maven1975

Awesome!

PM me your paypal address.

I'm a man of my word!

Thanks for this contribution. I hope you continue to throw up a few more videos for us.

Thanks again!

I'll add a picture for you to see exactly where to cut the backplate

(this is really the only way... don't try to do it without backplate for instance you'd break the Z if you open it without backplate.)

I had drawn and measured a design with parts from HWTools that would allow me to remove the VGA port and place a extension adapter in its place.

So off of the card itself would be a 4" cable that went into the adapter inside. Then it would be plug and play externally with a 30 sized cable.

Their engineers said I would suffer no bad with loss with this setup at 30 cable max.

Hmmm...

i've played at the beta of BF4 , the game , at max settings , is playable , more than 60 fps , on an external screen.

On the internal screen , i've tested a little and the game is limited to 50 fps approx .. but can be playeble...

I'd be willing to buy a beer via paypal for a five minute YouTube video showing us bit internal and external performance!

I know he tried the beta, and it seems to run really well, like 60 fps most of the time (vsync on) in 1680x1050 with ultra settings.

I'll add a picture for you to see exactly where to cut the backplate

(this is really the only way... don't try to do it without backplate for instance you'd break the Z if you open it without backplate.)

Are these numbers with the internal screen or external?

Thinking about picking up a Razor Blade 14, but I still am not sure I want to sell my SVZ for it.

Thanks MikjoA!

My config

13" Sony VAIO SVZ

I7-3632QM @2.9 ghz on each 4 cores

8 gb of ram

2*128 SSD in Raid 0

Full HD

HD4000 + AMD 7670m with the PMD

Win7/64-bit

My Egpu

GTX 780 Inno3D HerculeZ ultra X3 ( stock is 1006/1053/3105)

PE4L V2.1b via mPCIe slot as per http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/2158-diy-egpu-guide-sony-vaio-vpc-z2-svz13.html

Alim Silverstone Micro ATX 450 W modular

a notebook cooler

Here is my scores of all the benchmark needed

DX9 :

3Dmark 06 :22479 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3632QM,Sony Corporation VAIO

RE5 : 205.5 residentevil5egputech - HostingPics.net - Hbergement d'images gratuit

DX10 :

3Dmark vantage : 36036 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3632QM,Sony Corporation VAIO

Devil may cry : the bench bug every time .... but i have an old score of 226

DX11 :

3Dmark11 : 14069 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3632QM,Sony Corporation VAIO , approx 12000 when no O/C

Unigine Heaven 3.0 : 3050 unigineheaven30techinferno - HostingPics.net - Hbergement d'images gratuit

3Dmark13 extreme (firestrike) : 5689 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-3632QM,Sony Corporation VAIO

My card is a gtx 780 Classified of evga , the frequences are 993/1046/3005 (the boost is realy 1150 mhz).

The card O/C very well at 1250mhz/3200mhz , this is at theses frequences that i bench theses scores.

My max O/C benchable is 1356 mhz at 1.25v (this is with this clock that i made the 3dmark11 and 13 scores.

Metro last light is completely playable at max settings (exept fxaa) on full hd with +60 fps (min 50).

Splinter cell blacklist is +60 at max settings.

I'm very happy of my egpu Thank you Nando and Mikjoa !

Have you tested Battlefield 4 yet? I still have my SVZ, and have been tempted to get off my ass and finally do this.

I'm going to message Tech Inferno Fan and see if he's up to testing it.

x1.2Opt: when using a x1 2.0 link with a NVidia Fermi/Keplar card and a Intel HD3000+ iGPU, the NVidia driver will engage pci-e compression. x1.2Opt will outbench x2.2 in some cases where compressible data is being transmitted. This has a massive effect on 3dmark06 (DX9). 3dmark vantage (DX10) is also affected.

The Thunderbolt x2.2 link can be changed to x1.2Opt by cellophane taping the video card pins that correspond to lane2 as shown below. Something worth trying with DX9 games to see if you see better performance.

Nando,

If one were to use the tape method, what drawbacks would there be?

Just by looking over data from other setups (Like the Z) the DX10/11 scores seem to be pretty close.

Would this effectively just balance the setup to 1x without side effects?

Thanks!

After looking through the data and results, it appears to currently only offer incremental advantages to dx10 & 11 games. It's the plug and play that's most appealing without having to open or mod your system.

boony's Graphics Score is actually at the same level (GTX 670 = 23572 vs. GTX 660 TI = 24543) but the sony one has a better CPU. Does the Sony use x1.1Opt or x2?

It has x1.2 Opt

I am confused about these results.

This link has results with an eGPU on Sony Z connected to the pci slot.

http://www.3dmark.com/3dmv/4315228

When I compare them to boony1's on the first page of this thread, it seems to be 4000 points faster.

I was under the impression that the TH05 thunderbolt implementation was superior.

