Let's figure out how to make a DIY eGPU (previously DIY ViDock)

Anyone make a DIY ViDock setup that works with Mac OS Snow Leopard?

 

Read the thread and follow the links and i can promise you that you will find the info you are looking for.

All i can say is that i saw some apple laptops listed.

 

i just bought all the equipment to fix my internal ghx card that i bricked. i plug all in and the screen isnt showing anything.why?

 

Does it post and boot? If the bricked card is still being detected it's a primary display adapter.

 

it doesnt boot coz i see the hdd led that is not flashing at all.i packed my msi to send it to service. i couldnt think any other solution
is any?

 

So did anybody figure out a way to put all of the DIY parts in a container in a way similar to the actual ViDock. I forgot about how viable and powerful this is. Guess I might not need (want, to be more specific ) another computer for gaming after all.

 

Yea I'm really looking into the vidock option for the future as most people seem to have great results.

 

I wish there was a FAQ somewhere in this thread. Trying to find answers from 1700 posts in just this thread isn't practical.

 

There's a FAQ in http://forum.notebookreview.com/gaming-software-graphics-cards/418851-diy-vidock-experiences.html .

 

Thanks! Great job writing it.

 

mine doenst work. gpu-z says 0mb of vram
why?

 

I have an HP HDX 9494 with an Express Card slot. It has a T8300 processor and an nVidia Geforce 8800 GTS video card.

I want to drive a couple external monitors, one being 2560x1600.

I think I understand everything except that I don't know how to tell what PCIe bus version my computer has. ie PCI 1.0 or 2.0 and the x1, x2 and x16 stuff.

How does one tell ? (lspci output below)

Thanks


$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 PCI Express Root Port (rev 03)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 03)
00:1a.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 03)
00:1a.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 03)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 03)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 03)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 03)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 4 (rev 03)
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 5 (rev 03)
00:1c.5 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) PCI Express Port 6 (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 03)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 03)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 03)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev f3)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801HEM (ICH8M) LPC Interface Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) IDE Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801HBM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) SATA AHCI Controller (rev 03)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 03)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G92 [GeForce 8800M GTS] (rev a2)
02:06.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Ricoh Co Ltd R5C832 IEEE 1394 Controller (rev 05)
02:06.1 SD Host controller: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C822 SD/SDIO/MMC/MS/MSPro Host Adapter (rev 22)
02:06.2 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C592 Memory Stick Bus Host Adapter (rev 12)
02:06.3 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd xD-Picture Card Controller (rev 12)
10:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 4965 AG or AGN [Kedron] Network Connection (rev 61)
20:00.0 Mass storage controller: Silicon Image, Inc. SiI 3531 [SATALink/SATARaid] Serial ATA Controller (rev 01)
28:00.0 Ethernet controller: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88E8055 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 13)

 

Okay I have a Toshiba x205-S9349/9359 (was a floor model mixed comp.) running the PE4H 2.4 express card adapter setup with a MSI N450GTS/OC 1GB 128MB on Windows 7 64bit. Was wondering if I have everything set right or what I should be running as settings. Using ATX power source:

Jumper is closed.
For PhysX I have it presently on auto
Cuda set to auto

Primarily trying to run COD:BO

Any suggestions or am I running it right?

 

I have the following 3 laptops..
- T61
- X61T
- W510
as shown in my signature.

Can i buy a PE4L / PE4H KIT.. that supports connection with all three of the machines?

I believe they all have different flavors of connector.. ExpressCard/ PCMCIA/ mPCIe Etc. ?

Or do I have to combine a package with few extra parts?

 

You will need to also buy the EC2C for your expresscard slot and the PM3N for the miniPCIe slot.

I have not been keeping up with all of this, but I'm pretty sure there is no adapter for the PCMCIA slot.

 

I am not sure at the moment but doesnt the X61T support the Xpress Card slot?

 

on ebay there are two types of PE4H+EC2C adapter ver2.0 or ver2.4. Which version should I get?

I currently have thinkpad x200t, I plan to get ati 5870 eyefinity.

 

hi, can someone answer this? I keep trying to search but it is hard to find the answer. Not really sure if it is worth paying more for the 2.4

 

Hi all. This was just too tempting, so I bought a PE4L, a MSI GTX 460 and salvaged an old 300 W PSU.

The graphics card fan is running, the LEDs on the PE4L are both on and the usb-port on the PE4L is working fine (thumbdrive working). However my machine isn't able to find the graphics card. Any ideas as to what is wrong?

I'm running this on a HP 2540p with 4 GB ram and Windows 7, 32 bit.

 

Check this page: PE4H (PCIe passive adapter ver2.4)

Almost at the bottom there is a table listing the difference between the different versions.

 

According to Wikipedia ( ExpressCard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) all express cards are x1. Mayeb someone else can confirm this?

 

This option just became available as well.

PE4H (PCIe passive adapter ver2.4)

Would that not allow it to work in an X61T?

