th3v3rn

Shadowplay does show, but not record it's own FPS counter! Must use Fraps or MSI Afterburner with RivaTuners OSD.

I just researched that, that is so weird that you can't have it show. I'll make one with fraps when I have a chance.

Thanks, can you say anything about the FPS? Maybe use FRAPS and record it again?

Weird, I used shadow play play to record and I also had the fps counter on but for what ever reason it is not on the video.

I get a solid 60 fps, it does dip down though when I am running through vegetation. There are some stutters but it seems to be common in far cry 4 from the constant loading of the map. I'll try and get another video up.

Here is a Far Cry 4 video if anyone is interested, I am running a 970 through a GTX970.

- YouTube

So I finally got my eGPU to work but the weird thing is that my internal display is still on despite have a 750m in my system? What is going on there?

So I got it to turn on. I was going to try a new hdmi cable, and when I did, windows made a disconnect sound. I plugged it back in and it shot up to the tv!

The weird thing though is that my macbook screen stays on. It's just a extended monitor.

.

I just tested the 970 in a friends desktop and the card is good.

I'm at a loss for what could be not working.

Update:

I noticed that when I boot up with the eGPU there is a yellow exclamation point on "Microsoft basic display adapter" in device manager. This does not happen when I plug in the powered on eGPU when booted into windows already.

For most PSUs, if the fan is spinning, it is on.

So turn on switch and then connect paperclip to those pins.

Absolutely CRITICAL that you connect right pins. Usually green and black I think. But seriously, make sure you are 100% certain, shorting wrong two pins could be bad.

The first thing I did was make sure the PSU was working by doing the paperclip trick and connecting the PSU to the car fans. I pulled many schematics of the pins to make sure they were the right ones. The fans turn on and the lights on the AkiTiO turn on when I flip the switch. I assumed everything was good b/c the case fans and video card fans turned on (video card fans wiggle, apparently this is what they do when not under load).

Oh my bad. I have read just about every thread there is with my setup but I didn't catch that, I'll search some more. Thanks.

I could always read more that is for sure. I am doing the paperclip trick as is mentioned in many guides. Is that different from using a switch also with the on/off switch in the back of PSUs? I can't count how many tutorials I have read and I am searching more for the answer but can't seem to find it.

Thanks again!

No, it isn't.

Please, PLEASE do some more reading before going any further.

That is up there as #1 newbie "I didn't want to read too much" mistake.

So much easier to do research then ask questions that have been answered 100 times before.

Oh my bad. I have read just about every thread there is with my setup but I didn't catch that, I'll search some more. Thanks.

How are you triggering PSU?

Please note that as tedious as typing is, when you write "I tried every combo of booting it up. " we don't actually know what it means.

But identical performance in both OS makes me think you didn't trigger PSU.

2nd guess is tough, you don't mention if you have an external display hooked up and if not, what exactly does "it didn't work" mean?

Computer doesn't boot at all?

Computer boots but there is nothing in System Profiler/Device Manager about eGPU?

Computer boots but there is nothing in System Profiler under TB?

We need info to help.

Oh sorry, thanks for responding.

I am using my TV through HDMI plugged into the GPU.

I am also just using the PSU on off switch on the back of the PSU. Is that enough?

I have also not tried booting into OS X as it seems much more difficult than windows.

So with the different combos (powered riser, right angle riser, barrel to molex) I started:

- first turning the PSU on, connecting TB to mac then powering on mac.

- second with PSU on and booting mac into partition selector then plugging TB into mac

- then plugging PSU into mac when it is booted into windows.

- the computer boots everytime

- If I unplug the TB cable in windows then windows freezes.

- If I reboot windows with the TB cable in then it doesn't boot and gets stuck and I have to hard reset.

- I opened up nvidia experience and nothing is noted about the 970.

Thanks again

Setup:

- Late 2013 rMBP 15" w/ 750m

- AKiTiO Thunder2

- Antec 520m PSU - 12v is 40w ceiling I think.

- GTX 970 SSC (04G-P4-3975)

- Powered risers and molex to barrel adapter (only using the powered riser now).

List of things I had to do:

1. Installed windows 8.1 through EFI boot from a bootcamp-made thumb drive.

2. Installed bootcamp drivers 5.1.5640 - Here

3. Installed nNidia drivers

4. For what ever reason I had to disconnect and reconnected the HDMI cable before the mac would recognize it.

Future:

1. I am still waiting on the right riser as I bought a right angles 90 degree riser and I needed a left so I have to wait for it to come from China, its going to take awhile but it will clean up nicely once that is here!

