DIY eGPU Troubleshooting FAQ

[kizwan]

Troubleshooting FAQ

30 Mar. 2012: Fixed two-pass script in Non-Optimus FAQ.
27 Mar. 2012: Added new DSDT override solution (extending the root bridge into 36-bit) to overcome high TOLUD (>3.25GB) & 4GB+ of RAM installed.
3 Feb. 2012: Change "Quick Links" with icons.
28 Jan. 2012: Updated the "Quick Links" & changed to new logo.
23 Oct. 2011: Made small correction in Error 12 section.
24 Sept. 2011: Revised the two-pass script in "Non-Optimus Setup: x2/x4" (FAQ#1).
17 Sept. 2011: Added one more FAQ for Error 12.
3 Sept. 2011: Rearrange titles/questions/topics into their own section.
15 August 2011: Troubleshooting FAQ is now in dedicated thread!
13 July 2011: Troubleshooting FAQ moved to new page which will ideally document reoccurring issues. Contributions/edits are most welcome.

eGPU=external desktop GPU, iGPU=integrated GPU, dGPU=dedicated GPU

Main:-

1. >>>How to ask help efficiently?
   
   

Common:-

1. I have problems when running eGPU Setup 1.x
   
   
2. My system just boots to a black screen / my system hangs or BSODs while booting up to Win7
   
   
3. My eGPU worked, then stopped working all of a sudden
   
   
4. My eGPU hangs, particularly when doing a lot of graphics processing
   
   
5. I can't play any game or run any benchmark for more than a minute or two before a complete system lock up - "black screen" of death
   
   
6. [ATI] Device Manager lists my eGPU without any errors but has have no resources against it nor is any external LCD detected
   
   
7. I have a PE4L + DC adapter. The eGPU isn't detected/fan spins up fast.
   
   
8. My eGPU recognises the external monitor but when I make it the primary it doesn't "turn on" and I'm simply reverted back to my internal LCD
   
   
9. Upon powering my eGPU, the fan on the eGPU just spins faster and the card isn't detected.
   
   
10. I have problems running an NVidia eGPU with a internal Nvidia dGPU.
    
    
11. My mHDMI cable does not fit in my half-height PM3N.
    
    
12. Why does my USB/network/sound not working when enable my eGPU in Win7?
    

Error 12:-

1. My eGPU is detected and drivers loaded but has an error 12: cannot allocate resources against it in Device Manager
   
   
2. Even after successful compaction I still get a error 12: cannot allocate resources in Device Manager
   
   

Error 42:-

1. I get an error 42: cannot start device in Win7
   
   

Error 43:-

1. I get an error 43 against my eGPU in Win7.
   
   

Optimus Setup: x1.1Opt/x1.2Opt:-

1. Lenovo Thinkpad/Dell Latitude: I boot with the expresscard in my system. The internal LCD doesn't appear/work. Neither do I see x1.Opt performance (NVidia)
   
   
2. Installing Nvidia drivers with AMD/Intel switchable graphics gives an error
   
   
3. I can't get internal LCD mode to work.
   
   

Non-Optimus Setup: x2/x4 Link:-

1. Set x2 link but mPCIe Port2/Port4 re-enabled after reboot?
   
   

---

Main >>>

1. How to ask help efficiently?
   To allow others to help you, always include details information on your eGPU setup. Please use this template when posting.
   

   Problem description
   1. What's the problem?
   2. Have you consulted the Troubleshooting FAQ to resolve the issue?
   3. Have you consulted the Pre-Purchase FAQ --> "2. How can I check if my notebook is compatible with an eGPU?"
   
   Platform Description
   1. OS
   2. System
   3. RAM
   4. eGPU used
   5. PSU specification (especially the +12V max current)

   This is how to generate Diags file & include them in your post.
   

   Generate Diags
   Setup 1.x->Save Diags->compact_fails
   Setup 1.x->Save Diags->Windows_fails, follow prompts
   
   (USB) rar the \diag folder, upload and link
   (dsk image) Run \eGPU\eGPU-Setup\mount, rar the v:\diag folder, upload and link

   ^top

---

Common >>>

1. I have problems when running eGPU Setup 1.x. See eGPU Setup 1.x troubleshooting.
   
   ^top
2. My system just boots to a black screen / my system hangs or BSODs while booting up to Win7
   
   Poweroff your eGPU. Boot Win7. Standby (not hibernate) your system, poweron your eGPU, resume your system.
   
