BigChief

- for recording gameplay the best tool is to use ShadowPlay of the GeForce Experience tool you installed with your driver.

- how hot is your card getting with the closed case? Better keep is open or try to improve cooling!

- Please don't video tape vertically >_<

Thanks, I deleted the original video and recorded a new one using shadowplay. GPU Temps are very high with the case closed 75-80 °C. With the case open and the fans up to 55 the card stays below 65°C. And that spoiler is hilarious!

P.S. sorry nando, when I edited the original post the pictures got really big again.

Hello everyone, just sharing my egpu experience hoping it can help out anyone. For starters the laptop is a 2013 13" macbook pro me865lla, iris only graphics, i5 4258u. The card is a Zotac gtx 970 standard edition. I mainly went with this card because I got it for a great deal on amazon prime day, and the galax card isn't as available in the US.

Ordering the parts

1. Akitio thunder2 pcie box

2. Ordered this Akitio Egpu 8 Pin to 2 x PCI E 6 Pin Super Low Profile No Latch 1 x Barrel | eBay as found by dschijn.

3. Ordered Zotac Gtx 970

4. Ordered Dell Da2 power supply

Waiting for the parts to arrive

1. Did a regular install of bootcamp, and updated the drivers

2. Enabled Nvidias Optimus, following these steps http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/8558-%5Bguide%5D-macbook-enabling-optimus-internal-lcd-mode.html

3. I went ahead and installed the games i wanted to play.

After the parts arrived.

1. Removed the outer plate on Zotac card

2. Removed AKiTiO Fan

3. Hook up the PCIE 6 pin connectors to the card.

4. Hook up the 8 pin connector with the missing pin on the bottom side of the dell power supply, very important.

5. Route the wires however you like, and insall the card into the PCIE box.

<img width=400 src=http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn1/jonzie04cj/IMG_0089%201_zpsieewo9ri.jpg><img width=400 src=http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn1/jonzie04cj/IMG_0090_zps7hhdrers.jpg>

Ready to hook it up

1. Shut the computer down. Link the computer and AKiTiO via the provided TB2 cable, and boot the computer.

For me the computer recognized the thunderbolt device, but no graphics card. I went into Display Manager, and updated the drivers and voila. everything worked like a charm. After updating the drivers, go into Nvidia control panel and select their high performance card instead of the integrated graphics.

This specific card, and low profile PCIE connectors will all fit in the case if you want them to. as you can see in one of the pictures provided.

<img width=400 src=http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn1/jonzie04cj/IMG_0072_zpsctntvbxh.jpg><img width=400 src=http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn1/jonzie04cj/IMG_0075_zpskpkzyk5z.jpg>

Benchmark results

3dmark11.GPU=13634

Gaming Video

Video of some witcher 3

@BigChief, would you mind creating a implementation guide with your Zotac GTX970? That was one card that was flagged as fitting the AKiTiO early on but the Galax/KFA2 was favored due to higher TDP settings and easier chassis fit.

That wouldn't be a problem at all, it may not be as detailed as a lot of these guys, but i'm making a guide now.

RE: R9 390 benchmark results at http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/8585-2014-15-macbook-pro-2x-r9_280x%4016gbps-tb2-netstor-na211tb-win8-1-osx-%5Bgoalque%5D-3.html#post140609

Thats really impressive goalque! I thought hard about getting a 390 but with me being a tech dummy, and heavily relying on you guys on this forum, i figured it be best to not try to reinvent the weel. lol

On a side note i overclocked my zotac, i've been playing witcher 3 on these settings and its working great. gpu stays nice and cool running the open case. i had some issues with cpu temp getting up to around 90 degrees. I downloaded "macsfancontrol" and my gpu doesnt get over 70 now while playing witcher 3 now while running the fan at 4500 rpm.. Anyways heres the score

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 video card benchmark result - Intel Core i5-4258U,Apple Inc. Mac-189A3D4F975D5FFC

13,634 graphics, computer is a 2013 13".

Just finished my install and ran 3dmark11. using stock zotac card might try some overclocking later. install and everything was a breeze! massive thanks to everyone in this amazing community! wouldn't be possible without you guys.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 video card benchmark result - Intel Core i5-4258U,Apple Inc. Mac-189A3D4F975D5FFC

theres my score

12,125 graphics, 3863 physics 4021 combined, 7964 total score.

Anyone know how the Zotac card compares to the KFA2? can it overclock as much? how hot does it run etc. thanks everyone for posting these amazing guides btw. i just purchased a macbook pro and i'm looking forward to building a setup. wouldn't be possible without you guys!