DIY eGPU experiences

[andeelym]

I seem to be having problems with the Bootdisk. I guess it is due to the nature of my system. My notebook primary HDD comes with a recovery partition and the chainloader boots into that instead of the normal partition and whenever the bootdisk tries to write into c:, it always returns a error reading c:, i guess it is due to the recovery partition.

I am no guru nor a whiz. Can anyone tell me what files do I need to edit so that the chainloader will boot into HDD0, partition 1 instead of HDD0, partition 0?

Thanks in advance!

[Albertint]

Getting Started section on first post a good place to begin. You could do a US$190 HD5670 or a US$250 HD5770 setup, the latter offering great bang-per-buck. Worth checking if you could do x1E or x2 link by evaluating your pci-e port layout in Everest. x2 requiring an additional US$62 in parts. EC2C is 34mm wide, which works in 54mm slots. The ability to use the external LCD as primary from the bootup process is dependent on your bios.

Ah, thanks alot! Now, does GPU ram matter? Because I'm seeing 512mb and 1gb so far on google shopping. I was just as curious about this. Will starting at 1x handle all the games I mentioned? (TES, Valve Games, older, less GPU intensive games...)

Thanks again! I just wanna get down all the parts I'll be needing for when I accumulate enough money.

[villiankknd]

hi nando4, everything is well now =)

my 90w psu just arrived and i connected it like how you did exactly the same (here)

but it doesn't seem to work...i think it doesnt work for 90w psu...

[User Retired 2]

I am no guru nor a whiz. Can anyone tell me what files do I need to edit so that the chainloader will boot into HDD0, partition 1 instead of HDD0, partition 0?

Files to modify are below. Use \help\grub4dos.txt to help you along. Can do these changes using notepad in Windows.

\core\menu.xp, \core\menu.w7, \core\menu.mbr (original grub4dos)
\core\grubbeta.bat (beta grub4dos - the batch file has the config in it)

my 90w psu just arrived and i connected it like how you did exactly the same (here)

but it doesn't seem to work...i think it doesnt work for 90w psu...

Does the HD5750 work initially in Win7 but then flake out under load? If so then it's probably due to the MSI HD5750 needing more than ~80W that is being supplied after rectification (-1.4V) and voltage regulation by the PE4H.

[andeelym]

Files to modify are below. Use \help\grub4dos.txt to help you along. Can do these changes using notepad in Windows.

\core\menu.xp, \core\menu.w7, \core\menu.mbr (original grub4dos)
\core\grubbeta.bat (beta grub4dos - the batch file has the config in it)

Hi nando4,

Thanks for the direction. Need to trouble you with a couple more questions.

1) I guess I'll be using menu.mbr or menu.w7 cos I am using Windows 7 but which of the files to use exactly?

2) Will the following edits be sufficient?
For menu.mbr
From "map () (hd0)" to "map () (hd0,1)"
From "map (hd0) ()" to "map (hd0,1) ()"
From "chainloader (hd0)+1" to "chainloader (hd0,1)+1"

For menu.w7
From "map () (hd0)" to "map () (hd0,1)"
From "map (hd0) ()" to "map (hd0,1) ()"

Thank you!

[User Retired 2]

Hi nando4,

Thanks for the direction. Need to trouble you with a couple more questions.

1) I guess I'll be using menu.mbr or menu.w7 cos I am using Windows 7 but which of the files to use exactly?

2) Will the following edits be sufficient?
..

menu.mbr requires no changes unless you are booting off another HDD altogether.

I've added a new menutem for 'Edit grub4dos config' for the next DIY ViDock Setup release along with more info in the grub config files themselves to make system-specific changes very easy. The new menu.w7 will contain contents as below.

You want to comment out the line after "#find bootmgr and set root" line and uncomment the two lines following "#set root to be specific partition (hd0,1)", setting (hd0,1) to be your required partition.

#debug 0 is quiet operation
debug 0
timeout 0
quiet

#remap drives if booted from USB
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /bootmgr
map () (hd0)
map (hd0) ()
map --rehook

#find bootmgr and set root
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /bootmgr

#OR set root to be specific partition, eg: hd0,1 
#root (hd0,1)

#Load bootmgr from root
chainloader /bootmgr

If you want to see what the partition mapping is, just run 'grub --config-file="echo"' then type "ls (hd0" to see partitions on drive 0 or "ls (hd1" to see partitions on drive1. means press the tab key.

