Kaas93

Hello,

my EXP GDC Beast arrived so I started setting things up. I did DSDT override, disabled my dGPU GT 525M via Windows Device Manager and succesfully connected my eGPU GTX 750 through ExpressCard and installed drivers.

Everything works but the performance is somewhat weird. In some games I'm getting worse performance than I did with the GT525M with same settings, sometimes it's a few FPS better(around 10) and sometimes I can max out game and get way over 60 FPS while with GT 525M I was getting 30 at medium details(All tested games are recent, none older than 3 years). This is with output to internal screen(1366x768), I tried hooking it up to my TV while keeping the resolution same and almost all games ran a bit better but some performed almost the same.

I did not use the Setup 1.30 so I'm running at x1 1.1 connection. Would changing it in Setup 1.30 improve it or is something else wrong? I don't want to spend more money for something that won't improve the situation, that's why I ask. Also Thanks in advance.

The notebook is Lifebook AH531

i5 2430M

8 GBs of RAM

Win 7

GT 525M + Intel HD 3000

~snip, nando to the rescue

@Kaas93

I love it! Could you provide more pictures of your setup? I'd like to see some pics inside the enclosure with gpu mounted.

Here you go! Don't pay the 6-pin cable business any mind, I know it's a mess but I still need a direct 6-pin -> 2x 6-pin splitter

Just received my metal EXP GDC enclosure. Since I have the v6 I put this as a comment in my order, requesting the v6 version as instructed by Taobao customer service. The chassis itself is actually the same, but it now comes with an additional bottom piece for the EXP GDC v6 for it to mount in the chassis. Screwdrivers (allen & philips), nuts, screws and bolts are all included.

Also included as seen in the picture above is the 8-pin to 8-pin extension cord since the v6's 8-pin slot is positioned behind the grated metal.

Installed and ready to go

HI there ! I'm newcommer, and I bought the EXP GDC V7 ! but saldy, I've forget to take the optionnal (grrrrr) ATX cable it will take some time to receive... but i'have an AC (before use with a network router) can I use it for test ?

The spec of the AC :

INPUT : 230V ~50Hz 140ma

OUPUT : 12 V - 1A

And the CG it's a MSI gtx970

Thx (and sorry for bad english... I'm french )

Another really important specification of the psu is the wattage.. If it was used for a network router, it probably isn't powerful enough. That said, try getting a Dell DA-2 locally, it's powerful enough for your card and is quite portable.

@Kaas93 Yeah that should work! Make sure to use resistors since 5V is a bit too much for the leds.

Edit: my phone didn't open your link but I guess the led strip run off of 5v?

Sent from my iPhone

Yes, it's a led strip with a usb connection, it's designed to run off usb power, I'm just unsure whether perhaps the usb port on the EXP GDC v6 may provide too little power. I mean, it's really just a few leds but I'm not sure..

So.. Now that my egpu is working, I ordered the metal chassis! I'd like to put some leds in the chassis but the issue here is how to power it. Will the usb port on the EXP GDC v6 be able to power something like this? Accent Lighting - Red - antec.com

Two new EXP GDC items on yoybuy!

http://www.yoybuy.com/en/show/42062337651/?s=t

EXP GDC

The EXP GDC Beast seems to have an extra switch, wonder what it's for

Edit:

Extra timers

Setup 1.30 is the last option available if all others are exhausted. Other hardware tests you may consider are: (1) testing the video card in a desktop system to confirm it's working OR test another video card with your eGPU hardware (2) test the EXP GDC V6 with another notebook to confirm it can do reliable PCIe comms (3) test the EXP GDC V6 using a Gen1 rather than Gen2 pci-e link, an option available in the 2560P BIOS.

Gen 1 link did the trick, thanks a bunch @Tech Inferno Fan !

Setup 1.30 is the last option available if all others are exhausted. Other hardware tests you may consider are: (1) testing the video card in a desktop system to confirm it's working OR test another video card with your eGPU hardware (2) test the EXP GDC V6 with another notebook to confirm it can do reliable PCIe comms (3) test the EXP GDC V6 using a Gen1 rather than Gen2 pci-e link, an option available in the 2560P BIOS.

