DIY Vidock - how to connect video card to PSU?

Hey guys,

I'm a total computer noob who is trying to make a vidock work.

Here are the stuff I have:

- Thinkpad X201
- PE4H ($85 package) from HIT
- 600W PSU (X Power Pro 600W)
- N460GTX Video Card

I'm not quite sure how to connect the video card with the PSU. I was hoping someone could help!

Thanks!

 

Okay I sorted that out. Turns out I forgot to plug in the 5v/12v thing.

Next issue.

Now that everything is running, I have Intel HD and 460 GTX running at the same time.... but when I disable the Intel HD, the screen turns black and stays that way.

I also cannot install the Nvidia 270.61 driver, as it says it cannot find the right video card...

Thanks!

In addition, when I go to device manager, it says no driver found even though when I plugged it in, it automatically installed a driver.

 

Did you actually read this Nando4's first post? especially the part about how to get Optimus working http://forum.notebookreview.com/gaming-software-graphics-cards/418851-diy-vidock-experiences-121.html#post6542661 (you need the Nvidia Verde driver -this one http://www.nvidia.com/object/notebook-win7-winvista-64bit-270.61-whql-driver.html-, and you have to replace the 'navm.inf' file that is located 'C:\NVIDIA\DisplayDriver\270.61\Vista 64-bit\International\Display Driver' folder with this one nvam.inf -then it will install the Nvidia driver)... that is the one for 64 bit OS, if you are running a 32-bit OS you need the 32bit version of both of those

You do NOT disable the Intel HD gfx (if you are doing Optimus to display on the internal screen, realize that what is actually being done is that the Intel HD is offloading most of the work to the external gfx card, but then info gets sent back to it and then 'put together' so it can display it properly on your internal screen))

 

I have read his post, but I am stuck on a few things.

When I try to install the driver, I get: http://img641.imageshack.us/i/newbitmapimageeu.png/

This is after I replaced the nvam.inf file...

Thanks

 

Did you do this (in this order): 1) boot up the computer all by itself (nothing to do with the DIY ViDock plugged in)2) put the computer to sleep once it is pretty much done loading up 3) turn the DIY ViDock on (so that the 2 little green led's light up, and the fan should spin on the gfx card as well) 4) plug the 'on' dock into the 'sleeping' computer, wait a few seconds 5) wake the computer from sleep 6) check what device manager lists under 'Display adapters'


Try deleting that folder (named NVIDIA located right in C: drive), then extracting the driver again, then replacing that file again.

 

Thanks Agent 9, I was able to install the driver, based on what you said.

Now, I have under Display Adapters:

Intel(R) HD Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460

The installer prompted me to restart, which I did, but when I did, everything turned black and wouldn't go back, so I restarted and did what you said again, and it worked. I'm not sure what to do now Is it all installed?

I ran the Windows Experience Index, but the Graphics only got 4.3, so I'm not sure if optimus is working.

Thanks!

 

It can be hard to tell if it is working or not at times (there is no Optimus overlay with this driver version), but just do the sleep, connect, wake method and then it should be working (if you right click on your desktop and see the "NVIDIA Control Panel' option, and it should give you the options to 'Manage 3D settings' then it is working)... you will also be able to play most any game at very high settings acceptably smoothly

I also use a Desktop Gadget (the 'GPU Monitor' gadget from here Windows Live Gallery ) as it shows [the supposed] GPU usage/ temp/ fan speed at the time (and it can create a log file to show you how it does over time)... start playing a video (I find VLC works best) and see if the GPU usage changes at all -you do have to start up this gadget after it is all supposedly setup and on

 

I installed World of Warcraft, and tried it at ultra, only getting about 20 fps in a city, so I don't think it's working

Edit: definitely not working since using the gadget you mentioned, after opening up Wow, the GPU is not under any load.

Hmm..... do you think it could be the video card and PSU not hooked up properly? I am getting 3 green lights on the GPU (1 red, 1 green when computer is under sleep). Everything is spinning thoug (HD and GPU).

