DIY eGPU experiences

[Sdudexdo]

So I just bought a PE4L (V.2.4a) + PM3N to use on my netbook... Because its a netbook it doesnt have a expresscard slot.. So I chose the PCie mini adaptor..

Here's the thing firstly I assume the pcie slots on the PE4L are just expansion and no difference between them..so I plugged it into N1.. Secondly I am using a external power supply as my graphics card needs more power than just the pcie... My graphics card is 16x and I checked the new PE4L (version 2.4a specifically) supports 16x pcie... but I know the minipcie / expresscard only supports 1x.. (further to research)... But when I boot my laptop I get no display.. so I thought hold on does it output on the external display because I think you cant use the laptop screen unless using a special adapter so I plugged in my monitor and it did not show anything.. is this because its using on board? :S.. IDK, logically it would show on laptop screen.. I don't know if any of this requires any software(drivers) as it says in this guide it doesn't..

Can anyone help..

My spec for reference:

GPU - Gainward Geforce GTS GLH GS LE 450
PSU - Corsair 750W (With modules)
Netbook - Acer Aspire One D255e

The netbook has 2GB of RAM!

Any body point me in the right direction?... I mean I tried to make sense of this HUGE thread but I really couldn't, And I have tried to search for tutorials and couldn't find much at all, so It leads me to believe its apparently plug and play?

My issue.. I have not a clue how to use it.. here is my setup...

[EpicBlob]

Hey Nando I have a quick suggestion about all the questions about DSDT 36-bit allocation. I feel that having a video tutorial on the DSDT page would benefit many users who are facing problems. There also seems to be enough users who could maybe whip up a quick video. Just a suggestion

[User Retired 2]

To anyone who tried DSDT override but still unable to overcome the Error Code 12, try connect/power ON eGPU at "Starting Windows" screen, exactly when you see the windows logo animation. When you see the "Starting Windows" screen & the four dots emerged to form a windows logo, it is when windows loaded the DSDT override.

This has been added to the FAQ section of the DSDT override and your How to fixed DSDT errors? linked in step 4. Brilliant stuff helping those users out too

My issue.. I have not a clue how to use it.. here is my setup...

Suggest you start your system, halt Win7 bootup and hotplug the *powered* PM3N into the mPCIe slot at that stage. What that does is overcome any mPCIe whitelisting and ensures the bios doesn't try to use the eGPU as the primary video display. If that all works, then look at using the 7/15s switch on the PE4H to effectively do the same thing as hotplugging-after-boot.

[snowblossom]

Hooray, I won some eBay auctions for my eGPU.

PE4L for $40 CAD after shipping, and
GTX 460 768MB for $120 CAD after shipping.

I'm looking through my local classifieds for a PSU. Probably going with this Antec 550W modular for $40 CAD.

I can't wait for all of those to arrive! My Sony Vaio Z12's 330m bit the dust after being overheated (probably), so I haven't been able to use an external monitor over HDMI for the last 2~3 weeks!

I hope the set up isn't too difficult: I consider mysself decently computer savvy.

I'll keep updating this post instead of making new posts in this already ginormous thread.

[HopelesslyFaithful]

Sorry this is ever evolving. So stink'n confused :/

question if I did this eGPU mod for my G51j-a1 what are the performances gains? I have a GTX260m and i have an express slot but I have no clue on what speed it is. I remember reading ages ago it depends if its like a 1.x or something. I was figuring if I did this I would probably just use the lowest end or mid end desktop card because the bandwidth would be maxed with just that and use the least power. I thought a long time ago when I was reading this it was only a 50-100% gain over the GTX260m. The thread on converting mxm board is dead so i see no reason in trying to bother with that.

EDIT: so I have been reading...do i have 3.5GB limit? see picture.

Edit: is 3.5GB a good thing? I am confused one part sounds like you want less then 3.25GB is better and another part sounds like you want the most possible? Also I have 8 GB of 1333 so I am lost not sure if that is useful information.

Deleted dumb statement
EDIT: I am an idiot I have 1 express card slot....I was thinking of my super old laptop. Can I use PCI mini and express card for 2x? If I only do 1x is it even better then my 260m" or do i have to do 2x? or is 2x not even enough?


Also i noticed it said if you overlock FSB it improves so I am planning on getting the 920xm and overclocking so i guess i'll see a better performance with eGPU because of that.

