DIY eGPU experiences

azori · 02-08-2012, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kizwan

Yes, your friend should wait for PE4L v2.1 instead. If the PE4H is still not shipped out, your friend can cancel it.

I think that my friend doesn't have an expresscard slot in his laptop so the PE4L v2.1 is a no-go then? That's why he ordered the PE4H combination with the mPCI-e card. He have i7-2630QM CPU and Optimus so can he get anyhing out from the eGPU (GTX460, GTX560 Ti or something with that price)

denshaSai · 02-09-2012, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nando4

I'm sorry, but I cannot support the MSDOS-based Setup 1.0x versions as it sits on the MS-DOS platform and doing so would be advocating piracy of MS-DOS. MS-DOS is still licensed so we need to use FreeDOS instead. Please obtain a FreeDOS-based Setup 1.10+ version here for a small donation. Your donation will be used to fund some long outstanding bug fixes to the compact program.

Once you've obtained Setup 1.1x, hit F1, select Main menu at the bottom left and follow the Status Window link reading careful what it explains about the pci_alloc_valid field.

Hi nando, I made the 'donation' and got Setup 1.10

I read the pci_alloc_valid , it says that if I include the eGPU during the PCI compaction, I don't necessary need 256MB free space, just need to be successful.

I tried again, 32bit and 32A bit with SELECT iGPU+eGPU, but both found no solution.

If I do 32bit and 32A bit with ALL, I couldn't chainload with Win7 nor mbr.

Next, 36bit has some luck. If I ignore eGPU, then do 36bit on iGPU, I got 256MB free space. but I still couldn't get rid of error 12.

one thing I did try is, I disable Intel Graphic in control panel. reboot
then I force iGPU to 36bit.
I got 256MB free space.
when I boot into window,the color got messed up, but the ATI card has no error 12. but somehow the ATI catalyst said no AMD card found or wrong driver. The driver couldn't recognize the card??

Thanks in advance

nando4 · 02-09-2012, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denshaSai

Hi nando, I made the 'donation' and got Setup 1.10
...
Thanks in advance

OK - the diags tell me exactly what I need to know. Thank you.

Only 32bitA or 32bit "ALL" allocation is available to you as TOLUD=3.25GB, there is no 36-bit root bridge and the only range that could be freed up is 0xE0000000 which is occupied by many devices. It is that relocation of the 'many' (ALL) devices that can cause a hang on chainloading as some devices are fussy.

I would usually PM about this but you need 5 posts for us to do that. So proceed as follows:

1. Firstly identify that chainloading works prior to any PCI compaction. I believe you've confirmed 'mbr' works previously.

2. Edit your v:\config\startup.bat file to contain

Spoiler :

2. Edit your v:\config\pci.bat file to contain

Spoiler :

3. Restart your system, select Setup 1.x from the Win7 bootitem, select Setup 1.10 (menu-based). Once in the menu based Setup 1.x, select Apply Config.Run startup.bat then Apply Config.chainload mbr. Please advise if chainloading was successful at this point.

useafo · 02-09-2012, 03:16 AM

Hey nando4,

I have sent you PM with the video that shows my problem clearly.

nando4 · 02-09-2012, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by useafo

Hey nando4,

I have sent you PM with the video that shows my problem clearly.

As advised, please contact your PE4L/PE4H supplier and request parts to replace the faulty ones you have.

denshaSai · 02-09-2012, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nando4

OK - the diags tell me exactly what I need to know. Thank you.

Only 32bitA or 32bit "ALL" allocation is available to you as TOLUD=3.25GB, there is no 36-bit root bridge and the only range that could be freed up is ...
Apply Config.chainload mbr. Please advise if chainloading was successful at this point.

Hi nando,

The chainload didn't work. I wasn't sure what do u mean "edit and contain",
is it okay to just add the codes anywhere?

I attached the pci.bat and startup.bat I used.

Also, the DIAG I give you before, should I run it with 32-bit ALL, or
32A-bit ALL (or it doesn't matter)

also, I reinstalled my media (SD) card driver if that would affect anything.

Thanks

nando4 · 02-09-2012, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denshaSai

Hi nando,

The chainload didn't work. I wasn't sure what do u mean "edit and contain",
is it okay to just add the codes anywhere?

I attached the pci.bat and startup.bat I used.

Also, the DIAG I give you before, should I run it with 32-bit ALL, or
32A-bit ALL (or it doesn't matter)

also, I reinstalled my media (SD) card driver if that would affect anything.

Thanks

I meant, edit the v:\config\startup.bat and v:\config\pci.bat to contain the contents I posted earlier. Remove all other contents.

As requested, it's important to confirm 'chainload mbr' works *before* any PCI compaction is done. In our case, we are now doing pci compaction but rather doing it manually via pci.bat. Now if 'chainload mbr' works, then try Apply config.run startup.bat. If that hangs as you indicate, then comment out all the 'setpci' lines in \config\pci.bat using '::' at the start of the line, and incrementally

1. uncomment one line at a time by removing the '::' at the start of the line via PCI compaction->Edit pci.bat
2. select Apply config.run startup.bat
3. select Apply config.chainload mbr
4. Repeat 1-3 until you identify the line(s) which are causing the chainloading to hang.

A NVidia Fermi is a better option for your machine

As an aside, a NVidia Fermi card (eg: GTX560Ti) would work without any need for such detailed PCI allocation. The reason being it has a 128MB+64MB+32MB BAR which Win7 could allocate within the bios set space. The AMD card needs a 256MB contiguous block making it more difficult to allocate. The NVidia card would also give you faster performance since your system is x1.Opt capable (has an active HD3000 iGPU) so would get the x1 pci-e compression and give you internal LCD functionality. Overall a better solution than the HD6950. Perhaps an option to consider?

Failcat · 02-09-2012, 07:15 AM

Hello everyone!

I am looking for a good bang per buck notebook with good eGPU station compatibility, probably with an i7 or equally powerful processor. I preferred Dell models until I found out that most of their models in Sweden lack express card slots. Do you guys have any good suggestions?

Kallogan · 02-09-2012, 07:20 AM

Finally my enclosure is almost finished :

Egpu GTX 560 powered only by PicoPsu 150W adapter with modded cables. P4--->P8 cut and soldered directly to PCI-E adapters + 1 molex.

I kept a molex to be able to split it some day since i will probably put some blue leds inside to light the Egpu logo

GTX 560 at stock clocks and voltage tops at 105W when playing Crysis. 125W max during some benchies.

For the moment with the PE4H, i had to put the Hdmi cable on the side but with PE4L 2.1, all cables will go behind.

5 euros for the wooden box modded with a dremel.
55 euros for the 150W power adapter.
+ a few more euros for adapters.

I took off the gpu backplate cause it's really annoying and useless for egpu.

Voilà.

denshaSai · 02-09-2012, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nando4

I meant, edit the v:\config\startup.bat and v:\config\pci.bat to contain the contents I posted earlier. Remove all other contents.

...
since your system is x1.Opt capable (has an active HD3000 iGPU) so would get the x1 pci-e compression and give you internal LCD functionality. Overall a better solution than the HD6950. Perhaps an option to consider?

Thanks, I followed your instruction, the system hangs at this line (3rd from last).

Spoiler :

You are saying a NVIDIA card will work with simple menu-based pci compression? and for all other reasons you listed, I should of bought the NVIDIA equivalent. However, I bought this card for a year now and I would need to buy another new card.

Perhaps let's try to work this out for few days, if it doesn't work then I must spend a lot more...

thank you