Ah I forgot to mention the 560ti did run just fine in my desktop, I tested the EXP with an old 8800gt and it didn't work (although that may just be because that GPU is so old). I don't really have another laptop with an expresscard, but I'll give Gen1 link a shot. If that won't work I'll PM you about Setup 1.30.

So, I haven't been able to tinker around with my EXP GDC v6 for a while so I still haven't got it working. Short recap in case you don't remember; I have an Elitebook 2560p (i5-2520m, 8 GB ram) on Windows 8.1 (installed on a GPT partition), an EXP GDC v6 over expresscard and an nVidia GTX 560 ti 2GB. Before I installed Windows on a GPT partition the device gave an error 12. Since installing on GPT, this no longer occurs. The issue atm is that the GPU still basically doesnt do anything. It shows up as this in GPU-Z:

Since my last post I've bought an optiplex 755 for my girlfriend to work on and to test my Dell DA-2 with. Turns out the DA-2 is fine after all. Tried the EXP GDC with both a separate PSU and the DA-2 but no difference.

So @Tech Inferno Fan , do I need Setup 1.x to fix this? Because I think I exhausted your other possible fixes and none worked for me.

Try switching the PCIe Reset Delay switch to the right. Then halt Win7/8 loading with F8/F12 and hotplug the expresscard into the expresscard slot, then continue loading Win7/8.

If still no go, then (with switch on right), sleep machine, power off eGPU, then resume it to see if that resolves the problem. Ensure all PCIe power connectors are receiving power too.

The first had no use, powering the egpu during sleep and then resuming made it work ONCE, I got so excited that I immediately booted up Furmark to test it which resulted in a BSOD and afterwards I couldn't get it to work another time. Any more options ? Or can it be helped by Setup 1.3?

Almost there. Now flick the EXP GDC V6 little black slider switch on the far left to the left position to enable PCI Reset Delay. Then restart the EXP GDC V6 just before notebook (or if have the Dell DA-2, let it do it automatically). That will bypass BIOS hang during boot AND delay PCI assertion such that when the eGPU does appear on the PCIe bus it will be in a better 'configured' state.

I've always had it on the left, otherwise it wouldn't boot at all. Any other things to try?

2570P and 8470P owners discovered that Win8.1 caused error 12 with NVidia cards that worked fine with Win7. The fix there was either to use Setup 1.30 or to do a UEFI installation of Win8.1. See details.

So I formatted my SSD to GPT, but I have no way to start up the installation under UEFI. I have a USB stick with the Windows 8 installation on it, it works alright but when I try to install windows to the GPT partition it says it can't install it there. BTW, I have UEFI boot enabled in the bios but it only lists the options "notebook upgrade bay", "os boot manager" and "notebook ethernet" as UEFI boot options. How can I UEFI boot from the usb stick?

EDIT:

Oops, seems like I may have spoken too soon. I tried booting from EFI now (wasn't listed in the bios as a boot option but it's there under F9 ) and that seems to have done it.

The GPU is now installed, NVidia drivers included. No more error 12! Thanks @Tech Inferno Fan! Only problem now is that erhm.. It doesn't really do anything. In GPU-Z the Pixel Fillrate, Texture Fillrate, Memory Type etc.. are unknown. I can't extend the screen to an external monitor and it doesn't show up in Furmark :/

2570P and 8470P owners discovered that Win8.1 caused error 12 with NVidia cards that worked fine with Win7. The fix there was either to use Setup 1.30 or to do a UEFI installation of Win8.1. See details.

Thanks!

I'll give that a shot, if it still won't work I'll contact you about Setup 1.30

Hmm... Win 8.1 has been kind to me regarding PCI space. I remember when setting up my Win7 Dell 6430 I had the same problems, since it was a protected work-station I couldn't use setup 1.x to solve the problem. What I did was different trial and error plugging unplugging of the power and Expresscard, eg. :

• powered eGPU up during boot
  
• powering up the eGPU during boot
  
• powering up the eGPU just after BIOS post
  
• powering up the eGPU just before WIN load screen
  
• powering up the eGPU just during WIN load screen
  

After some "random" plugging of this method it got registered for some reason. You could always try this!

