The mini-HDMI cable is included in the PE4L-PM3N package.

This post has been edited by kizwan: Oct 22 2011, 02:12 AM

Your notebook doesn't have ExpressCard slot & most probably only have one mPCIe slot. So, you won't get good performance from eGPU since you can only do x1 link setup. Only with x2 or x1.Opt (Opt = with Optimus) will deliver good performance. x2 link required two mPCIe ports or [ExpressCard + mPCIe] with either these combination [PCIe port#1 & port#2] OR [PCIe port#3 & port#4] OR [PCIe port#5 & port#6]. x1.Opt (with Nvidia Fermi desktop graphic card) required either only one mPCIe port or ExpressCard slot with the notebook must have either Intel GMA 4500MHD or Intel HD Graphics or Intel HD 3000. Opt=Optimus provide PCIe data compression which will boost performance over PCIe x1 link. In term of performance; x1.Opt > x2.

This post has been edited by kizwan: Oct 30 2011, 11:40 PM

What is the full specification? Does it have switchable graphics? I can only see both notebook have discrete graphic card but they are not useful for eGPU.

The reason why I asked for switchable graphics because if your notebook have it, then your notebook have either active Intel GMA 4500MHD or Intel HD Graphics. If your notebook have any of the Intel GPU then you will be able to utilized ~80% of Nvidia Fermi graphic card performance on your notebook & you will be able to get acceleration on internal LCD. Of course, you will have much better performance if you use external monitor.

If your notebook have 34mm/54mm ExpressCard slot, that will be good too because you can connect eGPU via ExpressCard slot.

If your notebook don't have the Intel GPU I mentioned earlier, then you can't utilized eGPU unless if your notebook can do x2 link setup. x2 link setup will require connecting eGPU to two PCIe ports, either two mPCIe ports or ExpressCard+mPCIe. x2 only possible with either of these PCIe ports arrangement:-
- PCIe port#1 & #2
OR
- PCIe port#3 & #4
OR
- PCIe port#5 & #6

You can use eGPU using mPCIe port. I'm sure at least one mPCIe port available on your notebook.

Now, since your notebook doesn't have active Intel HD Graphics, to get best performance from eGPU, you need to do x2 link setup. Your next task is to find out how many mPCIe port(s) available.

Please take a picture & post it here.

If only one mPCIe port available, then definitely you can't optimized eGPU due to limited bandwidth. Graphic card will perform better with x2 link.

FYI, instead graphic card, you also can connect sound card using this method. You know, if you want to connect desktop sound card to your notebook, like this.

This post has been edited by kizwan: Jan 18 2012, 09:14 PM

Did you confirm that is ExpressCard slot? Look bigger though. Can you check mPCIe port? They usually located at the bottom, near RAM/HDD.

eGPU will work on x1 link only using mPCIe port that currently occupied by Wifi card.
Did you open the RAM/HDD compartment? Now we need to find out whether your notebook can do x2 link or not.

First picture show Wifi card connected to mPCIe port. Please check in AIDA64 what is the PCIe port number for Wifi card.

BTW, check out post #15 in this thread:-
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=45078530

Please see "PCIe x2 link" requirement at post #15: http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=45078530

Your Wireless card is at PCIe port#2. This show, x2 link setup is not possible on your notebook because card reader is at PCIe port#1 & it's integrated (not removable). Even if ExpressCard is at PCIe port #3 or port#4, x2 link is not applicable on your notebook.

This confirm you can only do x1 link setup. eGPU will not be able to perform best on your notebook.

This post has been edited by kizwan: Jan 19 2012, 04:11 PM

Because that is how Intel design the chipset. It's explained in chipset datasheets.

Your notebook have switchable graphics (Intel HD Graphics + ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4550)? If your notebook have active Intel HD Graphics, then you can do x1.Opt setup using Nvidia Fermi desktop graphic card. Since your notebook have ExpressCard slot, you can use PE4L-EC2C (or here). If you buy from Harmonic Inversion (HIT), you'll get free copy of eGPU Setup 1.x software.

x1.Opt is referring to Optimus setup. This setup required active Intel HD Graphics & Nvidia Fermi desktop graphic card. Optimus provide PCIe data compression which boost performance via PCIe x1 link. In addition to acceleration support on internal LCD, you will get better performance when using external monitor.

According to your screenshot, first PCI bus with 8 digits memory address is 0xC0000000. This means TOLUD is 3GB. So, you can use eGPU with 4GB or more RAM.

Yes. In fact, your notebook support x2 link setup.

This is screenshot of PCIe ports when eGPU is connected to ExpressCard slot (PCIe port 4):-
http://forum.notebookreview.com/attachment...es-untitled.png

This is screenshot of PCIe ports after moving wireless card to another empty mPCIe port (PCIe port 3):-
http://forum.notebookreview.com/attachment...s-port3open.png

So, you can do x2 link setup using PCIe port 3 (mPCIe port) + PCIe port 4 (ExpressCard). You also can do x2 link setup using WWAN port (PCIe port 1) + WLAN port (PCIe port 2).

I believe Dell Studio 1555 PCIe ports arrangement is similar to Dell Studio 1557/1558. See my eGPU setup.

