DIY eGPU experiences

[dualbios]

here u go mate, just got my adapter in the mail today :-) got 3 other laptops to play with aswell

Hi dualbios,

eGPU might work on your laptop. However performance will not be great when compare with other laptop with 965PM/GM chipset, first & second Intel Core processor. You might need to use the mPCIe port for eGPU. Please install AIDA64 & take screenshot of Chipset \ South Bridge section. Post it here. I'm guessing TOLUD is 3GB but just to be sure, please install Setup 1.x. Boot into Setup 1.x & take a screenshot of the main screen.

I'm guessing your notebook have ICH7M chipset (945PM/GM). You can see several ICH7M eGPU result in the first post.

[rookietwo]

Hi there, I was wondering if the egpu would work with an AMD cpu setup: all the feedback I can see is from users with Intel setups.
My idea was to get an HP Probook or Lenovo Thinkpad with one of the new AMD a APU and an Expresscard slot. THis way I could still have some decent graphic power when the laptop is not docked.
Is this possible?
I am in fact looking for a small laptop (14 inches or less) with an expresscard slot (I do not want to open it to plug the eGPU) and with still some decent 3d capacities when on its own. (and cheap too ! ) So far I did not find such a laptop in all the laptops compiled in the very nice list by Nando

[retles]

Appologies in advance if I'm in the wrong section. I've been reading through the forum all evening and still uncertain on stuff.

Thinking about jumping on the eGPU train with my Fujitsu t5010.
Expresscard is out of the question since my laptop shipped with a pcmia slot, doing some laptop disecting I found I have 2 m pci-e slots, 1 with my wifi card in it and 1 more above it, both half size cards. I'd post a picture but its the same layout as this one except my upper slot is half size. I moved my wifi card up to the upper slot (Port 5), and my laptop recognizes it drivers and all, but I'm not getting any wireless activity through it (switched back to the lower port (Port 2) and it worked fine).

Here is a screencap of my southbridge. NOTE: i took the screenshot while i had the wifi card in the upper slot.

• If the upper slot is meant to be a 3g card slot, does this limit me to using port 2 without the wifi card?
• Is there any way through AIDA64 to find out more about the port usage?
• If all could go as planned, i was going to use a PE4L-PM3N through port #2 and some form of a 460 with a external monitor. My on-board GPU is GMA 4500MHD, could I gain any benefits over 1x with my situation?

[kizwan]

here u go mate, just got my adapter in the mail today :-) got 3 other laptops to play with aswell

What is the specification of the other laptops?

Hi there, I was wondering if the egpu would work with an AMD cpu setup: all the feedback I can see is from users with Intel setups.
My idea was to get an HP Probook or Lenovo Thinkpad with one of the new AMD a APU and an Expresscard slot. THis way I could still have some decent graphic power when the laptop is not docked.
Is this possible?
I am in fact looking for a small laptop (14 inches or less) with an expresscard slot (I do not want to open it to plug the eGPU) and with still some decent 3d capacities when on its own. (and cheap too ! ) So far I did not find such a laptop in all the laptops compiled in the very nice list by Nando

There are already several AMD CPU+eGPU implementation listed in the first post. You can go take a look.

Appologies in advance if I'm in the wrong section. I've been reading through the forum all evening and still uncertain on stuff.

Thinking about jumping on the eGPU train with my Fujitsu t5010.
Expresscard is out of the question since my laptop shipped with a pcmia slot, doing some laptop disecting I found I have 2 m pci-e slots, 1 with my wifi card in it and 1 more above it, both half size cards. I'd post a picture but its the same layout as this one except my upper slot is half size. I moved my wifi card up to the upper slot (Port 5), and my laptop recognizes it drivers and all, but I'm not getting any wireless activity through it (switched back to the lower port (Port 2) and it worked fine).

Here is a screencap of my southbridge. NOTE: i took the screenshot while i had the wifi card in the upper slot.

