Let's figure out how to convert internal MXM connector an external PCI-E x16 box

[tinker18]

The new Vidock should come with a Thunderbolt slot, but pcie x16 2.0 have 16GB/s transmission rate and Thunderbolt only 1,2GB/s
pcie x16 3.0 have 32GB/s transmission rate.
so how should it be possible to get a card like 6990 work with full performance with a thunderbolt slot or
with usb 3.0 which is slower as thunderbolt?

So is there any converter for an MXM to PCI or PCIe?

or is it possible to solder one?

or is it just impossible?

MSI has a full height PCI-E x16 card with two MxM 3.0 module for SLI. It seem to have some exernal components to support the MxM modules to make it work. If we can find out what components are required, making your own PCI-E x16 card to accommodate MxM is a possibility.

[cdoublejj]

no. mxm cables don't have to be shielded.
Actually on most notebooks there's no need for a cable. it's all made by the motherboard. the only notebook I known that has a cable connecting 2 mxm cards is the alienware M17 and the cable was to connect 2 ati cards. with nvidia cards the cable wasn't needed. there was no connector on the cards.
I like your idea very much.

actually it is for custom project idea. as far as i know type 2.1 HE will work with regular 2.1 slot, like in my acer 5920G how ever no way, even if hell froze over would one of those behemoths fit in there even with lubrication.

so my idea is to make ribbon cable thats lets me remove the card from the stock location but, still have it connected to the MXM 2.1 slot. this way i can make my own frame that screws to the bottom of the laptop where the cover usually goes mount the mxm 2.1 or HE card with my own custom heat sink and additional case fans to cool the card and the rest f the laptop.

if i can make it work in 1-1/2 inch depth i should golden i propped up my laptop to see if it would be uncomfortable and it seemed no different that normal.

how ever this is a long term idea. i'm saving up for a 4670 2.1 card atm.

[cdoublejj]

any one? i'm probably gonna do a some goggling for a while, gonna try to find some place that makes custom ribbon cables.

[EGPU2012]

Nice project...

But a question about the MXM pin layout of the Qseven controller, if you look at the PCI express connector they are totally different on the schematics. So i think you need the pin lay out from your MXM graphic card.

I have posted a link below from a company, who can make the PCB. But you need a company number. It will cost 200 euros. You will need 3 connectors

1. ATX connector (power) or DIY connector) pin layout known.
2. The bottom of the print MXM connectorn ( 230 pins ) ( the company can make this )
3. The PCI express slot (PCI-e x16) and pin layout known.

So, you need the right I/O pins of the card you own. Or the schematics of the mainboard. After that you can wire everything to the right pins.

LeiterplattenSMD-Schablonen Discount Kurze Lieferzeit Qualitaet --> price --> calculate

( Its a german site you can choose english )

[EGPU2012]

Nice project...

But a question about the MXM pin layout of the Qseven controller, if you look at the PCI express connector they are totally different on the schematics. So i think you need the pin lay out from your MXM graphic card.

I have posted a link below from a company, who can make the PCB. But you need a company number. It will cost 200 euros. You will need 3 connectors

1. ATX connector (power) or DIY connector) pin layout known.
2. The bottom of the print MXM connectorn ( 230 pins ) ( the company can make this )
3. The PCI express slot (PCI-e x16) and pin layout known.

So, you need the right I/O pins of the card you own. Or the schematics of the mainboard. After that you can wire everything to the right pins.

LeiterplattenSMD-Schablonen Discount Kurze Lieferzeit Qualitaet --> price --> calculate

( Its a german site you can choose english )

[__-_-_-__]

Nice project...

But a question about the MXM pin layout of the Qseven controller, if you look at the PCI express connector they are totally different on the schematics. So i think you need the pin lay out from your MXM graphic card.

I have posted a link below from a company, who can make the PCB. But you need a company number. It will cost 200 euros. You will need 3 connectors

1. ATX connector (power) or DIY connector) pin layout known.
2. The bottom of the print MXM connectorn ( 230 pins ) ( the company can make this )
3. The PCI express slot (PCI-e x16) and pin layout known.

