13" Dell Latitude E4300 + GTX560Ti@2Gbps+c-EC1 (PE4H 2.4) + Win7 [nando4]

[Tech Inferno Fan]

[Posted 12-12-2011 as Latitude E4300 Owners' Corner (NBR). Relocated to T|I due to being banned by Lenovo fan ZaZ]

DIY eGPU implementation: [email protected] 13" Dell Latitude E4300 + GTX560Ti @x1.Opt
 

Notebook   US$300 13" Dell Latitude E4300 [email protected] 4500MHD 4/8GB DDR3 160GB HDD + DVD ICH9M expresscard 1.0 slot (2.5GT/s) Windows 7/64 and Ubuntu 11.10/64	DIY eGPU parts   US$96(US)/US$113 delivered PE4H-EC2C 2.4 OR US$81(US)/US$93 delivered PE4L-EC2C 1.5+SWEX US$200 NVidia GTX560Ti 1GB 384 CUDA cores OR US$130AR NVidia GTX460_ 1GB 336 CUDA cores US$5 salvaged 12V/17A "550W" ATX PSU
Benchmarks (highest OCed eGPU) 3dmark: 06/vant.gpu/11.gpu=15288/14305/3804, RE5.dx9=97.5, dmcv4.dx10_s4=117.8]
LCD config CPU RAM GPU DX9 DX10 DX11 Ports OS 3dmk6^ RE5 var|fixed FFXIV Mafia2^! 1080p 3dmk^ vant.g dmcv4 scene4 3dmk11 720p Unigine Heaven Dirt2# 1080p 1080p 720p External P9400 @3.16 2x2GB GTX560Ti x1.Opt 15177 & 95.9 &|47.8 & 3105 & 3593 & 44.1 &48.2 12915 & 113.0 & 3359 & 1248 & 24.5/39.7 &27.3/41.5 ICH9M Win7 64b External P9400 @2.53 2x4GB 12156 & 81.0 &|38.2 & 2755 & 2849 & 43.1 &44.3 12729 & 105.7 & 3414 & 1218 & 24.6/34.2 &26.4/35.0 Internal 8776 46.9|34.2   2342   6986 33.2 2893 667
! = two back-to-back runs using result from the faster second run  & = 880/2100->1020/2300(GTX560Ti) eGU overclock result capture or text.  # = min/average, London multi-car track with all HIGH except post-process=MED. cmd used "DiRT2.exe benchmark example_benchmark.xml", output saved to Documents/My Games/Dirt 2/Demo/benchmarks ^ = 1280x1024 'internal LCD mode' provided via notebook VGA/DP port to external LCD
US$298 GTX560Ti+ PE4H-EC2C+PSU Setup 1.x showing system details + GTX560Ti eGPU Optimus driver setup

Idea reference: http://forum.notebookreview.com/gami...ml#post5324240

Software Setup 

1. If you have 4GB or more RAM installed then you will always see an error 12 against your eGPU in device manager. This is because the C2D Dell Latitudes' bios set TOLUD=3.5GB where there is no 32-bit pci-e space available to accomodate the 256MB window required by the eGPU. The fix is 
a DSDT override (use the E4310 package) that extends the root bridge into 36-bit space so the eGPU can then occupy 36-bit pci-e space. Shutdown the system.

2. Poweron your eGPU, poweron your system, boot Win7. The GTX560Ti is detected as Standard VGA. 

3. Install the 285.62 modded Verde driver. Disable NVidia High Definition sound to maximize video bandwidth. 

4. OPTIONAL for eGPU overclocking: Install MSI Afterburner. 

How to startup the eGPU

1. Poweron your eGPU, poweron your system, boot Win7. The GTX560Ti will be available with no errors against it in Device Manager. Only issue is the wifi will have an error and not work. The fix is to either:

 

• disable then re-enable the wifi. This can be done manually or by writing a batch file with a devcon command to do it for you.
   
• Use DIY eGPU Setup 1.x and perform a 36-bit PCI compaction on the eGPU. When wanting to use the eGPU do so by booting via Setup 1.x's automated startup via startup.bat bootitem. Your startup.bat will look like shown here.

OPTIONAL: use sleep-resume method. Boot Win7, sleep Win7, attach eGPU via expresscard slot and power it on, resume Win7. If a LCD is attached to the eGPU then make it the Main Display in Display Properties to output accelerated graphics to it. NOTE: this method does not allow Optimus to output accelerated graphics to the internal LCD - the eGPU must be detected on bootup for that. You must set the PCI Reset Delay slider on the PE4L/PE4H to the 0 second (disabled) position for this to work BSOD-free.

2. Use the Safely Remove Hardware And Eject Media systemtray icon when finished using eGPU.

Comments

 

• 3dmark06/RE5 both see good performance improvements from a 25% CPU overclock. 
   
• I was surprised to find that with stock 880/2100 clocks this GTX560TI can be powered by a basic 12V/17A ATX PSU. Though if trying to overclocking's at 1020/2300 it did require a second 12V/15A PSU to supply power via one GTX560Ti pci-e lead. I don't intend to overclock the GPU during regular use since there aren't any significant real-world gains to be had doing so. 
   
• At this point in time I would however recommend a overclocked GTX460 over a GTX560Ti. The GTX560Ti delivers at best 15% more performance but at over 55% price premium. Better to save the money and put it towards a 28nm GTX6xx (Keplar) scheduled for release in the next 3 months.