Help request for adding PCIex16 port on laptop (soldering)

[AGmR]

Hello,

I am trying to add a PCIe port x4/x8/x16 on my laptop (model, dell inspiron 15r 5220), mainly for better eGPU performance. I am currently using an eGPU, and I recently upgraded to an R9 280x (which isn't quite working right now, but that's besides the point) from GTX 680 (which was working). I've searched a bit on it, but can't find anything that helps or it's too difficult to understand (google translate). I have a lot of soldering experience, so that should not be an obstacle. I also don't mind if I have to disable components (audio, etc) in order for this to work; although I prefer to avoid where possible.

Laptop Spec. :

Mobo :

Front Side :

Back Side :

Thanks for reading, and I appreciate any responses.

[Tech Inferno Fan]

You have a socketted Ivy Bridge CPU. *if* you can enable the Northbridge x16 port, then consider using the dGPU-model E6430 schematic (available at http://forum.techinferno.com/dell-latitude-vostro-precision/9690-14-dell-latitude-e6430-performance-upgrades-system-mods.html#post118135 ) to solder wires to your CPU's x16 port on one side and the x16 PCIe slot on the other. You really only need x4 2.0 to get going. There are two TX + two RX pairs per lane with GND shields between them to prevent interference.

Otherwise if you have mPCIe+mPCIe ports that are port1+2, 3+4, 5+6 or 6+7 you could do a x2 2.0 implementation like discussed at http://forum.techinferno.com/dell-latitude-vostro-precision/9690-14-dell-latitude-e6430-performance-upgrades-system-mods-2.html#post130202

[timohour]

It seems like your laptop comes with a dGPU (7670M). Can you enable/disable it in your BIOS?

[AGmR]

It seems like your laptop comes with a dGPU (7670M). Can you enable/disable it in your BIOS?

Yes thats right, yes i can enable/disable it by set "PCI reset delay to >> Disabled"

[thegiantslayer]

I'm in the same situation.

*if* you can enable the Northbridge x16 port

How would I go about doing that?

[Tech Inferno Fan]

I'm in the same situation.

How would I go about doing that?

When I tested my iGPU-equipped Dell E6440, I could enable the dGPU port (Northbridge) using Setup 1.30. The E6440 has a iGPU+dGPU or iGPU-only model. The same bios applied to both. Appears then that the bios doesn't lock down that port.

Which seemed unusual to me. Previously tested iGPU-only Elitebooks had no ability to enable those dGPU ports.

If your dGPU port is locked, then need a strategy to enable it. Can try to modify UEFI variables as described at http://forum.techinferno.com/dell-latitude-vostro-precision/8176-%5Bguide%5D-dell-e6530-cpu-tdp-multi-unlocking.html#post111576 OR get a modified/unlocked BIOS that allows setting the PEG variable. If have an Elitebook/Probook then is virtually impossible to get that functionality.

[timohour]

If your dGPU port is locked, then need a strategy to enable it. Can try to modify UEFI variables as described at http://forum.techinferno.com/dell-latitude-vostro-precision/8176-%5Bguide%5D-dell-e6530-cpu-tdp-multi-unlocking.html#post111576 OR get a modified/unlocked BIOS that allows setting the PEG variable. If have an Elitebook/Probook then is virtually impossible to get that functionality.

I had a private conversation with AGmR about his request. To summarise, he is using a modded bios with the ability to enable/disable dGPU/iGPU. He is willing to desolder his dGPU from the laptop in order to connect an eGPU riser (got his idea from here). He provided the Laptop schematics.

Problem is, if he desolder the dGPU how do we know which pin goes where? Do the PCIe signals go directly on the GPU chip or do they go on a different place on motherboard? (schematics are not very clear).

Can we find the pinout/datasheet on an 7670m card?

Maybe, we can use an MXM card, desolder the GPU off the card and find out where each PCIe signal goes. (?) Do 6xxxM cards and 7xxxM cards share the same layout?

[Tech Inferno Fan]

I had a private conversation with AGmR about his request. To summarise, he is using a modded bios with the ability to enable/disable dGPU/iGPU. He is willing to desolder his dGPU from the laptop in order to connect an eGPU riser (got his idea from here). He provided the Laptop schematics.

Problem is, if he desolder the dGPU how do we know which pin goes where? Do the PCIe signals go directly on the GPU chip or do they go on a different place on motherboard? (schematics are not very clear).

Can we find the pinout on an 7670m card?