   ^top
3. My eGPU worked, then stopped working all of a sudden
   
   First thing is check your mini HDMI cable. 2 users requiring a replacement US$6-shipped cable to restore functionality.
   
   ^top
4. My eGPU hangs, particularly when doing a lot of graphics processing
   
   Check your PSU is delivering the required power OR swap with another more powerful PSU and test again. We've found cheap double-rail PSUs might not deliver enough power. Eg: a Shaw 680W PSU has a 12V/16A and 12V/15A rail. The latter rail was insufficient to power a GTX470 requiring 225W of power.
   
   Also refer to Panzer's fuse bypass on PE4H < 2.4 for GTX465+ eGPUs. PE4H 2.4+ can set a jumper at J4 to do the same bypass.
   
   ^top
5. I can't play any game or run any benchmark for more than a minute or two before a complete system lock up - "black screen" of death.
   
   Pretty much the same issue as for Q4. Likely the PE4H's fuse is kicking in upon detecting a very high load and shuts down the power to your eGPU. This will occur with any of the heavy duty gpus like a GTX465+ or GTX560+.
   
   The solution is to set the PE4H 2.4 fuse bypass jumper (near the floppy molex connector). Older PE4H can do Panzer's fuse bypass to accomplish the same thing.
   
   ^top
6. [ATI] Device Manager lists my eGPU without any errors but has have no resources against it nor is any external LCD detected
   
   This is a problem seen with onboard HD3450+HD6850 setups. The solution being a unified driver for both cards as provided by the DNA modded ATI drivers.
   
   ^top
7. I have a PE4L + DC adapter. The eGPU isn't detected/fan spins up fast.
   
   Set JP4 on the PE4L as described so it draws 3.3V from the expresscard or mPCIe slot. Can connect a USB cable b/w your notebook and the PE4L to provide additional 5V->3.3V (regulated) if you find it's still flakey.
   
   ^top
8. My eGPU recognises the external monitor but when I make it the primary it doesn't "turn on" and I'm simply reverted back to my internal LCD
   
   If you see a brief flash on the external LCD then it could either be a faulty HDMI cable connected to the LCD or the PSU is insufficient to drive the eGPU to actually display something. I did encounter a intermittently faulty HDMI cause this problem.
   
   Also, Optimus drivers newer than 258.96 will cause this if using a DVI-to-VGA adapter.
   
   ^top
9. Upon powering my eGPU, the fan on the eGPU just spins faster and the card isn't detected.
   
   This indicates the eGPU is either not on the PCI bus or isn't getting 3.3V. Try unplugging, replugging the mini HDMI cable (expresscard solution) or hotplugging the PM3N (mPCIe solution). If the card is still not detected then connect the setup to another system's expresscard slot. It may be either a faulty expresscard slot or mini HDMI cable. Worth testing the eGPU in a desktop system as well.
   
   ^top
10. I have problems running an Nvidia eGPU with an internal NVidia dGPU (supplied by nlooije/Khenglish)
    
    The trick is to get both an NVIDIA dGPU and eGPU working work under the same driver.
    
    This method assumes that the eGPU is detected in the device manager. If any errors such as code 12 or 43 are present check the corresponding items in the Troubleshooting section. If using the PM3N and it is not detected then maybe the mPCIe port is whitelisted, use the Setup 1.x to unwhitelist.
    1. Download the latest drivers from the NVidia website or from this post by nando4.
    2. Once the eGPU is detected, windows will automatically search for drivers through windows update.
       Cancel the search, and let windows install the standard vga drivers.
    3. In the device manager, right-click uninstall the dGPU and eGPU NVidia drivers. Use CCleaner to search for any residual Nvidia driversoftware and delete further.
    4. Install the latest Nvidia drivers. If everything went correctly then the installation software should ask permission to install the drivers twice, once for every card.
    5. Reboot and cross fingers.
    
