bsohn

@bsohn: I think you need to put a switch between "Remote" and "Ground". As soon as a connection is active between this two lines, the PSU is active.

OK opps I read the diagram backwards... OK so what does the sense wire do? (if anything)

Brion

OK so I have my Akitio in hand and will have the Dell DA-2 in hand probably tomorrow.. Still haven't totally decided on the video card but I think I am leaning toward a EVGA 960 4Gig or a Galax 970 to be able to fit it inside the case with little modification.. I am going to try to keep all of the wiring inside.

What I would like to know regarding the DA2 with this question is. As I understand it the DA2 Power supply requires a startup signal.

#1 - From a picture in the first post it appears that I can use a switch to turn on the main power supply. It appears that this switch would be connected to the Sense line and then to Ground. Am I reading this correctly?

#2 - If I were to just ground the Sense line would I be correct in saying that the DA2 would be powered up all the time when plugged in?

#3 - If the above is correct what does the Remote line do?

Other than that I think everything is pretty straight forward.

Thank you

Brion Sohn

Consider this build by Phantron: http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/8882-2014-13-macbook-pro-gtx970%4016gbps-tb2-akitio-thunder2-handle-win8-1-%5Bphantron.html

He used a GTX 970 4GB from Zotac and was able to fit it completely inside the Thunder2. Hope that helps with your hunt!

Thanks for the link I saw that one in my looking but didn't really associate it fully due to the choice of power supply as I am leaning toward using the DA-2 or similar for the build.. BTW just for clarification the above card is a Galax GTX 970 OC 4GB so now I know for sure that the EVGA 960's and the Galax can fit fully in the box with low profile work on the plugs.

Thank you

Hi bsohn,

I'm also in the process of making this build. Just got the GPU and PSU in the mail today, still waiting on the Thunder2...

I've googled GTX 960 2gb vs 4gb and also saw some comparisons on youtube. For gaming at least, it looks like the 4gb model doesn't have as much of a substantial improvement as you'd think. I'd check it out for yourself though, I'm not sure how a 3 monitor set up uses resources differently than a single graphics intensive screen.

@elfxmilhouse Awesome build! Good to see that the EVGA card fits snuggly. What do you think you'll do about the cooling? I'm trying to stay on a budget so I might just use it with the case open and only close it to transport it for the meantime, until I can find a way to cut open the side and probably install a fan or a mesh screen for more airflow.

From what I have been reading is Memory does nothing to the speed at which a card runs.. so the 2GB and the 4GB will run the same but what it allows for is much more space for higher resolutions.. a three monitor setup would require frames of 5760 x 1080 as a normal 1080 would require frames of 1920 x 1080. So basically the added memory allows for buffering of the larger frames without slowdown as the buffer is refreshed. I have read that in a tri-monitor sort of set-up you really want a card with more memory to sustain framerate at the higher resolution.. This would also apply if you were wanting to run 4K resolutions.

The difference for me is that the 960 4GB as shown would fit in the case like I want but to upgrade to running a 970 4GB with the added speed and $120.00 more I might not be able to get it to fit in case as I have heard that the Gigabyte and Asus cards are too wide to fit.

Also for cooling my plan is to mill a circle in the side of the Akitio as mentioned by Dschijn matching the fan placement with a grill over it and then possibly even milling some holes in the top of the case to allow for more heat extraction. I have a CNC at work so it does make it a little easier to do.

Brion Sohn

Finished my eGPU set up last night. The EVGA GTX 960 SC fits perfectly. The fan shroud touches the internal fan when you are inserting the card but it sits nicely with a very small gap once it's installed.

I am running a late 2013 macbook pro 13" retina with Windows 8.1 64 bit efi. I modified a 6 pin connector so that it would fit under the case. The power was soldered to the board where the barrel connector comes in.

For the power supply I am using a 180W 12V adapter I had laying around. I did some testing under load and only saw ~125W max being pulled by the set up.

I suspect the card overheats when the enclosure is closed up so I tested it with the chassis open and did not experience any crashes afterwards. I guess it's best to use it opened up when doing intensive GPU activities.

Has anyone modified the external case to allow for better air flow?

Hmmmm That basically looks like what I want to accomplish as well.. Is this the 2GB card or the 4GB .. Im thinking the 4GB version of this card might be a good compromise given that I want to run 3 monitors and was looking at the 970 4GB but it isn't that much faster for the cost from what I read and the 4GB should better handle the 3 Screen Setup.

Were there any major issues other than so far the over heating issue which I suspected would happen if I could fit the card all inside.. I do notice that the DVI ports are going to be hard to use though it fits because of the proximity to the case.

Brion Sohn

@bsohn: You want to connect them to make a XXL AKiTiO for long GPUs?

Yep you caught me.. I know there have got to be a few out there that people have no need for that have done the riser solution or transplanting.

Brion Sohn

Firstly I am not sure if this is really the correct place to put this but it would be the most noticed for people who would have it.

