DIY eGPU experiences

[__-_-_-__]

Does anyone know if it is worth (eGPU wise) to go for i7@2.7GHz instead of i5@2.5GHz? Manufacturers want load of money for such an upgrade and I don't know if there will be even minor difference while gaming with eGPU.

For everyday use I think the 2.5GHz vs 2.7GHz will be almost the same (and sufficient for me).

not worth it for gaming really. imo get an SSD.

[Derbish]

From what you're saying it sounds like you can do x4, but to be sure you should verify each mpci-e slot by moving your wireless card around and checking where it pops up with aida64. I got a rude surprise with my system where I found out that my expresscard and mpci-e slots were 1,2,3, and 5, with 4 being the modular bay.

Ok, I'll work on that, but before I do, I downloaded aida64 and what it's showing me when i click on motherboard shouthbridge under the PCI-e controller is PCI-E ports 1,2,4,6 with wifi on 2 and the braodcom netlink eithernet on 6. So I'm thinking because it's not 1,2,3,4 then I can't do x4 only a x2 or x1E. I was trying to figure out if x2E is available but that is the x1.opti which requires a intel IGP which I don't have?

And just curious but If it can have up to 6 ports where is 3,5? Those are disabled in bios? Not sure but hope to have this figured out. Thanks alot.

[ut0ugh1]

i am owner of an acer aspire one 110L (a single core atom netbook with intel 945) which has only a mini pci express connnector. this is at the moment occupied by a wlan atheros card, so do you thing it is possible an egpu. which is the max. obtainable pmk/s? what kind of problem would occur for the bandwidth? thx

[vivithemage]

any news on express 2.0? I read mid November, was curious if I should just follow this thread, or elsewhere?

[Khenglish]

Ok, I'll work on that, but before I do, I downloaded aida64 and what it's showing me when i click on motherboard shouthbridge under the PCI-e controller is PCI-E ports 1,2,4,6 with wifi on 2 and the braodcom netlink eithernet on 6. So I'm thinking because it's not 1,2,3,4 then I can't do x4 only a x2 or x1E. I was trying to figure out if x2E is available but that is the x1.opti which requires a intel IGP which I don't have?

And just curious but If it can have up to 6 ports where is 3,5? Those are disabled in bios? Not sure but hope to have this figured out. Thanks alot.

Sometimes BIOS will disable a port if nothing is plugged into it. My BIOS does this and I also have a Dell. The ethernet controller is likely soldered onto the motherboard so it is not consuming a mPCI-E slot. If you have 3 mPCI-E slots and an expresscard slot, then it sounds like this is the case. I still recommend moving your wifi card around from slot to slot to determine your port configuration.

If it turns out that port 3 is in fact not wired, then you could do x2E, but remember that you'll have to disable ports 2-4 to do that.

[kizwan]

Ok, I'll work on that, but before I do, I downloaded aida64 and what it's showing me when i click on motherboard shouthbridge under the PCI-e controller is PCI-E ports 1,2,4,6 with wifi on 2 and the braodcom netlink eithernet on 6. So I'm thinking because it's not 1,2,3,4 then I can't do x4 only a x2 or x1E. I was trying to figure out if x2E is available but that is the x1.opti which requires a intel IGP which I don't have?

And just curious but If it can have up to 6 ports where is 3,5? Those are disabled in bios? Not sure but hope to have this figured out. Thanks alot.

Better follow Khenglish suggestion; move the wireless card to another mPCIe ports & check in AIDA64 for the PCIe port number. That way you'll know for sure the PCIe ports number arrangement. X2E is not x1.Opt.

x2E tweak use two lanes of a x4 link, port1+2 as EC+mPCIe or mPCIe+mPCIe for 30-60% more perf (ATI/non-Fermi NVIDIA only).

x1E: The tweak discovered to enable full x1 1.0 speed on a Intel pci-e port requires the mPCIe or expresscard to be an odd numbered port with no device on the next sequential port, eg: port1/port3/port5 with no device on port2/port4/port6. I'm calling this x1E mode, the "E" standing for Intel-Enhanced.

x2E being similar but requires a port1+port2 setup, with either lane3 or lane4 or both having physical device attached to them. port1 is set to x4 mode, running with only the first 2 lanes. x2E also offering 15-30% faster performance than x2 alone.

