DIY eGPU experiences

[Ohem]

If you have a expresscard slot you'd want to use that in preference to the mPCIe slot. Either one runs at x1 1.0 speed (2.5Gbps), with expresscard far more convenient to use.

The only reason you may want to use the mPCIe slot is if you are using an ICH8M or newer chipset and the expresscard and mPCIe slots are port1+port2, in which case it is possible to gang them together to make a x2 1.0 link (5Gbps).

Hey i was testing out PCIScope in W7/x64 but received an error about loading a driver, is there another program i could use for detecting the PCIe adress(?) and i also wonder WHAT exact lines should be edited in 2510p.bat.

[User Retired 2]

Hey i was testing out PCIScope in W7/x64 but received an error about loading a driver, is there another program i could use for detecting the PCIe adress(?) and i also wonder WHAT exact lines should be edited in 2510p.bat.

For ATI cards you'd only need to define the underlying PCI bridge in a free 256MB window if you get an error 12, plus an additional 4KB I/O space. You can see free places to do this using Device Manager->View Resources By Connection ->Memory. Example:

:: 0:1C.0 = port1, 0:1C.1 = port2
:: 0:1C.2 = port3, 0:1C.3 = port4
set port=0:1C.0

:: Bridge 4KB I/O Window
setpci -s %port% 1c.w=2020
         
:: Bridge 256MB Memory Window at D0000000-DFFFFFFF
setpci -s %port% 24.l=DFF1D001

[Ohem]

For ATI cards you'd only need to define the underlying PCI bridge in a free 256MB window if you get an error 12, plus an additional 4KB I/O space. You can see free places to do this using Device Manager->View Resources By Connection ->Memory. Example:

:: 0/1C/00 = port1, 0/1C/01 = port2
:: 0/1C/02 = port3, 0/1C/03 = port4
set port=0/1c/00

:: Bridge 4KB I/O Window
setpci -s %port% 1c.w=2020
         
:: Bridge 256MB Memory Window at D0000000-DFFFFFFF
setpci -s %port% 24.l=DFF1D001

Can the 256MB window be in > 4GB space when using Win7/64-bit?

So far I have suggested that 256MB window had to be in < 4GB space, resorting to PCI Reallocation to create space to fit that window. I can confirm that Physical Address Extensions (PAE) used with 32-bit operating systems allows the window to be > 4GB, which resolved the error 12 in Win7/32-bit, but Win7/32-bit wouldn't then switch on the video card. Incentive to do further investigation.

If Win7/64-bit allows that window in 64-bit space then Win7/64-bit would allow universal application of the DIY ViDock regardless of memory installed *without* needing any PCI Reallocation, with perhaps only configuration of the underlying PCI bridge.

What I'm not sure about is, what am I exactly looking for? I'm trying to learn this due to future replacement of the current laptop so I want the process to go smooth throughout and so far the PCI Reallocation is one thing I haven't been able to grasp quite - I don't really know what "PCI Device" I should point my eyes to. The point 4 and 5 here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/show....php?p=5797441 doesn't really tell me much what device, column, row and the Bootdisk instructions that are on page 16 and 21 could migrate/combine into one.

[carajillo]

Dear Nando 4:

I send you the updated RE5 Benchmarks of my Vidock 2:

[http://www.mediafire.com/i/?etz4yntmtmm

Is there any news about new improvements or software for Vidock2?

[b1indsp0t]

So my question-questions

I have a acer 4315 (sameish as the 5315) have upgraded many aspects of it thanks to these forums, and am quite happy with it.

However I do miss gaming as I used to be a bit of a desktop upgrade and enjoyed the many wonders that PC gaming used to offer. Seeing as this laptop is sporting the infamous x3100 im lacking in the ploygon pushing prowess needed to play the recent latest and greatest titles.

