DIY eGPU experiences

[User Retired 2]

Just found this still cheap, and should do me if I choose to play more intense game.

suggest spend $30 more to get x1.Opt internal LCD mode and better performance:

AU$119 GTS450 from MSY

[ithildin]

I decided to replace my Asus F8SA with a second hand Lenovo X200, a lightweight 12" travel laptop with better DIY Vidock capabilities. Here is a breakdown of the specs:

Lenovo X200
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 2.53 GHz
RAM: 2 GB RAM DDR3
HDD: 160 GB HDD
OS: Windows 7 Pro 32 bit
Drivers: Verde 266.58 (i386 nvam.inf here)

Benchmarks

Laptop	GPU	Score		Average FPS
		3dmark06	3dmark Vantage (GPU only)	DMC4 (scene 4)	RE5 (variable)	WiC		DiRT 2		BF:Bad Company 2
				DX10	DX9	DX9	DX10	DX9	DX11	DX9	DX10	DX11
Asus F8SA/P	HD5750 x1E	10392	5442	43.84	65.5	29	19	41.59	31.59
	GTX 460 x1	5221	7200	70.33	68.2	21	25	58.99	58.56	32.86	33.39	31.59
Lenovo X200	GTX 460 x1	5241	7343.38	68.51	64.4
	GTX 460 x1.Opt	11308	10331.03	90.57	66.6

x2 and x4 links

Lenovo X200 - x2 link capable?

Besides the reasonably fast CPU, robust build quality and attractive form factor, the characteristics that made me interested in this particular laptop is the number (3) and accessibility of mPCIe slots. Here is the layout of the Southbridge wiring based on the maiboard schematics and a few tests:

• Port #1: mPCIe full size (WWAN)
• Port #2: mPCIe full size (Wifi)
• Port #3: mPCIe half size (UWB/Turbo memory)
• Port #4: Expresscard slot
• Port #5: Not Wired
• Port #6: LAN

Spoiler :

It should be possible to hook up this laptop to a Vidock on a x2 1.0 link and perhaps even a x4 link. The UWB slot is a half-size but fully wired judging from the X200 diagram (full schematics here).

Spoiler :

Even though the X200 chassis is very compact, the mPCIe slots are fairly accessible just by removing the palm rest and keyboard:

I've highlighted the location of all mPCIe and EC slots.

I reckon I have three possible ways to mod the case to allow access to either ports 1+2 (full size mPCIe slots) or 3+4 (expresscard + UWB). For ports 1+2 there is the monoaural speaker grill (just below the wifi card) or I could unsolder the metal case for the card reader (bottom right) and hook up a cable through the card reader opening. Ports 3+4 would be the better option since I already have easy access to port #4 (expresscard) - I only need to make an opening to pass a mini HDMI cable to the UWB slot. Unfortunately the way the PM3N sits on this slot keeps the mini HDMI socket level with the PCB, which means I can't simply blast open a hole opposite to the socket to put a regular mini-HDMI cable from the battery side (see below).

Spoiler :

It's hard to notice but there is a short strip of PCB between the UWB slot and the battery compartment which is level with the miniHDMI socket.

I will need either a) a L shaped mini HDMI adapter that is short enough to turn inside the space of a half-size mPCIe slot (~2 cm) or b) a flexible cable with a short plug that reach inside this narrow space to connect to the PM3N. Do you know where I can find any of these?

Work in progress:

