wokermin

I don't know if I'm posting this in the right section and I've tried searching the forum. Anyways, since the Razer Blade Stealth only has 2 cores CPU and it seems to run quite well with its Razer Core, I'm wondering what is the difference in performance between 2 cores vs 4 cores for an eGPU setup. The reason I'm asking is because I'm looking to buy a laptop but still not sure about getting an ultrabook (Spectre x360 Kaby Lake or XPS 13 Kaby Lake) or a 4 cores CPU laptop (XPS 15 or something else). I'm fully aware that it also depends on the game but just asking for an estimate. 

Any insight is welcome!

(P/s: English is not my first language so please pardon any mistakes.)

On 8/5/2016 at 1:33 PM, ibanez_bass said:

@jowos Just an FYI, I've managed to get my Thunder2 working on my XPS 9350 using the StarTech TB3TB adapter. I have had some issues here and there, mostly screen flickering issues and one BSOD, but Optimus seems to be working nicely. I played Crysis 3 on High settings at 1/2 native (3200x1800 = 1600x900) on the internal screen without issues. I have a 9550 that I can use for testing, so I'll see if it has to do with the 960M.

could you check and see if the GTX 960m is the fault here? waiting for your answer so i decide to get an external screen or not. 

On 8/5/2016 at 1:33 PM, ibanez_bass said:

@jowos Just an FYI, I've managed to get my Thunder2 working on my XPS 9350 using the StarTech TB3TB adapter. I have had some issues here and there, mostly screen flickering issues and one BSOD, but Optimus seems to be working nicely. I played Crysis 3 on High settings at 1/2 native (3200x1800 = 1600x900) on the internal screen without issues. I have a 9550 that I can use for testing, so I'll see if it has to do with the 960M.

Great work @jowos ! I've been saving my XPS 15 just for this occasion (traded my macbook pro for it)

i dont think you need to change any preference for HDMI to work. try restart > refind > choose windows > plug in the egpu the moment you see the spinning wheel (remember the monitor must be connected to the card first and PSU is on). IDK if this will help but worth a shot

18 hours ago, Piqudo said:

 

Thanks! I will do so. But a couple of questions from a Newbie like me.

 

1) Do I have to uninstall rEFInd in Windows? And change something via command Promp so no conflicts happen?

2) What do you mean by SIP?

 

Thanks!

I didn't see my iGPU so skipped the intel graphic driver part and went straight to disable the R9 and install driver for the external card

18 minutes ago, Piqudo said:

 

Thanks! I will do so. But a couple of questions from a Newbie like me.

 

1) Do I have to uninstall rEFInd in Windows? And change something via command Promp so no conflicts happen?

2) What do you mean by SIP?

 

Thanks!

1) nah (at least i didn't have to and it worked just fine. I assume it just copying the same files to the same location)

2) SIP is Apple's System Integrity Protection. Without deactivating it, you won't be able to install refind in Mac OSX.  Here: http://osxdaily.com/2015/10/05/disable-rootless-system-integrity-protection-mac-os-x/

9 minutes ago, Piqudo said:

Hello everyone!

 

I am currently working on the setup, but I am experiencing problems with the rEFInd installation in Windows 10 under bootcamp on my MBP. I do follow all the steps and everything seems to be right. Problems occur when after following the manual installation process on Windows in the rEFInd website, I don't see any changes on the boot screen, just the usual Windows/OSX choices. Nevertheless, when I follow this steps:

 

 

I can see the rEFInd directory on the command promp!

 

Also when I copy "apple_set_os" file and repeat "cd edi"; "dir", I can see the "custom" folder inside the directory. Yet, there are no changes on my bootscreen!

 

Anyone can give me an idea of what am I doing wrong?

 

Thanks a lot!

i also had this problem. I installed it through Mac OSX and it works. 

just disable SIP and install the package from the refind website. Restart and you'll get refind page. Then get to windows and recopy the apple_set_os file. then follow Gatsby's instruction

17 hours ago, unapalada said:

 

Yep I'm aware of the tweaks that I'll have to do.

I see, what would be the more secure alternative instead of using the riser? (I have decided not to use the molex on the riser if that changes anything)

 

I think I'll get the jump starter!

For me, I just bended the Akitio  case to connect the card directly to the board (eliminating any possibilities of error while using a riser). The open chases gives a lot of open air for the card to cool itself so i just left it out without making any case for it (not planning to move it anywhere so i don't see the point of it beside protection and look cleaner). 

Also there is option to buy a PSU switch thingy, which might becomes quite handy if you don't want to reach out to the PSU itself to turn it off. But again, i don't see the point of spending money on that

3 hours ago, unapalada said:

 

wow, sounds pretty amazing..