[villiankknd]

Does the HD5750 work initially in Win7 but then flake out under load? If so then it's probably due to the MSI HD5750 needing more than ~80W that is being supplied after rectification (-1.4V) and voltage regulation by the PE4H.

I am using Vista, and still using an ATX PSU i borrowed from my friend and experienced no problem at all. I used his PSU because i am waiting for mine to come and when it did come, it didnt work so oh well, ATX is much more stable tho. I'll just use the ATX instead of going through the dc jack.

I guess maybe because the 5750 needs more power, i read the reviews around the net saying the max power consumption is 85w...so i guess....that's why?

[Z4gRoS]

Hi!!! I'm new in the forum, but I But I am very interested in ViDock DIY, in the page it goes out that stock does not stay, where I can buy? In addition it would be ideal to know when there will go out the version 2.0. This solution is brilliant!!!!!

[andeelym]

menu.mbr requires no changes unless you are booting off another HDD altogether.

I've added a new menutem for 'Edit grub4dos config' for the next DIY ViDock Setup release along with more info in the grub config files themselves to make system-specific changes very easy. The new menu.w7 will contain contents as below.

You want to comment out the line after "#find bootmgr and set root" line and uncomment the two lines following "#set root to be specific partition (hd0,1)", setting (hd0,1) to be your required partition.

#debug 0 is quiet operation
debug 0
timeout 0
quiet

#remap drives if booted from USB
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /bootmgr
map () (hd0)
map (hd0) ()
map --rehook

#find bootmgr and set root
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /bootmgr

#OR set root to be specific partition, eg: hd0,1 
#root (hd0,1)

#Load bootmgr from root
chainloader /bootmgr

If you want to see what the partition mapping is, just run 'grub --config-file="echo"' then type "ls (hd0" to see partitions on drive 0 or "ls (hd1" to see partitions on drive1. means press the tab key.

I noticed that you have updated the scripts this morning (+8 GMT) and I tried out the previous script last night but it didn't work. I'll try again with the new ones. Anyway, there was a another person (think its joseph_lin) who is using Sony VAIO Z (the newer model) and I was wondering if you remember what you did for him, I might have a good chance using whatever settings he used. If you can remember, then it'll be great if you can pass the settings to me. Or if joseph_lin is reading this, please pass the settings to me. Thanks!

Hi!!! I'm new in the forum, but I But I am very interested in ViDock DIY, in the page it goes out that stock does not stay, where I can buy? In addition it would be ideal to know when there will go out the version 2.0. This solution is brilliant!!!!!

The version 2.0 is already in stock. I just ordered one a couple of weeks back and am using one now. But not sure when the 2.1 will be out though.

[User Retired 2]

I noticed that you have updated the scripts this morning (+8 GMT) and I tried out the previous script last night but it didn't work. I'll try again with the new ones. Anyway, there was a another person (think its joseph_lin) who is using Sony VAIO Z (the newer model) and I was wondering if you remember what you did for him, I might have a good chance using whatever settings he used. If you can remember, then it'll be great if you can pass the settings to me. Or if joseph_lin is reading this, please pass the settings to me. Thanks!

Based on your previous reply here it looks like your USB controller is getting clobbered during PCI space compaction so is failing chainloading. You want to do the chainloading test before doing any compaction. Try the following:

1. Install latest Catalyst 10.6. It supports 36/64-bit PCI allocation so you may not even need DIY ViDock Setup 1.x and PCI compaction at all. If still get an error12 against your video card, then:

2. Ensure you can chainload into Win7 successfully. The MBR method should work *without* any modifications to the config files.

Joseph_Lin's Sony Z119 shown here just needed the underlying bridge configured. Can do that at the commandline:

1. boot with DIY ViDock switched off

2. Poweron the DIY VIDock then run command below, ensure it finds a solution.

compact preserveall import \core\devcon.txt makebatch %DRV%:\core\pci.bat
call %DRV%:\core\pci.bat

3. Then chainload into Win7 as done successfully above.

grub4dos mbr       OR
grub4dos w7