ViDock and Envy 14?

So ive been reading up on the ViDock and it seems like a very interesting option down the line when the Envy (God forbid) starts stuttering with higher games.

Just wondering if anybody has tried it or not? Also do you guys think ti would help lengthen the life of the laptop as you wouldnt be using the internal GPU when gaming?

 

Although it seems the Envy doesnt have an Express Card Slot so I dunno if its possible to use it.

 

There may be a way to connect a vidock by using the pci express slot your WiFi card is using.

 

It's impossible. The Envy doesn't have an Express Card slot, and GFx cards need a PCI express x16 slot. Your WiFi card is a PCIe Mini x1 slot. Also, the HP BIOS whitelists devices, so only hardware that HP has approved for use in the computer (basically the things you can configure in the store) will wok.

 

Um very possible.

PCIe slots in notebooks are 1x. The whole ViDock community is well aware of that. Even at 1x, there is a benefit over the mobility 5650 in the envy.
Also, there is a company or two that make mini PCIe adapters for a ViDock. They are shown on the first post of the DIY ViDock thread.

As far as HP BIOS limitations, I've seen HP notebooks working with a VI Dock.

The only real question is: wouldn't it be better (for your sanity and time) to piece together a dedicated gaming rig?

 

Nobody has cracked the Insyde BIOS on the Envy 14 yet, so we can't use any other device in the PCI slot other than the Broadcom and Intel wireless cards.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/gam...e-out-how-make-diy-vidock-16.html#post5122549

PCIe 1x impacts performance by around -50 percent.

 

Its probably cheaper than a dedicated gaming rig, and its a ton more bad@$$

Im wondering if its possible to get it working through the USB 2.0 to Express Card Adapter:
Amazon.com: StarTech USB to ExpressCard Adapter Ideal for Wireless Broadband Cards: Electronics

Also eafd, im pretty sure that the DIY Vidock has Whitelist workarounds, although if I put it in the mPCIE wouldnt it invovled keeping the laptop open?

 

According to one NBR User, Seeker_Moc, he claims he is able to crack the Insyde EFI to help with overclocking setups for GPU's. However, no one has yet to test his modifications. So, I think the Insyde EFI is unlockable to remove the HP Whitelists.

That being said, a USB 2.0 to Expresscard converter will not work for VIDock as the VIDock needs to able to read some sort of PCI-e interface. Built-in Expresscard slots often are linked to a PCI-e interface, hence why they are the primary method of getting VIDock to work.

Your best bet is to see if someone has modded the Insyde EFI to remove the HP Whitelists. If they did, most likely you can attach the VIDock method to the Wi-Fi PCI-e slot.

 

Yeah I PM'ed Nando (the poster who seems to be the brains behind most of it) and it seems like the drivers they have will get around the whitelisted port.

However, in order to get it working id have to plug it instead of the mPCIE slot of the Wi-Fi and then i'd have to find a way to get the cables out of the machine.

IM wondering if I can just put it instead of the Ethernet and have the cables sticking out through that slot.