C1D00000
View attachment 85798
This way this means anything to you?

Alright... I'll wait for my TH05 to get here (it's already in Miami waiting to get an airplane here)
I'll type here if I have any more questions

 

Tomorrow I'll receive my TH05.
I'll bring over a friend that has a GeForce 9600 GT
Will this help me verify if my pc handles thunderbolt eGPU? And if yes, this will mean my GTX 680 will work too?

 

Need help!
I received my TH05 and I'm testing it with a GT8500
When I restarted my windows with my main grsphics card disabled, it showed me a black screen for a long time, after that a white screen, and after that it restarted again...
I tryed to connect thunderbolt when my pc showed the windows logo and nothing...

 

Ok, Already made the windows 7 recognize a video controller (compatible with VGA)
All I needed to do was to start pc with TH05 on without the video card
After that I've put the video card back and did verify if there's alteration in hardware
I'm now downloading the drivers

 

Ok, really need help here
2 things are happening...
When I start windows without a graphics card inserted on TH05, my thunderbolt display, connected by thunderbolt, doesn't launch (this probably means I can only use it by connecting directally to the graphics card
And the other is my pc recognizes graphics cards on windows. On device manager it says that the eGPU has error 12, what I do?
I've heard I need to do a DSDT override, can anyone help me?
In this thread it's too complicated for me: http://forum.notebookreview.com/e-g...851-diy-egpu-experiences-894.html#post8377566

 

I've done the DSDT override and was not successfull
What can I do?

 

Can anybody help me on this?

 

Your display must be connected to the graphics card. Atlteast with expresscard, getting rid of error 12 with bootcamped windows meant a particular boot sequence. For me, I unplug the the cable when the white screen appears, then plug it back in during the "windows is loading screen"

 

I corrected the black screen problem
My next problem is error 12... i've tried DSDT but it is only for express card i believe, anyway, it didnt work
what i do?

 

I've tried to limit the ram and no luck
I tried to deactivate a lot of things and no luck too, this means I need to deactivate ram. How do I do this? on my pc I have a program named System configuration that allows me to set a maximum ram, but it didn't help, probably because it only limits
And the problem is that windows on mac doesn't have bios

 

You don't deactivate RAM, it's not possible.

 

But I did limit it.
What else can I do?

 

I'm basically at the same point as you. My gtx560ti gets listed in device manager with error code 12. also tried deactivating all devices on bus 5 and 6 under windows but they show up in egpu setup anyways . if you got the right 5-point screwdriver you could make a test and try removing the wifi and bluetooth (broadcom devices) . ill might post some screenshots later.

Edit:

its almost same for you isnt it

gt650m cant be disabled (hangs up) and intel HD4000 cant be enabled

 

Compact developers received my eGPU Setup diagnostics and will fix this in the future.
If you want to help do a !Save diags->Compact fails, upload the results saved in \diag somewhere and link here for analysis. This info will be passed to the compact developer.
Without eGPU Setup this probably wont happen at all. So you might want to buy it, even if it doesnt help right now. Just in case you haven't allready.

 

Yeah, you'll have to wait for the devs to get a fix in.