DIY eGPU experiences

[avlan]

Guys, could i have a little suggestion, would the folowing video card be good for the ViDock:

MSI HD 5450 PCIE 1GB GDDR3 VGA/DVI/HDMI

And would its performance be good enough to run for example GTA IV and Gaming in total?
I dont really like its Memory Interface value, which is 64.. But if i get 128 will it be much better, or i dont really need it?

P.S: Can i have x1E setup? (-Screenshot-, and i got PE4L)

No. This card is for low-end, HTPC. You should buy 57xx or wait for new Fermi cards.

[Max399]

No. This card is for low-end, HTPC. You should buy 57xx or wait for new Fermi cards.

The problem with the 57xx and Fermix-GTX ones is that theyre too pricy.
I dont have that much money.
The max-one i can afford myself would be this one: -Link-
I cant go over that limit of money..

P.S: I still didnt get my question about x1E anwsered..

[User Retired 2]

P.S: Can i have x1E setup? (-Screenshot-, and i got PE4L)

mPCIe (wifi) is port1. expresscard=port2. So can do x1E using a PM3N on port1. If you had a PE4H+EC2C+PM3N then could do x2E by combining port1+port2. From your shortlisted cards, a HD4670@x2 would be a faster card than the HD5570.

Since you probably have a PE4L+EC2C then can only do x1 on port2. In which case I'd highly recommend you buy a GTX460 to get good gaming performance.

[Max399]

mPCIe (wifi) is port1. expresscard=port2. So can do x1E using a PM3N on port1. If you had a PE4H+EC2C+PM3N then could do x2E by combining port1+port2. From your shortlisted cards, a HD4670@x2 would be a faster card than the HD5570.

Since you probably have a PE4L+EC2C then can only do x1 on port2. In which case I'd highly recommend you buy a GTX460 to get good gaming performance.

Well, im not really into always pluging/unpluging the mPCIe, so il stick with the x1. Anyway a already ordered PE4L with EC2C..

You are confusing me on which card i should take, i cant come to a final solution
Which one should i get for the best Game performance on x1, the 5570 or 4670 and why? To me the 5570 is way better, it supports DX11, Pixel Shader Model 5.0, OpenGL 3.2.. The price of those two is the same here..

[User Retired 2]

Which one should i get for the best Game performance on x1, the 5570 or 4670 and why? To me the 5570 is way better.

The relative performance shows a HD4670 is faster. Since you can't do a x1E link I'd still highly recommend you save up and get the cheapest GTX460 OR wait for a GTS4xx to be released. The real-world gaming performance a Fermi provides over a HD4xxx/5xxx well worth it. I don't think you'd be satisfied with the HD4670/HD5570 performance on a crippled Intel x1 1.0 link.

[Max399]

Thank you for that performance link, very interesting.
So i decided, il get a HD4670 1GB.
Wanted to get a HD5670, but it only had 512MB, so i went fo the HD4670, it was cheaper and had more VRAM.
My last quetion (I hope), since the HD4670 doesent have an aditional power connector, will i actually need a PSU? I've seen that PE4L provides 12v from the adapter, so i can dont need a PSU right?

[King of Interns]

V ram quantity isn't important, speed is. Even at ful 1980x1080 reso with everything set to max in Crysis in dx 10 mode the game won't utilise any more vram memory than 512MB. Ultra high reso's might but I doubt you will game at such high reso's and the 4670 1GB wouldn't be able to cope at those reso's at high settings anyways.

[Max399]

4670 1GB is 80$
5670 512MB is 95$
I think in this situation it would be better to take the 4670, because i still wont see the diffrance bettween those two on x1. And the VRAM will make some diffrance.

[King of Interns]

You probably won't see a huge difference however the 5xxx series card are 40nm vs 55nm of the 4xxx series therefore much more efficient and cool plus clock for clock will be faster ie 600mhz 5xxx will be more like 650mhz 4xxx series for same power. Also the 5xxx should have more shaders processors and also dx11 support for extra future proofing. I think those $15 extra are probably worth it. The 512mb extra on the 4670 will give you 0 extra power or performance especially as you are already bandwidth limited. Even on x16 link 1GB GDDR3 memory on a mid-range card is a complete marketing gimick. Always go for less and faster a solid and never changing rule.

Don't get me wrong the 4670 is a great card I went to great trouble getting mine and I love it but the 5xxx series card here is the better choice or the 46xx fermi cards are suggested above if you can wait for them.

KOI

[User Retired 2]

4670 1GB is 80$
5670 512MB is 95$
I think in this situation it would be better to take the 4670, because i still wont see the diffrance bettween those two on x1. And the VRAM will make some diffrance.

The HD4870.2GB versus HD5750.1GB benchmark results show the HD5xxx series is more pci-e bandwidth efficient so it's the better card. You will need a 12V/75W adapter to power the PE4L slot.