Also if i understand this right if i do this my internal screen will run off of the 260m and the externals run off the eGPU? So I would have two gpus? So i could run a movie on internal and it wouldn't affect my games? If that is true can you use both for F@H?

please forgive me...this is totally over my head...trying to learn Also its late lol...poor excuse I know

EDIT: look at this x2 doesn't do much for him...why? He has marginally better performance then my 260m...so is this pointless?...well i mean in certain tests. Vantage and 06 there is no change really between 1x and 2x and with games it is a fair bit of a change.
Dell Studio 1557

Well read over it again and it is weird 3dmark 06 13k and vantage 12k and 11 is 3.5k or so. What is up with that? How is it that 06 and vantage are nearly the same? Also between 1x and 2x there was only difference in game and not in synthetic...why? Also his vantage score is way better then my GTX260m but some of his game scores are worse then my 260m...why? This is so confusing.

EDIT: ok i read overr several times the "2. Which video card do you recommend for best performance on my system?" Since i have a IS5 chipset can I do 1xopt? or should i do 2x with mini PCIe and express card? can you do 2xopt?

[SimoxTav]

i would like to make the same thing, to replace blue by yellow, but i'm not good with photoshop, if someone can make it

Check if you like it ^^

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[kizwan]

I'm about do decide which gpu to buy in order to set up and running my egpu!
There is already one implementation with my system, i.e. Jeykhob's X59SL. He used an Nvidia Fermi GTS 450, which requires (I think) 128MB of free PCI-space, without needing any PCI compaction.
The point is: I was thinking of opting for an AMD card, since my system can't handle optimus and AMD is better at x1 1.0 bandwidth. How can I find out if the system will be able to accomodate the 256mb of contiguous PCI space that AMD cards need?

Please read Pre-Purchase FAQ >> 2. How can I check if my notebook is compatible with an eGPU?. Referring to the Pre-Purchase FAQ, check TOLUD on your notebook & compare it with the TOLUD table (available at Pre-Purchase FAQ >> 2. How can I check if my notebook is compatible with an eGPU?). Basically, as long as TOLUD is equal or lower than 0xD0000000 (3.25GB) your notebook will have enough 32-bit PCI space for a eGPU to work with 4GB or more of system RAM. Depend on your notebook, you probably need to do PCI compaction (using Setup 1.x) to allocate 256mb of contiguous PCI space. If TOLUD is higher than 0xD0000000 (3.25GB), you can try DSDT Override.

EDIT: so I have been reading...do i have 3.5GB limit? see picture.

Edit: is 3.5GB a good thing? I am confused one part sounds like you want less then 3.25GB is better and another part sounds like you want the most possible? Also I have 8 GB of 1333 so I am lost not sure if that is useful information.

TOLUD 3.5GB is not good news but you can use DSDT Override. eGPU will be re-allocated to 36-bit bridge.

Also I read and saw something about duel express card set ups...I have two ports so can I do that? Also I tried following the link but I got lost and confused because it didn't really make sense to me...maybe I was expecting something else and giving myself a mental block lol. I was thinking of seeing a duel card or something *shrugs*

I think you're referring to x2 link setup. PCIe port on notebook only support PCIe x1 link. With x2 link setup, you will get extra bandwidth & this will reduced or even eliminate micro stuttering & lagging on games (depend on the games). To setup x2 link, you will need two accessible PCIe ports, either two mPCIe or combination of ExpressCard + mPCIe. x2 link only possible with either of these combinations:-
- PCIe port 1 + 2
OR
- PCIe port 3 + 4
OR
- PCIe port 5 + 6

For example, if ExpressCard is PCIe port 4 & one available mPCIe port is PCIe port 3, then you can connect eGPU (using PE4H) to them (two cables). Then just need to use Setup 1.x to set x2 link.

Also i noticed it said if you overlock FSB it improves so I am planning on getting the 920xm and overclocking so i guess i'll see a better performance with eGPU because of that.

Usually when overclock CPU, PCIe lane also get overclocked. That's why it does help a bit. You're not necessarily have to use extreme edition processor, just need to have overclockable PLL/Clock Generator, you'll be able to overclock PCIe using SetFSB or similar tools.

Also if i understand this right if i do this my internal screen will run off of the 260m and the externals run off the eGPU? So I would have two gpus? So i could run a movie on internal and it wouldn't affect my games? If that is true can you use both for F@H?

Yes, you're correct regarding the screens. Yes also for the movie on the internal & games on external. I'm not really sure whether you can set F@H to use both GPUs at the same time or not though.

You can visit my eGPU experience post. I did a games comparison between x1 & x2 link setup.

