DIY eGPU experiences

[bugz_6891]

I've been looking for this kind of a setup for quite some time and now i'm ready to turn to the Dark Side .. Thanks to Nando4 for coming up with this setup and others who have contributed with their knowledge and insight.. I'm in a Dilemma and need your advice.. I have 2 laptops a AMD based Lenovo Z565 and an Intel Based HP Pavilion dv6-3257cl and i'm not able to decide on what hardware I really need..

The Lenovo Z565 goes like this:

AMD N660 dual Core @3.0Ghz
3GB DDR3 1333Mhz
ATI HD 4270
with one express card slot

[IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]


I can't understand which PCi E port the express card slot is using.
Also Port #247 in Use @x16 on the south bridge doesn't make sense to me atleast.
And can only see one physical port on the back of the laptop (Wireless card)..

I guess (Not Sure) x2 link is possible through the express card slot (if it is taking up Port #1 ) and the one PCi E slot (which takes port #2) on the back..



The HP Pavilion dv6-3257cl goes like this:

Intel i3 370M @2.4Ghz
4GB DDR3 1067Mhz
Intel HD Graphics
No Express card slots


[IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]

I guess this one has only 2 PCi E x1 ports.. and i can only see one of them physically (Wireless card), I can only assume the other one is being used by the Memory card reader..

So i guess x2 is not possible on this one.. I wonder if x1E is possible.. i'm confused..


given my situation I want to know what options I have.. do you guys think I should go with a PE4L and live with x1 or is it possible to have an x2 link with PE4H.. Or is it atleast possible to get x1E on any of my laptops..

In Short I'm very very very confused

Please help guys!!!

P.S: I also have an Acer H5360 720P DLP 3D projector (Nvidia 3D vision certified), so I need advise on buying a good graphics card ATI/Nvidia which can do 3D at 720P despite being crippled with x1 or x2 bandwidths.. with ATI I can do with DLP glasses(Cheaper option), with Nvidia I can go for a 3D vision kit.. I'm really counting on you guys..

[pyr0]

bugz_6891, what I'm thinking:

Your Lenovo: The x16 port is the ATI GPU, port 3 is the ethernet chip which is most likely soldered to the motherboard. So try any EC and see if it shows up as port 1. If so, you can do a x2 setup with PE4H/2x mHDMI/EC2C/PM3N by removing your WiFi card. This would be the fastest option for your Lenovo - see first post for GPU selection.

With your pavillion, if your WiFi card occupies the only PCIe port physically available to you, you can do a x1 Setup. However you can do x1E or not, with your i3 you are able to do a x1.Opt setup which might give you better performance anyways.

Now it's just a matter of how many you want to spend on a graphics card and what performance target you got. I think you might come off best with either a x2 on your Lenovo or a x1.Opt with your HP. Both would perform in the 10000-14000 3DMark06 score range with a NVidia 400 series GPU. There are less ATI results available in the first post but have a look there.

Concerning your 3D beamer, if you want to watch 3D movies, you can take any mid-range card.

[bugz_6891]

bugz_6891, what I'm thinking:

Your Lenovo: The x16 port is the ATI GPU, port 3 is the ethernet chip which is most likely soldered to the motherboard. So try any EC and see if it shows up as port 1. If so, you can do a x2 setup with PE4H/2x mHDMI/EC2C/PM3N by removing your WiFi card. This would be the fastest option for your Lenovo - see first post for GPU selection.

With your pavillion, if your WiFi card occupies the only PCIe port physically available to you, you can do a x1 Setup. However you can do x1E or not, with your i3 you are able to do a x1.Opt setup which might give you better performance anyways.

Now it's just a matter of how many you want to spend on a graphics card and what performance target you got. I think you might come off best with either a x2 on your Lenovo or a x1.Opt with your HP. Both would perform in the 10000-14000 3DMark06 score range with a NVidia 400 series GPU. There are less ATI results available in the first post but have a look there.

Concerning your 3D beamer, if you want to watch 3D movies, you can take any mid-range card.

Pyr0, Thank you for the quick reply, So I need to find which port my EC slot takes up.. if it takes port #1, I can go for a P4EH to get x2 else switch to my Pavilion and setup a x1.Opt with a P4EL

I understand x2 > x1.Opt > x1E > x1

Sorry i was not clear, i'm also looking at gaming in 3D at 720P on my beamer. Hence I'm looking for a Gfx card which can do that at x1/x2 speeds.. I have about $300 for the gfx card and PE4h/PE4L Module together, If can save on PE4L I can spend a little extra on the Gfx card.. Any suggestions?

[pyr0]

Pyr0, Thank you for the quick reply, So I need to find which port my EC slot takes up.. if it takes port #1, I can go for a P4EH to get x2 else switch to my Pavilion and setup a x1.Opt with a P4EL

I understand x2 > x1.Opt > x1E > x1

Sorry i was not clear, i'm also looking at gaming in 3D at 720P on my beamer. Hence I'm looking for a Gfx card which can do that at x1/x2 speeds.. I have about $300 for the gfx card and PE4h/PE4L Module together, If can save on PE4L I can spend a little extra on the Gfx card.. Any suggestions?

