Dschijn

Yes, when using a powered riser the power from the riser can also power the AKiTiO!

Yes there is a Dell DA-2: http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/8304-gtx970-dell-da-2-test-results.html But keep in mind that you might need to rearrange the wires.

Here is a review: Review: MSI GS30 Shadow with GamingDock - Laptop - HEXUS.net

No!

Good job!

Oh nice idea. I am following the guy in a german forum.

Here is a list of all laptops with TB available in germany. So you have an idea what is on the market: Notebooks mit Anschlüsse: Thunderbolt Preisvergleich | Geizhals Deutschland

This is going to be a Thread where I would like to collect possible eGPU cases. This is interessting for people who would like to use e.g. the AKiTIO Thunder2 with - a riser card - long and powerful graphics card - better cooling - desktop PSU ------------------------------------------------------ Please be aware that some cases need a 90° riser, because a flexible riser can't handle the lack of space (e.g. Cooler Master Elite series): http://www.delock.de/produkte/G_41788/merkmale.html?setLanguage=en ------------------------------------------------------ Silverstone - FTZ01 - Fortress Series - SilverStone Technology Co., Ltd.- INTRODUCTION?FTZ01 - FT03 - Fortress Series - SilverStone Technology Co., Ltd.- INTRODUCTION?FT03 - FT03 Mini - Fortress Series - SilverStone Technology Co., Ltd.- INTRODUCTION?FT03-MINI - RVZ01 - Raven Series - RAVEN by SilverStone - RVZ02 - Raven Series - even slimmer version - announced @ CES 2015 - ML07 - Milo Series - SilverStone Technology Co., Ltd.- INTRODUCTION?ML07 - ML08 - Milo Series - http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?area=de&pid=607 - SG05 - Sugo Series - SilverStone Technology Co., Ltd.- INTRODUCTION?SG05 - SG13 - Sugo Series - SilverStone Technology Co., Ltd.- INTRODUCTION?SG13 Cooler Master - Elite 130 - Elite Series - Cooler Master: Elite 130 - Elite 120 Advanced - Elite Series - Cooler Master: Elite 120 Advanced - Elite 110 - Elite Series - Cooler Master: Elite 110 Lian Li - Lian Li PC-Q01A - Xigmatek - Xigmatek Octans - http://www.xigmatek.com/product.php?productid=237 dan - A4 - A4: The smallest gaming case series in the world - [H]ard|Forum Ncase - M1 - https://www.ncases.com/ In Win - 901 - http://www.inwin-style.com/en/ EVGA Hadron Air - http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=110-MA-1001-K1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SFX-PSUs: SilverStone - Strider Series - SST-ST30SF 300W - 1x6-Pin PCIe SilverStone - Strider Series - SST-ST45SF 450W - 1x6-Pin + 1x8-Pin PCIe SilverStone - Strider Gold Series - SST-ST45SF-G 450W - 1x6-Pin + 1x8-Pin PCIe SilverStone - Strider Series - SST-SX600-G 600W - 2x8-Pin PCIe be quiet! - SFX Power 2 400W - 1x8-Pin PCIe be quiet! - SFX Power 2 400W - 1x8-Pin PCIe SFX-L-PSUs (120mm fan): Silverstone - SX500-LG - 2x8-Pin PCIe - SilverStone Technology Co., Ltd.- INTRODUCTION?SX500-LG Chieftec - SFX-500GD-C - 2x8-Pin PCIe - SFX-500GD-C (500Watt / SFX-Form factor / 80PLUS Gold)

Please try: - plug in the TB cable after Windows booted (maybe it is just a matter of setting up the correct displays) - follow the Optimus guide I posted above

@Oscar J: That might work. Maybe you can take a look into guides with OSX and AMD eGPU working. For the rest, besides the GPU, you can take a look at my guide and setup. I tried to link all the hardware you need. http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides/8571-%5Bguide%5D-2014-15-macbook-pro-iris-gtx970%4016gbps-tb2-akitio-thunder2-win8-1-a.html

In OSX or Windows? Can you test the card in a PC?

Thanks, no problem. The eGPU didn't work for me at all in OSX, but that seems be a problem of the mid 2014 MBP, so I stopped trying (couldn't get it working at all). If you want to be safe side, you should consider a GTX 780 / 780Ti. Sorry Akkarin, I don't think that I am the right person to talk to or this thread here is the right on. Please try to find a better thread here: DIY e-GPU Projects

You could try and get a very powerful Laptop PSU (more than 200W, better 250-300W) and solder an 8-Pin adapter to it. But that would be a hell of a DIY ^^ Here is someone stuggeling with the limited power offered by a Laptop PSU: http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/8304-gtx970-dell-da-2-test-results.html With that you could provide the 8-Pin power directly to the GPU (careful with the correct Pins, maybe you need an adapter so rearrange the Pins to match the PCIe specs).