2. I will get a longer thunderbolt cable so that I don't have to have the Macbook right by the eGPU. Does anyone know if this will slow things down?

Benchmarks

Without eGPU - Here (1879)

With eGPU - Here Graphics score - 10815

I noticed people got much better results. The internal monitor was on so next time I will try to disable it and see how it runs.

Far Cry 4: YouTube

Here is what it took to get it running and some notes:

I have a been trouble shooting this the last couple days. I'll turn this into a guide once I get things going to help those that may be having this same problem.

First off I threw everything together but the powered riser was not powering the AKiTiO because there were a few 12v lanes that were not going back to the male end of the riser.

The next day I received another riser that was complete and it did power the AKiTiO. Upon plugging the thunderbolt cable w/ the Mac I could not get it to recognize. The fans would wiggle though every 5 secs, one after the other. I tried every combo of booting it up.

I also tried reinstalling Nvidia driver and that didn't work

I tried reinstalling window 8.1 to make sure I selected EFI boot.

Niether of these worked

I then went and bought a barrel plug at radioshack and made a barrel to molex connector. This shows the same behavior as before.

Here are some notes on what I have tried:

I made sure the PSU was good by first doing the paperclip trick and powering some fans and everything seems to be good as they turn on and the PSU fan turns on as well.

I am using my TV through HDMI plugged into the GPU.

I am also just using the PSU on off switch on the back of the PSU. Is that enough?

I have also not tried booting into OS X as it seems much more difficult than windows.

Thanks!

I am using one with a capacitor: [PCIE] 16x - 16x PCI-Express POWERED Riser Flex

Would not having a capacitor make it not work?

Update: I've tried powering on the eGPU before starting the Mac, in partition selecting and when it is in windows. I have had times when the Mac goes black and the fans turn on for a while but nothing happens after 10 mins.

The fans on the 970 turn on and off quite randomly and sometimes only one turns on. I don't know if that is normal.

Here are some pics of the riser and I think I understand why power isn't going back the AKiTiO. It seems like power only goes through the female end of the riser. Can I use the barrel to power the AKITIO along with the PSU and molex powering the GPU or will that just fry everything? Ha

Edit: I got the new one to work by resoldering the 12v lines. Everything comes on but the computer doesn't switch over to the tv. I checked that I have bootcamp 5.1 and my install is UEFI.

Any ideas?

I got a 2nd riser and it too is not working which leads me to believe it is not the riser. I don't know what else it could be. Super frustrating. I know the molex connector is good cause it's powering on fans.

I've written down some observation in this thread as I felt I was high jacking this one.

- http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/7205-us%24200-akitio-thunder2-pcie-box-16gbps-tb2-89.html

Thanks!

I felt I was highjacking someone else's thread so I am starting this one. I hope it is in the right place. I will start with what I have.

I have a late 2013 rMBP w/ 750m

- AKiTiO thunder2

- GTX 970 SSC (3975)

- 2 extender risers (powered)

- Antec 520m PSU

- coolmaster elite 130

Things I know:

- So I know the PSU is working as I have tested it on the case fans.

- I tested the AKiTiO seperately with its power adapter and the lights come on.

- I set everything up with macbook > thunderbolt cable > AKiTiO (not using barrel power adapter) > powered riser extender > video card > HDMI. with this setup the light on the AKiTiO does not turn on. I also tried JUST the riser plugged into the AKiTiO (I ran the PSU with fans also to make sure and not run it with out any power draw.

- I got an extender yesterday and that doesn't work and a new one today (different) and it is also not doing anything.

Am I missing something?

Thanks!

It's a bust, I got everything together and I think the powered riser is a dud. The green light on the AKiTiO is not turning on but when I disconnect everything with the power adaptor that it came with the light comes on. So I have to wait longer unless anyone has any ideas.

Thanks

So I got everything today but still waiting on the AKiTiO which should be coming tonight sometime (slow USPS).

The angled riser I got is not going the right way, this is the one I got cause it looked like all the right angle risers on ebay and amazon. - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HRMFAK4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I can't seem to find any going the other way except from ebay and they seem to not explicitly say PCI 16x so I don't know if they are good. This is an example - Amazon.com: Leftward Left Angle PCI Riser Card Connector Adapter: Electronics

So I should be getting everything tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited.

