DIY eGPU experiences

[ithildin]

BC2: DIY ViDocked HD5750 30-50% slower than mobility HD3650 likely due to hypermemory and 1GB VRAM

+1. A case where 3dmark06 synthetic benchmarks tells only half the story.

The relatively poor HD5750 performance compared to the onboard HD3650 in BC2 is likely due to ATI's hypermemory setup, where system ram is being used as an extension to onboard VRAM to hold texture data. Means the video card needs to do transfers across the already limited PCI-e bus. Haven't found a way as yet to disable hypermemory. BC2 could do with a 1.5/2GB VRAM video card [eg: 1.5GB GTX480, 2GB Sapphire HD5850, 2GB HD4870]

If you find an extra mPCIe socket or pads that is port1 to combine with your wifi port2, then you could do a port1+port2 x2 1.0 link, doubling bandwidth, which would definitely improve BC2 performance. Best performance would be from a 2GB VRAM video card AND a x2 1.0 link.

Ok I've basically tore my laptop open to check my options looking for those elusive two other mPCIe slots. The bad news is that there aren't any obvious mPCIe connectors on the mainboard that I could find. I couldn't also find pads for more connectors either.


Taken with my phone's camera, a bit shaky.

On the bottom side, there is a small white slot just over the wifi card that may look like a place to add an extension board or riser card.

There are two similar (but smaller) ones in the top side, one of them is used by the modem, the other is empty. So there are basically two unused connectors with no obvious labels or functions. I've looked through a service manual for A8J (identical MB) but couldn't find any hints. I've checked the Asus parts lists for the F8S models and the options missing from my laptop are a DVB digital tuner and a Turbo Memory module. The last one caught my eye because TM modules use mPCI-e slots, but as it is there isn't any available... I'll keep looking into this.

EDIT: I've found it! And it is a mPCIe riser card! Ordering now

[ruhtraeel]

Anyone found a 2GB Sapphire Toxic 5870 yet?

EDIT: With a 2x 2.0 link, does that mean I don't have Wifi anymore?

[User Retired 2]

EDIT: I've found it! And it is a mPCIe riser card! Ordering now

I hope it that riser works as port1, then you could gang it with your port2 wifi card to do a port1+port2 x2 1.0 setup.

Anyone found a 2GB Sapphire Toxic 5870 yet?

EDIT: With a 2x 2.0 link, does that mean I don't have Wifi anymore?

The 2GB HD5870 Sapphire Toxic was reviewed on March 24. It's only just been released. They also suggest a price of £375 (US$560). A 1GB HD5870 costs ~$100 more than a HD5850, so I'd say it would be US$480 in your market which is exactly what a 1.5GB Nvidia GTX480 costs.

Yes - by ganging your two mPCIe ports to get a x2 1.0 link, forfeiting the simultanous use of the wifi card. You could effectively swap-on-demand the PM3N and the wifi card as I do with my 2510P OR if need wifi concurrently, consider purchasing a ~US$30 USB wifi unit. Eg: alpha 1000ma unit or Edimax. The alpha unit will provide better reception than your current internal wifi.

[YKSDR]

Hi. I am interested in DIY ViDock.

I am just wondering what graphic card is most suitable for my notebook (Asus F3JC)

http://www.notebookreview.com/defaul...view=Asus+F3Jc

Can my notebook support x2 link?

[User Retired 2]

I am just wondering what graphic card is most suitable for my notebook (Asus F3JC)

Can my notebook support x2 link?

ICH7M Asus F3JC can't do x2 1.0 without undertaking onboard LAN chip modding

F3JC lspci output here tells us port1=onboard LAN, port2=mPCIe wifi. Meaning that no, you can't do x2 1.0, unless you started doing some creative modding to hijaak the onboard LAN chip's pci-e pins. You can verify those findings by viewing the Everest->Motherboard->Chipset->Southbridge report on your system.

