DIY eGPU experiences

[kimchoo]

Congratulation! I will add "FAQ #2: even after successful compaction I still get a error12 in windows" in eGPU Troubleshooting FAQ page.
Which method did you use to solve the problem?
"FAQ #2: even after successful compaction I still get a error12 in windows"@DIY eGPU experiences?
or
Using another mini-PCIe port?
or
Sleep/connect/resume method?

In your DIAG folder, the PCI.bat is not created. I failed to noticed it before. This is compaction bug though. nando is looking into it.

hi mate, i used "FAQ #2: even after successful compaction I still get a error12 in windows" that you suggested and now i can have my egpu perfectly working ! thank you mate , great job .

[serialk11r]

Okay! Here it is:
NVIDIA GeForce GT 240 video card benchmark result - Intel Core i5-2410M Processor,LENOVO 4286CTO score: 8977 3DMarks

Any idea if this looks right? No one really has used a GT240 with a Arrandale/Sandybridge. It's between the performance of a GT540m and GT525M, which I suppose seems about right.

First x1.2 Opt setup? I hope so. With my GTX460 hopefully we'll have some interesting results

Summary:

1. Take 4 pin MALE molex connector, solder to poles. Joint will be sketchy at best since there is practically no clearance between the wires, but anything that holds it in place will do. I used electrical tape to insulate 12V, GND, and 5V, GND, since I had a nasty short 2 days ago. Not going to risk it.

2. Plug everything in, that means molex connected to PSU too, with Win7 running.

3. Run driver installination for nVidia. After copying files, it will give you an error saying hardware not detected.

4. Replace nvam.inf as instructed in the "modded drivers" link in the yellow bar on the first post of this thread.

5. Rerun setup.exe from nVidia folder where the folder containing nvam.inf was. It should install.

6. Enjoy!

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...831160530.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...831160512.jpg/

EDIT: So with Intel HD3000 on BFBC2, I had to turn down my resolution to 1024x768, set refresh to 50Hz, FOV to 50 degrees, everything low to make it playable. Now I am getting higher framerates with high settings on 1920x1080 resolution. BF3 here I come.

[mekanik11]

I have reading quiet a lot and frankly some things are still fuzzy to me. Highly appreciate any help..

1>Does Express card and mPCIe provide the same performance?

2>Is x2 link(EC2C and mPCIe) required if i am going to game/require eGPU for external monitor only?

3>Does a laptop with dGPU 6770 provide the same performance as eGPU 6770 for external monitor?

4> How can i find the TOLUD of a laptop?

Am looking fore a thin n light Laptop after knowing abt eGPU,rather than gaming one.
It is my understanding that Lenovo's are no more viable option dude to their bios limitations.
Therefore turned to HP, Dell or Asus. Dell were more heavy so i opted for Hp's or Asus.So after much research i have short listed
a)HP probook 4430s
b) Dv4-3016tx(ATI6750 dGPU/not sure if its switchable).
c)probably N45SF(unknown price/availablity)

The first two fit my bill. But i am not sure if Dv4 has a accessible WLAN card from back panel or is it under the Keyboard.
Any other suggestions on laptop would be really helpful.. I have been looking at the nando's SB notebook compilation to make my decision.

Non-eGPU question:-
5> If i change the CPU , do i need to change drivers or bios or anything?(from i5 dual core to i7 quad)

[pappu6600]

Before investing in the eGPU hardware consider if you want to do a system upgrade to one with 4500MHD, Intel HD or HD3000 so can run a simpler x1.Opt eGPU instead. Core2Duo systems with a 4500MHD iGPU go for very little $$ these days. Even Sandy Bridge systems can be had for a little over US$400 (Fujitsu AH531, Lenovo E520/E420, HP Probook 4530s, Dell Vostro 3550/3450) which when coupled even with a basic GTS450/GTX460 will outperform any eGPU setup you could do on the Vostro 1510 by quite a margin.

Where I can buy 4500MHD iGPU / HD3000 / 4500MHD / Intel HD to upgrade my laptop. I googled for those terms but didn't find relevant results.

Thanks.

[kizwan]

SUCCESS!


Alright I suppose I need to do some benchmarks.

Congrats! How did you able to install the driver? Installed manually? (Never mind. Saw your previous post.)

hi mate, i used "FAQ #2: even after successful compaction I still get a error12 in windows" that you suggested and now i can have my egpu perfectly working ! thank you mate , great job .

Congratulation!

I have reading quiet a lot and frankly some things are still fuzzy to me. Highly appreciate any help..

1>Does Express card and mPCIe provide the same performance?

Yes, both deliver same performance.

2>Is x2 link(EC2C and mPCIe) required if i am going to game/require eGPU for external monitor only?

x2 (either EC2C & mini-PCIE or mini-PCIe & mini-PCIe - depend on the PCIe arrangement on your notebook) is preferred if you use ATI eGPU or doesn't have Intel 4500MHD or HD Graphics or HD 3000 iGPU.

3>Does a laptop with dGPU 6770 provide the same performance as eGPU 6770 for external monitor?

With x2 link, eGPU HD6770 might outperform dGPU HD6770M just a bit.

• ATI HD6770M: 3dMark Vantage 6495
• ATI HD6770: 3dMark Vantage 10688

On x2 link, approximately eGPU will perform 80% from it actual strength. So, 10688 * (80 / 100) = 8550.4.

4> How can i find the TOLUD of a laptop?

You need to have access to the laptop to know the TOLUD. Look in Device Manager window, set View to "Resources by connection" & expand the Memory tree. Look for first PCI bus with 8 digits memory address.

Non-eGPU question:-
5> If i change the CPU , do i need to change drivers or bios or anything?(from i5 dual core to i7 quad)

i5 dual-core will do fine.

[mekanik11]

Thanks kizwan... That was really helpful..

x2 (either EC2C & mini-PCIE or mini-PCIe & mini-PCIe - depend on the PCIe arrangement on your notebook) is preferred if you use ATI eGPU or doesn't have Intel 4500MHD or HD Graphics or HD 3000 iGPU.

How do i figure out this layout(EC2C&mPciE or mPciE&mPciE)?

[pappu6600]

Kizwan, nando4 can you please help me out on upgrade GPU as previously recommended by nando4.

Thanks.

[kizwan]

Thanks kizwan... That was really helpful..

Regarding your question on the HD6770M vs HD6770, I did simple calculation. eGPU roughly will perform 80% from it actual strength with x2 link.

• ATI HD6770M: 3dMark Vantage 6495
• ATI HD6770: 3dMark Vantage 10688

10688 * (80 / 100) = 8550.4

So, look like HD6770 will outperform HD6770M but not too much though.

[kizwan]

Where I can buy 4500MHD iGPU / HD3000 / 4500MHD / Intel HD to upgrade my laptop. I googled for those terms but didn't find relevant results.

Thanks.

You can not upgrade iGPU. iGPU is integrated GPU. Notebook need to come with it for it to be available.

[serialk11r]

Bit of an update after playing some Battlefield:
In a 16 player game all was well, but in a 32 player game I experienced "lag" in the form of the game freezing for about half a second at a time and then "fast forwarding". I suppose there is still a limit to the x1 link.

Anyone with a Lenovo Sandybridge Thinkpad have any idea how to overclock the PCI-e bus?