Sorry if the answer is plain as day. Still trying to learn how to digest the data correctly.

Nando, you can work around the perst delay issue by using an expansion cable and isolating all power rails on pins 1-11, side A and B. These are the only pins on pcie that provide power.

See wikipedia article on power distribution. PCI Express - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What you need to do is hook up the 12V (molex) connector to your ATX power supply. You can short 2 pins on your ATX power supply to get it to turn on and off manually like an AT power supply. Here's how I did mine. How do I manually turn on an ATX power supply? | techPowerUp

If your ATX power supply has a switch on the back, then you can use this as your PERST delay switch.

I used this cable, $18.99 plus shipping. PCIe x16 Extender Cable w/ Molex Connector

The 3.3V power is a little tricky. I had to tap a SATA cable on the power supply.

Then you can hook up pin PCIE pin 11A, power good, to ATX pin 8, power ok/good (gray wire).

The PCIE auxiliary cables that some graphics cards require just hook up normally to the egpu.

1) Turn on macbook.

2) Select Windows boot.

3) Wait 5 seconds, then turn on PSU switch. Boot into windows.

OR If you've got the diy egpu software installed, selected it, turn on ATX PSU, then hit enter and select option 2 to verify your egpu is working.

4) chainload to MBR and load up windows. If your egpu isn't detected, power down PSU, rescan with f5, and it should show up now.

Some power supplies take a few seconds to discharge and for the power rails to go idle, so sometimes rescanning may be required. With mine detection of the egpu works every time with my sonnet echo express pro.

Are you having to use an additional power supply or only the one supplied with the Sonnet?

Also, is everything sealed up in the Sonnet, or do you have to have it open to jump the PSU?

Send us a Pic or post a YouTube please. I think it would really help some if us that are stuck in the dark.

Thanks!

The nice thing about the PE4H v3.2 is that you just need the 24-pin ATX. The enclosure has 6-pin power cables running from the 24-pin ATX port.

If you're using something like the PE4L, then you could just skip the power supply and use the AC adapter alone with the included P4 adapter, and then jerry rig some cabling together. Kallogan actually did that here: DIY eGPU experiences - Page 848

What about the SWEX connector? Is that not required for the setup?

I only ask because I don't see a plug for it in his pictures. Is this PSU any better than the 210 Xbox?

I too like the PE4H 3.2 but have two issues with it.

1. Non detachable cable

2. Two PSU needed.

Is there a solution that works with the internal monitor like the TH05?

What other solutions are out there that work with the same performance as the TH05?

Heck,

I would even do $450!

They are certainly enthusiastic to give people refunds along with coupons. Maybe they are doing all they can to please whoever is driving the recall (Intel/Apple?).

I'm might entertain the idea if it was a US$386 paypal refund so could purchase a OWC Helios or Sonnet Echo Express SE. Though then their basic 60W/75W enclosure to get Intel certfication would just a nuisance. I'd rip it apart, take the board out and figure a way to run a ATX PSU through it in the exact same way a TH05 works. Though then it would lack the PERST# delay setting needed for some of these Macbook implementations.

So a TH05 was a much better product for my needs to begin with, even if it delivers 89% of the performance of the Helios/Sonnet.

Why does whoever is driving this recall (Intel/Apple??) need to be such a fun-wrecking control freak?

Now if BPlus moved their August 2013 timeline for the TH04 to be Feb/March 2013 then I might consider it. The refund + BPlus voucher would presumably get me a TH04 + enclosure solution that works for me since it has external ATX PSU input. Just hope the Intel certification doesn't mean they need to remove the PERST# delay. Doing so would then force the pci-e initialization problem back on Apple to fix their UEFI firmware so it would work in the plug-and-play manner that Intel Certification requires.

I will give you $400 for you TH05.

Message me

Looked at their site again hoping for an update.

An updated PM3N and the new PE4H would work great together. Although, it still reads on the top that the PM3N is a Gen 1 product, but then below if I choose the Gen 2 PE4H-EC060a, it give me the option to order the PM3N version 1.2.

This says the PM3N is good when hooked to a 2.0 device..

http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4L.html

This contradicts..

http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4H.html

Weird

Hate to do this, it's tacky.

If anyone wants to get rid of their TH05, I will be waiting to pick it up from you.

Shoot me a PM

Thanks!

This is what I got back from Masaharu @ BPlus RE: Gen2 compliance of PE4H. Still waiting for a reply about buying just the Gen2 cable ends for our users with existing PE4H 2.4a units.

A Gen2-compatible PE4H 2.4a is definitely a better way to go. Well worth the extra $20 over a PE4L 2.1b for it's free-standing nature and interchangable ends. Consider too getting just a EC060A so you could plug it into a expresscard-slot equipped notebook too.

First stumbling block I see is you'll need to contact BPlus to order a PE4H 2.4a + PM100A/PM200A. They only list a PE4H 2.4 + EC060A as a buy-it-now component.

