lordromanov01

Anyone updated to Windows 10 yet? And if so, how will it affect eGPUs and Optimus?

Finally got the final adapter and finished my build!

Working great so far. I could make a dedicated post for it but I based mine on Dschijn's latest one (without the case modifications) so I wouldn't be able to add much information of value.

I narrowed down the problem to ACPI.sys. After looking into it, I found others with similar problems that suggested that a simple sleep/wake cycle solves it.

I tested this and found that CPU usage went from a constant 6-8% to 1% as it should be (although temps were still high but that could be down to something else).

I don't know how this cycle would affect Optimus and the eGPU however.

Well can you find out what process is causing the load? You can get more details in the task manager to reveal all tasks.

I could imagine that it maybe affected the power saving setting from the bootcamp drivers and you CPU doesn't reduce it's clock speed. Can you check the energie settings?

System, or more specifically, 'NT Kernel & System', called ntoskrnl.

Energy settings are all the same, but if I use ThrottleStop I see that the processor is staying at around 2300 MHz (with temps of 80 degrees). But even if I set a multiplier to keep it at just 800 MHz, the temperatures still stay high, in the 60s.

Ah the thunderbolt cable! Yes it works now! Thanks again.

Just now waiting for my 6 pin to 8 pin adapter and I should be good to go!

Edit: My card seems to fit with the fan still in the enclosure. Should I switch it round so it blows out the front to help with cooling do you think? As the card will be drawing in air from the front so this fan could act as an exhaust.

Almost everything has arrived now! I have modified the 6 pin y splitter to fit the barrel plug for the AKiTiO but I cannot get the AKiTiO green light to come on. I used the paperclip trick so now the DA-2 light is green instead of orange. Am I doing something wrong or is it working normally? This is without the card attached.

Can you post a picture? Is the Thunder2 connected by Thunderbolt?

Ah the thunderbolt cable! Yes it works now! Thanks again.

Just now waiting for my 6 pin to 8 pin adapter and I should be good to go!

Edit: My card seems to fit with the fan still in the enclosure. Should I switch it round so it blows out the front to help with cooling do you think? As the card will be drawing in air from the front so this fan could act as an exhaust.

So what actual cables do I need to get?

How do I connect the DA-2 to both the molex-to-barrel connector and an 8pin card? I'm quite new to all this.

I have ordered the parts for my own eGPU (finally) and have now read this thread and am starting to change my mind.

Currently I have a CX430M PSU on its way which I would use with a custom molex to power the AKiTiO and a 970 (1 8 pin) but it seems like this DA-2 is a better option.

If I understand correctly, all I need to do is cancel the PSU order and instead get the DA-2 and two PCIe splitters?

Would this work with the rest of my setup? It sounds like others here are ending up with a 6 pin connector for the card where mine needs an 8 pin, if that makes any difference.

After following these steps my MBP now runs hotter. Task Manager says that 'System' is using up ~12% of CPU usage pretty much constantly, and idle temperatures are about 60-65 degrees where before they were around 40-45.

Any idea why this is the case? And is there a way to fix it?

I have been watching these forums for a few months now watching as you all progress with setting up eGPUs. I finish my university exams in a week or so and plan to possibly make my own afterwards!

Your most recent setup looks like the best of the lot so far, but I have a couple of questions.

I don't think I will be comfortable with modifying the AKiTiO case like you have, so I think my plan will be to have a small 970 inside the enclosure but without the case over it, if that makes sense. Would this work well? And would I need extra fans to help out the card?

You mentioned overclocking the card and how it got to 80˚C so you had to dial it back. How hot does the card get when running it at stock clocks?

Sorry about all the questions, I just want to have everything worked out before I go for it!

For those in Europe, this looks like the best place to get the AKiTiO @ €220. This with shipping equates to about £180. Various UK places now sell this but for just over £200.

RE: http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides/8558-%5Bguide%5D-macbook-enabling-optimus-internal-lcd-mode.html

@Evo*, does this still require an EVGA GPU to work properly? Or would it work the same with any make?

Yes, my implementation requires Windows 8.1 Boot Camp installation. Not sure about Windows 7, because I haven't tested it. May be possible that it doesn't work.

Thank you. Am I correct in thinking that Windows 8 now boots via EFI when using Boot Camp? I think about a year ago one had to avoid Boot Camp and install manually to enable that.

...<quote=dernils;103273>

- Windows 8.1 Boot Camp installation?

I bought mine also from MacWay in France.

</quote=dernils;103273>

Does this implementation require Windows 8.1? Can it work with Windows 7?

I got the following results by using the original 12V/5A power adapter only and PCIe riser half way plugged + black probe on the screw hole, without thunderbolt card, without graphics card:

test point -> voltage

C3 -> 12.3V left side, 0V right side

C2 -> 0V lower, 12.3V upper

C4 -> 12.3V lower, 0V upper

J6 -> from down to up 0V, 0V, 12.3V, 12.3V

2nd PCIe pin -> 0.36V

That -1V offset value was less earlier, got -0.7 and -0.8 readings and it looked like to grow, and the other 11V changed respectively. I think this is the point where I stop my multimeter testing, because I don't want to blow up my board It is still working properly, Optimus enabled.

So what is the conclusion after all this testing? I thought it was established a few pages back that the 25 W slot with a PSU (with 6 and/or 8 pin plugs) was enough by itself? Thanks for taking the time to do this by the way.

...

Powered riser is not required, but if you use it, AKiTiO's power supply is not necessary. You can take out the backplane + thunderbolt card from the box and put full length, more powerful GPU directly connected to the x16 slot and use AKiTiO's power supply as it is or 12V Molex to 5.5/2.5mm barrel plug adapter cable from ATX PSU. Unfortunately it seems that there is that 25W limit, so that 750Ti cannot work without connecting 6pin power plug. I tried with my own 12V barrel plug which should feed enough power (if making this kind of cable, make sure that you are using correct polarity and test it with multimeter). Anyway, great news is that GTX 780 works with 8pin + 6pin plugs connected (150W + 75W) and the rest 25W from the PCIe slot, maximum total power is 250W which is just enough for GTX 780.

So if using a GTX 760 (max power 170W) one wouldn't need the powered riser? It uses two 6-pin plugs so that's 75W + 75W + 25W (from PCIe) = 175W. Is that cutting it too close?

EDIT: I got that wrong before: the 760 has 6-pin and 8-pin plugs so power shouldn't be a concern, even with overclocking

Hi all. I am thinking of setting up an eGPU for a Retina MacBook Pro 15 with Iris Pro only. I would do this with a Sonnet SEL and an EVGA GTX 760, via Thunderbolt 2. I would like to use Optimus to use the internal screen.

Can someone please tell me what the steps would be to do this? I have a disk with Windows 7 on it, but I've read about 8.1 being better. Also things about installing with EFI? I understand that installing 8.1 EFI doesn't use the standard Bootcamp way. I'm not sure what exactly to do. Thanks.

What cables are needed for this configuration? I understand that it would be just one thunderbolt cable to connect the MacBook to the Sonnet SEL (I can't find the AKiTiO in the UK) when using an external screen, but if I wanted to use Optimus to use internal screen, would another cable be needed?