DIY eGPU experiences

[bleejean]

Just got my PE4H.
I have a Lenovo X220 and a GTX560 TI.
All I did was plug the expresscard adapter in, let windows install drivers, installed the latest nvidia drivers for the desktop card, and then restarted.
Do I need to do anything else?
I ran 3DMark06 and got over 18000. I didn't do anything with mobile drivers or the nvam thing. Did I just luck out that it works without such minimal tweaking? Or should I still do something to get even better performance? I am assuming based on my score that optimus is already enabled. Does that sound right?
Thanks a lot.

[elicash80]

Couple of questions about PSUs and notes. I can not spend hardly any more money on this project b/c I have tons of other toys and my wife is not happy that I spent this much so far.

Anyways which one of these cheap PSUs would you recommend? I am trying to get it for around $20, preferably $15 with shipping

Silver Broadway Com Corp 500W ATX 12V Computer Power Supply OKIA-500-RB PSU Supports SATA 80mm Fan-Best Computer Online Store Houston Buy Discount Prices Texas-Directron.com

Pixxo PL-500RPF 500W ATX Computer Power Supply 500 Watt PSU Pixxo Power Supplies Supports SATA and PCI-E 80mm Cooling Fan-Best Computer Online Store Houston Buy Discount Prices Texas-Directron.com

New OKIA 500w ATX Power Supply with 20/24pin SATA | eBay

500W Power Supply for HP/ HiPro HP-D3057F3R HP-P4017F5W | eBay

Amazon.com: Dynex DX-400WPS 400 Watt ATX PCIe SATA PC Power Supply: Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: iMicro IM400W 400W ATX12V Power Supply: Computers & Accessories

Amazon.com: Coolmax 300W M-ATX Power Supply CM-300: Computers & Accessories

Newegg.com - LOGISYS Computer PS480D2 480W ATX12V Power Supply

Sorry for all the links, but this is my missing piece for my setup. I know these are crap brands, but I am figuring with 150 more watts than I need I should be alright?

I went to my city's local PC recycling center and they said there is no "scavenging".

Lastly, I purchased a GTX 465 and have read it can be overclocked to outperform the 460, but I am crossing my fingers that it has 10 memory chips and can be unlocked to a 470. If it can not I found a 550 ti for the same price.

If I end up getting the 550 ti, can I go even cheaper on the power supply and use a laptop power supply as these have low power requirements?

[kizwan]

Just got my PE4H.
I have a Lenovo X220 and a GTX560 TI.
All I did was plug the expresscard adapter in, let windows install drivers, installed the latest nvidia drivers for the desktop card, and then restarted.
Do I need to do anything else?
I ran 3DMark06 and got over 18000. I didn't do anything with mobile drivers or the nvam thing. Did I just luck out that it works without such minimal tweaking? Or should I still do something to get even better performance? I am assuming based on my score that optimus is already enabled. Does that sound right?
Thanks a lot.

If it works, it works. Don't need to do anything. The 18000 with 3dMark06 look similar with other X220 (GTX560Ti@x1.1Opt) score (see first post).

[kizwan]

Silver Broadway Com Corp 500W ATX 12V Computer Power Supply OKIA-500-RB PSU Supports SATA 80mm Fan-Best Computer Online Store Houston Buy Discount Prices Texas-Directron.com

+12V1@13A = 12V * 13A = 156W
156W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Not enough power.

Pixxo PL-500RPF 500W ATX Computer Power Supply 500 Watt PSU Pixxo Power Supplies Supports SATA and PCI-E 80mm Cooling Fan-Best Computer Online Store Houston Buy Discount Prices Texas-Directron.com

+12V1@16A = 12V * 16A = 192W
192W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Not enough power.

New OKIA 500w ATX Power Supply with 20/24pin SATA | eBay

+12V@18A = 12V * 18A = 216W
216W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Too close. When taken the PSU efficiency into calculation, this PSU won't be able to provide continues peak power to drive GTX465.

500W Power Supply for HP/ HiPro HP-D3057F3R HP-P4017F5W | eBay

+12V@22A = 12V * 22A = 264W
264W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Efficiency at full load only 65%. When taken the PSU efficiency into calculation, this PSU won't be able to provide continues peak power to drive GTX465. Correction: This might work for GTX465. However, I doubt you can overclock with this PSU.

Amazon.com: Dynex DX-400WPS 400 Watt ATX PCIe SATA PC Power Supply: Computers & Accessories

+12V1@14A = 12V * 14A = 168W
168W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Not enough power.

Amazon.com: iMicro IM400W 400W ATX12V Power Supply: Computers & Accessories

Conclusion: I can't find the 12V specification but this PSU efficiency only 68%. I don't think this PSU have enough power.

Amazon.com: Coolmax 300W M-ATX Power Supply CM-300: Computers & Accessories

+12V@16A = 12V * 16A = 192W
192W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Not enough power.

Newegg.com - LOGISYS Computer PS480D2 480W ATX12V Power Supply

+12V@16A = 12V * 16A = 192W
192W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Not enough power.

Sorry for all the links, but this is my missing piece for my setup. I know these are crap brands, but I am figuring with 150 more watts than I need I should be alright?

