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US$189 AKiTiO Thunder2 PCIe Box (16Gbps-TB2)


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I'm quite sure that is fine but I thought I might ask anyway. Thinking of buying a 2m thunderbolt cable. The original ones (TB1) are much cheaper. Since I have 2012 TB1 macbook is it ok to buy the old TB1 cable version ?

TB1 and TB2 both transmit up to 10Gbps per channel. Only difference with TB2 is it allows aggregation of the two channels to provide 20Gbps: Thunderbolt (interface) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . Based on that info any Thunderbolt cable will work fine. The wiki even says the maximum copper cable length is 3M. Optical cable can have lengths up to 60m.

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@ba10s118:

- start your MB

- hold the Alt Key until you reach the boot selection menu

- power on the AKiTiO (not before the boot menu)

- boot into Windows

- look into the device manager

I'm doing that now, even with a gtx 660ti , dc barrel power mod.

Still black screen on boot - on both screen and macbook

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I'm doing that now, even with a gtx 660ti , dc barrel power mod.

Still black screen on boot - on both screen and macbook

hm… could please read this guide, just to make sure you are not missing anything? http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/10061-basic-egpu-hardware-guide-macs.html

Edit: Are you using a desktop PC PSU? If yes, which one? Did you apply the paper clip mod?

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hm… could please read this guide, just to make sure you are not missing anything? http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/10061-basic-egpu-hardware-guide-macs.html

Edit: Are you using a desktop PC PSU? If yes, which one? Did you apply the paper clip mod?

Checked - and should work fine.

Tried:

My system just boots to a black screen / my system hangs or BSODs while booting up to Win7

Poweroff your eGPU. Boot Win7. Standby (not hibernate) your system, poweron your eGPU, resume your system.

However did nothing, can't see the device in device manager.

yes - I've not recieved my da-2 yet, so I'm using a cx430m psu (Molex to dc barrel + paper clip trick Green/black) .

Here's a pic of the setup.http://puu.sh/i0btV/416458689d.jpg

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Windows 7 or Windows 8.1? What is it?

Is the AKiTiO showing up on OSX in the device manager?

Few things I can see in your picture:

- please attach the power supply to your MB

- can you plug into the upper TB port closer to the MagSafe?!

- can test with a DVI attached display?

- can you boot into Windows without the eGPU attached and start your eGPU as soon as you can see the Windows logo on the internal scrren?

If you are running Windows 7, I guess you need to start reading this: http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/2123-diy-egpu-setup-1-30-a.html

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Checked - and should work fine.

Tried:

My system just boots to a black screen / my system hangs or BSODs while booting up to Win7

Poweroff your eGPU. Boot Win7. Standby (not hibernate) your system, poweron your eGPU, resume your system.

However did nothing, can't see the device in device manager.

yes - I've not recieved my da-2 yet, so I'm using a cx430m psu (Molex to dc barrel + paper clip trick Green/black) .

Here's a pic of the setup.http://puu.sh/i0btV/416458689d.jpg

Would help if you put your system specs into your sig. Pretty much all Macbooks look alike so have no idea if you are using a 2011 or 2015 TB Macbook.

I'll mention that the black screen issue is something that does occur if using MBR/BIOS mode. Using GPT/UEFI mode along with Win8.1 resolved this issue when I tested it: http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/3062-2012-13-macbook-pro-gtx660ti-hd7870%408gbps-tb1-th05-win7-%5BTech Inferno Fan%5D.html#post42483

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Windows 7 or Windows 8.1? What is it?

Is the AKiTiO showing up on OSX in the device manager?

Few things I can see in your picture:

- please attach the power supply to your MB

- can you plug into the upper TB port closer to the MagSafe?!

- can test with a DVI attached display?

If you are running Windows 7, I guess you need to start reading this: http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/2123-diy-egpu-setup-1-30-a.html

Sorry - I copyed of the link you showed me, IT IS 8.1

Yes it's showing up in system information in OSX.

Just tried what you told.

plugged in power supply

Moved the TB to the other port.

Tried to attach a DVI cable.

I still get no signal to either macbook or screen.

I notice that my GPU fan is spinning very loudly, as they would do if you're in bios and had not booted yet.

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Would help if you put your system specs into your sig. Pretty much all Macbooks look alike so have no idea if you are using a 2011 or 2015 TB Macbook.

I'll mention that the black screen issue is something that does occur if using MBR/BIOS mode. Using GPT/UEFI mode along with Win8.1 resolved this issue when I tested it: http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/3062-2012-13-macbook-pro-gtx660ti-hd7870%408gbps-tb1-th05-win7-%5BTech Inferno Fan%5D.html#post42483

I use a MBPr 2014 13" i5 ( the cheapest ) + akitio thunder 2 pcie + GTX 660ti + 430W psu /w DC-barrel mod.

Software wise I just use windows 8.1 enterprise via bootcamp.

- - - Updated - - -

- can you boot into Windows without the eGPU attached and start your eGPU as soon as you can see the Windows logo on the internal scrren?

If trying when the "circles are spinning", my mac will boot into windows, with the internal screen, the fans on the gpu will go to normal state, however I can't see the display in device manager, and I can't install nvidia drivers with the error " Nvidia installer cannot continue - This driver could not find compatible hardware"

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I use a MBPr 2014 13" i5 ( the cheapest ) + akitio thunder 2 pcie + GTX 660ti + 430W psu /w DC-barrel mod.

Software wise I just use windows 8.1 enterprise via bootcamp.

