eGPU Configurations
A. PCIe x1 link.
This setup only require one PCIe x1 port. This can be either mPCIe port or ExpressCard (34mm/54mm) slot. There are two flavors of PCIe x1 link setup:-

1. Raw PCIe x1 link setup.
   Any notebooks can support this setup. However, eGPU will perform worst on any pre-Sandy Bridge (SB) notebooks with this setup. This is because of the PCIe x1 bandwidth on pre-SB notebooks is only 2.5Gb/s at each direction (5Gb/s concurrent). eGPU will perform better on SB notebooks because PCIe x1 link speed is 5Gb/s at each direction (10Gb/s concurrent). However, SB notebooks can only utilized this using newer PE4L v2.0 or PE4H v3.0 which will be available soon (Jan/Feb 2012).
2. PCIe x1 + Optimus = x1.Opt or x1.2Opt
   Opt=Optimus will provide PCIe data compression which boost performance over PCIe x1 link. Optimus only possible if your notebook have either active Intel GMA 4500MHD or Intel HD Graphics or Intel HD 3000 or Intel GMA x3150 (e.g. Asus Eee PC 1015PEM netbook) iGPU. Combination with either of these iGPU & Nvidia Fermi (Nvidia GT4xx, GTS4xx, GTX4xx & above) desktop graphic card, you will be able to do x1.Opt setup. x1.Opt will provide way better performance than raw PCIe x1 link setup. It's equivalent to PCIe x2 link setup & on certain games, way better. You also will be able to get acceleration on internal LCD but the performance will almost half because graphic card need to transmit the frames through PCIe x1 link, the same link which notebook use to transmit data to eGPU for processing. The PCIe data compression provided by Optimus will reduced/eliminate any lags during gaming. You will get full performance if using external monitor (~80% compared to desktop).
   
   SB notebooks chipset support PCIe 2.0 5Gb/s x1 link. The performance is equivalent to PCIe 2.5Gb/s x4 link. The PCIe 2.0 5Gb/s compliant kit will be available soon (Jan/Feb 2012).

B. PCIe x2 link.
This setup require two PCIe x1 ports. This can be either combination of ExpressCard + mPCIe slot OR two mPCIe ports. x2 link setup only possible with either of these combinations:-

1. PCIe port#1 & port#2.
   OR
2. PCIe port#3 & port#4.
   OR
3. PCIe port#5 & port#6.

You can use AIDA64 software to check the PCIe port numbers, for example:-


Remember, the PCIe port(s) that is/are reported "Empty" doesn't means they are available physically. You need to check them yourself. mPCIe port(s) usually located at the bottom of your notebook, in HDD/RAM compartment. For ExpressCard slot, you need to connect, for example, ExpressCard to eSATA/USB adapater to know the ExpressCard PCIe port number.

This is an example of x2 link connections; PCIe port#1 (WWAN) & port#2 (WLAN):-

This setup provide performance equivalent to x1.Opt setup, except the internal LCD support/acceleration. External monitor is a must for this setup since notebook doesn't have compatible iGPU to project frames to internal LCD. You can use either ATiAMD or Nvidia graphic card for this setup.

C. PCIe x4 link.
This is rare setup. This setup require 4 PCIe x1 ports; PCIe port#1 + port#2 + port#3 + port #4 OR PCIe port#5 + port#6 + port#7 + port #8. Only some notebooks have PCIe ports arrangement that can support this setup, e.g. Dell Studio XPS 1645.


NOTE: x2 & x4 link setup are not possible on SB notebooks due to hardware/BIOS limitation.


