IFFY

Just a bit of an update. I got the system working now. One of the problems I had was using the ATX power supply as the eGPU system boots at the same time as the laptop. I borrowed the PSU from my 12v TV and luckily it has just enough power to run the eGPU using my GT440 card. I cleaned off any installed drivers and started again. its now working.

But one issue is that if I forget to shut down the laptop before I turn off the eGPU it all goes pearshaped and requires a total driver removal and then re-install. (Actually I just did a rollback to clean up the drivers as I found that i was having issues and was too lazy to properly trouble shoot it. But I cant keep using system restore all the time, its a bit pikey.)

However when i get round to buying another powerful card I'll need to modify an ATX PSU to power up when I want it to. The paper clip across the green and black wires just screams Accident-waiting-to-happen

Test on another system, eg: Dell, with an expresscard slot. If still not recognized then I'll add that hotplugging a test PE4C-EC060 2.1 with Dell DA-2 results in (1) one unit dying completely and (2) second unit having it's power management component dying so now is always on. This, along with the Gen2 signalling issues on some systems, have been presented to BPlus for fixing, which they are contemplating. I'd suggest using a PE4L 2.1b + ATX PSU for the time being.

I emailed BPlus support and am waiting for a reply. But meanwhile, is there and kind person in reasonable driving distance of Preston, VIC, AUS, that could let me plug in my eGPU unit to your laptop with Expresscard slot? I know is a big ask, but it would help the diagnosis out.

Also, I know it isnt a non functioning Expresscard port on my Lenovo X220 as the Card Reader Expresscard that came with the laptop from new is recognized. So odds are its the PE4C- 2.1a system i have that isnt working.

Should the PE4C 2.1 and graphics card have powered up straight away with the 24 pin block plugged into it without requiring me to short the green wire to ground?

I just bought a PE4C 2.1 with the Expresscard cable. I'm having problems getting my Lenovo X220 to recognize it. I followed the directions in the eGPU projects that have been done with X220s also.

I have the latest BIOS with 2 version numbers attached v1.39 and v1.24.

I'm using a PC PSU and have a GeForce GT440 card and a GTX570 (which got COOKED because it overheated - VERY VERY HOT - pinging and crackling and a really BAD smell - I assume its now dead, but until I can get the eGPU system working I cant tell for sure) I'm using the 4pin 12v plug with a jumper between the Green wire and a Black ground wire in the 24pin block to turn on the PSU (I know this is a very pikey way of doing things, but its just until I can make sure the system works, then I'll sort out a good PSU set up.

When using the 24pin block plug the PE4C unit wouldn't light up, which is why I bodged the 24pin block and used the 4pin block for 12v power.

I followed the direction of powering up the eGPU (the 2 green LED's lit up and GFX card fan spinning away happily, at least it is on the GT440, then powering up the X220 and then plugging in the EC. The X220 failed to recognize the eGPU at all.

Oh yes, I have enabled the Expresscard in the BIOS.

Can anyone offer me any advice to troubleshoot this project?

Cheers, IFFY