 

The Czech way of making a DIY ViDock



From here. +rep for innovation.

 

Just want to confirm that people with Win7 with 6gb or 8gb of RAM have been able to get the DIY ViDock working?

 

Plenty of 4,6 and 8GB implementations in the Performance and Compatibility Matrix at http://forum.notebookreview.com/gaming-software-graphics-cards/418851-diy-vidock-experiences.html . If 4GB works then 6 and 8GB will work as well since in most cases, the eGPU needs to be hosts out of 32-bit PCI space (< 4GB).

 

Looking to build a ViDock for my Lenovo X220T, could I go with the PE4H or do I have to stick to the PE4L. I would be using it with the E2C2 addition to have it work in the ExpressCard slot. I am looking at driving probably the Radeon 6450 which can support 3 monitors.

 

Hi Nando4, its been a while, still waiting for the Sandybridge imp!!

I still have my 6930p ATI3450 + hd6850 and it worked great so far!
I updated with last Setups and DNA modded drivers and I never had one issue
since first time setup.
I just got stuck I think because of some Hardware changes this time...
maybe can help me..
I had to format my HD due to a Virus and reinstalled OSs.
It looked like I couldnt set up XP unless I didnt swap the HD to IDE mode from the BIOS.
After XP I installed 7 but in IDE mode and not AHCI as be4.
I'm not sure if it changed the way the PCI ports behaved anfd thus resources;
I'm trying to sort it out, it would be helpful to know if someone had a similar issue 'couse of IDE mode w7 setup and/or some other tips referring to a black screen after resuming from sleep mode.Ty.

HP Elitebookk 6930p AtIHD3450 T9500 2 GB Ram
DIYViDock 10.8e PE4H + ATI HD6850 port3@1x

 

Why not just change the registry settings as described in MS KB922976 so can then switch your Win7 back to AHCI mode?

 

Hey all,

As most say when they post first time. Been reading BUT

Ok well I have an old bruiser of a laptop, Cant afford to upgrade and just had to sell desktop machine as I have emigrated.Long and short. This is a viable solution to my gaming issues, I can't play any.

I found looking through the intel datasheet on my Equium L350 Gl960 chipset board it has (disabled) a external PCIe function. when browsing through a detailed system check with astra32 i found this.

Could I use a 180ishwatt psu? I was looking at the ati h5770 graphics card and i would like expresscard connection but I think realistically I will need to use pci-e

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd169/pengy_666/PCIe.jpg

anyway, I would like to use the PE4H and a gtx card with the PCI-e connector, Only issue is my PCI-e socket is under my KEYBOARD!

I think I can work around that and put a lead out the side of the case.

So can I work with that 16x PCIe function?

Also is there any known whitelist on the BIOS of the Toshiba?

 

Hello. After various Drivers configuration I resumed my HD6850 back to life
I think the cable also was giving me troubles, the standy led was not lit always, sometimes also DIYViDock didn't see it.
I didn't touch HD configuration though at the time I didnt see your post still.
I have now applied the fix MS KB922976, ty Nando
PS. I think w7 automatic updates was interfering, not sure but when I uninstalled the 3470 Driver Offline a different Driver was loaded from the sys,
then DNA worked. Bye.

 

Great to hear it works again.

Your 6930P+HD6850 setup using port3 could also do a x1E link giving a 15-30% performance boost. Any chance you can update your post with x1E results? Your wifi on port2 would not work concurrently since a side-effect of a x2 link on port3 is a x2 link on port1.

 

Hey all,

As most say when they post first time. Been reading BUT

Ok well I have an old bruiser of a laptop, Cant afford to upgrade and just had to sell desktop machine as I have emigrated.Long and short. This is a viable solution to my gaming issues, I can't play any.

I found looking through the intel datasheet on my Equium L350 Gl960 chipset board it has (disabled) a external PCIe function. when browsing through a detailed system check with astra32 i found this.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd169/pengy_666/PCIe.jpg

anyway, I would like to use the PE4H and a gtx card with the PCI-e connector, Only issue is my PCI-e socket is under my KEYBOARD!

I think I can work around that and put a lead out the side of the case.

So can I work with that 16x PCIe function?

Also is there any known whitelist on the BIOS of the Toshiba?

Could I use a 180ishwatt psu? I was looking at the ati 5770 graphics card and i would like expresscard connection but I think realistically I will need to use pci-e,

I will be looking to enclose it in one of these. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5-25-SATA-Blu...e_Internal&hash=item563d7d7b58#ht_3036wt_1110


Sorry it got missed on other page

 

can anyone help?

 

Your output screen doesn't say much. If you want to test if you are whitelisted then boot your system without wifi installed to Setup 1.x, hotplug the wifi, hit F5 to rescan the system and and see if the wifi then pops up on one of the ports. Can post a screen capture of the Setup 1.x screen with wifi detected to give more clues on your system.

 

Cheers Nando,

I will crack on with that.

