DIY eGPU experiences

[Mjolner]

Does something need to be done before I can use the Nvidia 285.38 drivers (for BF3) with my setup, like a new modded .inf file?

[Khenglish]

Originally Posted by Mjolner

Does something need to be done before I can use the Nvidia 258.38 drivers (for BF3) with my setup, like a new modded .inf file?

Assuming you mean 285.38, you should be able to install them as is. The only downside of desktop drivers is no internal LCD support.

[Mjolner]

Originally Posted by Khenglish

Assuming you mean 285.38, you should be able to install them as is. The only downside of desktop drivers is no internal LCD support.

So should I install the Verde drivers or the desktop ones? If I install the desktop ones will I retain the optimus enhancements? I don't care about the internal display as I will be using my external monitor (and the monitor on my Y460 is quite honestly one of the worst monitors I have ever seen...), but I do care about the performance increase from optimus.

Also yes I meant 285.38; that was either a typo or I am developing dyslexia...

[Khenglish]

Originally Posted by Mjolner

So should I install the Verde drivers or the desktop ones? If I install the desktop ones will I retain the optimus enhancements? I don't care about the internal display as I will be using my external monitor (and the monitor on my Y460 is quite honestly one of the worst monitors I have ever seen...), but I do care about the performance increase from optimus.

Also yes I meant 285.38; that was either a typo or I am developing dyslexia...

You can only install the desktop driver. Verde does not have your card in its .inf.

[Simba0247]

I'm having trouble with a black screen upon powering my notebook. I followed the instructions for #1 under the troubleshooting section but it still seems to hang at a black screen upon resuming from sleep. here's a video of the process

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffbr_jL2468

[Mjolner]

Originally Posted by Khenglish

You can only install the desktop driver. Verde does not have your card in its .inf.

Yes, but does optimus work the same way with the desktop driver?

[rubenhan]

Hey, guys.

I managed to succeed in setting up an eGPU setup with 560TI with Dell Latitude e6520. I know Khenglish setup is similar, but I just wanted to post my result. First, let me thank Nando, Khenglish, and Kizwan for helping me set it up.

My set up is the following.

Dell e6520
i7-2620m
8GB
Intel 3000HD
+
PE4H-EC2C
EVGA OC GTX560 TI
Antec TruePower 550w
Dealextreme HDMI cable (This took like 3 weeks to arrive. Until then I had to use the really short HDMI cable that came with the PE4H, which was a big pain since I literally had to put the GPU between the laptop and my monitor).


Although I was worried a bit in the beginning, my PSU, whose 12v amp is only 19amp, runs the GPU and my 6 other hard drives fine.

Let me walk you through how I did this.
1. In Windows 7 64 bit, I hotplugged the GPU and installed 275.33 verde with Nando's nvam.inf.
2. Installed Setup 1.x to manually set the Expresscard speed from 2.0 to 1.0.
3. Rebooted the comp with the expresscard in and HDMI cable out.
4. When I was in Setup 1.x screen, I connected the HDMI cable and pressed F5 to refresh. If it doesn't detect, I tried taking the expresscard out and inserting it again with the cable in.
5. After detecting the GPU, I went to PCIE PORT, G1, and changed the NVIDIA port to 1x speed.
6. saved it.
7. chainloaded to win7
8. Booting takes longer than before (like 10-15s) but it works well.

As you can see in the last 3 pictures in the attachments, I got major speed upgrade. MY WEI's graphic performance used to be 6.4 but now it's 7.8. 3dMark06 is 18000 and 3dMarkVantage is 12000. I believe these results are along the line of systems with similar spec, but if it's not please let me know.



I'm very satisfied with the result, and I would like to thank again to Nando, Khenglish, Kizwan, and others who helped me to set this up.

I have two questions.

1. Do I have to go into the Setup 1.x every time I boot to set the Expresscard speed to 1x? Or is there a way to save the setting permanently?

2. When my monitors go into standby mode after inactivity and I turn them back on, the laptop's LCD is on and one of my external LCD is on, but not the other external LCD. I have to press windows + p to choose projector only to turn both external LCDs on. Is this normal or is there a solution to this?

Thank you guys!

[Khenglish]

Originally Posted by Mjolner

Yes, but does optimus work the same way with the desktop driver?

Yes. You just can't use the internal LCD.

rubenhan, I can't think of a workaround to not have to use a startup.bat. The best workaround would be to get the 5.0gt/s rate working, but obviously that's a bit difficult. Pray for redriver.

[kizwan]

Originally Posted by Simba0247

I'm having trouble with a black screen upon powering my notebook. I followed the instructions for #1 under the troubleshooting section but it still seems to hang at a black screen upon resuming from sleep. here's a video of the process

MVI 0140 - YouTube

Please follow lazyboy's method.

[serialk11r]

About the desktop drivers: I am running that now, and there is one annoying thing; I cannot unplug the eGPU while on standby, whereas with the mobile drivers I could. If I unplug when it's in standby, I get BSOD on startup.