Maybe, we can use an MXM card, desolder the GPU off the card and find out where each PCIe signal goes. (?) Do 6xxxM cards and 7xxxM cards share the same layout?

pg 34 of the linked Vostro 3560 schematic shows the x8 2.0 link pins to the 7670m chip. You'd be removing the 7670M chip and soldering lines to those pins and a PCIe socket. Then you'd run a powered PCIe riser externally to attach your video card.

[timohour]

My bad. Pg 34.

Got this. I assume that it AA38, Y37 etc, are coordinates on the board... I didn't realise that.

Tx, Rx, CLK, PERST ok

WAKE# signal is the only one that I can't locate, but maybe it is not crucial?

[Tech Inferno Fan]

Got this. I assume that it AA38, Y37 etc, are coordinates on the board... I didn't realise that.

Tx, Rx, CLK, PERST ok

WAKE# signal is the only one that I can't locate, but maybe it is not crucial?

AA38, Y37 etc probably refers to the HD7690M pin array.

[Tech Inferno Fan]

Sent an email to BPlus requesting expression of interest in making a PCIe adapter hosted off the CPU

From: Nando <Tech Inferno [email protected]>

Date: Tue, Jun 2, 2015 at 6:54 PM

Subject: eGPU interposer off CPU?

To: BPlus

Hi BPlus,

Based on discussion at http://forum.techinferno.com/general-notebook-discussions/10100-help-request-adding-pciex16-port-laptop-soldering.html#post134686 we have found a previous example where a user has attached a PCIe slot to the internals of a systemboard like at Sprites mods - Adding SATA and PCIE to a HP T5325 thin client - The PCI-Express port

The cleverness there is the PCIe socket being used along with a riser.

The same idea could apply to i-core CPUs. They host a dGPU off the Northbridge off the CPU itself.

If that port is already unlocked (or can be unlocked with say a modded bios or EFI BIOS variable writes), then an interposer could be added between the CPU and systemboard that taps the PCIe port off to a PCIe slot. From that PCIe slot, a powered riser could be attached to host a video card.

One such system that could act as a candidate for this idea would be a 4th Gen iGPU-only Dell E6440.

So the question then is, would you be prepared to make an adapter that slots into the CPU socket that (1) passed through the CPU pins and (2) provides a PCIe socket attaching to the Northbridge x16 slot?. You could do with it being say x8 2.0 to reduce wiring. Ivy Bridge does have a PCIe 3.0 northbridge so if could get the signal integrity up that could be a x8 3.0 link.

A schematic of a 3rd gen system with dGPU attached (for pin reference) is at pg6 of https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9ENsVPn8E_lR2Q1X3dOMzV6a2s/view

This idea could be applied to an iGPU-only system or a system with an iGPU + MXM (detachable) dGPU. Systems with a iGPU + (soldered) dGPU could not do this unless the dGPU could be soldered off since would be using the same pins.

Your thoughts? Certainly a different approach to eGPUs that could get more performance. The adapter itself would be rather simple BUT needs the precision to make it that BPlus has the expertise to do.

Nando

[Tech Inferno Fan]

Then again the hurdle to get eGPUs may be answered with 32Gbps-TB3 (x4 3.0) : http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/10147-intel-unveils-thunderbolt-3-0-mentions-external-graphics.html released with the Skylake platform ETA 2016.

[timohour]

Then again the hurdle to get eGPUs may be answered with 32Gbps-TB3 (x4 3.0) : http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/10147-intel-unveils-thunderbolt-3-0-mentions-external-graphics.html released with the Skylake platform ETA 2016.

If your request with Bplus gets answered we may have x4/x8 3.0 with Ivy bridge socketed machines @ much lower prices...

[thegiantslayer]

Sent an email to BPlus requesting expression of interest in making a PCIe adapter hosted off the CPU

Based on that, I would assume that mobile CPUs are detachable? That seems to be supported by the fact that online suppliers sell laptop M/B's without their CPUs.

Having a CPU - PCIe x8 adapter seems like a pretty great, easily marketable idea! However, I can't help but think that the adapter being fitted in between the CPU and the M/B would raise the height of the CPU, which would be an issue because of the cooling system that's above the CPU.

Do you think this could be fixed by simply bending the tubes, or something else?

I'm really looking forward to this! When do you think they might respond, in a few days/weeks?

Thanks!

[thegiantslayer]

Also, don't you think it would be easier for those with dGPUs, to desolder their GPUs, and make an adapter GPU?

