DIY eGPU experiences

[Warwickeo]

Just tried that again. Only external display activated, but that doesn't change anything. External display is connected to one of the DVI outputs (GTX460).

It's pretty weird... in Minecraft you can look at the left bottom and see when the fps lags happens - periodically !

[User Retired 2]

My system specs are as follows:

• Vaio VPC Z12 (i5 520M, 4Gig Ram, Win 7 64Bits) .
• Hybrid graphics drivers (Intel HD + 330m).
• Bios Hacked with graphic Switch set to Static instead of dynamic.
• Graphic Switch set to Speed mode (Priority to the discrete GPU Nvidia).
• Followed Nando's, Nautis and Zoinks instructions:

You want the Z12 to be running IGP only so the GTX560Ti can provide the Optimus functionality with the driver. We found on a XPS15 that the dGPU would otherwise become the Optimus selected gpu and the eGPU would not see the x1.Opt performance tweak, effectively running the same performance level as if the desktop driver was installed. A 3dmark06 result of ~5k/~14k confirms that x1.Opt isn't/is engaging on the eGPU.

You'll know when Optimus is running when you have a Preferred graphics processor option as shown.

If your bios doesn't allow you to disable the GT330M, then can use Setup 1.x to do it via the Video Cards->dGPU[off] menu.

It's pretty weird... in Minecraft you can look at the left bottom and see when the fps lags happens - periodically !

Lags could be either periodic transmission errors with your long cable, throttling of your GTX460, or the x1 pci-e bus is being overly taxed. The first you can confirm by running the shorter 30cm/60cm cable. For the second review this info. For the last, you'd need the pci-e 2.0 compliant hwtools kit scheduled to release come August which will get full 5GT/s out of your Series-6 chipset. ViDock 3/4/4+ also claims pci-e 2.0 compliance. Note: This will also confirm if NVidia's Verde driver enables pci-e compression on a x1 2.0 link like it does on a x1 1.0 link (x1.1Opt or x1Opt).

[Gil3]

Is the following laptop:
Lenovo IdeaPad B560 M4892IV‎
will Connect to ViDock 4?

if yes so
The Optimus features with external graphics cards will work this laptop With GTX 560 So I could play laptop screen with this video card? i will get the error 12 on this laptop?

I heard I have to change the BIOS so it will work ..
This is true for this laptop? Or there were not any problems?

Thanks

edit:
And I wonder if the Optimus will improve my performance on this laptop

Please help me!

[hallucinate]

Just chiming in with some updated benchies.

Scored 11014 on 3dmark06

Score 12246 on 3dmark vant.gpu
full results: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti video card benchmark result - Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P8600,LENOVO 7454CTO score: P8100 3DMarks

I'm not entirely sure optimus is working, tho it probably is. I'm running Verde 270.61 + nando's nvam.inf (64-bit) currently. I'll try to install the latest (last tried mid June, didn't work) Verde 275.33 nvam.

Anyway, since I got a top of the line PSU (500W Corsair) my system has been pretty much totally solid in terms of stability. If anyone is having instability issues, check your PSU! Cheap PSU's are an easy route to fail.

[mangos47]

Hi,

I just went through the first page on all the detailed summaries and am quite interested to give this eGPU thing a try. Just have a couple questions hope to get answers for before start purchasing the required hardware.

My current laptop at home is a Sager NP8662 with Geforce GTX 260M. When I check through EVEREST->Motherboard->Chipset->South Bridge: Intel 82801IM ICH9M, under the PCI Express Controller tab it shows:
PCI-E 1.x x1 port #1 Empty
PCI-E 1.x x1 port #2 Empty
PCI-E 1.x x1 port #3 In Use @ x1 (Intel WiFi Link 5300 AGN)
PCI-E 1.x x1 port #5 In Use @ x1 (JMicro JMB380 PCI-E 1394a OHCI FireWire Controller and Memory Card Host Controller, JMicron JMB382 PCI-E Memory Card Host Controller)
PCI-E 1.x x1 port #6 In User @ x1 (Relatek RTL8168C/8111C PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Adapter)