Recommend a 1.5GB or 2GB VRAM video card from here, for x1 1.0 or even x2 1.0 for best performance. If going for a budget 1GB card setup at x1 1.0 link speed, suggest a HD5750 as first post shows not much improvement gained going a HD5770 or 5870 even.

[YKSDR]

Does gaming performance increase drastically? Wondering if processor speed affect gaming capaibility

[User Retired 2]

Does gaming performance increase drastically? Wondering if processor speed affect gaming capaibility

See How do hypermemory transfers affect gameplay? here. Unfortunately haven't found a DX10 videomem monitoring utility.

[petar.zhechev]

Hi,

I have toshiba U500 notebook which has HM55 chipset. I wonder if I would be
able to use PE4H, here are some screenshots.

First one is from Everest (looks like there is 1 free PCIe 2.0 @x1 port from the unused ExpressCard slot):



Next one is from Device Manager:



So would I be able to use PE4H and connect it to the free ExpressCard slot?

[User Retired 2]

I have toshiba U500 notebook which has HM55 chipset. I wonder if I would be able to use PE4H, here are some screenshots.

Yes. You have an expresscard slot and *two* free 256MB windows free (at C0000000 and D0000000). SO can use a PE4L/PE4H with a desktop video card attached to your system. Would be great to get a HM55 implementation to see if the PCI-E 2.0 port is still running at x1 1.0, or if it works at x1 2.0 speeds as commented here. Likely your memory stick controller is onboard. If it was mini pci-e or expresscard, then could swap it out it to do a port1+port2 x2 PE4H setup.

[PHEMASSA]

You have port2=expresscard, port4=wifi card. Do you have any additional mini pci-e slots? If so, swap over the wifi card and see if it appears as port1 OR port3. If it does, then could do a port1+port2 or port3+port4+sataled# mod x2 1.0 setup. If not, then you are stuck with x1 1.0.

A 2GB VRAM video card shown here will give best performance in x1 1.0 or x2 1.0 limited bandwidth setup.

Thanks Nando
I'll test this weekend

Another issue that I have been searching too, was to use their own notebook LCD screen as input for the video card, I saw that USB 2.0 is limited but luckily my notebbok I have the entry LINK S400, the transfer rate is 400 Mbps!!

I will make a more thorough search on the net for VGA/HDMI converter cables for S400, if there!


Notes on connecting i.LINK devices:
❑ The i.LINK port on your computer does not supply power to external devices. If an external device requires
external power, make sure to connect it to a power source.
❑ The i.LINK port supports transfer rates of up to 400 Mbps. However, the actual rate of transfer depends on the rate
the external device.
❑ The optional i.LINK cables may not be available in some countries or regions.
❑ An i.LINK connection with other compatible devices is not fully guaranteed.
❑ The i.LINK connection may not be available, depending on application software, operating system and devices
compatible i.LINK used. Check the manual that came with the software for more information.
❑ Check the working conditions and operating system compatibility of PC peripherals compatible
i.LINK (eg, hard disk drive or CD-RW) before connecting them to the computer.


[edited]

I've been performing some searches and found that it is not possible to turn the HDMI input to Firewire S400, do some searches for the DVI input for S400 and also found nothing, but as I am insistent could find a combo, but they do not know if this will work ... but I'll try anyway ... afraid that the Easycap barre a bit bandwidth.

Look at the dirty patch that I'll try to do:

3-RCA Component RGB to VGA Cable M/M - 3 Feet Price: $3.52 on amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/3-RCA-Componen...921817&sr=1-18
+
Easycap USB Video Capture Adapter Price:$7.52 on amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Easycap-USB-Vi...9&sr=8-1-fkmr0
+
USB 2.0 to IEEE 1394 Firewire 4 Pin 4 feet Extension Price: $1.99 on amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Firewire-Exten...9922415&sr=8-1


Here is video of a guy playing Xbox360 on the laptop, possibly working in Firewire video quality had been better ... i hope ..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg7avMpHfz4

Once I make the tests, I'll post for you here guys....