I would like to purchase Just the outer Extruded aluminum shell for the Akitio PCI Box. So this I guess is a call out to all of those who have decided to strip the Akitio functional components and place them in another case or decided that they do not need the outer case.

Anyway if anyone is interested in selling the case to me please let me know what you would like for it via PM

Thank you

Brion Sohn

- - - Updated - - -

Actually I would consider buying the whole case as well without electronics if that is what you have.

cover wrap? You mean the outer shell of the case? The case around the AKiTiO, that you can slide out?

Yea that is what I mean.. The outer casing, Shell, Surrounds.. basically the part that normally will not fut if you have a card that is too tall or too wide..

Id like to see it Off of the main chassis so I can see how it is actually attached to see if I cn actually remake a shell in some manner that can maybe make side clearance for a regular card or higher for a taller card or even longer in some way (though probably not really needed for the longer cars.

Brion Sohn

You want to see the front?

Thank you for the photo but what I was actually looking for were pictures of the cover wrap and how it mounts to the main chassis.

Brion Sohn

@w4vz: Sounds right to me... @bsohn: Well there are two problems: 1. cards can't be too wide 2. The PCIe power connector is too tall to make the AKiTiO beeing able to close.

Imho, get a slim GTX 960/970, like the card I linked, get small 6-Pin PCIe (or craft them yourself) cables like Tech Inferno Fan linked here: http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/8771-2012-15-macbook-pro-gtx970%4010gbps-tb1-akitio-thunder2-win8-1-osx10-10-%5Bgiordy%5D-2.html#post130496

and not just drill holes but make two ventilation holes right in front of the GPU fans in the size of the fans. Get some black colored fan grills and put them on the holes.

This is a Zotac GTX 970 with 8mm clearance from the PCIe connector to the case (a german shop is measuring it as 204x111mm):

Sources: Zotac GeForce GTX 970, 4GB GDDR5, 2x DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort (ZT-90101-10P) Preisvergleich | Geizhals Deutschland

http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/8771-2012-15-macbook-pro-gtx970%4010gbps-tb1-akitio-thunder2-win8-1-osx10-10-%5Bgiordy%5D-2.html

OK another question.. Does anyone know of a link that has multiple pictures of the Akitio Cover?? I want to see how it fits as I am thinking that to get the look I want I might be able actually make a new cover (granted won't probably be as sturdy as Akitio cover which from the small photos of the edge I ave seen looks extruded.

Thank you

Brion

Yes the sense wire connected to ground makes the DA-2 start.

Any other PSU? Might be hard to find sth as good as the DA-2. The advantage of the DA-2 is, it is already bringing the power to 8-Pins familiar with the "PC world". You don't really need the "card"=SWEX, you can also use an extension cable for 24-Pin ATX, cut the cables and rewire as you wish.

You can get a PSU with 80-90W to power the AKiTIO and deliver 75W to the PCIe slot to run sth like a 750Ti.

Be aware that the ASUS and Gigabyte ITX GTX 970 cards are too wide to make the AKiTiO case close. A slimmer card is the Galax/KFA2 GeForce GTX 970 Gamer OC. See my post here: http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/7205-us%24189-akitio-thunder2-pcie-box-16gbps-tb2-125.html#post130695

So in essence it sounds from other reading that in order to either get the 960 or 970 cars to work in the Akitio you either need to have an open back for a longer card (or) an open case for the wider cards. Are there any cards in this range that would fit fully inside the case but also provide adequate cooling (maybe needing some additional vent holes drilled in the case of the Akitio). What is the widest a card can be to fit in the width of the Akitio.. length as I understand it is around 200mm.

As for the PSU I know a little about wiring so I was looking at doing some internal hacking to pull all power of of the inside of the Akitio prior to the Akitio circuits which is what is effectively being done with the splitters and adaptors. I have found a few external PSU's that are of the correct wattage with a normal Barrel connection though I haven't found total details on them yet to see if it would actually work (i.e. the barrel being the correct size and polarity.

I was Hoping but it sounds like it might not be possible to get everything on the eGPU internal so it looks like a normal Akitio with an external PSU.

Brion

Thank you for all your information.. I have one other question regarding power and the power supply.. I have pretty much narrowed it down to getting the Akitio with more than likely a Gigabyte or ASUS Nvidia 970 ITX Card.. The question I have with power is that I just would like to confirm that when you hooked up the Dell-DA2 everything was powered via it alone through the Breakout card in shown in DA2 thread.. From being able to read the wiring it looks like it is a direct power line from the DA2 basically split into a segment to the card you used and then a segment to carry the Barrel connector for powering the Akitio.. The sense wire connected to the switch and then to the ground is basically a power switch for the Dell-DA2 power supply (correct?). If this is the case, it appears that I could use any 12Volt power brick or Supply with the wattage rating I feel is needed in order to power the Akitio and the Card without worry of damage as the in my limited knowledge the wattage basically rates what the connected devices Could pull from the Supply without melting down the supply or having a loss of current, not what is actually sent to the device.

