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2012 15" rMBP + Sonnet Echo Express SE II + GTX770 = No Joy & noob questions


nak1017

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Ok, I finally got my Echo Express after Sonnet made me wait for the SE II to come out (it still doesn't have TB2 yet too), but after a few days of futzing with it, I'm not getting anything so any help would be appreciated.

Here's what I've got so far:

OS: Window 8.1

System: 2012 MacBook Pro Retina 15"

RAM: 16GB

GPU: EVGA GTX770

PSU: Corsair AX860i (that should be plenty huge)

Setup: Only using eGPU on external monitor

I've gone through Strandmatte's setup guide and Shelltoe's setup guide and followed Strandmatte's instructions since those seemed to be the closer to my setup. I've also used the drivers from LaptopVideo2go.com, par MystPhysx's recommendation since those are supposed to handle the 2 nvidia GPUs. I did not do anything with the INF files that were available on that website however as it did not sound like they were necessary for this.

I've followed Strandmatte's startup routine, but the laptop won't boot (stays on gray screen) if the eGPU is pulled in and turned on. I've tried starting the computer, waiting 3 seconds and switching on the eGPU, but everything seems to boot as if the eGPU wasn't attached.

I have not changed any setting in the DIY eGPU Setup program itself and installed the two .bat files (startup.bat and pci.bat) par Strandmatte's instructions. The instructions were copy and pasted into the files so as long as that code is OK, there shouldn't be a problem there...

I'm not sure I properly dismounted the V: disk image after installing the .bat files, to save the image. Not being much of a software guy, I really didn't know the best way to do that... The only way I could figure on how to do that is to force dismount, which gives me a warning message about unsaved changes being lost. I'm also not getting the V: disk image to mount immediately each time, and had to schedule a task to make sure it loads each time.

So here are some basic noob questions I have:

1) What is the best way to dismount the V: disk image? Could that be causing any of these problems?

2) Do I need the V: disk image to mount each time I use the eGPU, or was that just a setup thing? Would have the task scheduler mount the image cause problems?

3) Are the INF files distributed by LaptopVideo2go.com necessary? I used their drivers, but not the INFs...

4) I'm completely in the dark about startup sequence... Do I turn on the eGPU after a few seconds, or wait till Windows is completely up, or something in-between? (how does the reset delay in the BPlus units work, and how is that different?)

5) Is there anything I should do or change inside DIY eGPU Setup? I've run the "2. automated startup via startup.bat" boot-menu during install, and that's it. Would any of the options in there help diagnose or solve this problem?

Since I'm basically just a hardware/electronics guy, any help would be appreciated. This software stuff confuses and scares me...

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Ok, I finally got my Echo Express after Sonnet made me wait for the SE II to come out (it still doesn't have TB2 yet too), but after a few days of futzing with it, I'm not getting anything so any help would be appreciated.

Here's what I've got so far:

OS: Window 8.1

System: 2012 MacBook Pro Retina 15"

RAM: 16GB

GPU: EVGA GTX770

PSU: Corsair AX860i (that should be plenty huge)

Setup: Only using eGPU on external monitor

I've gone through Strandmatte's setup guide and Shelltoe's setup guide and followed Strandmatte's instructions since those seemed to be the closer to my setup. I've also used the drivers from LaptopVideo2go.com, par MystPhysx's recommendation since those are supposed to handle the 2 nvidia GPUs. I did not do anything with the INF files that were available on that website however as it did not sound like they were necessary for this.

I've followed Strandmatte's startup routine, but the laptop won't boot (stays on gray screen) if the eGPU is pulled in and turned on. I've tried starting the computer, waiting 3 seconds and switching on the eGPU, but everything seems to boot as if the eGPU wasn't attached.

I have not changed any setting in the DIY eGPU Setup program itself and installed the two .bat files (startup.bat and pci.bat) par Strandmatte's instructions. The instructions were copy and pasted into the files so as long as that code is OK, there shouldn't be a problem there...

I'm not sure I properly dismounted the V: disk image after installing the .bat files, to save the image. Not being much of a software guy, I really didn't know the best way to do that... The only way I could figure on how to do that is to force dismount, which gives me a warning message about unsaved changes being lost. I'm also not getting the V: disk image to mount immediately each time, and had to schedule a task to make sure it loads each time.