• If the upper slot is meant to be a 3g card slot, does this limit me to using port 2 without the wifi card?
• Is there any way through AIDA64 to find out more about the port usage?
• If all could go as planned, i was going to use a PE4L-PM3N through port #2 and some form of a 460 with a external monitor. My on-board GPU is GMA 4500MHD, could I gain any benefits over 1x with my situation?

If your notebook have GMA 4500MHD iGPU, you can do x1.Opt setup with Nvidia desktop graphic card. x1.Opt is x1 link with Optimus setup. x1.Opt can deliver better performance than x2 link with the same GPU. Only need to use one of the mPCIe port for eGPU.

[dualbios]

one is a dell e6400

once i get home ill get the others one is a asus vx7

[retles]

What is the specification of the other laptops?
If your notebook have GMA 4500MHD iGPU, you can do x1.Opt setup with Nvidia desktop graphic card. x1.Opt is x1 link with Optimus setup. x1.Opt can deliver better performance than x2 link with the same GPU. Only need to use one of the mPCIe port for eGPU.

Sounds good, following tangent is on topic even though not about the eGPU directly.

I cant seem to figure out if my 2nd mPCIe slot is WWAN and unusable. I've been toying around with my wifi card in my second mPCIe port (port 5) as to why i could detect/ install drivers for but not connect to networks with. If anyone on here is familiar with the "rfkill" command of linux, i got these results:
soft block no
hard block yes

hard block generally relates to the hardware switch that i flip for the card to turn on so I'm assuming thats a driver mod issue. Just wanted a sanity check so I know if I don't have to sacrifice my built in wireless for the GPU

tl;dr: is there anyway to tell if a mPCIe is WWAN only through software means? I couldn't find any schematic on the Fujitsu T5010 nor are my eyes good enough to trace the mobo.

[kizwan]

one is a dell e6400

once i get home ill get the others one is a asus vx7

Dell E6400 is a good candidate for eGPU implementation. It have Intel GMA 4500MHD iGPU which means you can do x1.Opt setup with Nvidia desktop graphic card.

x1.Opt setup is x1 link with Optimus which can give better performance than x2 link setup with the same GPU. Next, we need to check TOLUD. To check TOLUD, open Device Manager, go to View \ "Resources by connection", then expand Memory tree & look for first PCI bus with 8 digit number beside it. (OR you can just take a screenshot & post it here.)

[kizwan]

I cant seem to figure out if my 2nd mPCIe slot is WWAN and unusable. I've been toying around with my wifi card in my second mPCIe port (port 5) as to why i could detect/ install drivers for but not connect to networks with.

If you put wifi card at the 2nd mPCIe port & windows/AIDA64/Device Manager able to detect your wifi card, that means you can use it for eGPU.

[jedip]

Anyone have experience with EGPU and VaioZ ,please help.
I use Vidock with 560Ti +Vidock.
And instructions from Vidock are useless.


Thank you.

[User Retired 2]

Anyone have experience with EGPU and VaioZ ,please help.
I use Vidock with 560Ti +Vidock.
And instructions from Vidock are useless.

Villagetronic support is here and on facebook

You purchased a commercial product and are entitled to support from Villagetronic. If they can't get you a working solution then I'd suggest you request a refund. The refund would allow you to purchase the cheaper DIY eGPU hardware from HIT (gaining legitimate access to the DIY eGPU Setup 1.x software) for which this thread is dedicated to.

NOTE: The Sony Z11-Z13 instructions from Villagetronic (VT) referencing the DIY eGPU/ViDock Setup 1.x software are in violation of the license terms of that software. That software is NOT for Villagetronic customers to use unless you purchase a $25 license. If VT can't provide their own software then that is another good reason to seek a refund.

FYI: VT declined to sponsor the creation of the DIY eGPU/ViDock Setup 1.x software, specifically compact, in May 2010 so it's infuriating to see they wish to freely use that software, charge excessive prices for their hardware and give their users poor support. I question the business practices used by VT.