Groovu

I forgot to mention that I ran GPU-Z and started the render test, it read x1.1. An interesting thing I noticed: rebooting my system and checking GPU-Z, the connection reads x1.2. But as soon as I start the render test, it drops down to x1.1. I also ran Firestrike while it was in x1.2 off a fresh reboot, and my Firestrike score was similar to before. So it's capable of x1.2, detects x1.2, but drops to x1.1 while in use. I do not understand why it would drop to a lower speed.

I have a T420 (i5-2540m) without dGPU hooked up to a GTX 950 with PE4C v3. Everything is working currently, but the results seem lackluster. My Firestrike score is 4229. Looking at other systems using the same CPU, the highest I have seen is 6000~. GPU-Z reports that my system supports PCI-E x16 v2, but is currently running PCI-E x16 v1.1. I have checked my BIOS and the only PCI-E option I can see is: use "Gen 1" or "Automatic" detection, no Gen 2 option specifically. Will I have to use DIY eGPU Setup to enable x1.2 speeds or is there a way to force it to happen?

By plug and play, I mean that it is hassle free to setup (no diy egpu setup, minimal work); although at minimum I put my system to sleep before I connect/disconnect the eGPU.

Hey guys, just wanted to make a thread to document my process in implementing an eGPU with my T420. Lenovo T420 without NVS 4200M Modded BIOS 1.46 (enables higher clocks on RAM + more) i5 2540M @ 2.60 GHZ (Boost to 3.3? verifiy) 2x8 (16) GB DDR3 RAM @ 1866 Mhz Intel HD3000 MSI GeForce GTX 950 2GD5 OC 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5 PE4C 3.0 EC Dell Optiplex GX620/SX280 DA-2 220W AC Adapter About 5 years ago I dabbled with eGPU. T420 with NVS 4200M using a PE4L and a GTX 560ti. To use this I needed to run DIY eGPU Setup 1.x due to the TOLUD problem. The setup worked, but was a bit complicated/bloated. (having to chainload the setup, not being able to plug and play, having to restart if you wanted to use eGPU) I rediscovered eGPU and read recent results. People were able to plug and play their eGPU setup without all the hassle. I wanted to try this. I started off with the T420 with NVS 4200m, but couldn't get a setup that would work plug and play style. I bought DIY eGPU Setup 1.3 and found out that it could only be setup on a system in MBR, not GPT. Before I changed my harddrive, I dabbled with the modded BIOS and found a TOLUD setting. While changing a bunch of BIOS settings at the same time (dumb, I know) and ended up bricking my system. I tried to use WINCRISIS to create a bootable USB with an older BIOS to restore my system, but that did not work. I ended up buying a new motherboard without the NVS 4200M. After all of that hassle, I restored my system, reinstalled Windows on an MBR hard drive and began my setup. I hooked up the eGPU, installed the latest _notebook_ NVIDIA drivers, and boom, everything works without hassle. I can boot up with my eGPU plugged in, I can put my system to sleep, unplug/plug and everything works. Optimus is working properly, running low end applications off of HD3000, and higher end applications of the 950. Some apps I have to force to use the 950 via the NVIDIA Control Panel. There is also an option in the control panel to add a context menu item, NVIDIA Control Panel>Desktop> Add Run with graphics processor. My current benchmark in Fire Strike is 4210, which seems low, but comparing it to other scores, I am in the right area for similar setups. My take aways from my experience: dGPU is a pain. If I hadn't messed up my system by messing with the BIOS, I am sure that DIY eGPU Setup would have been the way to go. But I possibly could have changed my TOLUD in my BIOS to get the plug and play system to work. (I don't want to test this because I don't want to accidentally brick my system again) Up next is more benchmarks, overclocking, optimization, and building an enclosure for my setup. Pics of the setup: http://imgur.com/1Hpjiq7,ADwQqEO,1LAAGOP Thanks for reading.

Thanks for the response. I could not find that option in my BIOS, closest thing to it was output to use during boot (main, displayport, etc.) After a long and frustrating process, I have eGPU working; although I'm not sure if I am maxing out the T420 potential bandwidth on the PCI-e. Long story short, I messed with a lot of stuff to get this to work and ended up bricking my T420 because I messed with some settings in the custom 1.46 BIOS. I ended up ordering a new motherboard, without the NVS 4200M. Swapped them out and plug and played like everyone else has done lately, and it works. Some programs still default to the Intel HD3000, but you can enable Desktop > Add "Run with NVIDIA graphics" in Context Menu via NVIDIA Control Panel. Done a couple of benchmarks, and it's pretty underwhelming right now. Need to do more testing on this.

Thank you for your response and for leading me to the right drivers. I uninstalled old drivers using DDU and reinstalled the notebook driver you linked me, but still the same results. Booting with eGPU, Windows 10 recognizes both NVS 4200 and GTX 950 with no faults; GPU-Z recognizes and reads both NVIDIA devices; but NVIDIA GPU Activity (in the tray) says both are INACTIVE. I also cannot access NVIDIA Control Panel with the error "You are not currently using a display attatched to an NVIDIA GPU" Running GpuTest shows the HD3000 being utilized. Booting without eGPU allows me to access NVIDIA Control Panel. I also changed my global settings to "Use NVIDIA Graphics", in hopes that when I start with eGPU it would automatically be utilized. Running GpuTest shows the NVS 42000 being utilized (with less fps than the HD3000 somehow...) Trying to boot again with eGPU, same as the first. GpuTest reports the HD3000 being utilized, even though Device Manager recognizes both the GTX 950 and NVS 4200. I tried hotswapping again with the new drivers, and still the same as before. Sometimes I'll get error 12 or 43. Sometimes I'll put my system to sleep and it goes into a wake/sleep loop. I found an HDMI cable to try troubleshooting. Hooked up my eGPU and TV together, and nothing. TV says no connection, and laptop does not recognize another display attached. Damn, I was hoping it was just drivers.

I installed the latest Desktop drivers.

My configuration is as follows: T420 Windows 10 64 bit NVS 4200m PE4C GTX 950 Dell optiplex power supply My goal is to set this up to use the internal screen. I hooked everything up and booted. The first boot, the system recognized the graphics card without drivers. After installing drivers, it recognized the 950 with no error codes. I rebooted the system and all my display devices were still recognized (Intel HD 3000, NVS 4200m, and GTX 950.) but it seemed that it was only using the HD 3000 to display graphics. I tried opening the Nvidia control panel, but I get an error saying "NVIDIA Settings are not available. You are not currently using a display attached to an NVIDIA GPU." I Googled and people suggested reinstalling the drivers but I still get the same error after reinstalling. I then tried putting my system to sleep, unplugging, turning back on, put back to sleep, reply egpu, but still the same results. Except my 950's fan would spin at max rpm. I thought to buy diy egpu 1.3 and set that up, but current cannot due to ky system being formatted as GPT. (is there a way to reformat to MBR without losing data? Do all my hard drives have to be MBR to work in Legacy mode?) I know back in the day, when egpu was first coming out, I had to use the older diy egpu bios to get my system to work, but seeing so many people be able to set up without it (plug and play) , am I doing something wrong? edit: After fiddling around some more, it still doesn't work but I have more info on what it does. When I start the system without eGPU setup and hotplug the 950, the Device Manager reports Code 43. When I start the system without eGPU, put the system to sleep, plug in eGPU, the wake the system, the Device Manager reports Code 12. So I'm trying to do the DSDT override and see if that makes the second setup work.