Also out of curiosity if the sense switch is a power supply Power switch for the DA-2. Does the Akito itself have any sort of power switch in it as sensing a thunderbolt connection and drawing power. Basically what I an asking here is since this is external when I shut down the computer I would need to somehow turn off whatever power is going to the Akito and the card to prevent it from running all the time even when the computer is shut down by putting some sort of switch inline or using a power strip.

IN researching the cars it appears that the 970's will work fine with the Dell DA2 or similar as the Rated System power I came to understand as being what the want you to have minimally for everything if you are putting together a full computer.

OK I think that covers my questions until I actually get the thing which won't be unfortunately for a little while,, Then I will probably have questions about getting rid of the errors mentioned earlier in getting it to work on my MBP mid2012 with Windows 7 Pro.

Thank you.

Any expresscard solution (PE4L, ViDock, EXP GDC) requires a Sonnet Echo Expresscard adapter. Not only is that more complex than a native AKiTiO Thunder2, but it's more costly AND gives lower bandwidth and performance. Why would anybody pay more for less? I've elaborated more on this at http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/7939-rip-off-alert-thunderbolt-vidock-bizonbox-crippled-tb-ec-4gbps-units.html

Once you get your video card working without any error 12 then it's just configuring Win7 multiple displays like at Configuring Multiple Monitors - NVIDIA Surround (Single GPU) - CCL Computers . Win7 would be a MBR installation on your system. Please see previous MBR implementations of your system at to see what's involved in overcoming error 12 on it at http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/6578-implementations-hub-tb-ec-mpcie.html#Thunderbolt

Thank You very much for consolidating all of the information here for me.. One last question as Im sure there are several Hw to build.. but what is the best forum post for the newest methods (How-To of building up the Akitio with the High wattage power supply as I would like to probably get a 960 or so for what I wish to do. and I know from your earlier descriptions that that is beyond the 200 watt directly connected methods.

Thanks in advance.

Brion

GTX750 supports 3 external displays. GTX750Ti supports 4. Either fits straight into the AKiTiO Thunder2 chassis without mods. However, the supplied 60W AKITiO AC adapter would either be overdriven or running at it's peak with these. In which case consider purchasing an uprated PSU to drive them :

12V 12A AC DC Adaptor Power Supply Charger Plug for 3528 5050 LED Strip Lamp | eBay

AC Converter Adapter DC 12V 10A 120W Power Supply Charger DC 5 5mm FOR LED CCTV | eBay

Ensure you get a card *without* PCIe power connectors as otherwise you need a PSU to power that too, eg: ATX/SFX PSU or Dell DA-2.

If using an ATX PSU to power your AKiTiO then you can get a significantly more powerful GTX960 or GTX970 card, which also support 4 external displays with both available in ITX factor to fit directly into the AKiTiO chassis.

In a set-up like this does Windows 7 recognize all the displays as it should (using the correct drivers for the card) or are there other BIOS,Memory, or Thunderbolt issues that I should look out for.. I have been looking at the AKITIO solutions as well as the PE4L and ViDock (PE4L and ViDock use the PCI Express Card solution) i do like the full thunderbolt solutions better but have read about issues with Windows 7 on Bootcamp and Thunderbolt issues, not sure if they are true or there are solutions.

There is just SOOO much information here it can get a little confusing.

Granted I am also looking at the overall cost to performance issues regarding a solution as well.

Thank you

I have been looking around the site for a while now and have been looking at all of the eGPU implementations and have found that most are seemingly being used to speed up the main laptop monitor.

I have been trying to find information about creating basically an external 3 monitor setup using one of the newer Graphic cards.. My 2012 MBP of course doesn't have the ability to run three monitors GPU accelerated natively in windows and that of course causes me an issue as I really don't want to have a whole separate Windows Gaming unit when the MBP is plenty capable of processing well, intact it runs the particular game I have well at a high speed with the internal Accelerated Card.. Just that I would like Tri-Monitors for the game setup.

So basically I am looking at solutions that would allow me to use bootcamp to run Windows 7 with an externally driven monitor card that is capable of supplying a tri-display as either the Windows 7 main monitor OR allowing me to designate the internal LCD as a fourth monitor.

Im just not sure if any of the solutions that run the internal off of the eGPU will run an external display or in my case displays as additional monitors within Windows 7.. I really don't need this to work with OS X and don't want to upgrade to Windows 8 (though it would be nice to work with additional accelerated monitors in OS X).

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

thank you

Brion Sohn

I have read through Most of this thread but there is Soooooo.. much information that I decided I might as well just ask specifically if anyone has tried or has knowledge of if what I want to do will work.

I have a Mid 2012 Mack Book Pro (non retina) that I would like to use the Akitio to power a higher end graphics card (not sure which one) to run a three monitor setup.

From what I read this might very well be possible on the Mac side but here comes the possible issue from my reading.

I would like to do this Running Boot Camp with Windows 7 Pro.

I think this might be where the issue could be due to limited Windows 7 support of Thunderbolt ports.

Please if anyone has any information as to Yes, No, Maybe and what would be required to do so. let me know.

Thank you