I am checking that I have everything downloaded and updated before so that I don't have any holdups. I have looked over the steps to make sure I am not missing anything. I made sure my install of windows is UEFI and it is. I just updated my NVIDIA drivers to 347.09.

Anything else I can do in prep? Thanks!

I am on a rMBP late 2013 15" with 750m.

Hi th3v3rn

My 970 runns with the vidock but its crap. the benchmarks are good but when you play games you notice that it doesnt bring the power throuh the adapter. for example. dragonage inquisition should run on ultra on 1080p with 70 to 80 fps. i get just 35 to 40 but the card runns on 100%. second example watchdogs. should rund on ultra max 1080p with 70 fps. it does just 30 with the vidock. third example BF4. max settings 1080p should do 80 fps. it does just 40 -50....

so you better dont buy a vidock. its just a waste...

Thanks for the heads up. I ordered the AKiTiO. Risers, 970, Elite 130, and an Antec 520m. Everything should be here by tomorrow and I couldn't be more stoked!

I bet you can sell the Vidock and buy an AKiTiO with out much loss.

That seems to be the old one. Try to find this one: 04G-P4-3975 (EVGA - Articles - EVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC)

@ Amazon: Amazon.com: EVGA EVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC ACX 2.0 4GB GDDR5 256bit, DVI-I, DVI-D, HDMI, DP SLI Ready Graphics Card Graphics Cards 04G-P4-3975-KR: Computers & Accessories

Hah sorry for all the questions! Should I use a right or left angle riser? I can quite get my head wrapped around it. I feel it needs to be a left angle riser but all the implementation pics I see they say they are right.

That seems to be the old one. Try to find this one: 04G-P4-3975 (EVGA - Articles - EVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC)

@ Amazon: Amazon.com: EVGA EVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC ACX 2.0 4GB GDDR5 256bit, DVI-I, DVI-D, HDMI, DP SLI Ready Graphics Card Graphics Cards 04G-P4-3975-KR: Computers & Accessories

So I just ordered the 970 you just linked, the elite 130, the cx500m (this will work right? From what I could tell it has 2 x 6+2 pci connectors) a riser with mole connector (does it matter what side the molex is on?)

Thanks

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00NVODXR4/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1421513513&sr=8-4π=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&dpPl=1&dpID=51Sc%2BF76IuL&ref=plSrch

This is the one I'm looking at.

Which one would you recommend if you don't mind. Thanks.

EVGA is great, but not the most silent ones. If you go for a EVGA GTX 970 get the new SSC (careful, there is an old one with the same name) and the (not yet released) FTW+. The old cards have coil whine/buzzing problems.

Like Tech Inferno Fan linked, the ViDock isn't a good option at all.

Are you familiar with MacOSX? There are some new and interessting eGPU Windows Laptops just released:

- MSI: http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/7626-msi-egpu-dock-works-gs30.html

- Alienware/Dell: http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/8142-%24300-alienware-graphics-amplifier-%5Bdiscussion%5D.html

Thanks, I saw the SSC ones but how do I know they are the new ones?

And I was actually reading an article on those when I came across the eGPU mentioned in the article. It was the cheap ones that go through a wireless port on the laptop. Then I found the ViDock and Nando's warning on their Facebook page. I've only had macs due to their build quality/battery life/ and resale value so I'd like to stick with a mac. The msi's and alienware's are too dang unsightly.

I am familiar with Boot Camp cause I play titan fall and shadow of mordor. I have just been disappointed in the 750m, hah.

Well that totally depends on the graphics cards you want to use. But in general the RM450 will be fine (most of the time a overkill, but it's hard to find low wattage PSUs with 2x 6/8Pin PCIe connectors).

Oh sorry, I should have mentioned that. I'm thinking a 970 FTW, that seems to be the PSU everyone has the last problems with. I like EVGA do that's a plus.

I have also been trying to find if the AkiTiO is better than the ViDock +4 and I can't seem to find much, only that the vidock MAY be running only TB1 speeds with the AkiTiO using TB2. Is there a difference.

Great work also! I have been looking at buying a gaming laptop but the stumbled upon this and it seems I can keep my macbook for when I'm not home.