I have no expresscard device plugged in currently. From such information, my questions are:

1. Is my laptop able to run the x2 link that supposedly double the host-external GPU bandwidth?

2. Do I need to disable some device to free up the required port for a x2 eGPU setup?

3. Is x4 possible and how much performance gain will I see (assuming 1080p gaming). I can see an empty WWAN slot in my laptop besides the occupied WLAN slot. I think probably x4 is not possible without some more mini pcie slots.

4.where is port 4 anyway if I may ask?

5. with a potentially GTX460 1GB eGPU setup, is the x1 or x2 PCIe bandwidth a bottleneck after certain resolution? if yes how much is that cut-off resolution? (to make this question clear I'm asking about whether the x1/x2 PCIe bandwidth becomming a bottleneck whereby changing to high-end GPU like GTX580 won't help over some lower grade GPU. hope I've made myself clear on this one.)

6. I suppose doing CUDA/OPENCL parallel computing is not limited by the x1/x2 PCIe bandwidth as long as I don't explicitly do a lot of data transfer between host/eGPU. as long as keeping all the work on eGPU the performance shall be the same as if running on a desktop (rather than the initial kernel launch overhead which involves data/instruction transfer between host/eGPU). Am I understanding it correctly here?

Thanks in advance!

[Reikki]

You want the Z12 to be running IGP only so the GTX560Ti can provide the Optimus functionality with the driver. We found on a XPS15 that the dGPU would otherwise become the Optimus selected gpu and the eGPU would not see the x1.Opt performance tweak, effectively running the same performance level as if the desktop driver was installed. A 3dmark06 result of ~5k/~14k confirms that x1.Opt isn't/is engaging on the eGPU.

You'll know when Optimus is running when you have a Preferred graphics processor option as shown.

If your bios doesn't allow you to disable the GT330M, then can use Setup 1.x to do it via the Video Cards->dGPU[off] menu.

Thanks a lot for your precise explanations & screencap Nando
I'll give it a try and report back the user's Feedback given the user Template you provide (Benchs about DMC4, RE5, 3DSMAX and so on) with/without the x1opt link.

Thanks again ,
Rei

[Fardavid]

The new 2.0 tool from HWTOOLS is available from 30/6, right? Anyone bought is already? I haven't even seen any picture or data on www.HWtools.net so far.

[Warwickeo]

Lags could be either periodic transmission errors with your long cable, throttling of your GTX460, or the x1 pci-e bus is being overly taxed. The first you can confirm by running the shorter 30cm/60cm cable. For the second review this info. For the last, you'd need the pci-e 2.0 compliant hwtools kit scheduled to release come August which will get full 5GT/s out of your Series-6 chipset. ViDock 3/4/4+ also claims pci-e 2.0 compliance. Note: This will also confirm if NVidia's Verde driver enables pci-e compression on a x1 2.0 link like it does on a x1 1.0 link (x1.1Opt or x1Opt).

Tested with 30cm long cable (came with the PE4H), but nothing changes.
So I'll wait for august and sell my PE4H v2.4 and mostly my GTX460 too

Nvidia systeminfo says PCIE Gen2 :O


(sorry for german ui)

Or should I stay with the "old" PE4H and give AMD a try?

[kizwan]

As far as I remember everything was fine before reinstalling Windows. Didn't test much BFBC2 though - just jumped on a online server and it was a smooth feeling.

When everything was fine, does Windows boot/installed using UEFI mode?

[Warwickeo]

For myself there is no difference between UEFI and BIOS. Tried this with BIOS as well, same problem.

YouTube - ‪PE4H failing #3‬‏

Another video showing COD:MW1 on my x220t with PE4H at 1920x1200 (no AA) - the lags exsist with 800x600 too..