So here are some basic noob questions I have:

1) What is the best way to dismount the V: disk image? Could that be causing any of these problems?

2) Do I need the V: disk image to mount each time I use the eGPU, or was that just a setup thing? Would have the task scheduler mount the image cause problems?

3) Are the INF files distributed by LaptopVideo2go.com necessary? I used their drivers, but not the INFs...

4) I'm completely in the dark about startup sequence... Do I turn on the eGPU after a few seconds, or wait till Windows is completely up, or something in-between? (how does the reset delay in the BPlus units work, and how is that different?)

5) Is there anything I should do or change inside DIY eGPU Setup? I've run the "2. automated startup via startup.bat" boot-menu during install, and that's it. Would any of the options in there help diagnose or solve this problem?

Since I'm basically just a hardware/electronics guy, any help would be appreciated. This software stuff confuses and scares me...

A couple of things:

1. Presumably you are using BIOS/MBR (bootcamp) rather than UEFI mode since you are booting Setup 1.x. Have you created the PCI riser as documented by standmatte to provide a PCI Reset Delay. This is a critical piece of modded hardware to get this rig going. Without it you'll get the symptoms you describe (gray screen if eGPU connected on boot or eGPU not added to the PCI bus if started after boot.

2. You can boot Setup 1.x -> menu-bsed option, then hit F5. It will list in the DETAILS window if the eGPU is detected or not.

3. We don't have a sample pci.bat for the 2012 15" rMBP. Best thing we have is MystPhysx advice on successfully performing PCI compaction at http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/4570-%5Bguide%5D-2012-13-rmbp-gtx660-sonnet-echo-express-se-%40-10gbps.html#post64007 .

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So I did get it working, but it's a little inconsistent. There seems to be a sweet spot between hitting the power button on my laptop and switching on the eGPU where it will work. Is that something a reset delay on pin 8 will fix?

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So just a progress update for anyone reading this...post-19319-14494997011887_thumb.jpg

It's still sortof in proof-of-concept phase, but I got the guy working and have a rough case printed out to make the thing look all nice and pretty. Next step is to get some relays or solid-state switches and an arduino, and figure out how to automate the startup procedure. I'll start a new thread once I get a little farther, and include all the code, STL files (for printing) and a nice BOM.

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  • 2 months later...

Ok, it's re-broken...

I upgraded the internal TB card (TB1->TB2) in the Sonnet Echo SE II and now I don't think my laptop is seeing the Sonnet Card at all.

My first thought is that this is a driver issue, and that TB2 doesn't work in Win8.1 yet on a '12 15" rMBP. Does anyone have any experience with something like that?

So far I've tried a PCI compaction, but it seems to make my keyboard non-operational so I haven't made it farther than that...

I'll post more tomorrow, I need sleep... If anyone can help me with this it would be greatly appreciated

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Ok, it's re-broken...

I upgraded the internal TB card (TB1->TB2) in the Sonnet Echo SE II and now I don't think my laptop is seeing the Sonnet Card at all.

My first thought is that this is a driver issue, and that TB2 doesn't work in Win8.1 yet on a '12 15" rMBP. Does anyone have any experience with something like that?

So far I've tried a PCI compaction, but it seems to make my keyboard non-operational so I haven't made it farther than that...

I'll post more tomorrow, I need sleep... If anyone can help me with this it would be greatly appreciated

Im using Echo Express III-D and TB2 was working fine with W8.1

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MacBook Pro Retina 2012 doesn't support TB2 as it's Ivy Bridge. Only Haswell has this feature.

I thought TB2 was supposed to be backwards compatible?

But TB2 devices should be able to be used with an Ivy Bridge laptop... :concern:?

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I thought TB2 was supposed to be backwards compatible?

But TB2 devices should be able to be used with an Ivy Bridge laptop... :concern:?

Yeah it should be usable at half bandwidth (TB1). But why are you trying to accomplish this while your TB1 device seems to work fine?

Are you using a TB2 or a TB1 cable?

(BTW: would you be so kind to upload your pci.bat plz so we have some reference?)

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Yeah it should be usable at half bandwidth (TB1). But why are you trying to accomplish this while your TB1 device seems to work fine?

Are you using a TB2 or a TB1 cable?

(BTW: would you be so kind to upload your pci.bat plz so we have some reference?)