 

I gotta be honest I have no idea what to do with that link I followed instructions but I have no idea what it does what Im supposed to do with it?
I have a virtual drive? now what? what am I looking for. I have no devcon.txt file?

 

is their a wiki page with a complete collection of all the technical information for this?


I am ok if I can follow instructions but to trawl through hundreds and hundreds of pages is no good. I have tried for the past 3 days but there is so much. Its a little to difficult to piece it up

 

OK, so my plan of action is get a G.Card. get the PE4H adapter and use PCIe to connect.

THEN tackle what doesn't work. (mostly because I can't decipher what I'm looking for wrong, as I haven't nothing to try out)

But I wondered if anyone can help recommend the best hardware config?

I'm Unsure wether to go with GTX460 or ATI 5770. I'm sure I read somewhere the Nvidia was a better choice as it had less power consumption. Which would be perfect for me as I was looking at this type of enclosure





Witht his 120W 15A pico itx power supply for the G.card.



Does anyone see issues with this configuration? I really don't wanna start a new thread.

 

Your 120W PSU would limit you to a GTS450 (106W) or HD5770 (112W) or lower cards. See Performance: ATI versus NVidia benchmark results to help you decide which vendor will give better performance on your link.

Am curious to see how your enclosure setup turns out.

 

Im still planning at the moment, So long as the measurements work out.

I still have to consider fitting in the PE4H and the pico PSU!

here is the link to the caddy.

The idea is to bin off the USB interface and keep the cooling fan, Then adapt the plate from the other end so it will be open for the connection for screen.

I have found a 200w 20A pico itx power supply, Where are the power ratings for the cards I originally mentioned. Im sure I saw a link on one of the pages.

Thanks again

 

No need for the picoPSU, all it provides is 5V 3.3V and motherboard function. If you power on the 12V and hook it straight to the video card it will work.

 

dont know if just direct feeding a non cleaned voltage to a few bucks worth of G.card is a good idea? I think I will just use the PSU so it will offer a little safety.

 

You can find a schematic of the picoPSU. It doesn't touch the 12V line at all, it just has a switch, and converters for 5V. That's the main shortfall of the picoPSU in fact, the performance is tied to the power brick, which often is not very good. If you are concerned about the power quality you can stick an extra capacitor in the cable, which is actually what some power supplies come with for the PCI-e cables. (I think I'll be doing this eventually)

 

cheers buddy

 

My Lenovo x220, gtx 460, PE4H, and 460wat psu finally came!... The problem is I have absolutely no clue how to put this thing together. Can someone help me and lead me to the right direction? Pictures will also be very nice.

Thank you.

 

1. Set PE4H SW1 to position 1.
2. Plug the GTX460 into the PE4H.
3. Plug your PSU's floppy molex lead into the PE4H
4. Plug in two 6-pin pci-e power connectors from your PSU into your GTX460. If don't have any or enough pci-e connectors then attach a molex to pci-e adapter to your PSU. That adapter is often supplied with a GTX460.
5. Plug the EC2C into your expresscard slot.
6. Connect the EC2C to your PE4H lane1 (far left) using the mini HDMI cable.

Can see this pictorially in the Getting started, question 1 section.

Then continue on with the details given in the X220 eGPU experience

 

for some reason my express card wont stay in my x220. It keeps popping out

 

PCI SIG has just revelead in California its plans for a new PCIe copper cable and connector standard to compete with Thunderbolt. This new cable will be released in 2013 with PCIe 3.0 specs (up to 32 Gbps) up to 3 metres.

Source: Engadget, EETimes.

 

Here's another bit of news of interest to the eGPU crowd. Anandtech has some more details on Sony's Lightpeak-based external GPU for their new Vaio Z Sandy Bridge line that will be available in July. Sony's Power Media Dock is a hybrid optical drive and eGPU device connected via a hybrid USB3.0 Lightpeak connector (not miniDisplayPort). The bandwidth spec is the same as Apple/Intel Thunderbolt (10.5 Gbps bidirectional) which should be sufficient for a x4 1.0 link. It will be available in three flavours sporting either a DVD writer, Bluray player or Bluray writer.

The bad news is that the GPU in Sony's PMD is an ATI/AMD 6650M 1GB (yes, a sub-$100 laptop GPU) which is very disappointing. The modest performance of this GPU (by desktop standards) is further compromised by the limited bandwidth available and lack of Optimus. It also implies limited upgradability since mobile GPUs are not designed to be user replaceable (multiple MXM connector versions, off-board VBIOS). Furthermore, Sony's decision to go for an alternate USB+Lightpeak connector to Apple's miniDisplayPort will likely split the market of Lightpeak/Thunderbolt accessories. For instance, connecting a Sonnet Echo Express to the new Vaio Z instead of Sony's limited PMD will likely require a port adapter. Price for the new Sony Vaio Z and PMD start at a whooping £1528/$2426+tax altogether.

Source: Anandtech

 

can You imagine something like this with 460 or 580
available for any laptop with USB 3?