    ^top
11. My mHDMI cable does not fit in my half-height PM3N mPCIe socket
    
    Newer systems have been reported to have half-height mPCIe socket which may be limited in space for inserting a mHDMI cable due to the rigid connector.
    
    DIY solution:
    It is possible to strip the rigid connector to give the cable more flexibility and make more efficient use of the space. Use a sharp knife to cut along the ridge of the connector; be careful near the cable itself as the wires there are not protected. Inside the connector the wires are protected by a thick layer of solid glue.
    
    non-DIY solution:
    no commercial products have been found to solve this problem.
    
    (supplied by beatTheRestrictions)
    
    ^top
12. Why does my USB/network/sound not working when enable my eGPU in Win7?
    
    Likely a PCI contention issue. Recommend setting up Setup 1.x, configured with a pci.bat (resulting from PCI compaction on your primary GPU + eGPU) prior to chainloading Win7.
    
    ^top

---

Error 12 >>>

1. My eGPU is detected and drivers loaded but has an error 12: cannot allocate resources against it in Device Manager
   
   Please check TOLUD on your notebook. For a reference on how to do this, please go to Pre-Purchase FAQ #2 (>> 2. How can I check if my notebook is compatible with an eGPU?).
   
   Many notebook vendors' bios were never designed to accomodate a desktop eGPU so do not setup PCI configuration space correctly to accomodate it resulting in the symptoms below. This will affect the DIY, Villagetronic ViDock and MSI Graphics Upgrade Solution (GUS) external graphics solutions.
   
   

   Symptom	Requirement	Details with solution1
   Device Manager error 12: cannot allocate resources	Fix error	Problem explanation: Windows XP/Server 2003 do not reconfigure the bridge windows based on the requirements of a device behind the bridge. This leads to a classic problem where a PCI device cannot be started due to lack of resources on the bridge, even though enough device resources are available to the system. For reasons such as this, a platform configuration that configures PCI devices at boot time works best. Some systems with more than 2.5GB RAM have no bios allocated free 256MB PCI window to host the desktop eGPU. Need to configure this correctly using one of the methods below: Solution#1 : (Update 3-14-2012) A DSDT override extending the root bridge into 36-bit can allow ALL systems with a 64-bit CPU and chipset (anything after 2007) to be eGPU compatible when used with Windows 7 and the latest iGPU/dGPU/eGPU drivers with up to 48GB of RAM installed. Solution#2 (ATI) : Use DNA-AMD drivers as described. Solution#3 : Use Win7 to do a PCI relocation as described. Solution#4 : Use eGPU Setup 1.x PCI Compaction. Solution#5 : [XP or Win7_with_XP_drivers] - disable onboard graphics using eGPU Setup 1.x Solution#6 : install only 2.5GB/3GB of RAM, freeing 256MB of PCI Resource space. Solution#7 : Use Magma ExpressBox Full Driver described here.
   	Greater than 2.5/3GB RAM installed

   
   Examples Neither the DV2000 or the 2510P had an appropriate PCI bridge memory window defined by the bios. The DV2000 too didn't have a free 256MB window when equipped with 3GB of RAM, the 2510P didn't have it's bridge correctly configured. In both cases eGPU Setup 1.x was used to configure the PCI space correctly.
   
   ^top
   
2. Even after successful compaction I still get a error 12: cannot allocate resources in Device Manager
   
   (Source: nando4)
   The first thing to try is 32bitA compaction and see if that resolves it. If not, then what has been discovered happening is the I/O port allocated by compact gets moved by Win7. The I/O port allocated is shown as the last two echo lines in pci.bat such as :
   
   

   @echo -s 2:0.0 BASE_ADDRESS_5=2001 >> setpci.arg
   @echo -s 0:1c.1 1c.b=20 1d.b=20 >> setpci.arg

   The 0:1c.1 refers to pci-e port2 and the 2:0.0 refers to the PCI ID my GTX460 has. The 20 and 2001 means assign the port and GTX460 to use I/O port 0x2000-20FF. On this particular system, Win7 moves the pci-e express port2's I/O space to 0xD000-DFFF port instead which is odd so the GTX460 flags an error 12 since it can't get 0x2000-20ff.
   