ExpressCard (34mm/54mm)
(Source: www.expresscard.org)
Comparison between CardBus & ExpressCard. Only ExpressCard useful for eGPU.




eGPU vs. PCI space
eGPU will require 256MB of PCI space for it to work. TOLUD register defined available PCI space on notebooks. On some notebooks, TOLUD register is set too high which means there is not enough PCI space for eGPU. In this situation, the only way you can get eGPU to work is by reducing RAM to 2GB/3GB of RAM. With more RAM, eGPU will be detected but with Error 12 in Device Manager. To know the value set in TOLUD register, you can use Device Manager; set View to "Resources by connection" & expand the Memory tree; like this:-


The first PCI bus with 8 digits memory address is what you're looking for. In the above example, the firs PCI bus with 8 digits memory address is 0xA8000000. The calculation is simple:-
0xA8000000 = 2818572288 (dec) bytes = 2818572288 / 1024 / 1024 / 1024 = 2.625 GB

As long as TOLUD is equal or lower than 3.25 GB, you will have no problem using eGPU & 4GB or more RAM. You can use this table for quick calculation:-

• E0000000 = 3.5 GB
• D0000000 = 3.25 GB
• C0000000 = 3 GB
• B0000000 = 2.75 GB
• A0000000 = 2.5 GB

Usually, even with low TOLUD, you can get Error 12 in Device Manager since the PCI space are, let say, scattered. For this, you can do PCI compaction using eGPU Setup 1.x. USD 25 license fee will be impose if you use eGPU Setup 1.x software with eGPU kit from any supplier other than HIT (Harmonic Inversion Tech).

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You can easily supercharged the ULV processor using ThrottleStop.

Anyway, kimchoo DIY eGPU setup is x1 link with Optimus which is better than PCIe x2 setup. With PCIe x2 setup the eGPU will perform roughly 80% from it actual capability. There is several video on youtube. You'd be surprise how well it perform on PCIe x2 or PCIe x1.Opt (with optimus).

This post has been edited by kizwan: Jan 19 2012, 03:01 PM

Not true for all notebook though. This depend on BIOS & system configuration/design. Plug n play on one notebook but not that easy on another. This is true for both VillageTronic's ViDock & DIY eGPU. As long as there is enough PCI space, ViDock or eGPU will work. Many notebook have higher TOLUD & not enough PCI space.

PE4H kit = USD91 + USD22 (postage) = RM360
ATiAMD Radeon HD 6570 = RM230
Total = RM590 (excluding power supply)

Radeon HD 6570 power requirement 60W (GDDR5) or 44W (DDR3). So, you can use 12V/75W or 12V/80W AC adpater.

External monitor requirement is depend on your notebook specification. Please post your notebook model/brand & specification.

This post has been edited by kizwan: Oct 17 2011, 01:27 PM

Your Aspire 4743 have Intel HD Graphics iGPU. So, I recommend getting a Nvidia desktop graphic card, e.g. GTS450 1GB GDDR5 (RM380). With combination of Intel HD Graphics & Nvidia Fermi desktop graphic card, you can do x1.Opt setup where Opt=Optimus. Optimus provide PCIe data compression which will boost performance over PCIe x1 link. With x1.Opt, you don't need external monitor. However, using external monitor will almost double the performance because monitor is directly connected to the graphic card.

Since your notebook doesn't have ExpressCard slot, you'll need to use the mPCIe port. Aspire 4743 schematic show that it have two mPCIe ports where one is occupied by wireless card. The PE4H kit you'll need is "PE4H-PM3N ver2.4 Package".

EDIT: You also can use "PE4L-PM3N ver1.5 Package" USD71 (RM221) + postage USD22 = USD93 (RM290).

This post has been edited by kizwan: Oct 17 2011, 03:54 PM

You will need to buy it from Taiwan (on the website I gave you). Payment using PayPal.

No need credit card to open PayPal account. You can register PayPal account for free. You can topup your PayPal account using your bank account.

After order they will ship the package in 5 working days. Usually it will take one week to arrived.

GTS450 power requirement is 106W. So, you can use 120W 12v 10A AC adapter. Will need to do little rewiring like this (for the 6-pin PCIe connector):-

It more compact than ATX PSU.

This post has been edited by kizwan: Oct 17 2011, 07:52 PM

nick93,

Please post screenshot of the Device Manager. Set view to Resources by connection, then expand the Memory tree & take the screenshot. I need to check the TOLUD value on your notebook.

First PCI Bus (with 8 digits memory address) is 0xC0000000 which means TOLUD is 3GB. With TOLUD equal or lower than 3.25GB, you will be able to use 4GB+ RAM with DIY eGPU.

