• 15" ASUS N53SN + R9_390X@4Gbps-mPCIe2 (EXP GDC Beast) + Win10 [Doink]

    Doink

    By Doink

    Notebook

    CPU: Intel Core i7-2630QM

    RAM: 4x2GB 1333MHz

    iGPU: Intel® HD Graphics 3000

    dGPU: Nvidia Geforce GT550m

    eGPU: ASUS STRIX-R9390X-DC3OC-8GD5-GAMING

    OS: Windows 10 Pro 64bit

    EXP GDC Beast

     

    Preparation

    Prepare the pcie memory (you have 2 options):

     

    • Mod your bios and then you can disable the dGPU, set your TOLUD to 2.25GB and change the pcie port2 speed to gen1. ( guide )
      - You can disable the dGPU in the unlocked Chipset tab -> System Agent (SA) Config -> Graphics Config -> iGPU Port configuration = Disabled, and set the Primary display to IGFX
      - Chipset tab -> Memory Config -> Max TOLUD = 2.25GB
      - Chipset tab -> CougarPoint (PCH) Config -> PCI Express Config -> PCI Express Root Port 2 -> PCIe speed = Gen1
    • Do DSDT override and you will disable the dGPU from Setup 1.30

    - You can change the pcie port speed back to gen2 after everything works.

    - Remove your old AMD driver with DDU

    - Install Setup 1.30

     

    Disassembly

    The wifi mPCIe port is located under the caps lock LED so you have to get rid off the top cover of the case.

    Optibay users can cut off the slim part of the bay to get enough space for the hdmi cable.

    post-39777-144950011898_thumb.jpg

    If you have any problems with the disassembly just follow this video:

    Asus done some wierd mPCIe implementation on this notebook so you have to isolate PIN 22 on the GDC Beast mPCIe connector. (more info from sNullp)

    You can find the mPCIe pinout here: PCI Express Mini Card (Mini PCIe) pinout diagram @ pinoutsguide.com

    I just used electrical tape to solve this problem, luckily the neighbour pins are unused so you have enough space for the *magic*.

    If you don't do it your timing on the GDC Beast won't work (no long green light near the switches) and you can't bypass the POST screen hang with egpu connected -> setup 1.3 never detects your eGPU. (windows will after sleep-plug-wake but with error 12 so its a dead end)

     

    Set the switches on the EXP GDC to CTD 6s and PTD 14s.

    Plug all the cables in and fire up the system.

    Wait at the os selection page until the green light goes off and the egpu fans starts to work.

     

    Enter Setup 1.3 and

     

    1. if you used the bios mod you can simply PCI Compact -> igp+egpu
    2. if you done the DSDT override you simply Video Cards -> dGPU off, PCI Compact -> 56.25GB -> igpu + egpu -> force igpu to 32bit

     

    Chainload to your os and start windows.

     

    Install the Radeon driver, don't reboot with egpu connected (POST hangs with amd gfx), always do shutdown-restart instead.

    If everything goes, no freezes, no random disconencts then try setting the mPCIe port speed to Gen2.

     

    Numbers

    3dmark

    FIRE STRIKE 1.1: 7719@Gen1 | 8438@Gen2

     

    Graphics Score 10412@Gen1 | 11578@Gen2

    Physics Score 5903@Gen1 | 6178@Gen2

    Combined Score 3116@Gen1 | 3396@Gen2

     

    With my dGPU, i get 830 (820/6200/314) points.

    SKY DIVER 1.0: 18923@Gen1 | 19766@Gen2

     

    Graphics Score: 35536@Gen1 | 38899@Gen2

    Physics Score: 6130@Gen1 | 6219@Gen2

    Combined Score: 13757@Gen1 |13910 @Gen2

     

    CLOUD GATE 1.1: 13164@Gen1 | 15158@Gen2

     

    Graphics Score: 48568@Gen1 | 60916@Gen2

    Physics Score: 3707@Gen1 | 4177@Gen2

     

    3dmark11: 10123@Gen1 | 11209@Gen2

     

    Graphics Score: 13492@Gen1 | 16003@Gen2

    Physics Score: 5969@Gen1 | 6092@Gen2

    Combined Score: 5537@Gen1 | 5643@Gen2

    Graphics Test 1: 48.35 fps@Gen1 | 61.62 fps@Gen2

    Graphics Test 2: 75.07 fps@Gen1 | 82.35 fps@Gen2

    Graphics Test 3: 91.53 fps@Gen1 | 104.7 fps@Gen2

    Graphics Test 4: 43.0 fps@Gen1 | 51.1 fps@Gen2

    Physics Test: 18.95 fps@Gen1 | 19.34 fps@Gen2

    Combined Test: 25.76 fps@Gen1 | 26.25 fps@Gen2

     

    Dota2

    With the default renderer i get ~25-28fps in every video setting, using the -DX11 arg 60-90fps on highest settings.

     

    Not Stable!

    I currently have random connection issues even on Gen1 speed, the screen hangs for 2-3sec and then usually amd driver restores the egpu.

    This happens usually after 1-2 hour if im in one game but in 3dmark i can't run all the tests at once at gen2.

    So no random fps drops only random gpu drops :)

     

    Update:

    Same issue with PE4C-PM060A V3.0.

    Thanks for @nando4 helping out with the PIN22 idea and ofc for the awesome Setup1.3 program.

    post-39777-14495001189621_thumb.jpg

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    Guest Alexey

    Guest Alexey

    Posted

    Are you solve problem with random connection issues? I have same notebook - ASUS N53SN and same problem. But i use Gen2 and NVIDIA GTX960. And don`t use DYI eGPU 1.30, only bios mod(with unlocked Chipset tab).

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    Guest Mitchbong

    Guest Mitchbong

    Posted

    I wish to ask if you guys reduce your RAM to only 2 Gb? Windows 7 could detect the Graphic card. however once I updated to Windows 10 it won't even detect anymore.

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    Doink

    @Alexey  try with a different psu if you can, i ended up in this thread. Forcing clock speeds with MSI Afterburner and putting things far away from each other works fine for me. It only crashes if i plug something into an electric socket in my room like a notebook charger. So its not related to gen1/gen2, i am using it on gen2 speed.

     

    @Mitchbong no, if you lowered your TOLUD or went on the dsdt override route then there is no point to use only 2gb ram is you have more.

    Edited by Doink

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