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2013 13" MBP + GTX970@16Gbps-TB2 (AKiTiO Thunder2) + Win8.1 [BigChief]


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Hello everyone, just sharing my egpu experience hoping it can help out anyone. For starters the laptop is a 2013 13" macbook pro me865lla, iris only graphics, i5 4258u. The card is a Zotac gtx 970 standard edition. I mainly went with this card because I got it for a great deal on amazon prime day, and the galax card isn't as available in the US.

Ordering the parts

1. Akitio thunder2 pcie box

2. Ordered this Akitio Egpu 8 Pin to 2 x PCI E 6 Pin Super Low Profile No Latch 1 x Barrel | eBay as found by dschijn.

3. Ordered Zotac Gtx 970

4. Ordered Dell Da2 power supply

Waiting for the parts to arrive

1. Did a regular install of bootcamp, and updated the drivers

2. Enabled Nvidias Optimus, following these steps http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/8558-%5Bguide%5D-macbook-enabling-optimus-internal-lcd-mode.html

3. I went ahead and installed the games i wanted to play.

After the parts arrived.

1. Removed the outer plate on Zotac card

2. Removed AKiTiO Fan

3. Hook up the PCIE 6 pin connectors to the card.

4. Hook up the 8 pin connector with the missing pin on the bottom side of the dell power supply, very important.

5. Route the wires however you like, and insall the card into the PCIE box.

<img width=400 src=http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn1/jonzie04cj/IMG_0089%201_zpsieewo9ri.jpg><img width=400 src=http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn1/jonzie04cj/IMG_0090_zps7hhdrers.jpg>

Ready to hook it up

1. Shut the computer down. Link the computer and AKiTiO via the provided TB2 cable, and boot the computer.

For me the computer recognized the thunderbolt device, but no graphics card. I went into Display Manager, and updated the drivers and voila. everything worked like a charm. After updating the drivers, go into Nvidia control panel and select their high performance card instead of the integrated graphics.

This specific card, and low profile PCIE connectors will all fit in the case if you want them to. as you can see in one of the pictures provided.

<img width=400 src=http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn1/jonzie04cj/IMG_0072_zpsctntvbxh.jpg><img width=400 src=http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn1/jonzie04cj/IMG_0075_zpskpkzyk5z.jpg>

Benchmark results

3dmark11.GPU=13634

Gaming Video

Video of some witcher 3

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- for recording gameplay the best tool is to use ShadowPlay of the GeForce Experience tool you installed with your driver.

- how hot is your card getting with the closed case? Better keep is open or try to improve cooling!

- Please don't video tape vertically >_<

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- for recording gameplay the best tool is to use ShadowPlay of the GeForce Experience tool you installed with your driver.

- how hot is your card getting with the closed case? Better keep is open or try to improve cooling!

- Please don't video tape vertically >_<

Thanks, I deleted the original video and recorded a new one using shadowplay. GPU Temps are very high with the case closed 75-80 °C. With the case open and the fans up to 55 the card stays below 65°C. And that spoiler is hilarious!

P.S. sorry nando, when I edited the original post the pictures got really big again.

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You should try and monitor your GPU a bit under load. If the card is reaching 80°C it will start to throttle and reduce it's clock speed -> less FPS.

If the card is too much on the 80°C cap, you should consider improving your cooling.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Tech Inferno Fan changed the title to 2013 13" MBP + GTX970@16Gbps-TB2 (AKiTiO Thunder2) + Win8.1 [BigChief]

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