DIY eGPU experiences

[User Retired 2]

I've managed to update the DSDT table following the awesome information on here, and the Large Memory entry is now in the Device Manager, however I'm still getting the Code 12 error and from the looks of it the TOLUD is still at 3.5gb (although I'm not sure). (Screengrab attached)

I'm not sure where I need to go from here, however I'm guessing that I need to get the TOLUD down to 3.25gb.

TOLUD is only relevant when working in 32-bit PCI space. Applying the DSDT override overcomes space limitations allowing the eGPU to be hosted out of 36/64-bit, much larger pci-e space.

I've extended step 7 in the DSDT override page that discusses how to re-allocate your eGPU after performing the DSDT override. Please refer to that.

I don't know why I got a Code 10 in Windows 7 x64 and the HDMI device on the GTX 670 refused to be loaded regardless of whether I disable the onboard Quadro 1000M or not.

The interconnect is the same with the commercial or DIY eGPU PE4H. Error 10 can however occur if the mHDMI cable is damaged. I'd suggest swap that out with a US$6-shipped replacement from DX and try again.

As for the iGPU, dGPU and eGPU all co-existing on a W520... I believe they will *however* I recall from PM troubleshooting with you for your Setup 1.x donation that the eGPU would not engage x1.2Opt pci-e compression. Instead it was running at straight x1 2.0 where it is about 2.5 times slower in 3dmark06.

The W520 supposedly has a bios option to disable the dGPU. Doing so would ensure the Keplar/Fermi card would run at the highest x1.2Opt performance.

[Kdia8015]

Hi everyone.

I have looked through the first page, and really not sure what is the procedure to get it working.

I have PE4L2.1B , Lenovo T420S, external monitor and GTX560ti.

Should I plug it to expresscard slot in win7? But the system could not detact any device... Or should I need to use Setup 1.x?

Many thanks all

I checked the first page, does "standby" in Win 7 refer to sleep mode?

Nando can you please help?

[User Retired 2]

I checked the first page, does "standby" in Win 7 refer to sleep mode?

Nando can you please help?

Yes, standby = sleep mode.

For your situation power on the eGPU, then hotplug the EC2C into the expresscard slot. It should result the system making a 'found new hardware' beep. If not, flip the switches on the PE4L itself: SW1 to 1-2 positon (0 seconds) and SW2 to 2-3 (x16) and try again. If still no go:

- test your eGPU with an ATX PSU, rather than DC adapter if you are using one of those.
- ensure your bios has the expresscard slot enabled. Lenovo has an option to disable it.

[carage]

The interconnect is the same with the commercial or DIY eGPU PE4H. Error 10 can however occur if the mHDMI cable is damaged. I'd suggest swap that out with a US$6-shipped replacement from DX and try again.

As for the iGPU, dGPU and eGPU all co-existing on a W520... I believe they will *however* I recall from PM troubleshooting with you for your Setup 1.x donation that the eGPU would not engage x1.2Opt pci-e compression. Instead it was running at straight x1 2.0 where it is about 2.5 times slower in 3dmark06.

The W520 supposedly has a bios option to disable the dGPU. Doing so would ensure the Keplar/Fermi card would run at the highest x1.2Opt performance.

Thanks for the suggestion, actually I always wanted to get a longer mHDMI cable, I might as well do that too.

Well, I didn't figure the 3DMARK06 test to be a serious indicator of performance. Since I kept the dGPU on, I have set it to perform PhysX duty.

Currently I don't think there is a custom inf for the GTX 670 with the latest beta.

[kizwan]

@kizwan

I had the Qword at the end originally too, but either way bsod.

I believe your notebook have dynamic TOLUD. Notebook with dynamic TOLUD have two sets of DSDT. To confirm this:-

1. From OFF state, boot notebook without eGPU connected & take screenshot of Device Manager >> View >> Resources by connection >> expand the Memory tree.
2. From OFF state, boot notebook with eGPU connected & take screenshot of Device Manager >> View >> Resources by connection >> expand the Memory tree.

When I say "expand the Memory tree", only expand the Memory tree, no need to expand the sub-tree under Memory, like this. Post the screenshots here.

[Kdia8015]

Thanks Nando will give a go as said!! Big thanks again

[User Retired 2]

Thanks for the suggestion, actually I always wanted to get a longer mHDMI cable, I might as well do that too.

Well, I didn't figure the 3DMARK06 test to be a serious indicator of performance. Since I kept the dGPU on, I have set it to perform PhysX duty.

Currently I don't think there is a custom inf for the GTX 670 with the latest beta.

3dmark06 is one of the best benchmarks to confirm Optimus pci-e compression engages. You'll see a result of ~5k for x1 1.0, ~10k for x1 2.0. When pci-e compression engages, that will increase by 2-3 times, depending on the CPU and eGPU being used.

Now we know the latest NVidia desktop drivers include pci-e and NVidia Optimus funtionality by default. So it should not be necessary at all to mod them to get x1.2Opt performance on your system. Only variables for the W520 would then be:

* dGPU on/off: how does it affect 3dmark06 results?

Yes, Physx provided by the dGPU is a good use for it. One way in which I endeavoured to get the eGPU+dGPU to coexist with the eGPU being given Optimus driver priority was the use of the dGPU on-demoted option in Setup 1.x. Not sure if it works as I don't have a NVidia dGPU equipped system other than Kizwan reported his Asus didn't like that setting. Suggest you try it and advise how it goes.

SimoxTav will be providing GTX670 bench results soon. You are more than welcome to submit your i7+GTX670@x1.2Opt Lenovo W520 results too. I am curious how much better it than say a GTX560Ti.

[mattbuzz]

Many Thanks Nando I really appreciate it. I'll give it a whirl later today.

[Kuro-D]

@kizwan. I will get you those screenshots when I have a chance to help figure out getting the dsdt to work on my win server 2008r2 install. thanks for your help

good news / bad news

good news.. out of drunken desperation to eliminate other variables I caved and threw in a different ssd, and installed a fresh install of win 7, rather than 2008r2.

Low and behold the egpu is recognized nicely, works with my 16gb of ram, and am getting opt1.2 ...

bad news, this isnt on my more useful 2008r2 install, and I am now doubting that it will ever work on there (dsdt hopefully maybe).

I dont know why the difference, but there is.. a little dissapointing, If I can't get this to work, I will have to decide between using 2008r2 with hyper-v, remotefx, and other useful admin things... or using win 7 with the perfect egpu support on this machine.

well onto benches.. these are just quick first tests.. It is very late at night, but I was too excited not to do a couple and post the results

3dmark06, overall end score = 23551
3dmark11, overall end score = 7892 , gpu portion of score 8174
Heaven, end score 2355

I'm curious how much better they can be after overclocking this gtx680, despite the bottleneck of have only a opt1.2 connection.

I'm happy I got this to work, although dissapointed I couldnt do it yet with my 2008r2 install.

[moss8448]

I have a 2010 HP Pavilion dv7-4177nr and do not have a PCI slot...is there any other way to interface an external desktop gpu? I like others I would love to upgrade my gpu to play modern games and this thing is only two yrs old!! but without another way to hook it up I don't see how I can take advantage of interfacing a PCIe with this unit. All I have for external connections is 4 usbs 1 HDMI 1 vga 1 e-sata and 1 rj-45 and 1 card reader for sd type micro discs. And the mini pci on board is for wireless usage. Just my luck to have an expensive fairly new un-upgradeable gpu clunker....grrrr