I think that a GTX460/560 will give you a good performace per buck and should be able to render newer games med-high to high details in 3D and 720p. The AMD CPU is as strong as the i3 and I think both setups will be in the same performance range (x2 vs x1.Opt). If Opt compression gets available to x2 setups anytime (you can't tell for sure atm), of course you'll get better results with your lenovo and more expensive PE4H setup.

[nlooije]

hi guys, for those that are interested, someone at the Let's figure out how to convert internal MXM connector an external PCI-E x16 box thread has posted a link to a torrent which provides documentation for PCI cabling which may provide more insight into making a x16 capable DIY Vidock.

[pbareges]

Sorry i was not clear, i'm also looking at gaming in 3D at 720P on my beamer. Hence I'm looking for a Gfx card which can do that at x1/x2 speeds.. I have about $300 for the gfx card and PE4h/PE4L Module together, If can save on PE4L I can spend a little extra on the Gfx card.. Any suggestions?

i have a toshiba 3D laptop with integrated x16 GPU Nvidia GTS 350m which is more than enough for most 3D games @ 72op as it is powered by quad corei7-740qm..but for heavy games like burnout paradise or bad company 2 or just cause 2...you have to lower the details, and in some contexts it is not even enough...so i was expecting a lot from my Diy vidock setup at X2 pci-e gtx 460, but i was quite disappointed as if the details level is not an issue anymore, in these heavy load contexts where a lot of texture gets loaded, the constraints on the pci-e bandwith affect the fps in the same way the power of gts 350m was at first...so no real improvement overall here to play in 3d vision..but a lot of great 3d games are still playable : tomb raider underworld for instance,....hope this helps!

[bugz_6891]

I think that a GTX460/560 will give you a good performace per buck and should be able to render newer games med-high to high details in 3D and 720p. The AMD CPU is as strong as the i3 and I think both setups will be in the same performance range (x2 vs x1.Opt). If Opt compression gets available to x2 setups anytime (you can't tell for sure atm), of course you'll get better results with your lenovo and more expensive PE4H setup.

Yeah.. and it all depends on wether the EC takes port #1 or not... I'll have to check that before buying anything..

i have a toshiba 3D laptop with integrated x16 GPU Nvidia GTS 350m which is more than enough for most 3D games @ 72op as it is powered by quad corei7-740qm..but for heavy games like burnout paradise or bad company 2 or just cause 2...you have to lower the details, and in some contexts it is not even enough...so i was expecting a lot from my Diy vidock setup at X2 pci-e gtx 460, but i was quite disappointed as if the details level is not an issue anymore, in these heavy load contexts where a lot of texture gets loaded, the constraints on the pci-e bandwith affect the fps in the same way the power of gts 350m was at first...so no real improvement overall here to play in 3d vision..but a lot of great 3d games are still playable : tomb raider underworld for instance,....hope this helps!

Pbareges, Thank you for the update.. I see that you have a 3D capable laptop.. Just to make sure did you use an external 120Hz display with your Vidock setup? I've seen that the performance of this vidock setup is staggering when connected to an external display.. So was just hoping i could get more frames when using an external 120hz display.

[Value At Risk]

@Value At Risk......
With a fresh system I:
-Installed 270.61, reboot, no Optimus working internally
-Fresh install option from the 266.58 installer, then reboot
-Installed 266.58 and confirmed it was working, then a reboot
-Installed 270.61, rebooted, and confirmed functioning
-No issues to note other than that
.....

Been playing with intel HD drivers and nvidia drivers for a couple of days now without success.

Also tried your approach and nandos new nvam file for 270.61 but nothing worked. I will try once more form a clean install of w7. However, I think I know what I have been doing wrong:

When w7 recognizes my gpu for the first time it starts to install drivers for it. And I just let it do it. Is that the right way to do it? I could also:

* Install the drivers that came with the card
* or don't install any drivers when the gpu is recognized (and then just install the 270.61 drivers)

[LawrenceL]

Hello, new to this group and forum. Bought a Lenovo x201 tablet in November, upgraded to 8 gb RAM, so far working very well. Typically use dual monitors. Desktop computer burned up, so I'm thinking about using the tablet for both desktop and laptop duties. That means I have to get dual video output from the tablet to my dual 20.5" CRT's, and at a refresh rate that is acceptable. That brought me to either use multiple displayport USB adapters which don't support >60 hz refresh rate, and get LCD's, or get a videodock, diy vs manufactured and keep my current monitors. After reviewing a lot of info here, thanks to all of you, I decided on the diy route. I have received my hardware from Bplus today, and want to hook it up.
Specifically, I have an HP 12V 1A power supply with outer tip negative. The PCMIA board has both a PSU connector and a DC plug in power connector. The DC plug in connector has the symbols indicating
"outer tip negative, inner tip positive/outer tip positive, inner tip negative"
which I interpret as it doesn't matter whether the orientation of the DC power supply is one or the other. Is that correct?
Thanks in advance.

[pbareges]

Pbareges, Thank you for the update.. I see that you have a 3D capable laptop.. Just to make sure did you use an external 120Hz display with your Vidock setup? I've seen that the performance of this vidock setup is staggering when connected to an external display.. So was just hoping i could get more frames when using an external 120hz display.

yep i only tried with an external 120hz display (a 3d dlp projector) directly wired to the vga connector of gtx 460 as without optimus internal display would be terrible i think.