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USB3 using the USB3380 chip


oripash

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  • 2 months later...

Hey there!

 

I've been doing extensive research over the past few days, looking for a solution to my, 2016 MacBook retina problems. As you probably know, it has a single USB-C port. It is a 3.1 port, not a TB3 port, and therefore I'm unable to connect something such as the Razer Core to it.

 

Now, I've been looking far and wide over the net, and have not come across an answer to this question yet. All of the threads which I have found, which mention the possibility of USB 3.0 and eGPUs are all from a long time ago (2013-2014) and mention the USB 3.0 to PCIe board which was released some time ago (http://www.bplus.com.tw/Adapter/USB3380EVB.html) which won't function as an eGPU solution due to driver issues.

 

Since then, these have been released:

1. The U3M2M M.2 PCIe SSD to USB3.0 Adapter, which allows for an M.2 PCIE SSD (M key, B/M key) to run via USB 3.0 (http://www.bplus.com.tw/Adapter/U3M2M.html)

2. U3M2B M.2 SATA SSD to USB3.0 Adapter, which allows for an M.2 SATA SSD (B key, B/M key) to run via USB 3.0 (http://www.bplus.com.tw/Adapter/U3M2B.html). I will get to this later.

 

What's to stop the PE4C V4.1 (PCIe x16 Adapter) (http://www.bplus.com.tw/Adapter/PE4C V4.1.html) from running with the USB 3.0 to M.2 via M key? They both use the PCIe Gen2 5Gb/s interface. Which I think is the maximum speed of USB 3.0 as well.

 

Back to number 2, the M.2 (B key, B/M key) to USB 3.0 adapter. The P14S-P14FP, which is a M.2 (B/M key) to PCIe X2 Edge Extender Board (http://www.bplus.com.tw/ExtenderBoard/P14S-P14F.html) which has been shown to work as an eGPU solution (https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/4l5puj/i_couldnt_wait_for_anyone_to_release_an_external/) with the  Intel Skull Canyon NUC. Though, I'm not sure whether he plugged it into a B key or M key slot. What's to stop the same device working with the M.2 (B key, B/M key) to USB 3.0 adapter?

 

I'm not an expert at any of this, and have only been researching for a few days, but I'd like to know the chances of this working. Am I missing something regarding the hardware differences between all 3 technologies, or would the USB 3.0 to PCIe driver issue still be present with the M.2 connection in between?

 

Any insight would be appreciated! Thanks!

Edited by crs
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42 minutes ago, Dschijn said:

I really wouldn't consider USB as an option. Better wait for TB3 MacBooks.

 

I would, but who knows how long that will be. The keynote's tonight actually, and although I highly doubt it, hardware could be unveiled.

 

Also, why would you not consider USB 3.0 as an option? The PE4C V4.1 has a maximum speed of 5Gb/s, which matches USB 3.0's transfer rate. As far as I'm aware, the PCIe to ExpressCard solution to Sonnet Echo Pro ExpressCard/34 to Thunderbolt Adapter would run at the exact same speed. The person who attached the M.2 to PCIe X2 Edge Extender Board to his NUC said that it was only a 50% performance loss at x2 PCIe 1.1 with a specific throughput of (Up to 2.5Gpbs). So I expect that performance loss to at least somewhat decrease with double the amount of throughput, which is more than enough for my needs.

 

Considering I'm going to be using this MacBook  for a while, taking it travelling with me next year, I'm just looking for a short term solution (about a year), and considering the total cost of this solution would only be ~200 USD, I think it would be reasonable for my needs. I'm not after an incredible amount of power, just enough to power a couple 1440p monitors.

Edited by crs
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  • 1 month later...

Hi guys, I'm new to this egpu stuff so please forgive me if I get some stuff wrong here. I was looking for a cheap way to build an egpu. I have a razer blade stealth but the core is too expensive to ship to Ireland. while looking at bplus I saw this:http://www.bplus.com.tw/Adapter/PP1142.html, a usb type c to pcie adapter. the pcie end is male, but bplus has another product, the http://www.bplus.com.tw/ExtenderBoard/P21S-P21F.html. bplus shows how two of these can be mix and matched to form a x1 female to female adapter. from there a x1 male to x16 female adapter should be relatively cheap, such as this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-PCI-E-PCI-Express-x1-To-x16-Adapter-Extender-Cable-Riser-Card-/251445767017?hash=item3a8b55eb69:g:OSwAAMXQDfdRpiXy. the below image shows an port for a sata power connector. is it possible to run an egpu through this setupPP1142_1.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Markiner6
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7 hours ago, Tech Inferno Fan said:

Might be possible. Maybe have a go and report your results?

 

I'd be inclined to try this instead: https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/10212-us280-inxtron-thunderbolt-3-hdk/

 

The inxtron is still expensive enough for $280 but would probably work better. who do you think qualifies as a 'thunderbolt developer'?

45 minutes ago, Dschijn said:

Imho USB is still NO option for eGPUs.

USB 3.1 has 10gbs bandwidth the same as thunderbolt, so why could it not work? I don't mean t be rude but it looks like it might work

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8 minutes ago, Markiner6 said:

The inxtron is still expensive enough for $280 but would probably work better. who do you think qualifies as a 'thunderbolt developer'?

USB 3.1 has 10gbs bandwidth the same as thunderbolt, so why could it not work? I don't mean t be rude but it looks like it might work

 

Sry.. won't work.  http://www.bplus.com.tw/Adapter/PP1142.html provides USB-C and SATA to a desktop machine via it's pci-e slot.

 

Either look at a TB3 or mPCIe/M.2 eGPU adapter/enclosure to connect via the TB3 port or wifi slot respectively.

 

 

 

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11 minutes ago, Tech Inferno Fan said:

 

Sry.. won't work.  http://www.bplus.com.tw/Adapter/PP1142.html provides USB-C and SATA to a desktop machine via it's pci-e slot.

 

Either look at a TB3 or mPCIe/M.2 eGPU adapter/enclosure to connect via the TB3 port or wifi slot respectively.

 

 

 

ok thanks will look at getting ixtron tb3 hdk

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4 hours ago, Markiner6 said:

USB 3.1 has 10gbs bandwidth the same as thunderbolt, so why could it not work? I don't mean t be rude but it looks like it might work

 

Still... USB is not going to work good for eGPUs. Get sth that is PCIe based, like Thunderbolt!

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