I had the chance to upgrade from a TB1 to a TB2 with Sonnet's big swapover program, and since I'll probably be upgrading to a laptop with a TB2 port on it next, it seemed prudent...

I'm still using a TB1 cable. Do you think that could be the cause? I know the TB2 setup can atleast see the TB1 port on the laptop as the LEDs light up when I turn the laptop on.

Here is the pci.bat I've been using:

REM r:/core/compact.exe pciend f8000000 import devcon.txt makebatch R:\config\pci.batREM created Sun Jan 26 21:59:26 2014


echo off
echo Performing PCI allocation for 2012 13" MBPr based off Tech Inferno Fan's findings . . .


:: The X16 root port
@echo -s 0:1.1 1c.w=6030 20.l=AE90A090 24.l=CDF1AEA1 > setpci.arg


:: Underlying Bridges in order from high to low
@echo -s 4:0.0 1c.w=5131 20.l=AB00A090 24.l=C9F1B801 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 5:3.0 1c.w=4131 20.l=A700A200 24.l=C5F1B801 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 7:0.0 04.w=7 1c.w=3131 20.l=A300A200 24.l=C1F1B801 28.l=0 30.w=0 3c.b=10 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 8:3.0 04.w=7 1c.w=3131 20.l=A300A200 24.l=C1F1B801 28.l=0 30.w=0 3c.b=10 >> setpci.arg


:: The NVidia eGPU
@echo -s 9:0.0 04.w=400 0C.b=20 24.w=3F81 10.l=A2000000 14.l=B8000000 1C.l=C0000000 3C.b=10 50.b=1 88.w=140 >> setpci.arg


setpci @setpci.arg
set pci_written=yes

It's right out of Strandmatte's guide and worked when I had the original TB1 card.

I've run PCI compaction as this is the resulting pci.bat file:

REM r:/core/compact.exe pciend f8000000 preserve 0:1a.0 0:1a.1 0:1a.2 0:1a.3 0:1b.0 0:1b.1 0:1d.0 0:1d.1 0:1d.2 0:1d.3 0:1f.1 0:1f.2 0:1f. import devcon.txt makebatch R:\config\pci.batREM created Sat Apr  5 01:17:50 2014
echo Performing PCI write (compact@Sat Apr 5 01:17:50 2014)