 

So I think I'll follow these steps: 

1. paperclip into EVGA 500w psu

2. plug gpu using riser into the AKiTiO

3. power gpu with psu

4. thunderbolt cable into laptop

 

should work right?

remember those with AMD R9 M370X will have to do extra steps to make the laptop recognize the 3rd graphic card just like Gastby did.

I'd recommend buying a PSU Jump Starter Bridge instead of doing the paper clip trick (works the same but just more secured)

And of course just like Dschijin said, use 1 PSU to power your whole system and avoid using riser if you can. 

[also plug the monitor to the GPU :D] 

1 hour ago, NaxHz said:

 

Lol yeah after reading your posts I think I will just order a GTX 960 tomorrow and give it a try in the coming week. 

 

Thank you so much!! 

Goodluck with your setup. Mine was worthy because I got the card so cheap lol. Let me know if you need help. The procedure is quite straightforward just like how Gatsby posted. 

3 hours ago, NaxHz said:

 

Thanks for sharing your experience man, thank you soooooo much!  

 

Good to know that you can use R9 M370X and GTX 570 side by side, is that also possible when you using HD 7990 instead? I mean, whatever AMD or Nvidia cards as eGPU, you don't have to disable R9 M370X in order to boot up without any issues? 

 

And I'm still curious about, that is there any way to use the Crimson control panel "Radeon Settings" with both the latest Boot Camp graphics driver v15.201.xxxx for R9 M370X and the latest Crimson graphics driver v15.301.xxxx for R9 380 (or any other AMD eGPUs)? I'm not planing to use the internal retina display for gaming, so I think I'm not going to modify the driver files like this guy: http://www.remkoweijnen.nl/blog/2015/09/21/update-amd-display-driver-under-bootcamp/ to install the latest Crimson driver for my R9 M370X. 

 

Yeah the Nvidia cards are indeed better supported, I'm a CSGO gamer and the latest wildfire operation update just keeps crashing on AMD cards without any error messages, reported by AMD cards users including me (see more: https://www.reddit.com/r/AMDHelp/comments/46d193/counterstrike_global_offensive_operation_wildfire/). BUT AMD cards are usually more affordable! 

Well for the case of HD 7990, you won't be able to use the internal display because the R9 M370X powers it [Intel's won't power it when another GPU is on].

Just disable the R9 M370X and the next time you boot, the display will only be the external (HD 7990 case). To my experience, for Nvidia you don't have to disable (must set the primary display to external - powered by the GTX); for AMD you will have to disable it because conflict between same display drivers and it will choose the internal before the external.  

Modifying the driver is also the way to update the driver for the external GPUs along with Crimson. Without it, you can't install both because the driver itself only shows that you're using the R9 M370X and there's no update for it >> no Crimson >> old driver for your card. If you don't want Crimson then just modifying only the display driver and update it through Device Manager. IF you only want the Crimson control panel then just modify the InstallManager.CFG (no need for further steps listed in that link -- at least I didn't have to), that only tricks it into install the new control panel. Then I'd recommend modify the display driver file that comes with the new driver packet (the same one that you use to modify the InstallManager.INF) to update the external through Device Manager. 

I'd still recommend using Nvidia cards for obvious reasons lol

well I have the same MBPr with R9 M370X. I've tried both with a GTX 570 and [currently] using a HD 7990 (dual GPUs); and here are my thoughts:

+ choose GTX if you want an easy set up because it's a separate driver, and you can enable the R9 along with the GTX to extend the external display to internal display. The reason I'd do this because since the retina screen is so much better (in my case), the drag-and-drop method works. Playing games on a retina screen is much better even though full screen won't work, only for window and borderless mode. 

+ using the HD 7990 caused me a lot of troubles. As you know there will be 2 separated drivers in the machine and Bootcamp Catalyst driver is dated (april last year i believe). BUT there are ways you can trick the GPUs to accept the new drivers by modifying the display driver inf file that go along with the new AMD driver. Same goes for Crimson installation because if you just run the setup, it will only shows as M370X and there will be an error as "There is no AMD hardware detected" or "No driver compatible". I managed to make some changes to the new driver file and succeeded in installing the new Crimson control panel [the one comes with bootcamp is Catalyst and can't be updated] AND updating both new drivers for 2 GPUs (feb 2016). 

To sum up, if you don't mind going through a lot of troubles and trials then go with the AMD. Personally I think it was worth my time because I learnt quite lot (but also got frustrated a lot lol). 

But as always, Nvidia driver is far superior and game support is amazing. I got the HD 7990 for only $150 so I went that way

Anyways: Nvidia for a pretty straight up setup just like in Gatsby's guide; AMD is you want to go on an adventure 

On 7/12/2015 at 4:10 PM, juniordiscart said:

 

can i uninstall refind after success ?