• Further benchmarks vs Asus F8SA
• x2 1.0 tests (ports 1+2)
• Case mod

[tpro]

~~~~~~(Deleted)~~~~~~~

[Mech0z]

Still no Sandy Bridge results, I starting to get sad (I wanna order a new laptop now)

[fulloffeel]

I just read flaunt post here. He makes no mention of the RAM problem that the Dell E6500 has, so you should be ok with 4GB of RAM. But it does look like his procedure is almost identical to mine with getting the vidock to work with that laptop.

thank you so much for your effort to help me.
i think i actually read that post about hundred times by now.
wish he was around..haha

well, yeah, as you mentioned. i don't think RAM is an issue here. i just pretty much hit a dead end.
if you can get it to work, and tell me what's up, it would awesome.
I am just still looking at all the Vidock set on the corner of my room as of now.

[pjriot]

Hi folks, can anyone tell me if a diy vidock will work under Linux? Also, does anybody know if a pci-e 1.0 expresscard slot provides enough bandwidth (2.5GT/s) to drive 2 x 30" monitors? (for development work and light movie watching)

EDIT: Actually, the notebook I had in mind says this in the manual:

PCI Express 1.1 x1 to fully support ASPM L0s/L1 and CLKREQ.
NOTE: Intel 82579 PCIe interface is not PCIe compliant. It operates at half
of PCIe specification V1.1 (2.5GT/S) speed.

Does that mean it operates at 1.25GT/S?

[tpro]

Hi folks, can anyone tell me if a diy vidock will work under Linux? Also, does anybody know if a pci-e 1.0 expresscard slot provides enough bandwidth (2.5GT/s) to drive 2 x 30" monitors? (for development work and light movie watching)

EDIT: Actually, the notebook I had in mind says this in the manual:

PCI Express 1.1 x1 to fully support ASPM L0s/L1 and CLKREQ.
NOTE: Intel 82579 PCIe interface is not PCIe compliant. It operates at half
of PCIe specification V1.1 (2.5GT/S) speed.

Does that mean it operates at 1.25GT/S?

From what i heard is yes, but with a bit modification with the boot parameters in GRUB.

PLUS: Mine is ExpressCard 3, and it operates 2.5. And it's speed is 5. (get the ratio and apply it on yours)


_________________________________________________________________
Yay, cheers, Gnome 3 is out since 2 minutes...

[tan]

i don't think RAM is an issue here. i just pretty much hit a dead end.

fulloffeel,
I'm pretty sure 4gb of ram IS your issue. I had the almost exact same system as yours ( M1330, T8100, 8400MGS). I had used a PE4L kit with both a Nvidia 9400GT and an ATI 5670. Initially, I had 4gb RAM installed and the external card just refused to work. Then, I tried it on another vaio laptop with 2gb ram and it worked plug n play. Going back to the M1330, I tried 2gb ram and it worked fine. In order to use 4gb, I had to install the DIY Vidock Setup 1.x to do the memory compaction thing + disabled some of the unused components to make it fully work.

The reason for the desktop video driver not installed is that your system with 4gb ram won't recognize the external card. You gotta do 2gb ram OR 4gb ram with Setup 1.x. No need to install the notebook video driver.

Hope it helps.

[MikjoA]

Here are some result from that I got with a Sony VPC-Z11Z9E (VPC-Z1) and its DIY Vidock.

Specs :
Chipset HM57
CPU Intel Core i7 620M
RAM 8Gb
Intel HD Graphics
nVIDIA 330M GT
DIY Vidock GTX 560 Ti x1.opt + external monitor
(PE4H 2.4 + EC2C)
No PCI-e overclock, I wish I know how to do it with my laptop..

GPU model : MSI N560 GTX Twin frozr II/OC

GPU : 1000 Mhz ( 880 )
Shaders : 2000 Mhz ( 1760 )
RAM : 4580 Mhz ( 4200 )

Not sure it makes any change lol




● Here we start with 3DMark 06 :



fullsize : http://nsa26.casimages.com/img/2011/...1925168251.png

● Resident Evil 5 varbench DX9 1280x800 default settings

I couldn't take a screenshot but it got an average of 116 fps.







● 3DMark Vantage
(No PhysX)



Fullsize : http://nsa25.casimages.com/img/2011/...2453890811.png


● 3DMark Vantage Xtreme Performance
(No PhyX)



Fullsize

http://3dmark.com/3dmv/3060700

● Devil May Cry 4 1280x800 default settings



Fullsize : http://nsa25.casimages.com/img/2011/...2738225707.png

[fulloffeel]

fulloffeel,
I'm pretty sure 4gb of ram IS your issue. I had the almost exact same system as yours ( M1330, T8100, 8400MGS). I had used a PE4L kit with both a Nvidia 9400GT and an ATI 5670. Initially, I had 4gb RAM installed and the external card just refused to work. Then, I tried it on another vaio laptop with 2gb ram and it worked plug n play. Going back to the M1330, I tried 2gb ram and it worked fine. In order to use 4gb, I had to install the DIY Vidock Setup 1.x to do the memory compaction thing + disabled some of the unused components to make it fully work.

The reason for the desktop video driver not installed is that your system with 4gb ram won't recognize the external card. You gotta do 2gb ram OR 4gb ram with Setup 1.x. No need to install the notebook video driver.

Hope it helps.

i think that would make a lot of sense.
when this weekend comes, i will try 2GB RAM and if it works, i will move on to 4GB memory compaction.
so, are you using memory compaction now?