Yes, only Windows 8.1! I tried OSX but that isn't easy with a 2014 MBPr and the GTX 970 As you can see in my Benchmarks, it works on the internal display (called Optimus) or the external display (best performance). In the near future hopefully yes. But right now I really like the fact that I only use it in Windows. So my OSX system is deadly quiet and for gaming performance I reboot into Windows 8.1. A MBA isn't the best gaming device, that is for sure. But you can increase your 3D performance tremendously! Be aware that the MBA has (imho) 3 down sides: - 2 core CPU with low clocks - not a good CPU cooler (the CPU will throttle and reduce it's clockspeed) - all MBA only use TB1 and limit the possible 3D performance, even more on the internal screen! But I would say that an eGPU can be used for future MB, until we have to/can switch to TB3.

Added some 3dMark11 benchmarks!

Can do that, sure. Will add that to this post later. I am using a 15" MBPr mid 2014. 512GB SSD, 16GB Ram, Iris Pro GPU only, 2.5GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.7GHz. Extreme can't do because that is not possible in the "free" version of 3dMark11. But Performance I benchmarks I did. Just odd that my external display setup is giving me a worse Physics score. (All test done with -75mV CPU voltage, GPU with 110% power target and +70 GPU and +20 memory clock speed): external display: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4870HQ Processor,Apple Inc. Mac-3CBD00234E554E41 interna displayl: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4870HQ Processor,Apple Inc. Mac-3CBD00234E554E41 external display (CPU fans @ 100%): http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/9267439 More detailed 3dMark11 Benchmarks in my Guide now: http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides/8571-%5Bguide%5D-2014-15-macbook-pro-iris-gtx970%4016gbps-tb2-akitio-thunder2-win8-1-a.html#post116865

Windows or OSX?

The MSI was my first card. Very nice card, but I that card and a replacement card had coil whine. I think you should keep the GTX 980, because you need every additional performance you can get.

You are still describing your problem/setup/what you already did, not very precisely. Maybe this will help: http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides/8558-%5Bguide%5D-macbook-enabling-optimus-internal-lcd-mode.html#post110757 Or my 15" Guide: http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides/8571-%5Bguide%5D-2014-15-macbook-pro-iris-gtx970%4016gbps-tb2-akitio-thunder2-win8-1-a.html

I think I read the the CPU will be overclocked, if the Laptop is in the dock. But 13" and cooling a Quadcore… woaaa… let's wait for the benchmarks.

A little "off topic" - Windows 8 can do screenshots with pressing cmd+F14 Considering the facts that you only want to play games on the internal screen, a GTX 970 would be the better choice. BUT is there really no chance to play on an external display (in the furture)? I am using a GTX 970 because of budget reasons and not really pleased with the card because it has a loud coil whine/buzzing under load (like many other people). EVGA released one week ago a new version of the GTX 970 SSC and will release a new GTX 970 FTW+ with better components to reduce that problem. Until I can switch (by RMA) to a FTW+ and test I it, I will not recommend this cards. Also most eGPU setups are not inside a heavily damped case under the desk and you can easily hear false GTX 970s. Still… if you want to play games in high resolutions on the Retina display you need every bit of raw processing power! Bottomline: If you can afford it, stick with the GTX 980 or consider switching to the new 970 SSC (careful there is an old/not one still on the market as well) or the 970 FTW+.

Valley I can do now (give me 5min). But 3dMark 11 Benchmarks do I have already from my first Guide: http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides/7879-%5Bguide%5D-2013-13-macbook-pro-gtx970%4016gbps-tb2-akitio-thunder2-win8-1-osx10-10-a.html Results are: internal Display (Optimus): 8205 Link external Display: 8250 Link Edit: Oh boy, that Heaven Benchmark gave me a headache. Didn't want to open 2650x1600 in windowed mode, but was possible after starting and quiting that resolution in fullscreen:

ThrottleStop we can't because we can't open it anymore ^^

ThrottleStop 7.0 Beta here: http://forum.techinferno.com/members/unclewebb.htm?tab=aboutme#aboutme - - - Updated - - - Huh... but is there a reason it is limited in time? Is it code and can't be changed? Is it limited because it's beta and not supposed to work without any limitation? I don't see any reason to limit it in time.... pity us

The XTU tool isn't saving them outside of the software. So it needs to be running. You can save it as a profile and load that profile with every boot (still have to open the tool). The ThrottleStop 7.0 beta is better. You can safe it as a profile, load that profile by default and autostart the app. Unfortunately the ThrottleStop beta is limited in it's time (maybe 30days?). Maybe @Tech Inferno Fan can tell us where to get a ThrottleStop App which beta isn't "running out"?! - - - Updated - - - Oh, I can quit it? Good to know, thanks ^^ But why close it if it is already open?