DIY eGPU experiences

[kizwan]

Most probably. He use 350W PSU.

I just got this working on a Thinkpad T60 model 2007. My machine has the T7200 processor, 3GB RAM, ATI X1300 discrete graphics and I'm running XP SP 3. I bought a PE4H from HIT - of course I can only run at x1, but the larger adapter isn't much more expensive and looked more stable mechanically than the tiny PE4L. I'm using an older Asus Radeon 9600 GT graphics card and a 350W ATX supply I had laying around....

To run GTX 550 Ti (max TDP is 116 W), recommended to use 400W PSU. The card require 1 x 6-pin PCIe power connector.

[Fardavid]

Sir Nando,

You are absolutely brilliant. You did it! We broke 19k w/ 3dmark06!

Optimus is now working w/ dGPU Nvidia for Sandy Bridge (Series 6).

Much thanks.

Sounds great! Could you let us know more detailed how you achieved optimus with dGPU? Also I noticed you overclocked your GT 525m. I'm about to buy a sandy bridge laptop also with 525m, could you share with us how you did that?

Thanks in advance!

D

[Warwickeo]

Sir Nando,

You are absolutely brilliant. You did it! We broke 19k w/ 3dmark06!

Optimus is now working w/ dGPU Nvidia for Sandy Bridge (Series 6).

Much thanks.

Only got 16k with GTX460(1GB!!!) and i5-2520M (3GHz while testing with turbo)


Is it possible to get more?

[kizwan]

Only got 16k with GTX460(1GB!!!) and i5-2520M (3GHz while testing with turbo)


Is it possible to get more?

wicked20 can score higher because he have better processor. Your score is not bad too.

[jayku]

When you say it doesn't boot does the system not even POST, or does windows BSOD on startup?

Doesn't even POST... even if the BIOS is set to ignore the external PCIE, I get nothing on the LCD. It's as though the BIOS is looking at the PCIE devices pretty early during startup and just hanging when it sees the GTX 550.

A couple of other people suggested a power supply problem. Based on rated current (from the supply) and TDP of the card, the supply I'm using should be fine, but I'll get something larger and give it a try.

[sprtnbsblplya]

Doesn't even POST... even if the BIOS is set to ignore the external PCIE, I get nothing on the LCD. It's as though the BIOS is looking at the PCIE devices pretty early during startup and just hanging when it sees the GTX 550.

A couple of other people suggested a power supply problem. Based on rated current (from the supply) and TDP of the card, the supply I'm using should be fine, but I'll get something larger and give it a try.

Get something rated 80% efficiency at least 450w from a reputable manufacturer.

[ithildin]

Doesn't even POST... even if the BIOS is set to ignore the external PCIE, I get nothing on the LCD. It's as though the BIOS is looking at the PCIE devices pretty early during startup and just hanging when it sees the GTX 550.

A couple of other people suggested a power supply problem. Based on rated current (from the supply) and TDP of the card, the supply I'm using should be fine, but I'll get something larger and give it a try.

How are you connecting your PE4H to your laptop, through expresscard (EC2C) or mPCIe slot (PM3N)?

Do you get a series of beeping sounds when your laptop freezes on POST? If yes, what is the sequence?

I'm asking this because I've had issues booting my X200 with my GTX 460 already on. It always works fine connect it to the expresscard slot but I had issues booting with my eGPU connected on one of the mPCIe slots. I eventually figured out that somehow the problem was in the RAM. I had upgraded my X200 to 8GB using Crucial 4G SODIMMs but apparently the BIOS has some issue with it which only manifested when booting with the eGPU on port #3. Replacing the RAM sticks with the original Lenovo 2x1GB sorted it out. I'm still unsure if the problem is in the Crucial SODIMMs or in having >2GB RAM.

If you're using EC2C, have you tried connecting your GTX 550 after booting up Windows (suspend, connect to EC2C, resume)?

[jayku]

How are you connecting your PE4H to your laptop, through expresscard (EC2C) or mPCIe slot (PM3N)?

Do you get a series of beeping sounds when your laptop freezes on POST? If yes, what is the sequence?

I'm asking this because I've had issues booting my X200 with my GTX 460 already on. It always works fine connect it to the expresscard slot but I had issues booting with my eGPU connected on one of the mPCIe slots. I eventually figured out that somehow the problem was in the RAM. I had upgraded my X200 to 8GB using Crucial 4G SODIMMs but apparently the BIOS has some issue with it which only manifested when booting with the eGPU on port #3. Replacing the RAM sticks with the original Lenovo 2x1GB sorted it out. I'm still unsure if the problem is in the Crucial SODIMMs or in having >2GB RAM.

If you're using EC2C, have you tried connecting your GTX 550 after booting up Windows (suspend, connect to EC2C, resume)?

No, no beeps. I'm using the Expresscard slot on the side of the laptop. Sometimes I get some beeps (don't remember the sequence) when starting up with the 9600GT. I shut down, re-seat the connectors (the Expresscard adapter is a little lose), and restart and it usually comes up ok.

I haven't tried connecting once Windows boots... will try that later. Will also try a higher-power PS.

[ithildin]

No, no beeps. I'm using the Expresscard slot on the side of the laptop. Sometimes I get some beeps (don't remember the sequence) when starting up with the 9600GT. I shut down, re-seat the connectors (the Expresscard adapter is a little lose), and restart and it usually comes up ok.

I haven't tried connecting once Windows boots... will try that later. Will also try a higher-power PS.

Cold booting with the eGPU is less fussy but enabling the eGPU after Windows has started up has the advantage of keeping the IGP enabled in addition to the eGPU screen. At least my X200 always disables the IGP if it detects another GPU connected upon POST. If Windows fails to detect the eGPU upon suspend+resume then it's likely that your PSU is insufficient. What are your PSU specs? Is it single or double 12V rail?

[jayku]

Cold booting with the eGPU is less fussy but enabling the eGPU after Windows has started up has the advantage of keeping the IGP enabled in addition to the eGPU screen. At least my X200 always disables the IGP if it detects another GPU connected upon POST. If Windows fails to detect the eGPU upon suspend+resume then it's likely that your PSU is insufficient. What are your PSU specs? Is it single or double 12V rail?

I'm now powering with a 650W Antec Earthwatts supply... nothing has changed. Machine will not POST with the 550 plugged in. If I boot into Windows (XP) and then plug it in, Windows will recognize it (it installed the drivers successfully), but can't use it - I guess because I'm already using the on-board X1300 adapter. If I leave the GTX 550 plugged in and powered during startup (either cold- or warm-boot), my LCD remains blank and the machine just dies with no beeps are anything. This is the same whether I set the BIOS to use PCIE or internal graphics.

My only other observation is that the GTX 550 fan initially comes on at high speed until I turn on the T60. Then the fan speed drops down to inaudible levels. If I start the T60 with the external PS off and then turn on the PS, the PC boots just fine (but doesn't see the GTX) and the fan keeps spinning fast. I guess the BIOS is seeing the GTX at turn-on and starting some sort of handshaking that's causing the GTX to reduce its fan speed. I'm guessing the T60 is getting hung up during this handshaking for some reason, although I don't know enough about PCIE and Lenovo's BIOS to say for sure.