Depend on the games. Some games required a lot of bandwidth while some are not. Considering your notebook specification, with x2 link setup, eGPU will perform roughly 80% from their actual performance.

HD 6850 TDP is 127W. TDP is not the actual graphic processor power consumption. Usually the actual power consumption is lower than TDP. However, power consumption can easily exceed TDP when you overclock & running power virus; Furmark is one of the example of power virus. It is not actually a virus but they're called by that name because of they can make GPU to consumed a lot of power than regular use. So, we can use TDP as our guideline when choosing power supply. For TDP 127W, you can use 130W - 140W AC adapter but you'll need to modified the connector because GPU use 6-pin/8-pin PCIe power connector(s). ATX PSU is recommended for eGPU.

For TDP 127W: (127W * 10%) + 127W = 139.7W
Calculated with 10% margin, the power supply you looking for can supply at least ~140W on the +12V lane. On the PSU, there is a sticker with writing on it where you should see +12V, +5V, etc. Look for the amperage (current) value for +12V.
140W / 12V = ~12A
So, the PSU should have at least 12A on +12V lane.

Look like you need PE4H + two PM3N or PE4H + EC2C (ExpressCard) + PM3N. You also need to buy two cables (default package only come with one cable).

I like to think eGPU is for enthusiast; who like to see what their notebook can do.

Your notebook should be able to boot with eGPU connected. I mean, connect everything, power ON eGPU & power ON notebook. Then you just need to install the graphic card driver. For x2 link setup, you will need to buy DIY eGPU Setup 1.x software ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/6295529-post641.html ).

Before you proceed, you will need to identify the PCIe ports. Install AIDA64. Go to Motherboard >> Chipset >> "South Bridge". Look where your WLAN device (broadcom) is connected to. Write down the PCIe port number. Then shutdown your notebook & open the HDD/memory compartment. Look for empty mPCIe port(s). Moved the WLAN card to another mPCIe port(s), boot your notebook & check in AIDA64 the PCIe port number for the WLAN card now. This process is important because you will know the PCIe port numbers for all of the mPCIe port(s). Remember for x2 link, you will need either PCIe port 1 + port 2 OR PCIe port 3 + port 4.

Again, this is for enthusiast. It can be difficult & overwhelming for some people.

Your notebook have Intel i7 740QM which means your notebook doesn't have switchable graphics. So, the only way to get better performance from eGPU is you'll need to do x2 link setup. However, I believe your notebook doesn't have ExpressCard slot & it only have one mPCIe port. So, x2 link setup is not possible because it needs two mPCIe ports OR ExpressCard+mPCIe.

Sorry for replying late. I'm super super busy lately.

First thing you need to know about the AIDA64 report on the PCIe ports is it only report enabled PCIe ports. Second thing you need to know is, even though the PCIe ports are listed in AIDA64, it doesn't means they are physically available. Referring to your notebook PCIe ports layout, for sure you can't use PCIe port #5 & PCIe port #6 because these are integrated devices, you can't disconnect them.

The reason why PCIe port #3 is not listed are because it is disabled. To determine whether PCIe port #3 is available or not, you can moved the wireless card to another available mPCIe port(s) & check again in AIDA64 where your wireless card is appeared now. Write down the PCIe port number for that mPCIe port. The rule x2 link setup only possible using PCIe port #1 + #2 or PCIe port #3 + #4 or PCIe port #5 + #6 are according to Intel chipset datasheets. It already proved to be true & only applied to Intel chipsets. BTW, ExpressCard slot is at PCIe port #4 according to this post. That guy is connected eGPU (ATI Radeon HD 6950) to ExpressCard slot.

You can use any graphic card you want. Just remember, base on the notebook specification, you can do x2 link setup. There will be two cables running from underneath your notebook but it will give much better performance than x1 link setup using only ExpressCard slot.
Like I said in my previous post, only x2 link or x1.Opt setup can deliver better performance. x1.Opt setup is not possible on your notebook because your notebook doesn't have Intel HD Graphics iGPU. Also, it is unlikely you can do x2 link setup either because your notebook is likely only have one mPCIe port. Please read this post for more information:-
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=45078530

Sorry for replying late.

Because of design (Intel chipset) limitation, you can't do x2 link setup with p2+p3. You can do x1E setup using ATI or older Nvidia desktop GPU. Nvidia GT(S/X) 4xxx & onwards unable to take this advantage. Also because design limitation, when you enabled x1E on p3, p2 also disabled. Which means you can't use wifi when eGPU is connected.

Did you try contact them via phone or email? Most likely they will help you. Alternatively you can buy from www.hwtools.net from Taiwan but Setup 1.x is not included. Then you need to buy Setup 1.x from HIT for USD$25.

I got it while it was free back then. That is old version. The newer version have all bugs fixed & have a lot of improvement. Try contact nando4, see if you can get a coupon code (discount) for Setup 1.x.

Yes, theoretically you can. Please go to DIY eGPU Experience forum for more information & to get better help.

Sorry guys. I'm not active with eGPU project at the moment, almost one year now.

Fakhril99, I recommend using eGPU if your notebook have either express card slot or thunderbolt port. If not you will have to use the mini-PCIe slot which is not convenience. Express card slot or thunderbolt port would allow you to disconnect/connect eGPU without extra effort.