Going a mPCIe implementation on the Sony SVZ will be a less painful and far more cost effective approach than your previously planned MBPr + $950 netstor TBT enclosure. The netstor enclosure lacks the user settable PERST# delay (as was found on the not discontinued $140 TH05) needed to run a BIOS mode MBPr TBT eGPU installation.

Sounds good!

Is there any speed gain included in with this revision. Technically speaking, is the only gain having the detachable plug on the PE4H?

In my application, I would love to have a detachable plug on the PCI-e end. This way, I would not worry about removing the card and could be a little more careless with it.

BPlus sells an adapter that worked this way before with slower speeds. MikjoA says it was beta tested at 2.0, buy failed its compliance tests.

I have access to a 3D printer and would love to either replace a jack I don't use, or create one with a female end. This way I could have the hot plug ready at all times.

Do you know if Bplus would make a custom length P4LE? And if so, could I buy just an extension to bridge from laptop to video card? I don't know if this would interfere with the signal and cause issues.

Thanks!

Nando.

Were you able to get confirmation on this? I am about to attempt a eGPU setup on my Sony SVZ. Was going to order a PE4L-PM200A, but it looks like this would be the better route. Interestingly enough, they don't have the PM200A in stock, just the PM060A

Thanks again Nando!

I assume you are a mac user,

I primarly use mac os for work, hobbies photography, but for gaming hands down windows laptop is the way to go.

If you are to go the mac route, since TH04 will be coming out later this year, if you can wait you may as well wait for the 13" rMBP refresh with Haswell CPU and by then most likely next gen of GPU will be out.

Otherwise the only other suggestion is get a windows based laptop. I'm not sure what the best choice would be in the end it's up to you.

Let's see what Netstor can do for us. I have sent them a direct link to this thread hoping they will be able to get a better grasp on our needs. (At their request)

Netstor, you are welcomed to openly ask any questions you might have. Registration in this forum is easy and free.

Thinking of sending the rMBP back. :/ Looks like the only way to get the eGPU working is with the TH05. I have posted several places offering $450 shipped even without luck. :/

It's really disappointing. I can still attempt the PL4E mod on the rMBP. Although, there's no telling if that will even work.

Still have my SVZ still and it's an option. MikjoA has proven that to work, but still I'd regather have the MBP.

Although, I have thought about getting a 15" rMBP and wait it out. However, just don't want to tote that larger footprint around. (Too large for tight working conditions)

What to do ladies and gentlemen?

Thunderbolt products get certified if they are plug'n'play. You can see that on the MBPr, the EFI framework doesn't allow plug-n-play where the iGPU is enabled alongside the eGPU. kloper resorted to going back to bios mode, using PERST# delay and Setup 1.1x to get it all functional. There the PERST# delay was necessary to allow the eGPU to get detected after the firmware has booted.

May I suggest you ask them to at least provide a toggle switch that lets you manually toggle PERST#. Something that is easy enough for them to manually add if necessary. You shouldn't have to solder in for a $950 device? Without it you might have trouble getting internal LCD mode working. Good thing is the netstor will give you full 10Gbps performance, approx x2 2.0 + 12.5%, so is a little faster than a TH05. Other additional benefit being it allows daisy chaining of TB devices.

I agree with you there. Sent an email over to see if this would be possible.

If they don't want to do this, is it really that easy to complete? Is this something easily detectable and installed?

@maven1975, could you ask netstor if their product has a user settable PERST# delay? That delay is necessary in bios mode to boot say into the Apple option screen (ALT). If it's set too low or there isn't one then upon poweron, the firmware running in bios mode will power the system down upon detecting the eGPU on my 13" MBP. Likely does the same on other Macbooks.

Would netstor be willing to sell us just the Thunderbolt-to-pcie board with say a floppy PSU connector? That would be cost-effective solution for users that want to use their own PSU and run the GPU without an enclosure.

This is what I received back. I did respond once more to see if they knew what the shipped setting would be. Waiting for that reply.

"Now the PERST# is not settable. And we are not allowed to sell the board alone, since both Apple and Intel are approval our products in complete units."

Now, on to the noob questions. What does this mean for me? Will I need to run it under windows with rEFI? I hope it does not mean I'm SOL. :/

Awesome! BO2 is one I would like to see at native resolution. It runs @ 60/70 FPS on the 650m without shaders and low FOV @1080p.

Hey Nando,

Wish I could get my hands on a TH05, but no such luck.

Thats sounds about right. The business will pay for half of it. However, it's absolutely, 1000%, grossly overpriced. Although, if their willing to make me a single box, with one cord, I will be the tester for the rest of us.

Perhaps if they are willing to help the community, we could get a bulk price.

Just sent the request over to Netstor. Brian has been pretty quick at getting back with me.

Will keep you posted.