DIY eGPU experiences

[wreelsw]

I think, that score look correct to me. GTX460 768MB is the slowest GTX460 (non-SE) card. If you have GTX460 1GB (involved overclocking), you should get >10k with 3dMark06 as shown here. If you run Resident Evil 5 variable benchmark, you'll see improvement from x1 to x2.

Unfortunately, in your case you'll need to redo the "Alternative Solution" procedure every time you boot (including reboot) your computer since it involved swapping the cables from EC2C to PM3N. When eGPU is connected to ExpressCard, BIOS able to initialized & provided resources to eGPU by lowering TOLUD (even though default TOLUD already low). You can confirm this by checking in Device Manage, set View to "Resources by connection" & expand the Memory tree. Look for first "PCI bus" with 8 digits memory address. You'll see the memory address is now changed (decreased) if you compare it when eGPU is not connected. This is why it is essential to boot notebook with eGPU already connected because if not there is only 64MB free PCI space (confirmed by your experience with EC2C setup before). Unfortunately, unlike my notebook, your notebook BIOS failed to do the job when eGPU is connected to mPCIe port. This is why you need to do the "Alternative Solution".

You have i7 quad core processor, right? Technically it doesn't have TOLUD register. If I'm not mistaken, TOLM register is use to define PCI space. Just FYI.

Wow this is really bad news. I guess I'll have to use this setup sparingly since this is a true pain to do. Most of the time it takes 2 - 5 tries since it normally locks up, gets a black screen or just doesn’t detect the eGPU when I put the PCIe cable into PE4H port #1. Bad news indeed.

Again, thanks for all your help.

[kizwan]

I don't know why it locked up when you connect PE4H port x1 or why your notebook unable to boot if eGPU is connected to mPCIe port. If the problem is ACPI table, I might be able to fixed it. The problem definitely BIOS related. This will involved trying BIOS mod. I don't think you're willing to take the risk though.

I want to check something. Please install HWiNFO32 & take screenshot of PCI express root port #1, like this (with eGPU connected & working without any error):-

[wreelsw]

I don't know why it locked up when you connect PE4H port x1 or why your notebook unable to boot if eGPU is connected to mPCIe port. If the problem is ACPI table, I might be able to fixed it. The problem definitely BIOS related. This will involved trying BIOS mod. I don't think you're willing to take the risk though.

I want to check something. Please install HWiNFO32 & take screenshot of PCI express root port #1, like this (with eGPU connected & working without any error):-

Here it is...

[useafo]

I see there are two Setup 1.x installed. You should install only one. Please removed both Setup 1.x by following this procedure. Run "bcdedit /v" again to make sure there are no more Setup 1.x listed. Delete "C:\eGPU" & "C:\DIYViDock" folders. Then install Setup 1.x again.

By setup 1.x, you mean:
1- run as admin setup-disk-image.bat
2- run as admin eGPU-setup-mount.bat
3- run as admin MKDEVCON.BAT

I did everything above, but it doesn't work.

[User Retired 2]

By setup 1.x, you mean:
1- run as admin setup-disk-image.bat
2- run as admin eGPU-setup-mount.bat
3- run as admin MKDEVCON.BAT

I did everything above, but it doesn't work.

The first thing the troubleshooting process will ask is "what doesn't work?", "what errors did you see?". I encourage you to elaborate on your statements so can get a timely fix.

[Gnomepatrol]

Been searching all morning and still can't find what I am looking for lol. When is the release date for a thunderbolt to pcie adapter so that we may make our own egpu?

Thanks in advance.

[timohour]

Hi all! I finally managed to get my 4530s (I was heading for the 4330s but the price and lack of USB 3.0 make me choose the 4530s. (damn ofcourse the one I got didn't have. I am solving this as we speak.)
Well since my plan for cf 5850 went bad (ati supports cf for x4 and above on every chipset. I have been looking for 2-3 months with no result for a patch.)
So I turned to nvidia sli which is supposed to support (with sli patch) even x1-x1 speeds. I connected the two cards (460GTX EVGA FPB 1GB) one on the EC and the other on the internal wifi slot and a one an PE4L and the other on PE4H (pain on the *ss since the setup 1.x antiwhitelist methods don't work) compaction runs fine with 16 mb more free! Computer boots up alright with screens attached to both cards. I disconnect the screens from the 2nd card. Although sli bridge is connected no sli in nvidia drivers. Acceptable. Installation of Slipatch didn't change anything. I read something about P55, H65 and H67 dont support sli. Last thing to check is the new tool hypersli.

Every advice is welcome

[jason701802]

I am successfully running a GTX460 and a 560Ti each OC with a 203W XBOX360 PSU from the Zephyr series for over half a year. I have modded these PSUs to run silent and passively cooled.

Don't XBOX PSUs already run silently with passive cooling, or are you referring to modding the power cable? Have you posted about your mods? Will you give me a link (the search function on this site is useless)?

[useafo]

The first thing the troubleshooting process will ask is "what doesn't work?", "what errors did you see?". I encourage you to elaborate on your statements so can get a timely fix.

To clear my statements, the DIY Vidock setup menu doesn't show up. Every time I select the diy vidock setting, it gets me back to the main menu of boot manager.

The bottom line: I can't figure out how to make it work.

[pyr0]

Don't XBOX PSUs already run silently with passive cooling, or are you referring to modding the power cable? Have you posted about your mods? Will you give me a link (the search function on this site is useless)?

At least the 203W XBOX360 PSUs have a small radial fan (perhaps 40mm) which gives your setup a permanent, IMO quite loud whirr. Dislike. That's why that crappy fan got dismissed from my units in the first place. I took some of these industrial heatsinks, cut to fit the case and screwed them to the metal frames with the regulators. MX-2 thermal grease replaced all these worthless sheets. Attention, the two metal frames in the PSU must not be connected to each other.
Power cable was modded also (original xbox proprietary connector cut off and replaced by proper industrial crimp tyco connector).

Not posted yet. Currently much work at my side.