- - - Updated - - -

If trying when the "circles are spinning", my mac will boot into windows, with the internal screen, the fans on the gpu will go to normal state, however I can't see the display in device manager, and I can't install nvidia drivers with the error " Nvidia installer cannot continue - This driver could not find compatible hardware"

Could you please start a thread in Provisional Guides detailing your configuration, the problems and what you've tried to remedy them?

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Could you please start a thread in Provisional Guides detailing your configuration, the problems and what you've tried to remedy them?

Sure!

Here you go.

http://forum.techinferno.com/provisional-guides/10072-2014-macbook-pro-retina-13-gtx-660ti-akitio-thunder-2-pcie-%5Btb2%5D.html#post134266

It will be edited once the issue is resolved!

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Has anyone in the UK been able to source this enclosure? Both of the UK retailers/distributors listed on AKiTiO's website don't carry the product in one way or another: scan.co.uk list it as a pre-order without any indication to when the product will be available, while Smithie UK don't even list it on their website. I contacted Smithie UK since I live near Basingstoke so it'd be super convenient, but no reply so far.

So I looked to Germany due to the sheer amount of distributors there and found format.de, who sell it for EUR 250 if you include DHL shipping to the UK. Has anyone in the UK found a cheaper deal? MAG.de didn't want to give me an account since I am not a commercial customer…

Cheers! I hope this is the right thread to post this in.

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Has anyone in the UK been able to source this enclosure? Both of the UK retailers/distributors listed on AKiTiO's website don't carry the product in one way or another: scan.co.uk list it as a pre-order without any indication to when the product will be available, while Smithie UK don't even list it on their website. I contacted Smithie UK since I live near Basingstoke so it'd be super convenient, but no reply so far.

So I looked to Germany due to the sheer amount of distributors there and found format.de, who sell it for EUR 250 if you include DHL shipping to the UK. Has anyone in the UK found a cheaper deal? MAG.de didn't want to give me an account since I am not a commercial customer…

Cheers! I hope this is the right thread to post this in.

I don't live in germany, but bought via Macconnect on Amazon - It went smooth and fairly fast

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I am using a GTX 970 directly slotted into the AKiTiO. Powering the card with the 6-Pin PCIe plugs and the AKiTiO with a barrel plug. All from one power supply. No additional (hardware) modifications necessary to make it work! :D

Nice! build, I want to make something like yours, I just ordered the Thunder2 and I'm reviewing some video cards for a nice fit. Can you post some pics of your build, I'm Interested in the one power closed case build, a nice and simple option.

Thanks.

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Finally got the final adapter and finished my build!

Working great so far. I could make a dedicated post for it but I based mine on Dschijn's latest one (without the case modifications) so I wouldn't be able to add much information of value.

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Finally got the final adapter and finished my build!

Working great so far. I could make a dedicated post for it but I based mine on Dschijn's latest one (without the case modifications) so I wouldn't be able to add much information of value.

A short summary with pictures and 1-2 benchmarks should be fine and contribute to the community. :D

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Is there a possibility we could start a thread showing our experiences with different TB devices (such as Belkin Thunderbolt express dock) in combination with the Akitio Thunder2 .

Would be nice if we could make a list of items that work, items that can be customized to work and things that wont work.

Eg. I only got my Apple Thunderbolt -> Ethernet to work by a mistake (works perma now)

Thunderbolt is a expensive implementation, so it would be nice to hear experiences first.

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With all the informations we have gathered so far, I got some questions to the big brains here:

- We have the mod to bypass a 25W restriction: http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/7205-us%24189-akitio-thunder2-pcie-box-16gbps-tb2-98.html#post122901

- We have informations to add capacitors to smooth the 12V input even more: http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/8848-%24299-owc-mercury-helios-16gbps-tb2-discussion.html#post121898

- How could I measure up to 80W on the stock AKiTiO PSU with a GPU directly in the AKiTiO slot? http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/7879-2013-13-macbook-pro-gtx970%4016gbps-tb2-akitio-thunder2-win8-1-osx10-10-%5Bdschijn.html

- How is it possible that we are able to run beefy cards without any modifications to the board and just a modded barrel plug? Are the 6-Pin PCIe plugs providing enough power to "overcome" the limited stock slot?

I would like make some guides to run a GTX 750Ti on a 120W 12V PSU without additionaly 6-Pin PCIe power. Is that even possible? One user got a 750Ti working with the stock PSU, but with stability problems.

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With all the informations we have gathered so far, I got some questions to the big brains here:

- We have the mod to bypass a 25W restriction: http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/7205-us%24189-akitio-thunder2-pcie-box-16gbps-tb2-98.html#post122901

- We have informations to add capacitors to smooth the 12V input even more: http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/8848-%24299-owc-mercury-helios-16gbps-tb2-discussion.html#post121898

- How could I measure up to 80W on the stock AKiTiO PSU with a GPU directly in the AKiTiO slot? http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/7879-2013-13-macbook-pro-gtx970%4016gbps-tb2-akitio-thunder2-win8-1-osx10-10-%5Bdschijn.html

- How is it possible that we are able to run beefy cards without any modifications to the board and just a modded barrel plug? Are the 6-Pin PCIe plugs providing enough power to "overcome" the limited stock slot?

I would like make some guides to run a GTX 750Ti on a 120W 12V PSU without additionaly 6-Pin PCIe power. Is that even possible? One user got a 750Ti working with the stock PSU, but with stability problems.

If I didn't get this completely wrong then there is no such electrical restriction built in, it's just that the product is advertised as safely being able to deliver 25W to the slot with the stuff that is given when purchased: http://forum.techinferno.com/enclosures-adapters/7205-us%24189-akitio-thunder2-pcie-box-16gbps-tb2-120.html#post129670

The bypass stuff was shortly before nando had correspondence with the Akitio engineer.

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