DIY eGPU experiences

[User Retired 2]

I'm quite far from being an expert and I know someone already asked about the possibility to use USB 3.0 instead of express card and that was not good as USB doesn't have a pci link (?), is that right? What about using an express card-USB 3.0 adapter? In that case we would use the express card slot and link that to the PE4L/PE4H (I guess with a modified version) via USB 3.0. Also, there are usually two USB 3.0 ports on these adapters, so couldn't we increase bandwidth by using 2 cables?

It will be November when the pci-e to USB 3.0 chips are available to experiment with. Can't speculate further until the specifications and drivers of those chips are evaluated for function with desktop video cards.

If that's too long then consider going an expresscard/mPCIe Series-6 chipset to do x1.1Opt now and x1.2Opt once we have pci-e 2.0 certified gear from bplus.

[Kossel]

There are XPS1330 examples on the first page so we know others have got it to work.

The FAQ item you note asks yoi to to load the NVidia Verde driver + modded nvam.inf from here which will provide a unified driver for both the 8400GS and GTX460. Internal LCD won't work on your system since it's not Optimus capable so ensure an external LCD is attached to your GTX460.

The XPS1330 has an expresscard 1.0 slot. You'd need the latest Sandy Bridge systems to get a expresscard 2.0 slot.

Hi, I successfully installed the modded driver 258.66. in nVidia controll panel I can see both 8400gs with internal display and 460 GTX with my external display, but whenever I try to switch/disable display (using Fn+F8, win key + p, using nvidia CP) I get BSOD, any idea?

thanks

[jaguare3]

It will be November when the pci-e to USB 3.0 chips are available to experiment with. Can't speculate further until the specifications and drivers of those chips are evaluated for function with desktop video cards.

If that's too long then consider going an expresscard/mPCIe Series-6 chipset to do x1.1Opt now and x1.2Opt once we have pci-e 2.0 certified gear from bplus.

What exactly does that mean? Existing USB 3.0 ports on notebooks would not be possible to use at all?

[Crystal1988]

^ it means it's not sure @ 100%.

Theoretically, since USB 3.0 is connected to one of the 8 PCI-E ports from southbridge, it's possible. But the problem is to do this practically, and without hardware that will be released on November, we have to wait.

[jaguare3]

Hm....it's only recently I became aware of external GPUs.

I'm thinking about returning my top-specced gaming laptop and getting a Macbook Air or Pro with Thunderbolt, and an external monitor.

There wouldn't be any latency issues with such a solution, right?

[Crystal1988]

^ Reduced latencies then actual eGPU solution with Express card. But always more then a direct connection between eGPU and PCI-E bus. In addition, take into account that with thunderbolt, since actual TB cable, you would achieve a 2X 2.0 compliant solution, not more.

[NewNet]

Hi NewNet,
Did you try compaction w/ 2 GB of RAM? I notice that I can get 1024MB free w/ 2 GB compare w/ 256 MB free w/ 6-8GB RAM.

Thanks,

Yes I did, but the problems remain

[jaguare3]

What kind of latency would you estimate Thunderbolt adds (in ms)?

[gilipollas]

Hi,
i finally ordered
-PE4H incl. EC2C + SWEX
-PM3N
-2x HDMI Mini Cable 1.5M from DX
-passive cooled Radeon HD 6670(max. 66W) which hopefully doesn't need an additional PCIe-plug.

Can i use an old 19V-90W-notebook-psu to run this or is this limited to 36W?
If this were the case which kind of additional psu do i need to run this without noise? Or should i get a Radeon HD 6450 instead(i need it to run 2560x1440)?

I don't really get the meaning of the following table on the hwtools website:

PE4H ver2.4 12V/5V/3.3V power current limit
DC15~20V input Floppy 12V/5V input ExCard 3.3V input
PCIe 12V 12V/3A (Max) 12V/6A (Max) 12V/0A
USB 5V 5V/1.5A (Max) 5V/1.5A (Max) 5V/1A (Max)
PCIe 3.3V 3.3V/3A (Max) 3.3V/3A (Max) 3.3V/1.3A (Max)

thanks:-)

EDIT:
Should i get an adjustable 150W-notebook-psu which can deliver 8.5A at 12V?

[User Retired 2]

-PE4H incl. EC2C + SWEX
...
-passive cooled Radeon HD 6670(max. 66W) which hopefully doesn't need an additional PCIe-plug.

Can i use an old 19V-90W-notebook-psu to run this or is this limited to 36W?
If this were the case which kind of additional psu do i need to run this without noise? Or should i get a Radeon HD 6450 instead(i need it to run 2560x1440)?

techpower's testing of a HD6670 finding it needed 58W peak here. Officially, bplus rate the 19V->12V regulation at 3A, or 36W. I do know that users in this thread have previously ran higher power through it. Saying that, it would be at your risk because I do also know some PE4H ended up with blown 19V->12V regulator circuits. Not really a problem if it did as you could always revert to using the 12V floppy jack instead with an ATX PSU or an (adapted) 12V adapter instead

A HD6450 is the safer and cheaper option if you do not need higher performance a HD6670 offers.

What kind of latency would you estimate Thunderbolt adds (in ms)?

Since there are no Thunderbolt peripherals, including eGPUs, available there is no way of measuring latency the TB controller introduces. I would assume it's negligble since the TB controller pair is really just doing mux/demux of pci-e and displayport traffic.