   So the workaround is to change the 20 to be D0 and let Win7 have it's way. This can be done by adding two additional lines between "call pci" and "call grub4dos" to override compact's allocation. This setting will override any further re-runs of compaction as well. It should look like this in STARTUP.BAT file:-
   
   

   call pci
   setpci -s 2:0.0 BASE_ADDRESS_5=d001
   setpci -s 0:1c.1 1c.b=d0 1d.b=d0
   call grub4dos mbr

   ^top
   

---

Error 42 >>>

1. I get an error 42: cannot start device in Win7
   
   Standby (not hibernate) your system, poweroff your eGPU, poweron, resume your system.
   
   ^top

---

Error 43 >>>

1. I get an error 43 against my eGPU in Win7.
   
   UPDATE: Use NVidia Verde 270.61 driver as described.
   
   First thing to replace is the mini HDMI cable. Could also be a faulty eGPU. Or if using a NVidia eGPU try:
   1. Ensure your PE4L 1.5+ or PE4H 2.4+ has the PCI Reset Delay slider set to 0s rather than 7 or 15. If it's the latter then upon doing a resume-from-standby the card will be delayed leading to an 'unconfigured' state, hence the error 43.
      
   2. Use Setup 1.x to load a PCI dump AND use the 258.96 Optimus drivers (becak)
      
   3. Downgrade to 258.96 Optimus drivers (apollo-fox)
   
   (Update 26 July 2011)
   There is the Video cards->Initialize and Video cards->Save/Load dump features to eradicate error43. Ensure you are running the latest 275.33 Verde drivers + modded nvam.inf and the PCI reset delay slider on the PE4L 1.5/PE4H 2.4 is set to the 0 seconds position (not 7 or 15 seconds). Then proceed as follows:
   1. Boot eGPU Setup 1.x with 2GB installed, run Setup 1.x, select to Video Cards->Save. If you are hotplugging after bios boot then need to select Video Cards->Save(Win) and follow instructions generated from within Windows.
      
   2. Install 4GB of RAM. Boot Windows. Create a devcon with 4GB of system RAM installed:
      

      \eGPU\eGPU-setup-mount
      v:\devcon\mkdevcon

   3. Boot eGPU Setup 1.x,
      - select Video cards->Load to load the PCI space dump created when it was working with no error 43.
      - perform 32-bit PCI compaction on the iGPU+eGPU.
      - select startup.bat->edit, remove the 'call vidinit' since it might interfere with your load dump.
      - select Apply config.Run startup.bat
      - select Chainload mbr
   If still get an error 43, then repeat steps in (3) above but use 32-bitA PCI compaction method instead.
   
   ^top

---

Optimus Setup: x1.1Opt/x1.2Opt >>>

1. Lenovo Thinkpad/Dell Latitude: I boot with the expresscard in my system. The internal LCD doesn't appear/work. Neither do I see x1.Opt performance (NVidia)
   
   These system's bios will use the eGPU as the primary video if it detects it on bios startup. That means the iGPU will be disengaged. Problem then is the internal LCD won't work and neither will x1.Opt since they are both reliant on a iGPU to be the primary video card.
   
   Solution is to boot past the bios with the eGPU switched off, then either:
   1. hotplug the EC2C by hitting F8 to stall the Windows boot proces
   2. power on eGPU, resume in Windows
   3. boot Setup 1.x and hotplug if need PCI compaction
   
   ^top
2. Installing Nvidia drivers with AMD/Intel switchable graphics gives an error (supplied by appolo-fox)
   
   Installing Nvidia drivers with AMD/Intel switchable graphics may give you an error asking you to install Intel drivers first.
   
   Solution is to uninstall the switchable driver from your manufacturer (Lenovo in this case); system should revert to pure Intel driver via WinUpdate (if not, you will need to reboot and disable AMD discrete GPU with Setup 1.x and let WinUpdate install or download newest Intel driver from their website. The Nvidia installer should be content with the pure Intel driver and install correctly. After Nvidia installation, reinstall your switchable graphics driver.
   
   
   
   -> Intel driver provided by ATI (AMD). Nvidia installer exits with error.
   
   ^top
3. I can't get internal LCD mode to work.
   
