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DIY eGPU Macbook experiences


oripash

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And also sorry dfor all this questions be I want to be sure for the build. Would this work if I cut the 6 pin and take only one

barrel plug? http://www.amazon.com/PCI-E-6-Pin-2-5mm-Barrel-RockMiner/dp/B00LNDJ6F8/ref=pd_sim_147_22?ie=UTF8&refRID=19VG7J41KSQCN1HFGVQC

Also do I need to buy this or it is in the akitio thunder case? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GWM5TH4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2LG6SUAZFT9TS

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The Y-cable is good if you choose to take the DA-2 PSU.

The barrel plug cable should work, yes. Just keep in mind, if you want to use that 6-Pin on that barrel cable, that you have enough for the GPU. Might have to use the y-cable.

The SWEX is only requiered if you want to switch on/off a desktop PC PSU. Nando4 modded the SWEX to combine it with a Dell DA-2, but that involved sodering.

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So I need to order the Y-cable only once and the PCI-E 6-Pin to (3) 2.5mm DC Barrel Plug also only once(if I cut it)? And I coundn't buy the other cable you told me was good because it was saying no shipping in switzerland for this type of product XD.

And also here is my list with all the website to buy the products(wich one of the barrel plug are better):

Graphic card(1 time):

http://www.galaxstore.net/GALAX-NVIDIA-GEFORCE-GTX-970-OC-4GB-p/97nph6dt8rvz.htm

Power(1 time):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004578NQW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3RCB7N5A6MA1J

Case(1 time):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LTAUTHE/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3JMVXSR9U5GE6

Barel Plug(1 time):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JG7AGDY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2X6P52S5O7ZVU

http://www.skycraftsurplus.com/19453plconndcpwrplug55x25.aspx

Thunderbolt cable(1 time):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0084L760O/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3VVSNFYKYYMUQ

2x6-Pin PCIe splitter(2 or 1times?????):

http://www.amazon.com/PCI-Express-Video-Y-Splitter-Adapter-Supply/dp/B00VWEGKD4/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1433333904&sr=1-3-fkmr2&keywords=2x6-Pin+PCIe+splitter

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Where are you from? In Europe Galax or Galaxy cards are running under the brand: KFA2

KFA² GeForce GTX 970 Gamer OC, 4GB GDDR5, 2x DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort (97NPH6DT8RVZ) Preisvergleich | Geizhals Deutschland

The ASUS card will NOT fit if you want to close the case, in length it is ok but you will only be able to use the inner cage of the AKiTiO.

PSU and case are good.

Barrel plug is ok if you use both. The amazon plugs are just 2.1mm in the inside, you would need 2.5 as in the 2nd link. So you can use the amazon cable, cut of all 3 barrel plugs and put the 3 red wires into the + port of the screw terminals and the 3 black wires into the - port.

Why 1m TB cable? AKiTiO will ship with 0.5m cable. If you want length, get at least 2m.

TWO y-cables if you want to use the Dell DA-2.

I don't think that you will be able to make a closed setup, so if you are comfortable with using just the inner cage the ASUS card is fine. With the ASUS card you will only need ONE y-cable (6pin -> 2x8-Pin that you linked).

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Thank you for everything you informed me and I tried to check everythings up and now is my final list : THANK YOU ! You don't think I will close the case with even the galax? Also It doesn't really matter if I can't close the case I just want a super power Egpu. If you think I cannot close the case what graphic card do you recommend ?

Graphic card:

KFA² GeForce GTX 970 Gamer OC Black Edition, 4GB GDDR5 256-bit Dual DVI-I/DVI-D/HDMI/DP1.2 günstig online kaufen bei ATELCO

OR

http://www.amazon.com/Asus-GTX970-DCMOC-4GD5-ASUS-Graphics-Cards/dp/B00RL2SLAG

Power:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004578NQW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3RCB7N5A6MA1J

Case:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LTAUTHE/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3JMVXSR9U5GE6

Barel Plug:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JG7AGDY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2X6P52S5O7ZVU

and

5.5mm x 2.5mm DC Power Plug to Screw Terminal Adapter

2x6-Pin PCIe splitter (2 times or 1 time with the asus):

Amazon.com: PCI-Express 6 Pin to 2 x 8 Pin (6+2) Video Card Y-Splitter Adapter Power Supply Cable: Electronics

And Again Thank you !!!