*TOLUD is acronym for Top of Low Used DRAM Register. TOLUD defined available PCI space & usable system memory.

This post has been edited by kizwan: Oct 17 2011, 09:00 PM

You should be able to use eGPU. I only checked whether TOLUD will be a problem or not.

This post has been edited by kizwan: Oct 17 2011, 09:47 PM

@nick93,

Just a reminder. DIY eGPU implementation on some notebook can be quite challenging. I have seen a few people give up. I will try my best to help you.

@wilsonphua,

The cheapest Villagetronic Vidock is USD199. For that kind of money, you will expected some sort of support from them but unfortunately, from where I see, they not doing very good job on this subject. They also provide instruction referencing the DIY eGPU Setup 1.x software which actually in violation of the license terms of that software. Anyway, iiee is selling his Vidock 4+ here.

This post has been edited by kizwan: Oct 17 2011, 11:39 PM

nick93,

Familiarize with the connections. PE4L-PM3N ver 1.5 package have:-

1. PE4L
   • This board is where you plugged in the graphic card. Interfaces - PCIe x1, USB 2.0, floppy power plug, AC plug & mini-HDMI port.
2. PM3N
   • This is mPCIe card.
3. PCIEMM-060A
   • This is mini-HDMI cable. This is use to connect the PM3N to PE4L.
     
   • This show the PM3N card is connected to mPCIe port (sorry, picture a bit blurry):-
     
4. SWEX
   • This is ATX PSU power-on switch. Connect the PSU 24-pin to this.
     

Connect the floppy power connector from PSU to PE4L board (red circle). The PCIe x1 (blue circle) is where you connect the graphic card.


GTS450 required one 6-pin PCIe power connector. This picture show the 6-pin PCIe power connector from PSU connected to graphic card (in your case only one).

---

Added on October 18, 2011, 1:50 amDid you asked the seller? As far as I know, it is still available.

This post has been edited by kizwan: Oct 18 2011, 01:50 AM

@nick93,

This is common. You just register today, so the account is limited. I don't remember whether my account also limited or not after registering mine (earlier this year) because I didn't buy anything immediately. I only start buying using PayPal after a couple of months later. I don't have credit card too. Please wait, I'm asking my friend. He also got the same issue. Can you see the money in your PayPal account? You topup to USD currency, right?

This post has been edited by kizwan: Oct 18 2011, 01:17 PM

You need to add USD currency in your PayPal account. When topup, you should choose USD currency because you're going to buy the product in USD.

This post has been edited by kizwan: Oct 18 2011, 02:36 PM

(NOTE: Please disabled popup blocker.) When topup, make sure to choose USD, enter the amount & click "Recalculate" to see the total in RM. After topup, you should see the money in your PayPal account (instant transfer) in USD currency:-


This is how to buy the kit from BPlus (www.HWTools.net) - click the Buy button/image:-


Review the amount & checkout using PayPal:-


Regarding the PayPal asking you to link the credit card, my friend also got the same thing. I think your account still limited. Maybe need to wait a couple of days before you can use your account. I already asked my friend how long he wait until he can use his account. I'm still waiting his reply.

Using PayPal account is easy. Your account probably not cleared yet. Wait for several days.

This post has been edited by kizwan: Oct 18 2011, 03:18 PM

Because you topup to RM first then convert to USD. That is why it is advisable to topup straight to USD. You need to topup again until enough. Also make sure you put correct home address in your PayPal account.

This post has been edited by kizwan: Oct 18 2011, 03:08 PM

You didn't use the online topup?

No need to withdraw the money from your PayPal account. Only need to add more money until the total is at least USD 93.

Please explain how you use mol point to topup PayPal.

This post has been edited by kizwan: Oct 18 2011, 03:22 PM

@nick93,

I'm not sure. I'm still waiting reply from my friend.

@nick93,

I don't know what is wrong with your account. I think you'll need to call PayPal & explain the problem. Just say you want to buy product using PayPal balance, not credit card.