   This appears to be the case if you attach your eGPU after Win7 boots. So either hotplug your eGPU at the Win7 bootloader menu (hit F8 to pause bootup). Another option is to install and configure Setup 1.x to detect your eGPU and configure your PCI configuration space prior to chainloading to Win7.
   
   ^top

---

Non-Optimus Setup: x2/x4 >>>

1. Set x2 link but mPCIe Port2 or Port4 enabled after reboot?
   
   On x2 setup (mPCIe Port1&Port2 or Port3&Port4), mPCIe Port2/Port4 must be disabled. If they left enabled, it can cause eGPU instability (e.g. 3dMark06 crashed while running benchmark). There are two methods for dealing this issue.
   
   First Method: modded PM3N (Source: nando4)
   
   Spoiler :

   PM3N 1.2 uses CLKRUN, but gives you a 7/15s delay time to set your link to x2. If you can get your link to x2 in 15s upon switching the power on your system, then it will work. Probably can't do that so I consider it a dud solution. So if lane1 is a mPCIe slot in a x2 setup then consider modding the PM3N v1.1 as follows:
   
   modded PM3N 1.1 to start CLKRUN when setting the jumper
   
   Here my modded PM3N 1.1 so that setting the jumper starts CLKRUN.

   1. Open TP6 by desoldering the solder blob.
      
   2. Run a patch wire connecting right TP6 pad (CLKRUN) to right jumper post.
      
   3. Short C1 to give a direct connection to GND.
      
   4. Remove U1 ic to not interfere with this arrangement.

   
   Boot with jumper open, close the jumper after x2 link is setup. You may/may not need to unplug/replug the mini HDMI cable to get the video card to be registered. Use setup 1.x to do the x2 link and hit F5 to rescan it until you see the video card as a x2 link.
   
   This was the least obtrusive way I got it to work on my DV4-2000 without needing to do scary hotplugging of the PM3N. I'm hoping hwtools' future PM3N will wire CLKRUN to the mini HDMI cable's ground so that plugging in lane1 mini HDMI cable will start CLKRUN.
   
   
   Second Method: two-pass script in STARTUP.BAT (Source: nando4 - Older revision can be found here)
   
   Spoiler :

   You'd need a two-pass 'automated startup via startup.bat' (\config\startup.bat) like below since you have to reboot to get a x2 link going midstream.
   
   ¹ Change the PCI-IDS (marked in RED) to your eGPU PCI-IDS.
   ² If using mPCIe Port3 & Port4, change "call iport x2 1" (marked in BLUE) to "call iport x2 3"
   ³ If using mPCIe Port3 & Port4, change "p1" (marked in GREEN) to "p3"
   ⁴ Requirement - Please download the following and save it as \core\vidwait.bat in eGPU-Setup image: VIDWAIT.BAT
   

   :: set var myeGPU to be PCID of the eGPU
   set myeGPU=1002:6898
   :: Enable cache to speedup startup.bat runtime
   call speedup lbacache
   :: Enable x2 on port1
   call iport x2 1
   :: Prompt to attach the eGPU if it's not detected
   call vidwait 60 %myeGPU%
   :: If find eGPU then skip to myeGPU_found below
   if NOT errorlevel 1 goto myeGPU_found
   :: If don't find eGPU then issue msg and reboot
   call wait_e 2 "No eGPU detected. Rebooting."  
   reboot
   
   :myeGPU_found
   :: Check if the eGPU is running a x2 link on port1
   call iport scan -file ports.txt
   grep "p1@x2.1 %myeGPU%@x2.1" ports.txt > nul
   :: If find x2 link then skip to x2_link_found below
   if NOT errorlevel 1 goto x2_link_found
   :: If no x2 link found then issue msg and reboot 
   del ports.txt
   call wait_e 2 "No x2 link detected. Rebooting."  
   reboot
   
   :x2_link_found
   :: eGPU@x2.1 detected so run pci.bat + chainload
   if exist pci.bat call pci
   call grub4dos mbr

   
   
   ^top

[kylerl]

Here's my problem:

I can run the eGPU setup fine and after I do PCI compaction I cannot chainload!

It says "Operating System Missing". I know this has to do with grub not loading the right partition? Problem is I don't know how to fix it.

