External Graphics Card Thread v1 - What is this shit? - Hardware & Software

[QUOTE=rhx123;39903483]The number is simply the number of PCIe Lanes that the connector has. PCIe cards are lane-independent, so a 1x card in a 16x slot will work fine, as a 16x card will work in a 1x slot, but only at 1/16th of the bandwidth because there are only 1/16th of the lanes available. [IMG]http://i.dell.com/images/global/learnmore/pcie_connector.jpg[/IMG] For you, the best eGPU solution is [URL]http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4L V2.1.html[/URL], with a Fermi or later GPU. You would have to take the bottom off to use it as there is no ExpressCard slot.[/QUOTE] So the PE4L is only x4, which would be one fourth the performance of a regular x16 card?

Not exactly one fourth of the performance, before cards didn't max out the x16 bandwidth. I don't know what the story is today though.

[QUOTE=DanTehMan;39903753]So the PE4L is only x4, which would be one fourth the performance of a regular x16 card?[/QUOTE] Without ganging up two PCIe ports, the max you will get an EGPU to run on is 1x, however with the nvidia optimus compression on a Fermi or greater card, the performance is similar to 2x. However, a loss in bandwidth is not proportional to performance. I benchmarked my 650Ti in my desktop before I put it in the eGPU and I only seem to loose 10-30% perfomance dependent on the game. Of course newer cards will be more bandwidth efficient (generally). [editline]13th March 2013[/editline] The PE4L is 1x, becaues expresscard and mini pcie are 1x.

Fucking hell, what am I getting dumb rating for now? I didn't fucking know USB 3.0 didn't have enough bandwidth. You guys seem to love pissing me off. You'll use any excuse to make someone look bad.

[QUOTE=RoboChimp;39905026]Fucking hell, what am I getting dumb rating for now? I didn't fucking know USB 3.0 didn't have enough bandwidth. You guys seem to love pissing me off. You'll use any excuse to make someone look bad.[/QUOTE] Why do you even care about ratings?

[QUOTE=B!N4RY;39905098]Why do you even care about ratings?[/QUOTE] They're trying to say that I'm a dickhead for not knowing.

Lets keep it civil, I made this thread for people to be informed about and ask questions about a pretty unknown topic (as far as I know only Binary and I have experience here). I want to make eGPUs more accessible as I think they are great things, so let's not fight. Without the knowledge of USB and PCIe on a lower level, that was a reasonable enough question to be asked by RoboChimp. [editline]14th March 2013[/editline] However getting riled up over ratings never helps anything so just try to ignore them.

You wanted my device ID, speccy isn't giving me much Monitor Name Generic Non-PnP Monitor on Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family Current Resolution 1280x800 pixels Work Resolution 1280x760 pixels State enabled, primary Monitor Width 1280 Monitor Height 800 Monitor BPP 32 bits per pixel Monitor Frequency 60 Hz Device \\.\DISPLAY1\Monitor0 Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family Memory 1806 MB Memory type 2 Driver version 8.15.10.2413 Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family Memory type 2 Driver version 8.15.10.2413 Device manager just says intel 4 series [editline]14th March 2013[/editline] Wait, GPUz is giving me a little more info [IMG]http://gpuz.techpowerup.com/13/03/13/9qg.png[/IMG]

Do you think this could work with a Dell Inspiron? I'm not quite sure what model my friend has so I can ask him again later. I've never worked with laptops aside from school so I don't know much about those specific ports, and accessing them. He's not big into gaming on a PC but he's been playing all the Assassin's Creeds and MLB2k12 mostly. At first he got BF3 for PC but he couldn't get it running so I did all I could to help (3+ long attempts) but the game would still crash at loading screen, so he could never get to the settings menu. I recommended one but he's not interested in building a budget desktop (well I'd build it for him) and money-wise I can't buy him the parts to build one out of my old computer, and I already let my brother use my old GTS 250 when I upgraded to a 560 Ti. It'd be nice to figure out if this could be done with his laptop so he can get BF3 running before spending the money on a video card. Although...with the deals going on for free games, even if it didn't work I'd be able to use that with the parts from my old computer, and all I'd need after that is some more RAM and an HDD and he'd be all set.