For example, a dGPU blank that has a PCIe x16 3.0 riser coming from it? This should be feasible since the dGPU itself is connected to the CPU with that connection, and so you should be able to salvage in that way.

[Tech Inferno Fan]

Also, don't you think it would be easier for those with dGPUs, to desolder their GPUs, and make an adapter GPU?

For example, a dGPU blank that has a PCIe x16 3.0 riser coming from it? This should be feasible since the dGPU itself is connected to the CPU with that connection, and so you should be able to salvage in that way.

How many different GPUs are there? Then how many blanks would need to be made? Consider also the complexity of such a mod where the dGPU is hijaaked: systemboard removed, dGPU desoldered with specialist equipment and (likely) requires a BIOS mod containing a different VBIOS. You then have a very limited market. Not to say I'd love to see it done. Just that the market simply isn't there. BPlus would probably get a negative return on their time invested to make such blanks.

Besides, the more markettable CPU interposer idea can apply to the dGPU models as well. Either the dGPU gets desoldered or the *maybe* the power lines to it cut. I say maybe because at 5Gbps, the PCie lines would be sensitive to reflective noise if unterminated with matching impedance.

Though the CPU idea has a limited market space as well. There are predominantly soldered CPUs on notebooks these days.

Thankfully, Intel will be supporting eGPUs in the Skylake platform. Unless such mods can be cost effective and easily implemented it might be worth just waiting till 2016 to get one of these new TB3-equipped notebooks instead. http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/10147-intel-unveils-thunderbolt-3-0-mentions-external-graphics-skylake-2016-a.html

[thegiantslayer]

Oh, I see. I don't know why I didn't think of that.

Personally, I initially got interested in eGPUs because of cost efficiency. However, since I am a computer engineering major, the fun of it has kept me going, haha. I think I would probably build a desktop before buying a TB3-equipped notebook, simply because I could make it much more powerful.

However, if BPlus says it's possible to make that adapter, do you think space would be an issue or not?

[sskillz]

Cool, I talked to nando in private about having a thin pcb/socket that sits between the CPU and the CPU socket to get PCI-E signals, and even about soldering to broken GPU Dell Inspirion 5110, and then this thread pops up. Good luck.

[AGmR]

My BAD :/

[thegiantslayer]

My BAD :/

CRAP, did you try to solder directly onto your CPU port?!

Sent from my X9076 using Tapatalk

[AGmR]

CRAP, did you try to solder directly onto your CPU port?!

Sent from my X9076 using Tapatalk

yeah thats ughh although i used right tools to desolder dgpu chip but @ finally Thankx GOD my mobo still works with iGPU :/,

Not yet cuz im not surely knw what specifically cpu ports pins to solder pcie pins on it but i hope to be done with this way + it will be better than dgpu way cuz benefit will be full x16 instead of dgpu x8 port.

[thegiantslayer]

yeah thats ughh although i used right tools to desolder dgpu chip but @ finally Thankx GOD my mobo still works with iGPU :/,

Not yet cuz im not surely knw what specifically cpu ports pins to solder pcie pins on it but i hope to be done with this way + it will be better than dgpu way cuz benefit will be full x16 instead of dgpu x8 port.

That sounds really fun, hahaha, I don't know if I'd ever do it, though [emoji14]

However, if I was you, I'd buy a motherboard for my laptop's specific model off of eBay, and try to make a PCIe connection from the dGPU of the new motherboard. That way, if anything gets screwed up, the actual laptop will still be fine. They usually cost between $100 - $250, but you pay for safety [emoji14]

Sent from my X9076 using Tapatalk

[AGmR]

U can just buy specific mobo dnt need new laptop & it will cost much less bout 45 ~ 50 usd , my laptop mobo cost ~41 usd w/o dGPU = Clear balls for solder but in the end no $$$ nw lol.

[thegiantslayer]

U can just buy specific mobo dnt need new laptop & it will cost much less bout 45 ~ 50 usd , my laptop mobo cost ~41 usd w/o dGPU = Clear balls for solder but in the end no $$$ nw lol.

That's actually what I meant, but I may have miscommunicated. My laptop's mobo costs about $150, so you're lucky [emoji14]

What laptop do you have?

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[Sompom]

It's funny that I stumbled into this thread today.... I've been playing with the same idea for awhile, and I literally just bought a replacement motherboard with no dGPU to try ;P

But I can top all of you. My replacement motherboard was $15 with free shipping. (Crappy, i3 version vs. my nice i5, which costs $50...)

I'll watch this thread, and post any results I get. But I probably won't have significant time to work on this for awhile