DIY eGPU experiences

[kizwan]

thanks a lot. I'm currently looking at some laptops to buy (since i gotta make the purchase in the next few weeks).

If I want to use Optimus under 1x Express 2.0 the only thing i gotta watch out for is that the laptop comes with

- Express Slot
- Sandy Bridge CPU (2nd gen i3/i5/i7)
- Comes with an integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD, HD, HD3000 or x3150

right?

Basically notebook with Sandy Bridge CPU & Intel HD is needed for Optimus setup.

...
I thought of getting a 560 GTX or maybe a 470 GTX (no money for 580 atm if i buy a new laptop too) with a 150W powersupply unit? good choice?

GTX 560 Ti required maximum power 170W while GTX 470 required maximum power 215W. When buying PSU, pay attention to 12V rail max current.

[Xenitic]

12v just means that i cant use a lets say 16v psu, right? Would something like this work fine? Although it is an ATX and i read ATX can cause problems?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FSP-250W-P...item4aaa070e4c




This picture was posted by a member on the last page here; In the box where you see the PE4H, what is that thing in the top right corner for? It looks to me a bit like its for the powersupply of the PE4H?

[mangos47]

12v just means that i cant use a lets say 16v psu, right? Would something like this work fine? Although it is an ATX and i read ATX can cause problems?
FSP 250W Power Supply Unit FSP250-60BT (12V) PSU | eBay




This picture was posted by a member on the last page here; In the box where you see the PE4H, what is that thing in the top right corner for? It looks to me a bit like its for the powersupply of the PE4H?

if you refering the thing on the top right corner within the lower red frame, it's simply a switch to turn on the PSU which you can also do with a paper clip.

from the old PSU it reads 12v at 15A if I'm not wrong so maximum 180w off the 12v which is sufficient to drive the gtx460. For more powerful cards a more powerful PSU will be neccessary.

[kizwan]

12v just means that i cant use a lets say 16v psu, right? Would something like this work fine? Although it is an ATX and i read ATX can cause problems?
FSP 250W Power Supply Unit FSP250-60BT (12V) PSU | eBay

I can't find the specification of this PSU. I highly doubt this PSU able to power GTX470 or GTX560 Ti.

What kind of problem?

[Xenitic]

Thats what I ment, as i just found out on the website. It is the ATX power supply power switch (since its not connected to a motherboard). What i dont understand is that it has got 24 pins to drive it, rather than 20, which i thought is the standard connector which comes with the psus?


edit: why do you doubt it? It got 12V at 250Watts, so I asume about 20A which should be enough to drive the card?

Dunno what problem, i think i read something here ages ago but maybe i was wrong

[Gil3]

Can I get a link on eBay to PSU in the picture:
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/6...460pe4hatx.jpg
?

I want to see another option ..
This PSU is safe?

[kizwan]

edit: why do you doubt it? It got 12V at 250Watts, so I asume about 20A which should be enough to drive the card?

Dunno what problem, i think i read something here ages ago but maybe i was wrong

The 6-pin/8-pin/6+2-pin PCIe connector cable is used to provide extra 12 volt power to PCI Express expansion cards. So, to know whether the PSU able to provide enough power or not to the graphic card is by looking to the 12V current. This is an example of 500W PSU specification (PSU specification can be found on the PSU casing):-

Voltage	+3.3V	+5V	+12V	-12V	+5Vsb
Max. Current	25A	20A	34A	0.8A	3A
Max Combined Wattage	130W		408W	9.6W	15W

As you can see the +12V can provide max current of 34A. So, to know the power:-

Power = 12V * 34A = 408W

This is the maximum power this PSU can provide to the graphic card. Check it against the graphic card maximum power requirement.

[Xenitic]

i see. Another question, I read that Sandy Bridge processors got the integrated intel 3000HD GPU already... well... "integrated". Does that mean that every sandy bridge processor already comes with optimus technology?

[kizwan]

Can I get a link on eBay to PSU in the picture:
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/6...460pe4hatx.jpg
?

I want to see another option ..
This PSU is safe?

That is an old PSU. Can you find any of these PSU in your country?
FSP or Corsair or Seasonic???

Your earlier choice of PSU (Hec Cougar RS 400 80PLUS RS-400) can support GTX460. But, better get PSU with single 12V rail. Corsair CX series are cheap & can provide enough power to run GTX460.

[kizwan]

i see. Another question, I read that Sandy Bridge processors got the integrated intel 3000HD GPU already... well... "integrated". Does that mean that every sandy bridge processor already comes with optimus technology?

To be exact Sandy Bridge with integrated Intel HD & Intel HD 3000 can support Nvidia Optimus setup. Nvidia Optimus does not come from Sandy Bridge processors.