DIY eGPU experiences

[prophetx2]

Benchmark 06 is not running thru...

have you tried any games on it yet? I just bought an x201t and would love to be able to play some games on it as it replaced my desktop now

[onii07]

does my comp support the x2 1.0 pci-e link? sony vaio VGN-FW290J -- 4.0GB RAM; 2.26GHZ Intel Core 2 Duo; ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 512MB RAM, 1600x900 16.4" HD Screen.

[jamesbond007]

** System config**
Clevo M860TU
P8400-2.26@2.44, 4GB ,9800M GTS internal*
Win7/64
Running x4/x2E using port 1 and port 2**

*Regarding the 9800M GTS apparently it use a 512MB BAR space instead of a normal 256MB. This problem is specific to only the Clevo M860tu laptops. Any other 9800M GTS card should be fine like the one used in the Gateway P7811Fx. This would cause any external card to have resource allocation problems unless 2gb is used. The best solution to this problem is to get a Nvidia external card as they support 64 bit reallocation. The alternate solution that I used is to locate the PRSNT#1 for the MXM card. I had to do it by trial and error. Once found, you could isolating that pin with cellophane tape, running a tiny lead off the edge of the system board pin and MXM pin and joining them at a switch point. Connect them for on, disconnect them for off. For me i just slide a plastic pin at the point to disable it and when i go mobile I just remove it. Do note that this method completely disables your laptops lcd screen so you wont be able to use it at all. The laptop will completely run of the external screen until you remove the pin or on the switch.


** Running the x2 link as x4 to see another 15% more performance. Nando4 calls this x2E. Can only do that if have port1+port2 x2 setup maybe too if have port5+port6 setup

Everest Screenshot at x4
Imageshack - everestportsetupx4.png

Everest Screenshot at x2
Imageshack - everestportsetupx2.png

HD5850@x2E - stock clocks
=====================
3dmark-vant.gpu=10543
3dmark06=11761
RE5/dx9_var=78.3
RE5/dx9_fixed=37.9
RE5/dx10_var=72.9
RE5/dx10_fixed=39.0
dmcv.4_scene4/dx10=68.0

HD5770@x2E - 920/1350 (OC)
========================
3dmark-vant.gpu=9627
3dmark06=11393
RE5/dx9_var=77.4
RE5/dx9_fixed=37.4
RE5/dx10_var=72.1
RE5/dx10_fixed=38.6
dmcv.4_scene4/dx10=76.3

+ Just Cause and Company Of Heroes results as well.
All the screen shots of the benchmarks and the system spec are in the link below.
DIYVidock Benchmark and System Specs.rar

Also the startup.bat files that i used are as below
STARTUP.rar

Based on my current observations most of the games I have played such as Crysis, Dragon Age, Borderland, Far Cry 2 and Mirrors Edge all run smoothly at high settings at 1600 by 1080 resolution. Extremely happy with the x2 set up as it is much better than my internal 9800M GTS and even is on par with the Mobility Radeon 5870 and cost much less too

Would like to thank Nando4 for all the help he has provided including the 4 days of continues pm that helped in finally enabling all the system to run smoothly. Here is hope to the further development to the external graphic card solution for laptops.

[ualwayslose]

Hi, I ordered the Pe4h on thursday, do you know if they will send a shipping information or what? Because I am not sure when it is coming or what is going on?

[key001]

Hi, I ordered the Pe4h on thursday, do you know if they will send a shipping information or what? Because I am not sure when it is coming or what is going on?

if you paid with paypal, paypal will send you an email with the tracking number

[ualwayslose]

Allright I was just wondering, Still havent recieved a Tracking number is this normal?

[Oddious]

i don't think i got a tracking number when i ordered mine. it came in about 4 days . don't worry it will show up prob Tuesday.

[techtrino]

Hi Guys

I am a bit of newb in all this DIY hardware

I have a nice little x201 with a i5 and intel ssd, and I would like to be able to do some casual gaming after I do part with my old c2d desktop and go all portable.

I think a 5770 is the best bang for the buck and I´ll couple it with the PE4L-EC2C, but in terms of PSU, can I use e.g a xbox PSU? They are dirt cheap and are rated at 175W (falcon) I believe. e.g. http://cgi.ebay.com/175w-XBOX-360-Po...item483a10edab
I know I will have to butcher the powerconnector, so which parts would I need extra?

[User Retired 2]

I think a 5770 is the best bang for the buck and I´ll couple it with the PE4L-EC2C, but in terms of PSU, can I use e.g a xbox PSU? They are dirt cheap and are rated at 175W (falcon) I believe. e.g. 175w XBOX 360 Power Supply Brick Cord AC Adapter Falcon - eBay (item 310211833259 end time Jul-04-10 16:56:35 PDT)
I know I will have to butcher the powerconnector, so which parts would I need extra?

The xbox PSU has neither a floppy molex, 12V molex nor pci-e power connector. Would require a fair bit of work to adapt it. So if wanting a small PSU hunt down a 1U rackmount SFF type instead like oddious did here. Plug and play.

As to the video card, you'd be running a Intel-cripped x1 1.0 link using your x201's expresscard port4. So can't apply the x1E tweak. In which case the NVidia GTX4xx series appears more pci-e bandwidth efficient based on the GTX480 results (compare against HD58xx results on first page). So then consider a US$280 GTX465 instead of a $150 HD5770. The extra cost *might* be worth it. I say might because we don't have GTX465 benchmark results yet so there is some pioneering involved if going that solution.

[techtrino]

Bummer

I was looking at the xbox psu because it is cheap, fanless and small.

The gtx465 is twice that of the 5770, does this extra price tag really relate to extra performance? Its just the guy with the t400 did quite well with the 5770
Also does Fermi based card not require a lot of power?

How about a picopsu?

PicoPSU-150-XT ATX Mini Power Supply & 150W AC Adapter - eBay (item 200477702191 end time Jun-28-10 12:00:21 PDT)

Could this not be used? Its a bit pricey though