Does a G-Brick count? [img]http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/dynaweb_docs/hdwr/SGI_EndUser/books/3900_UG/sgi_html/figures/IR_front_rear.gif[/img]

[QUOTE=spinpoint F3;39906244]You wanted my device ID, speccy isn't giving me much -shit- Device manager just says intel 4 series [editline]14th March 2013[/editline] Wait, GPUz is giving me a little more info [IMG]http://gpuz.techpowerup.com/13/03/13/9qg.png[/IMG][/QUOTE] Good or bad news depending on which way you look at it. On that system, NVidia Optimus Compression and Functionality will engage (as Optimus is compatible with the 4500MHD), thus meaning with a Fermi or greater card, you can expect great performance and the ability to drive the internal panel. The downside is, anything earlier than a Fermi, or anything ATI/AMD will be much slower and there isn't much you can do about it, meaning if you do want to do an eGPU then you'l have to buy a new eGPU in practice. If you do wish to go down this route, a 1GB GTX 460 (not SE) is a highly recommend card, especially if you aren't going for portability. They go for between 50 and 70 quid buy-it-now on eBay so aren't bank breaking, and are known to work very well with eGPU setups. [editline]14th March 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Ninja Duck;39906307]Do you think this could work with a Dell Inspiron? I'm not quite sure what model my friend has so I can ask him again later. I've never worked with laptops aside from school so I don't know much about those specific ports, and accessing them. He's not big into gaming on a PC but he's been playing all the Assassin's Creeds and MLB2k12 mostly. At first he got BF3 for PC but he couldn't get it running so I did all I could to help (3+ long attempts) but the game would still crash at loading screen, so he could never get to the settings menu. I recommended one but he's not interested in building a budget desktop (well I'd build it for him) and money-wise I can't buy him the parts to build one out of my old computer, and I already let my brother use my old GTS 250 when I upgraded to a 560 Ti. It'd be nice to figure out if this could be done with his laptop so he can get BF3 running before spending the money on a video card. Although...with the deals going on for free games, even if it didn't work I'd be able to use that with the parts from my old computer, and all I'd need after that is some more RAM and an HDD and he'd be all set.[/QUOTE] It really depends on the Model of laptop, the Inspiron line has been going for Donkey's Years.

[QUOTE=RoboChimp;39905026]Fucking hell, what am I getting dumb rating for now? I didn't fucking know USB 3.0 didn't have enough bandwidth. You guys seem to love pissing me off. You'll use any excuse to make someone look bad.[/QUOTE] It isn't just because USB 3.0 doesn't have enough bandwidth. You can run a GPU in PCI-E 2.0 x1 slot without [I]too much[/I] of a performance loss (though it's really pushing it, and it depends very much on game and what not). That's 500MB/s, so USB 3.0's 400MB/s (in practice) should be somewhat feasible. What isn't feasible is the whole interface - you would run into all kinds of trouble, as B!N4RY stated earlier on, and even if it's somehow possible to overcome, it would be way too much work for anyone to bother with it.

The latency would be crippling.

Does a Vidock 3 work with an x201?

Yes, it would work reasonably well. With a Fermi or greater card, you could run an Optimus link to run the internal display and benifit from PCIe compression on an External, and the PCIE Link would be v2 which makes for the fastest eGPU setup out there. You may be slightly CPU bound, but it would be a decent setup.

[QUOTE=rhx123;41581227]Yes, it would work reasonably well. With a Fermi or greater card, you could run an Optimus link to run the internal display and benifit from PCIe compression on an External, and the PCIE Link would be v2 which makes for the fastest eGPU setup out there. You may be slightly CPU bound, but it would be a decent setup.[/QUOTE] I am gonna get a i5 model so it should be fast :p [editline]24th July 2013[/editline] another problems is the vidock 3 only supports 120w of power with no 6pin connector the 650ti only needs 110w max but has a 6pin connector

[QUOTE=Flarey;41581453]I am gonna get a i5 model so it should be fast :p [editline]24th July 2013[/editline] another problems is the vidock 3 only supports 120w of power with no 6pin connector the 650ti only needs 110w max but has a 6pin connector[/QUOTE] You should just buy a PE4L v2.1b and DIY with a ATX/FLEX ATX PSU, or XBOX one if you really need portability. It'l be much cheaper than a VIDOCK and no farting about with silly power connectors missing.

[QUOTE=rhx123;41581742]You should just buy a PE4L v2.1b and DIY with a ATX/FLEX ATX PSU, or XBOX one if you really need portability. It'l be much cheaper than a VIDOCK and no farting about with silly power connectors missing.[/QUOTE] how do you use the xbox psu though i have one