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If you want to close the case, you will have to make further adjustments:

http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/10099-2012-15-macbook-pro-gtx970%4010gbps-tb1-akitio-thunder2-win7-osx10-10-3-%5Bbsohn%5D.html

http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/9821-2014-15-macbook-pro-iris-gtx970%4016gbps-tb2-akitio-thunder2-win8-1-%5Bdschijn-2%5D.html#post131966

You will need 90°C angled low profile PCIe plugs adapters to close the case: http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/9951-low-profile-pcie-connectors-discussion.html

Additionally you have to route the power into the closed case… please take a look at the two builds.

In the end your list seems good :)

If you want to, I can solder the barrel plug. You just have to pay for the shipping costs from Germany. ;)

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Yeah thanks! And btw for the Titan X, I should get at least a 750W PSU to be safe right?!
No… that would be for a full desktop PC system. You should be good to go with a modern 500-550W PSU.

Not even that, I'm using an 80+ gold 450W for my Titan X, and I'm able to OC it. I reckon a 350W 80+ gold or better might even suffice.

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@Mark: True, but by mentioning that you are going to confuse people again. My mantra regarding powerful PSUs is to avoid later stability problems and confusions about the PCIe power plugs.

Most 500+W PSUs have all the requiered plugs to power any modern GPU, where however only some high end 400-450W PSUs do have that plugs. It is not that expensive to play safe here and go with a 500W PSU.

Additionally the PSU will work quieter and more efficient :D

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Hello,

I've been following these forums for over the past half year, as I've been always interested in super boosting my Late 2013 15" rMBP with the 750m at 2.6 GHz.

Especially with upcoming titles like Arkham Knight and other demanding titles, since I haven't picked up a next-gen console, I don't want to miss out!

So I'm considering to finally make my own set up! Yet, it's important to note that I'm a complete noob when it comes to these things... It seems I've come to hit a dead end as I do not understand how to power an Akitio and the given GPU at the same time? Can't you power them individually? The Akitio with the supplied plug and the GPU with another PSU? Could some one explain this process in detail?

Anyway here are the parts I'm planning to buy. (Amazon links are from Germany because I live there)

GPU: GTX 970 (for 1080p gaming)

GIGABYTE VGA nVIDIA GTX970 4GB DDR5: Amazon.de: Computer & Zubehör

Akitio Box: http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00NQ23TCU/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2B4X5FOWFI7LW

I'm conflicted about the power supply, I feel like the Dell DA-2 would look more tidy... Yet I'm still torn, thoughts? (Otherwise I'll opt for a standard PSU)

http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B002IS90YO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A16VFA7X2JOHA0

(Also throwing in an Xbox One Play Kit controller to play the games)

Is this set up good? What parts am I missing that'll be able to power both the GPU and Akitio Box? I'm not to familiar with these small adapters ...

Thanks!!

:48_002:

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Which card do you recommend as an alternative?

Yeah I've read all that, but which cables do I need to purchase to make this all possible? Apart from the 5.5 X 2.5mm DC Power adapter

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Page one here has a list of cards: http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/7205-us%24189-akitio-thunder2-pcie-box-16gbps-tb2.html

I wrote in the basic guide to be aware of the width! I am using a Galax/Galaxy/KFA2 GTX 970 Gamer OC.

What cables you need depends on the PSU you want to use...

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So from the Dell > y-cable > y-cable > into 970 & Akitio

Almost, take a look at this post: http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/9426-220w-dell-da-2-ac-adapter-discussion-4.html#post134037

Dell -> Y-cable -> barrel plug into the AKiTiO and y-cable -> GPU

And everything will work?

Well… what do you have in mind? Playing games on an external display in Windows 8.1 will work, yes.

(Why can't you just power the Akitio with its own supplied adapter?)

You could use the stock PSU, but Bitcoin miners have shown that using multiple PSUs in one system can cause ground loops and could damage your hardware. E.g. all the power will use the AKiTiO as ground what it is not capable of.

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Hello everyone,

Wasted a day but cannot solve the issue and get stuff working. Set up is the following:

- MacBook Pro 15" mid 2012, bootcamp Win 8.1 x64, Nvidia drivers v353.06 (the latest for now)

- Gigabyte GV-N970G1 GAMING-4GD (GTX 970) inside Akitio Thunder2

- powered by Akitio power supply + PSU 500W --> 6+2 and 6 to GPU

The problem is that Windows cannot enable device, in Device Manager system says:

This device cannot find enough free resources that it can use. (Code 12)

If you want to use this device, you will need to disable one of the other devices on this system.

What can cause the issue? In Mac OS X GTX 970 is not visible in the list however Akitio Thunder2 listed.

Any ideas?

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