Jump to content

14" Lenovo T420s (working in progress)


Strack

Recommended Posts

Hello guys,

 

First of all, really appreciate this project and I want to thank to all of you guys sharing your experience and creating such a great community.

if there's anybody that managed to do it successfuly on this Thinkpad model, please PM me so I can talk with him, and I promise at the end I will post a full guide for this type of Thinkpad (wasn't able to find more that 2 posts related to this type of Thinkpad, and at one nobody responded, the second one I cannot find it anymore).

I decided to start my own eGPU project, on my Lenovo Thinkpad T420s. 

 

I have waited for the PE4C-EC060A V3.0 ( eGPU PCIe x16 interface for ExpressCard) to be released and decided to order one (since Thinkpad T420s has an Express Card port) but instead I ordered an PE4C version 3.0, PCIe x16 interface for mPICe; Length 60c  and it has been shipped. I than opened my laptop and I've noticed I do have a 2nd mPICe slot, and here comes my first question:

1st question: do you guys recommend me in switching to the Express Card version, or the mPICe one behaves the same as the Express Card one? The only inconvenience is that it will be harder to plug it in and out, since I take my laptop to work at a daily bases.

 

Looking at the requirements, I saw that it is possible to do it for this type of laptop by having a bios version of 1.3x. 

2nd question: The bios version of 1.3x refers to the bios versioin developed by @Tech Inferno Fan, or just the market one? ( I currently have 1.31 installed).

 

I than need to consider what GPU to order. 

The post that I found about GPU installed on a Thinkpad T420s, it was talking about an Geforce GTX 570 (from what I remember - this is the post that I cannot find anymore) . 

I was thinking about buying an GTX 750 Ti OC2 2GB, beeing a 3rd Generation that seems to work with the PE4C V3.0, but while reading the forums, most of the guys installed a 2nd Generetion GPU.

3rd question: Does anyone know if the PE4C v3.0 Gen3 is stable or it';s safer to go with older GPUs.

 

That's it for know.

 

Thanks and really appreciate the support.

 

Regards,

 

Strack

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1) Expresscard can be either one PCIe 1.0 lane or one PCIe 2.0 lane. mPCIe can be either one PCIe 1.0 lane, or one PCIe 2.0 lane, or even one PCIe 3.0 lane. Assuming both are the same generation in your case (and they quite likely are), then they behave identically (but, as you pointed out, the Expresscard is a lot more convenient). mPCIe is more likely to have a BIOS whitelist of some sort, however, so if it doesn't work, Expresscard might still do.

2) Sorry, no idea...

3) The link speed established via the PE4C will be dependent on the host laptop. Since the T420s is an older model, it will establish a PCIe 2.0 link, regardless of the video card you use. That said, the GTX750Ti should work.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1. They are the same in the context of the T420s. Except the BIOS whitelist, but I don't think that applies to the second mPCIe slot. If you do run into a whitelist issue, I'm sure there exists a BIOS mod for the T420s that removes the whitelist.

2. That depends. Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like? I've been further even more decided to use even go need to do look more as anyone can. Can you really be far even as decided half as much to use go wish for that? My guess is that when one really been far even as decided once to use even go want, it is then that he has really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like.

3. Doesn't matter.

Edited by Arbystrider
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.