Also, I remember one of my workstations had a bad EC-port which forced me to hold the expresscard pushed in with a little force to get connection, I did not let it "lock back" those 2mm that it normally do.

If none of this helps you, you might need the setup 1.x software. If so I would first consult with @Tech Inferno Fan for an opinion.

Nope, no luck :/

@Tech Inferno Fan

Could you tell me what to do/try?

I have an Elitebook 2560p with 8GB ram on Windows 8.1 and I get error 12 on the GTX560 ti.

Which GPU's are active in your system atm?

Also, test powering the eGPU just before win logo.

Just the intel HD 3000 and the gtx 560ti, I'll try that now and post the results of that

EDIT:

That didn't really work, but then again, it's kinda hard to time because the laptop boots pretty fast.

BTW:

In the DSDT override thread (used to battle error 12) it says the problem is known to occur in Elitebooks with an AMD GPU but mine doesn't have an AMD GPU :/

I also tried it with 2GB RAM in stead of 8GB, still the same problem.

Well, I tried it with the old PSU and it works now. Thank god the DA-2 was faulty, the EXP GDC / my laptop would've been harder to replace

I get this warning though:

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

Do I need Setup 1.x to get it to work with windows 8.1 ?

Orange light on DA-2 suggest that there is no power. Maybe you choose bad GPU Sice GTX 560 TI have a TDP level above 280W and DA-2 is offering only max 220W

Try standard PSU 450W+ with clean 12V line over 23A

How did You connect additional 6pin cables that you bought ??? maybe you made mistake and connect it wrong.

The 560ti draws about 170W according to Nvidia, so that should be fine. The 6-pin power goes from the EXP GDC to the Cooler Master 6-pin -> 6-pin cable to the 6-pin splitter cable to the GPU. There basically is only one way to connect it.

I was indeed planning on trying out an old PSU first. I've no clue whether the old PSU I have lying around my parents home somewhere is actually 450W+ though..

Bah.. I got everything ready now and... Nothing happens when I plug everything in. The GPU fan won't spin up, the 8-pin connector on the egpu board doesn't even light up blue (it should, right?). The light on the Dell DA-2 adapter is orange. Things I suppose could be broken are: expresscard port on my laptop, the EXP GDC, the Dell DA-2... Any suggestions?

Sorry I hate to burst your bubble but this is not the correct cable matey..

Just order from yoy buy man, it will cost like $10 bucks only

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

I know it's not the same as the original cable but it will fit on the Cooler Master 6-pin to 6-pin I already have!

Well, I found this splitter in a Dutch shop..

I should be able to attach this to the Cooler Master 6-pin -> 6-pin. Hopefully it arrives tomorrow (yeah, I just ordered it, don't want to wait any longer)

Ah, bummer!

Then this needs to be updated in the thread too.

As for the EXP GDC package, did you receive the ATX-cable at least?

Yep, that was included, but I have no use for it since I use the DA-2.

The banggood EXP GDC V6 advertising says

They've omitted the "1x 6 pin Graphics power cable". Something I'd recommend you chase up with banggood. Pls advise if this is a one off or other customers have been affected.

Ahh makes sense now, they did include the PSU adapter (which I have no use for since I'm using the DA-2). Sent a ticket to CS, hope they can still send me one. Just too bad it's probably gonna take weeks again.

I'm sorry to hear that!

I will update the post asap. As for the Coolermaster cable, have you asked them if it is a straight 6p -> 6p or if it's a splitter (the image could lie)?

I remember getting a splitter at my purchase 1 year ago.

I hadn't as I figured the result would be the opposite of what I wanted. I thought that if I'd brought this anomaly to their attention they might rectify it (ie. replace the splitter with the actual cable displayed in the picture). Turns out they already rectified this mistake, too bad for me

Wellp, I thought the Banggood EXP GDC V6 came with the pcie 6 pins splitter cable. (as in the start post it only says the aliexpress one needs a separate 6 pins cable) Turns out it doesn't. I ordered the Cooler Master cable and that no longer comes as a splitter, just a 6-pins -> 6-pins. So basically I have everything in house except for that silly little cable :/