Someone please help me out, this is getting annoying.

[cpkane]

Problem description
1. When I connect eGPU to Win7, the screen will be black and the fan of eGPU will stop(it seems eGPU power off), I can not use the eGPU. The laptop is DELL E6400 with intel mobile 4 series express graphics chipset, 4G RAM(now it is 2G). I don't know what's problem. I do know what step to setup the eGPU to laptop.
I have done:
1. starting win7
2. connect eGPU with expresscard to laptop
3. install drive (258.96 desktop)
4. black screen..

and I have try to use diydock 1.x to disable iGPU, but it can not success...
Please help me~
by the way, I use DVI-VGA adapter to connect with eGPU.

Platform Description
1. OS Windows 7
2. System dell e6400
3. RAM 2G
4. eGPU used NV 9800GT

[kizwan]

Hi cpkane,

Please post in DIY eGPU Experiences thread. I already responded to your post here.

[cosmo_trouble]

Hello,

I have been looking around the forums for about a week now trying to solve the issue I'm having, maybe someone can give me a little insight into my error:

I am receiving the error:
"IRQARB: ACPI BIOS does not contain an IRQ for the device in PCI slot 0, function 1. Please contact your system vendor for technical assistance."

It does not show anything in device manager at all, I pulled that error from the event log. Although you can get it to briefly show up in Device Manager if you are watching the window while plugging in the card.

I have tried booting into eGPU setup and could not get it to detect the card there either.

My setup is the following:
-PE4H + EC2C Ver. 2
-Sapphire Radeon HD5670
-12v 6.6A DC Power adapter (800W max).

-I have an Dell Inspiron 1520 with Win 7 x64 installed.
-I'm sure I have the most recent bios, albeit it's nearly 2+ years old.
-I have 4GB of memory, I have reduced it to 2GB for troubleshooting.
-I noticed that my wifi card would be broken about 50% of the time while booting, so I removed it, still no luck.
-This machine has 3 mPCI slots underneath as well as the express slot on the side, I'm using the express slot on the side only, all others are empty.
-The bottom memory slot is now empty (the other 2GB is under the keyboard).

Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

[kizwan]

Hi cosmo_trouble,

Please post in DIY eGPU Experiences thread. I already responded to your post here.

[sklsy]

Thanks Kiswan, moving to the other thread.

[kizwan]

Hi,

You should post this at eGPU Experiences thread. I already reply to your post here.

[mactavish2k8]

Hi guys,

I've been working on this problem for the past 2 days without any success and sifted as much information as I could possibly understand. It would be great if you could help pull together the info and help of sort out my setup.

Problem description

Encountered Error 12.
Attempted to use Windows 7 to reallocate but no success.
Went on to Setup x1 so that I can disable the discrete gfx and do a 32bit compaction and chainload but I am currently stuck at a GRUB error on chainloading which I have not seen anybody else describe in detail.

ie When grub attempts to chainload, it says cmain() "missing operating system".
When I attempt to manually boot Win 7 it gives me Error 13 Invalid or unsupported executable format.

I do not have any special partition format. I only have a fresh installation to 1system partition from Win 7 followed by the Setup x1 files.
Partition system is
1. System Partition 100mb
2. Windows 7 Install (128gb)
3. Data


Platform Description
1. OS - Win 7 Ultimate x64

2. System Description
Lenovo W520
Core i7 2720QM
QM67 Chipset

8GB (unknown configuration) RAM

Intel HD3000
Quadro 1000M Optimus 2GB DDR3

ExpressCard 34mm Gen2
BIOS 1.34 - Latest 21 November 2011

4. eGPU used - Gigabyte 460GTX v1.0
PSU used - Antec HCG-620 High Current Gamer 620W
Display used - 26" LCD via HDMI

I would be really grateful if anybody could help me get the setup working. I have just about everything I could possibly need but I can't seem to get it working sadly.

Any help with the GRUB error would be appreciated.

[kizwan]

Hi,

Use "Chainload mbr" instead. Also set ExpressCard speed to Gen1 in Setup 1.x. You can post in http://forum.notebookreview.com/gami...periences.html thread. You will get better attention there.