So after quite a bit of reaserch im thinking I should get a desktop 5750 (presubaly with as much RAM as poss) with a PE4L and a PSU im pretty sure im not going to get a x1 2.0 due the fact I only have 3 mPCIe ports and 1 and 2 are taken by NIC and WiFi. I do however have a express card slot

Is this setup worth a shot would like to be playing games like BS 2 and BF bad company at good settings, should also mention im on a GM965 MB with 2G RAM and a C2D 7250

Thanks

[ronvalencia]

All,

In a previous post I mentioned that I was having a lot of problems with the PE4H, well I sent an e-mail to hwtools and they were very, very helpful. Apparently a batch of boards were released to the public with a 2 AMP fuse instead of the spec'd out 3 AMP fuse. In talking with them, the fuse itself realistically isn't needed, both the video card and the PSU have voltage regulation. So to get my card up and running I soldered off the 2 AMP fuse, and shorted out the connection with a bead of solder.

And guess what! It worked!! I did have the card re-boot 3 times under heavy gaming, but at this point with ATI's known problems with the 5000 series cards, I don't know if the problem is the PE4H or the video card. I'm now leaning towards the video card.

Included is a picture that hwtools sent me of the fuse you need to solder off.

If you have any other questions, let me know, but it seemed to work great for me.

Thanks,

Mike

Does your PE4H's amp fuse has the marking of "P 150-24"?

I bought my PE4H around 22 Feb 2010.
Update: "P 150-24" = 2 AMP fuse. I need to remove 2 AMP fuse and connect the pads.

[avlan]

If, any one interested: PE4L will be avalible about 19-03-2010

[User Retired 2]

If, any one interested: PE4L will be avalible about 19-03-2010

Dell E4300 port layout request

Avlan, how many mPCIe slots does your E4300 have? If more than one, can you swap over the mPCIe wifi and see what ports the mPCIe slot comes up as in Everest, like shown here? Better yet, if you have an expresscard (e-sata, usb 3.0) could you install it to identify what port the expresscard is?

The reason for this request is I'm wondering if the E4300 can do x2 1.0 which would require a combo of expresscard+mPCIe or mPCIe+mPCIe to be port1+port2 or port3+port4.

[avlan]

It has 3 ports: 2 mPCIe onboard and ExpressCard and I don't have (for now) any card to test which port it is.

@EDIT
I've swaped WiFi to find out layout of PCIe ports:

http://avalan.rootnode.net/notebook/...g_original.png
This is original layout (WiFi card in half-sized mPCIe port)

http://avalan.rootnode.net/notebook/...onfig_swap.png
This is swaped layout (WiFi card in WAN full-sized mPCIe port)

It looks like:
- Port #1: empty onboard PCIe (full-sized)
- Port #2: empty onboard PCIe (half-sized)
- Port #4: empty ExpressCard PCIe

So it looks, eventuatlly, there is possibility to have x2 1.0, when I take out WiFi card.

[User Retired 2]

It looks like:
- Port #1: empty onboard PCIe (full-sized)
- Port #2: empty onboard PCIe (half-sized)
- Port #4: empty ExpressCard PCIe

ICH9M-equipped 13.3" Dell_E4300 can do a x2 1.0 link using mPCIe port1+port2

Yes - Dell E4300 could do a x2 1.0 link by purchasing a PE4H-PM3N plus an additional PM3N if you swapped out the wifi card. Appears here the E4300 would need the whole bottom cover taken off to access both the mPCIe ports unless a small cutout was made near the the mPCIe slots to allow the mini HDMI cable to be able to be attached.

PCI Scripts updated with a modular layout

2. What software setup do I need to make this work? section on the first page has been updated separating the example 2510P.bat and DV2000.bat into modules (menu.bat, bridge.bat, igp_disb.bat, igp_blnk.bat) to make it easier to understand. There are also direct links to the top level 2510P/DV2000 files off the first page to show how it all integrates. The DIY VIDock bootdisk rar file has been refreshed to version 2 with these updated modular examples.