[kizwan]

i am owner of an acer aspire one 110L (a single core atom netbook with intel 945) which has only a mini pci express connnector. this is at the moment occupied by a wlan atheros card, so do you thing it is possible an egpu. which is the max. obtainable pmk/s? what kind of problem would occur for the bandwidth? thx

Because your notebook only have one mPCIe port, you can only do x1 link. Bandwidth will be an issue though. Lagging & stuttering are what you'll experience when gaming.

[Derbish]

Better follow Khenglish suggestion; move the wireless card to another mPCIe ports & check in AIDA64 for the PCIe port number. That way you'll know for sure the PCIe ports number arrangement. X2E is not x1.Opt.

Ok, and yeh I was thinking that the third port might be the express card slot and when i get it in the mail then I can check to see if 3 pops up after I insert it. And on the x2E when it says that I need to use 1,2 and have something on either 3 or 4. Meaning use a mPCIe for 1,2 and then have my express card inserted which should pop up under 3 or 4 or move my wifi card to either 3 or 4. If that's the case can i still use the wifi even with port 1 x4 using first 2 lanes? I know in aida64 right now it says ports 1 and 4 are empty with 2 being the wifi and nothing showing for port 3 or 5.

I havn't seen alot of bench marks for x2E or x4. is there a big diff. between the 2? If it isn't then going x2E and saving on another mPCIe card and cord might be an option. if it's even poss to do the x4. I just need to figure out if port 3 is available then I could do x4. Once this is figured out then I just need to figure out how to use the Setup 1.x to adjust the ports, lol. I have it set up with the disk image just didn't want to do anything with it till i figure what is possible.

[Khenglish]

Ok, and yeh I was thinking that the third port might be the express card slot and when i get it in the mail then I can check to see if 3 pops up after I insert it. And on the x2E when it says that I need to use 1,2 and have something on either 3 or 4. Meaning use a mPCIe for 1,2 and then have my express card inserted which should pop up under 3 or 4 or move my wifi card to either 3 or 4. If that's the case can i still use the wifi even with port 1 x4 using first 2 lanes? I know in aida64 right now it says ports 1 and 4 are empty with 2 being the wifi and nothing showing for port 3 or 5.

I havn't seen alot of bench marks for x2E or x4. is there a big diff. between the 2? If it isn't then going x2E and saving on another mPCIe card and cord might be an option. if it's even poss to do the x4. I just need to figure out if port 3 is available then I could do x4. Once this is figured out then I just need to figure out how to use the Setup 1.x to adjust the ports, lol. I have it set up with the disk image just didn't want to do anything with it till i figure what is possible.

The difference between x2E and x4 will be noticeable in some games, but not all. Depends on what you want to play. Even with x2E you still won't be able to use your wifi card in ports 3 or 4.

[kizwan]

I havn't seen alot of bench marks for x2E or x4. is there a big diff. between the 2? If it isn't then going x2E and saving on another mPCIe card and cord might be an option. if it's even poss to do the x4. I just need to figure out if port 3 is available then I could do x4. Once this is figured out then I just need to figure out how to use the Setup 1.x to adjust the ports, lol. I have it set up with the disk image just didn't want to do anything with it till i figure what is possible.

It is easy to figure out whether PCIe port#3 is available or not. Just need to use the wireless card, plug it to another mPCIe port to know their PCIe port number. It's easy.

On Dell SXPS 1645, PCIe port#3 also doesn't show up in AIDA64:-


This is picture show the three mPCIe ports available in Dell SXPS 1645, which means ExpressCard slot is PCIe port#4:-


So, just need to confirm whether Dell SXPS 1640 have the same PCIe ports arrangement or not.