@echo -s 1:0.0 COMMAND=0 COMMAND=0 COMMAND=0 > setpci.arg
@echo -s 1:0.1 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 7:0.0 COMMAND=0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 3:0.1 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 3:0.0 COMMAND=0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s a:0.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:14.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1b.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1f.2 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1d.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1a.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1f.3 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:16.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 4:0.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s b:2.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s b:1.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s a:0.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 9:5.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 9:4.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 9:3.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 8:0.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 6:5.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 6:6.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 6:4.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 6:3.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 6:0.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 5:0.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1c.1 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1c.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1.2 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1.1 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 1:0.0 BASE_ADDRESS_1=d000000c BASE_ADDRESS_2=0 BASE_ADDRESS_3=ce00000c BASE_ADDRESS_4=0 BASE_ADDRESS_0=f7000000 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 1:0.1 BASE_ADDRESS_0=f6ffc000 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 7:0.0 BASE_ADDRESS_0=f6ec0000 BASE_ADDRESS_1=f6ebf000 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 3:0.1 BASE_ADDRESS_0=f6df000c BASE_ADDRESS_1=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 3:0.0 BASE_ADDRESS_2=f6de000c BASE_ADDRESS_3=0 BASE_ADDRESS_0=f6dd000c BASE_ADDRESS_1=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s a:0.0 BASE_ADDRESS_0=f6ce0000 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:14.0 BASE_ADDRESS_0=f6fe0004 BASE_ADDRESS_1=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1b.0 BASE_ADDRESS_0=f6ff8004 BASE_ADDRESS_1=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1f.2 BASE_ADDRESS_5=f6ff7800 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1d.0 BASE_ADDRESS_0=f6ff7400 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1a.0 BASE_ADDRESS_0=f6ff7000 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1f.3 BASE_ADDRESS_0=f6ff6f04 BASE_ADDRESS_1=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:16.0 BASE_ADDRESS_0=f6ff6ef4 BASE_ADDRESS_1=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 4:0.0 BASE_ADDRESS_0=f6bfc004 BASE_ADDRESS_1=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 9:3.0 MEMORY_BASE=f6c0 MEMORY_LIMIT=f6c0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 8:0.0 MEMORY_BASE=f6c0 MEMORY_LIMIT=f6c0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 6:3.0 MEMORY_BASE=f6c0 MEMORY_LIMIT=f6c0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 6:0.0 MEMORY_BASE=f6e0 MEMORY_LIMIT=f6e0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 5:0.0 MEMORY_BASE=f6c0 MEMORY_LIMIT=f6e0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1.0 MEMORY_BASE=f6f0 MEMORY_LIMIT=f7f0 PREF_MEMORY_BASE=ce01 PREF_BASE_UPPER32=0 PREF_MEMORY_LIMIT=dff1 PREF_LIMIT_UPPER32=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1c.1 MEMORY_BASE=f6b0 MEMORY_LIMIT=f6b0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1c.0 PREF_MEMORY_BASE=f6d1 PREF_BASE_UPPER32=0 PREF_MEMORY_LIMIT=f6d1 PREF_LIMIT_UPPER32=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1.1 MEMORY_BASE=f6c0 MEMORY_LIMIT=f6e0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s b:2.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s b:1.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s a:0.0 COMMAND=7 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 9:5.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 9:4.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 9:3.0 COMMAND=7 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 8:0.0 COMMAND=7 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 6:5.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 6:6.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 6:4.0 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 6:3.0 COMMAND=7 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 6:0.0 COMMAND=7 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 5:0.0 COMMAND=7 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1.0 COMMAND=7 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1c.1 COMMAND=7 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1c.0 COMMAND=7 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1.2 COMMAND=0 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1.1 COMMAND=7 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 1:0.0 COMMAND=7 COMMAND=7 COMMAND=7 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 1:0.1 COMMAND=6 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 7:0.0 COMMAND=7 COMMAND=7 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 3:0.1 COMMAND=6 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 3:0.0 COMMAND=6 COMMAND=6 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s a:0.0 COMMAND=7 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:14.0 COMMAND=6 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1b.0 COMMAND=6 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1f.2 COMMAND=7 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1d.0 COMMAND=6 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1a.0 COMMAND=6 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:1f.3 COMMAND=3 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 0:16.0 COMMAND=6 >> setpci.arg
@echo -s 4:0.0 COMMAND=6 >> setpci.arg


setpci @setpci.arg
set pci_written=yes

Anything helpful in there? I'm sortof in the dark of the coding part of this (I like the hardware stuff)

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Anything helpful in there? I'm sortof in the dark of the coding part of this (I like the hardware stuff)

The PCI addresses have changed, for example 0:1.0 (root port) is in the compaction output whereas 0:1.1 is in the original pci.bat. That would imply that the working pci.bat used a different Thunderbolt port on your Macbook Pro. Please plug into the other Thunderbolt port and try the previously working pci.bat again.

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The PCI addresses have changed, for example 0:1.0 (root port) is in the compaction output whereas 0:1.1 is in the original pci.bat. That would imply that the working pci.bat used a different Thunderbolt port on your Macbook Pro. Please plug into the other Thunderbolt port and try the previously working pci.bat again.

Just tried it no avail.

Do you think changing the original pci.bat file from 0:1.0 might work?

Also is there any diagnostic stuff I can run that might help?

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  • 3 weeks later...

So I've been poking at this for a few days and now I'm more confused than ever...

I got an old AMD 4550 series card to work immediately with my setup and got the GTX770 card which was in the eGPU to work in an old desktop PC, but I can't get the GTX770 to work in eGPU.

I didn't change any settings in the startup routine since I got the new thunderbolt 2 card from Sonnet, and the GTX770 card worked fine with the old the thunderbolt 1 card.

I've taken my timer setup out of the loop, but no change. Any ideas? What should I be looking for?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

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More or less bumping this...

Knowing that the AMD card popped up in the eGPU setup, and that the GTX 770 works perfectly fine on another computer, I figure it has to be something with the startup sequence. I'm wondering if it's a pin 8 problem since that was not added to my delay circuit.

I'm sortof just stabbing in the dark right now... I'm taking the setup over to a friend's place tomorrow since he has a handful of video cards to try out

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