So, you need the right I/O pins of the card you own. Or the schematics of the mainboard. After that you can wire everything to the right pins.

LeiterplattenSMD-Schablonen Discount Kurze Lieferzeit Qualitaet --> price --> calculate

( Its a german site you can choose english )

that's a GREAT idea! I'm going to contact them. Just imagine a bottleneck free egpu <3 it would be the ultimate machine. 200€ it's high but considering the other options it is quite good.

[moral hazard]

This is unrelated to this thread, but I think this may be the best place to ask (if it hasn't already been asked), but is it possible to make an MXM 2.1 to MXM 3.0 adapter?

[svl7]

The MXM 3.0 standard doesn't require backwards compatibility to 2.x, so even if it might work in some cases (provided you have a working adapter) there's no guarantee that it'll work.

[Waterboyserver]

I been periodically following this topic in the forum for quite a while; so the issue at hand is to make an MXM GPU/connector to work on a PCI-E GPU/slot. This would probably be a very costly project, the specifications on the connector and its pinout (especially for 3.0) are not published anywhere, and only those affiliated with MXM SIG (corporate e-mail) can access such information. Therefore, the best option is to do some reverse engineering, unless the connector is 2.x (would be easier) and earlier.

One cannot simply just match pinout to pinout. There needs to be quite a lot of electrical engineering involved for MXM to PCI-E or PCI-E to MXM. One promising and possible method to understand a 3.0 connector is to examine the MSI-GS45-M (http://us.msi.com/product/ipc/IM-GS45-M.html); The integrated chipset and CPU are by Intel, they publish whitepapers online, and include chip pinouts. The MXM slot on this board allow ones to map out the essential connections/pins, which include the PCI-E lanes, power rails, and trans MXM-GPU display lines. (Look at text below this picture)

ONLY 1 PLACE ON INTERNET SELLS THIS MOTHERBOARD: http://www.orbitmicro.com/global/ms-....html?ref=base


1) The PCI-E data/lanes are rather straight forward, the PCI-E bus has lanes and ports; in fact it is possible to run multiple GPU's on a single MXM connector, just split them physically and equally among the GPUs (1 GPU = x16 lanes, 2 GPU = x8 & 8x, etc - analagous to the MSI SLI boards and Asus Trinity). (Info on PCI-E specifications are easy to access online to understand what signals are essential)

2) MXM slot carries display signals, those can be externalized as well, but I am not sure if they need any post-processing before being output to a display connector; might need to examine MSI-GS45-M for that.

3) The last major component is the power supply circuit or VRM (voltage regulator module). Such a circuit is never present on a MXM board, or else it would run too hot and be far too dificult to cool, but it is present on motherboard/laptops that have MXM connectors. With out doubt people in this forum have seen the MSI SLI board, the AMD propriatoary MXM-PCI-E boards, and the Asus Trinity. One will notice a number of components on the right end of the circuit board (front side) consisting of mosfets, tiny resistors, capacitors, condensors, etc. This is the VRM circuit, which maintains constant and accurate powerflow at the right phase, specific voltage, and current to the specific GPU. Perhaps the easiest way to bypass the VRM is to use an EVGA EPower board with some soldering skills; don't even think of using the power provided on a MXM slot to power an external PCI-E GPU, because it would certainly burnout the VRM in laptop/motherboard.

4) Other possible obstacles along the way may include motherboard manufacturer security and compatibility with GPU.

5) Length of circuit/wiring to make MXM externalized to PCI-E; the longer it is, the higher the latency. (might not be much of an issue)

6) PCI-E 3.0 has just been released, it is possible that a new MXM connector/module could be out soon. The lifepsan for each MXM version is estimated to be 3 to 5 years.

[moral hazard]

This is unrelated to this thread, but I think this may be the best place to ask (if it hasn't already been asked), but is it possible to make an MXM 2.1 to MXM 3.0 adapter?

Tried flashing an MXM 3.0 vbios onto my MXM 2.1 4870, no image in screen (wont even display through HDMI).

So I'm giving up on getting an MXM 3.0 card into an MXM 2.1 slot.