GTX465 required 200W. You'll need 80Plus rated PSU with maximum current at least 24A on the +12V rail (12V * 24A = 288W). 288W vs. GTX465 (200w): 288W is minimum, you can forget overclocking. Higher is better.

If I end up getting the 550 ti, can I go even cheaper on the power supply and use a laptop power supply as these have low power requirements?

GTX550Ti only require 116W. This HiPro PSU should be enough.
+12V@22A = 12V * 22A = 264W
264W vs. GTX550Ti (116W)
500W Power Supply for HP/ HiPro HP-D3057F3R HP-P4017F5W | eBay

[Gravy9872]

Okay I got my GTS450 to run on my internal screen (lenovo T400) for now while I wait for a mini hdmi to hdmi cord to arrive. My 3dmark was around 3500. I know that optimus on an internal screen isn't very good but isn't 3500 ridiculously low? Also, when I try to run Deus Ex with DX11 I get a black screen. Is that the issue with the fuse? Because when I run without DX11 it doesn't happen (although its really bad quality)

I have T400, P8700, Intel 4500MHD, GTS450, PE4H v2

[elicash80]

+12V1@13A = 12V * 13A = 156W
156W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Not enough power.

+12V1@16A = 12V * 16A = 192W
192W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Not enough power.

+12V@18A = 12V * 18A = 216W
216W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Too close. When taken the PSU efficiency into calculation, this PSU won't be able to provide continues peak power to drive GTX465.

+12V@22A = 12V * 22A = 264W
264W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Efficiency at full load only 65%. When taken the PSU efficiency into calculation, this PSU won't be able to provide continues peak power to drive GTX465.

+12V1@14A = 12V * 14A = 168W
168W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Not enough power.

Conclusion: I can't find the 12V specification but this PSU efficiency only 68%. I don't think this PSU have enough power.

+12V@16A = 12V * 16A = 192W
192W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Not enough power.

+12V@16A = 12V * 16A = 192W
192W vs. GTX465 (200W)
Conclusion: Not enough power.

GTX465 required 200W. You'll need 80Plus rated PSU with maximum current at least 24A on the +12V rail (12V * 24A = 288W). 288W vs. GTX465 (200w): 288W is minimum, you can forget overclocking. Higher is better.

GTX550Ti only require 116W. This HiPro PSU should be enough.
+12V@22A = 12V * 22A = 264W
264W vs. GTX550Ti (116W)
500W Power Supply for HP/ HiPro HP-D3057F3R HP-P4017F5W | eBay

Thanks Kizwan, now I understand, but I still have one question - since the 465 and probably the 550ti have two 6-pins does that mean I only need about 15+A on each connector?

Most newer PSUs seem to have one 6-pin, do you use a molex or adapter to attach to the other 6-pin (the one that needs to support the other half of wattage?

If I get a 12V@25+A and also plug in the other one would that be too much power?

Should I aim for around half on a 6-pin and half on an adapter (or other 6-pin) or just try to get one 12V with at least 25+A.

[Mjolner]

Well I should be receiving my PE4H any day now, so I will be able to hook my GTX 560 Ti up to my y460 in x1 optimus. The gtx 560 Ti came with the full paid version of 3dmark11, so I will be able to run both performance and extreme benchmarks with it.

[kizwan]

Thanks Kizwan, now I understand, but I still have one question - since the 465 and probably the 550ti have two 6-pins ...

You can easily find the Nvidia GPU specification at Nvidia website:-
GTX465 - required 2 x 6-pin PCIe power connectors
GTX550Ti - required 1 x 6-pin PCIe power connector

Most newer PSUs seem to have one 6-pin, do you use a molex or adapter to attach to the other 6-pin (the one that needs to support the other half of wattage?

Not true. Many PSU have two 6-pin PCIe connectors. I use Corsair CX500 V2 (+12V@34A) to power 188W card & it have two PCIe power connectors.

If I get a 12V@25+A and also plug in the other one would that be too much power?

There won't be too much power. The PSUs will only provide more power when GPU request/need it.

Should I aim for around half on a 6-pin and half on an adapter or just try to get a 12V with at least 25+A.

You should aim one 80Plus rated PSU with at least 12V@25A. For overclock you'll need higher current. Non-rated PSU usually only have at best 70% efficiency at full load. 80Plus rated PSU have minimum 80% efficiency.

[elicash80]

You can easily find the Nvidia GPU specification at Nvidia website:-
GTX465 - required 2 x 6-pin PCIe power connectors
GTX550Ti - required 1 x 6-pin PCIe power connector

Not true. Many PSU have two 6-pin PCIe connectors. I use Corsair CX500 V2 (+12V@34A) to power 188W card & it have two PCIe power connectors.

There won't be too much power. The PSUs will only provide more power when GPU request/need it.

You should aim one 80Plus rated PSU with at least 12V@25A. For overclock you'll need higher current. Non-rated PSU usually only have at best 70% efficiency at full load. 80Plus rated PSU have minimum 80% efficiency.

Okay I'm not going to go cheap. If I get the 8 chip 465 instead of the 10 chip, maybe I can turn a profit on CL, get my 550ti and pay for the PSU with the extra.

[arnold-edward]

Has anyone in the UK done one of these? I cant work out where to buy the kit.