[HopelesslyFaithful]

Please read Pre-Purchase FAQ >> 2. How can I check if my notebook is compatible with an eGPU?. Referring to the Pre-Purchase FAQ, check TOLUD on your notebook & compare it with the TOLUD table (available at Pre-Purchase FAQ >> 2. How can I check if my notebook is compatible with an eGPU?). Basically, as long as TOLUD is equal or lower than 0xD0000000 (3.25GB) your notebook will have enough 32-bit PCI space for a eGPU to work with 4GB or more of system RAM. Depend on your notebook, you probably need to do PCI compaction (using Setup 1.x) to allocate 256mb of contiguous PCI space. If TOLUD is higher than 0xD0000000 (3.25GB), you can try DSDT Override.

TOLUD 3.5GB is not good news but you can use DSDT Override. eGPU will be re-allocated to 36-bit bridge.

I think you're referring to x2 link setup. PCIe port on notebook only support PCIe x1 link. With x2 link setup, you will get extra bandwidth & this will reduced or even eliminate micro stuttering & lagging on games (depend on the games). To setup x2 link, you will need two accessible PCIe ports, either two mPCIe or combination of ExpressCard + mPCIe. x2 link only possible with either of these combinations:-
- PCIe port 1 + 2
OR
- PCIe port 3 + 4
OR
- PCIe port 5 + 6

For example, if ExpressCard is PCIe port 4 & one available mPCIe port is PCIe port 3, then you can connect eGPU (using PE4H) to them (two cables). Then just need to use Setup 1.x to set x2 link.


Usually when overclock CPU, PCIe lane also get overclocked. That's why it does help a bit. You're not necessarily have to use extreme edition processor, just need to have overclockable PLL/Clock Generator, you'll be able to overclock PCIe using SetFSB or similar tools.

Yes, you're correct regarding the screens. Yes also for the movie on the internal & games on external. I'm not really sure whether you can set F@H to use both GPUs at the same time or not though.

You can visit my eGPU experience post. I did a games comparison between x1 & x2 link setup.

so can i do 2x.opt? also how do i check to see what ports my mini PCIe and express card are on?

Also mini PCIe is mPCIe right -_-

Also with having a GTX260m is 1x even worth while? please reread my previous post...the 1x and 2 x comparison is really confusing. has weird scores. I think i added them while you were replying.

[kizwan]

EDIT: look at this x2 doesn't do much for him...why? He has marginally better performance then my 260m...so is this pointless?...well i mean in certain tests. Vantage and 06 there is no change really between 1x and 2x and with games it is a fair bit of a change.
Dell Studio 1557

Well read over it again and it is weird 3dmark 06 13k and vantage 12k and 11 is 3.5k or so. What is up with that? How is it that 06 and vantage are nearly the same? Also between 1x and 2x there was only difference in game and not in synthetic...why? Also his vantage score is way better then my GTX260m but some of his game scores are worse then my 260m...why? This is so confusing.

In my case, dGPU on my notebook is week, so eGPU does provide way better performance in games. Dirt 2 does running with less FPS. Look like Dirt 2 is bandwidth hungry games. However, with x2 link, Dirt 2 does running smoothly without lagging/stuttering. Basically, all games I tested running smoothly at x2. Yes, the FPS is not high but they doesn't drop too low either & remember they're on high settings.

CPU performance effect 3dMark06 score. The quad core most of the time during the benchmark is running at ~1.7GHz. These explained the score I got. Unlike 3dMark06, CPU doesn't effect (or only a little) with the Vantage score. ATiAMD card always score better in synthetic benchmarks but little bit different story on games.

so can i do 2x.opt? also how do i check to see what ports my mini PCIe and express card are on?

Also mini PCIe is mPCIe right -_-

Also with having a GTX260m is 1x even worth while? please reread my previous post...the 1x and 2 x comparison is really confusing. has weird scores. I think i added them while you were replying.

Your notebook doesn't have active Intel HD Graphics iGPU. So, you can't do x1.Opt (Optimus) setup. (There is no such thing x2.Opt setup)

Yes, mini-PCIe = mPCIe.

x1 link definitely not worthwhile but x2 might be. You might want to see this Nvidia GTX470 @x2 link eGPU benchmark. Unfortunately I know only one eGPU implementation with Nvidia card @x2 link on Intel 5 series chipset notebook.

[Joss27]

Check if you like it ^^

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thanks a lot, it's exactly what i would like to make