DIY eGPU experiences

[daranik]

im getting an m17x with 2 5870m in it, would like an m15x with a 5970 desktop be better?? or could you build one of these in XFIRE and work?

[wvr]

In the meantime i switch my pci-e to x2 mode and benchmarked it.
In the syntethic test not so big improve but games run faster

[cloudbyday]

I just don't get why people do this. Why not build a normal computer? I guess I'm old school like that.

[key001]

normal is boring

[User Retired 2]

In the meantime i switch my pci-e to x2 mode and benchmarked it.
In the syntethic test not so big improve but games run faster

I'd suggest you try all the compaction methods. On a Inspiron 1440 with 4500MHD+HD5750, I was able to relocate the 4500MHD to 36-bit space and then have the HD5750 be allocated to 32-bit space. This was with PAE-enabled, Win7/32-bit.

EDIT: Can you benchmark when port1 is running x1 1.0 versus when it is running x2 1.0. Eg: dmcv4/RE5. 3dmark06 result suggests you are getting a faster port4 with port1@x2.

[ithildin]

Yesterday I received the replacement GTX 465 and tonight I decided to finish the performance tests. I started with 3dmark06 and half way through a run the card crashed and I smelled something burned....uh oh!.. Now the PE4H is not picked up by Windows, either using the GTX 465 or the HD5750 The HD5750's fan doesn't even spin up, most likely because no power is reaching the GPU via the PCIe interface. Best case scenario: my PE4H has a 2-3A fuse which just blew and I need to short it with a bit of solder. My PE4H v1.0 does look like Pyro115's in his picture so I guess I have the same problem as he had. Damn NVidia and their power-hungry GPUs! Fingers crossed that a drop of solder will fix my PE4H...

UPDATE: I think it's probably dead. Trying to power it from the DC jack just produces a whine and the second LED doesn't switch on. If I power it through the molex connector then both LEDs switch on but the GPU fan doesn't. Here is a snapshot of my PE4H over the region where the supposed fuse is.

Notice the two tracks that are now exposed. The insulating layer basically peeled off. The component labelled 220 in the centre smells of burnt. In place of the fuse there seems to be a connective bridge with no markings so I guess this PE4H is one of the newer which hasn't been fitted with a fuse. My guess is that it's dead Needless to say that the Geforce is getting returned and is not coming back. And now I am in the market for a used PE4H or PE4L...

[wvr]

i gave up...
Tryed all possble solutions and my Intel 4500 IGP can't move to (36-bit/PAE)

Whatever technique is used its still in E0000000-EFFFFFFF space...
As You wrote it should move to 300000000-30FFFFFFF or 120000000-317FFFFFF range -no way in my sample.
Maybe Dell drivers causing this. Generic Intel driver i cant install on this machine.

All i can do is force ATI to 32bit but loose IGP then(4500HD has error 12 in this way) and switch to external panel is impossible.

[bleuiko2]

Has anyone successfully done this to a Lenovo/IBM T61p yet?

I tried to read as many post as I could but I still can't figured out if I should get the PE4L or PE4H... or if I can do the x1e thing.

[User Retired 2]

Maybe Dell drivers causing this. Generic Intel driver i cant install on this machine.

All i can do is force ATI to 32bit but loose IGP then(4500HD has error 12 in this way) and switch to external panel is impossible.

Check your drivers/bios. Can see here I could relocate 4500MHD to 36-bit space. That was a stock Win7 install with latest Intel 4500MHD drivers + Win7 updates.

Notice the two tracks that are now exposed. The insulating layer basically peeled off. The component labelled 220 in the centre smells of burnt. In place of the fuse there seems to be a connective bridge with no markings so I guess this PE4H is one of the newer which hasn't been fitted with a fuse. My guess is that it's dead Needless to say that the Geforce is getting returned and is not coming back. And now I am in the market for a used PE4H or PE4L...

What a result. Was so looking forward to having comprehensive GTX465 vs HD5750 benchmarks. Oh well.
May I suggest contacting hwtools requesting a replacement and investigation as other NVidia users could potentially be affected. The GTX465 *should* only be drawing 75W (max) to power the slot via the DC/molex. The rest of the power to drive it is going via the pci-e power connectors. Your PE4H should be able to deliver that without frying it's tracks.

Has anyone successfully done this to a Lenovo/IBM T61p yet?

I tried to read as many post as I could but I still can't figured out if I should get the PE4L or PE4H... or if I can do the x1e thing.

There's a T61+HD5670 implementation here. Consider checking if you have a port1+2 arrangement using turbomemory+wifi slot and whether you'd want to use your system that way. If so, then PE4H is the way to go. If not, your expresscard slot is port4 and PE4L will do the job. Use DIY ViDock Setup 1.x to see if you can free up 256MB in 32-bit space, boot successfully into your OS and note that region is free in Device Manager (eg: C0000000-CFFFFFFF). If so, then you can host an ATI card OK on your system.

[johncolazabal]

Is there a cheaper mPCIe to pci-e adapter?? I really don't want to spend $77 for this. Thanks.