Lastly, I see the Nvidia Control Panel when I right click desktop :\

 

I don't have the pe4h (I have the pe4l -the short one) but I get 2 green LED's on the connector itself and that's it (IDK if the H is really supposed to be different or not, but red usually means bad)... what do you mean 3 led's? did you fiddle with the switches on the dock?

So is the computer actually entirely in sleep mode when you plug the dock in? (is the power LED slowly pulsing/ flashing/ whatever it does when sleep, and the HDD and fan are no longer spinning?)
Maybe reboot your system with nothing plugged in at all, then sleep it (be sure it is in sleep mode), plug in the already powered on dock (you only plug the expresscard connector into the computer), then wake the computer up (your screen should flash black after 3-5 seconds after waking up)


Does the NVIDIA Control Panel have the options to adjust graphics performance settings on the left?


EDIT: maybe not on that, try doing what AgentYura did here http://forum.notebookreview.com/gam...1-diy-vidock-experiences-145.html#post6618666 he has the same system/ setup as you

 

Hey Agent 9, I'll fiddle some more tonight and if nothing works i'll take some pictures tomorrow. I think the issue is probably something with the way I connect the video card with the PSU.

Thanks again!

 

The 4 LED are labelled at D1, D2, D3, D4

When I power up the PSU (not plugged into laptop), D3 is green, and D1 is red. When I plug into laptop, D1 is not lite up while D2, D3, and D4 are all green =\

I'm thinking the video card is not plugged into the PSU correctly because the video card came with 2 adapters, (6 squares on 1 side, on the other side, there are 2 plugs on each one with 3 relatively big needles encased on white plastic (my technical terms rock.....). I am not using these. The PSU's own plugs are going into the video card right now.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow (can't explain this very well..)

Thanks!

Meanwhile, does anyone have any "general guides" for how to make sense of the adapters between PSU and video card? I'd greatly appreciate it!

 

I'm a noob and I'm having a similar problem with my setup. My video card doesn't seem to be working, though I'm sure it's my fault. I have a gtx 460 and a 600w mod xstream pro. The video card has two 6 pin connections. The cables I am using have 8 pin male connections on one side, and 6 pin male connections on the other (I don't know the proper names for these). One of the 6 pin ends has an extra two pin separate piece. So I have the 6 pin sides plugged into the card (with the extra 2 pin piece dangling) and the 8 pin ends plugged into the PSU, the PSU is on and the fan is spinning, yet my video card does not seem to be on as the fan on the card does not begin to spin and only one green led on the PE4H comes on, and this appears to be the one that signals that the vidock is connected to the expresscard slot in my laptop, because it turns off when I remove the adapter. In addition my computer doesn't register any activity. I would be so appreciative if someone could explain to me what I'm doing wrong. Pictures should be attached.

 

I had this same problem and didn't find this exchange helpful. So I just wanted to provide a more in depth explanation of how to connect your DIY ViDock to your PSU for other noobs out there like me who have never built their own system. So this isn't meant for the original poster but for other people like me didn't understand why only 1 led on my PE4H would light up when everything seemed plugged in.

When hooking up your diy vidock (mine uses a gtx 460 and PE4H bought from redtrontech on ebay for $66 after shipping which i believe is a good deal cheaper than most other places, and shipping was about 2 weeks) the PSU (mine is a 600W MODXtreme pro) must be plugged into BOTH your graphics card (GTX 460) AND the PE4H. The connection that goes from the PSU to the PE4H is 6 pin in the PSU to a small thin black connection (kizwan referred to this as the floppy power connector) that hooks into the PE4H via a small white block (about 3mm by 10mm) that has 4 parallel metal rods pointing to the side of the PE4H. I've attached a picture of the cable, though in the pic the small end is white. In addition the GPU should be connected to the PSU via two cords, each one connecting to the PSU by way of an 8 pin connection (total of 16 pins used), and to the GPU by way of a 6 pin connection (total of 12 pins). Do not worry if one of your 6 pin ends has an addition two pin connection adjacent to it. The two pin connector doesn't go into anything and just dangles. Hope this helps someone!