DIY eGPU experiences

[User Retired 2]

They function in the same basic way... except that expresscard is worse and can seriously bottleneck performance.

Its mPCI-E remember, thats important. Plain mPCI is much older wifi slots, which i did find an entire graphics card for

Either expresscard or mPCIe uses the same x1 pci-e pins leading to the southbridge I/O controller so have identical performance. Expresscard having two advantanges : (1) it is a more convenient package to access and hotswap than mPCIe and (2) it has a USB 2.0 port as part of the spec,

I did find a Dell WX637 mPCIe video card. No idea how capable it is. It's marketted for blu-ray playback, so might be something similar to the Broadcomm Crystal mini PCIe BCM970012 hd accelerator, in which case it's not a video card at all.

[senseisin]

Thank you very much for the clarification nando4, I was starting to get worried

I'm currently in Europe but I'll be travelling to the US soon and, once I'm there, I'll be ordering the parts (saving in S&H and all) and putting my hands to work. What would be a good budget graphic card for a test setup?

[jsmp312]

Hey guys,
I'm happy to report that the setup that I managed to do just this week is running very well. I'm using the Ultramon method to generate an internal LCD image. However, I noticed that the graphics deteriorated when I did this. So I had a few questions:
-Is it possible to further increase performance? I am running a 1X PE4L with GTX460 1GB OC'd, 430W power.
-Is there an additional step I need to do so that the laptop GPU is shut off when the external GPU is running? Don't the two compete?

Finally, I'd like to post some benchmarking results with the internal display. What sort of program do I use and how do I do it (native or cloned monitor?)?

EDIT:
Also I would like to know if I can run a X2 or other links. Below is the screenshot from Everest. If I can run X2, please tell me what parts I would need to get. Thanks!



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[fathersgp]

Does the E6500 have the same expresscard slot port4 as the E6400 shown here? If so, I'd advise against an ATI solution, since you can't do x1E. If did still want an ATI solution, then consider a HD56xx or better series will perform better than a HD48xx on x1, example here. A HD5670 would probably be cheaper too. Finally, if you have a 4500MHD equipped E6500 then could do x1.Opt, so a GTS450 or GTX460 would be the best choice for highest performance on your platform.



Can also ensure the card doesn't downclock by setting NVidia Control Panel -> Power Management Mode changing Adaptive to Prefer Maximum Performance. Lag may be due to memory<->vram data being shuffled across the x1 link which only the Optimus driver's tweak or more bandwidth will correct.



No implementations on a mac mini as yet. There are two attempts on a MBP shown in the Macbook Compatibility Matrix section on the first post.

The system you have uses a ICH7M controller which will physically allow you to connect a PE4H+PM3N to it. Then it's up to the OS to actually use it correctly. This is where you are likely to encounter difficulties. Suggest review the following to guide you:

- Villagetronic's Is ViDock compatible with MacBook Pro?

- DIY ViDock Setup 1.x to see if can get chainloading and PCI compaction working.

- search macforums for "vidock". There's specific video firmware and video cards that work on Mac OS.

mac mini + DIY ViDock could be a tidy HTPC setup. I'd be curious to see your results.

Hi Nando,

I have set-up the DIY Vidock to my Macmini over the weekend. There's no posting in any Macforums on DIY Vidock, so I decided to experiment it myself. The DIY Vidock works nicely and Windows 7 able to detect the external graphic card after I disable the integrated i945 graphic chipset. I am using an external power supply salvage from an old laptop rather than using a desktop PSU. This gives a small form factor and complement the MiniMac as a HTPC. I am using EAH5450 Silent 512MB graphic card to also complement the quiet MiniMac. I am not concern on how powerful the card as long as I can play decent Starcrat 2 and watch HD movie thru the HDMI connection of the graphic card. I have also make a small cut on the edge of the MacMini base (as per picture 6) so that the mini HDMI cable can slide thru the bottom base and the MacMini metal enclosure can be close securedly. I am including some other photos too of the DIY Vidock set-up. The rest of the photos and the step by step set-up of DIY Vidock for MacMini will be included in external URL link on my next update. This will helps others intend to DIY Vidock their MacMini. I have not tried on the Snow Leopard MacOs X yet. It will be on another post.

Take note: That the latest ATI or Nvidia (whichever graphic card is set-up) catalyst driver need to be installed on every boot of Windows 7 for the card to be recognised and 3d acceleration is activated.

Hope someone can advise me, what can I do to get Windows 7 retain the graphic card driver upon shutdown.

As my Macmini is 2 yrs old, I have just revived its life with this DIY Vidock. Thank U again to nando for this handy and useful forum. As MacMini in Singapore is expensive, even a 2yrs old unit, I would not recommend for those faint hearted to disfigured their MiniMac.

http://img826.imageshack.us/g/001xrw.jpg/

[tanjhe00]

nando, please come over here please

SWEX (ATX Power Supply Power-On Switch ver1.1) What is the role?? Not add to line up>?? ATX power supply connected directly to the Green Line and a short black line will be able to directly activate the power of the! Simply can ignore SWEX please nando please answer my question

[m2003]

Today I verified that Dell doesn't have a way for me to get rid of the Nvidia 160m in my laptop ( soldiered on motherboard). The chipset is known to cause problems ( according to Dell) so they only offer the option of replacing the motherboard, with exactly the same!
Since Dell is not giving me any option to get rid of this cursed Nvidia chip, I would like to ask if there is anyone that has this as well and has managed to make a working vidock. If so, please add your laptop model, the new added desktop card and if you have express card adapter or the other type.
Thank you

[Chesniak]

Hi There Nando4,
Ive just recieved my PE4H in the mail.
Im trying to get it to run on my HP TX2 and im running into some issues. I put the system to sleep, connect it, and wake it up. It goes right to the Laptop display, not my monitor. I can see my HD5770 in the Device Mananger under display adapters, but there is nothing in Display settings to choose...?

Help please

[Khenglish]

Hi There Nando4,
Ive just recieved my PE4H in the mail.
Im trying to get it to run on my HP TX2 and im running into some issues. I put the system to sleep, connect it, and wake it up. It goes right to the Laptop display, not my monitor. I can see my HD5770 in the Device Mananger under display adapters, but there is nothing in Display settings to choose...?

Help please

Did you install a driver for the 5770? It won't display anything without a proper driver. The windows automatic driver installation is not something to count on. Also right click on the 5770 in the device manager and make sure it says, "This device is functioning normally" and not giving you an error 12 or something.

[skippper]

If my Express Card slot is port 2 am I screwed?

port 1 empty, port 2 express card, port 3 empty, port 4 wifi, port 5 hidden, port 6 lan

[Chesniak]

ill try reinstalling the drivers when i get home later tonight. From Device Manager it says the device is working normally... but in Resourcses it says its not using any because there is a problem.