SUCCESS!.. external DIY (do it yourself) GPU rig runs octane

[suhail_spa]

Hi Daniel..
Vidock is for laptops with Express Card-34 slots (or PCIexpress slots). It is nothing but an express card to PCIe adapter chassis (and plugs into laptop's expresscard slot- if you laptop has one).
if your desktop has only one PCIe slot- it won't be beneficial to use Vidock4- as its not an expander (and does not provide multiple slots for PCIe) and can only connect to single graphics card. (you might as well plug the GPU in the lone PCIe slot !)

Cubix Expander in that case- can provide multiple PCIe slots and might be a right choice (but an expensive choice) for you.. for the cost of the Cubix box (even entry level- for laptops which can support 2 GPUs), you can upgrade your motherboard and power supply and even spare some money- say for a GTX 460..
otoh..the DIY (do it yourself) GPU Xpander -is an interesting but still experimental stuff (http://forum.notebookreview.com/gaming- ... ost5324240)...one needs to do the casing, cooling and mounting (some people have even used x-box casing too!: http://forum.notebookreview.com/gaming- ... ost6109661) and some driver tweaks to make it work..not a job for non-experts (like me )..

i hope i didn't confuse you any further..

[suhail_spa]

btw..there seems to be a good demand for external GPUs...at least with the gamers..
ASUS has tried it with Asus XG Station(http://www.trustedreviews.com/graphics/ ... cs-Card/p1) but didnt continue soon after launch..then there will be ATI XGP (http://www.amd.com/us/products/technolo ... i-xgp.aspx).. and there is Vidock4plus (but doesnt support multiple GPU and needs external display..)

interestingly..Cubix is one such product which actually is bang on target- but expensive- considering what actually goes into it..
ahem*alternates*ahem...maybe Refractive will know better..

[suhail_spa]

found an amazing link- on how to build your own GPU expander for laptops...
(your laptop should have an express card 34 slots..)

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.a ... s+notebook

also see

http://www.techradar.com/news/computing ... tor-915616

all it needs is the following
(items 1 & 2 available as a 'self help kit': http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4H.html, for under 100$)
1) PE4H connector
2) a cable from PE4H to Expresscard 34 (for laptops)
3) power supply
4) GPU
5) suitable casing..(those compact CPU cases will do just fine and look more clean)

i found an interesting link- octane render demo was used on one such rigs by a user named 'oddious' :
http://forum.notebookreview.com/gaming- ... es-69.html

though this guy had to use an external monitor- but i think it might just work fine with the internal laptop monitor (and if not, and there is also a workaround for 'monitor cloning' but it taxes the GPU) as he never enabled the additional GPU from octane during his tests (or this is what i think)..

interesting..!

[thwak]

(items 1 & 2 available as a 'self help kit': http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4H.html, for under 100$)

Hmmm. The last two options ('PE4H-HP1A' and 'PE4H-HP4A') look like they are for regular desktop PCs?

[suhail_spa]

yes..

HP1A and HP4A will fit into PCIe x 1 slots- if they are spare on the desktop motherboards.. (usually there are spare PCIex1 slots; and in case these are occupied by WLAN or sound cards or someting else- you can sacrifice one)
these will essentially convert your PCIex1 slot to a PCIex16 slot (ofcourse keeping the connection transfer rate as PCIex1 only..) AND you can plug the graphics card of your taste on this PCIex16 slot- but you need to upgrade your power supply (that is the easy part)- but hey- you can get another GPU running inside your computer without upgrading the motherboard.. (but with a PCIex1 transfer rate..)

btw..even Cubix GPU Xpander for laptops (and Xpander 5 for desktops) provides a PCIex1 transfer rate- so it should work fine with these HP1A and HP4A on your desktops..well at least in theory
cheers!

P.S.- your avatar really sounds like your name ...just kidding

[ttaberna]

Hi and what about using this?

http://www.amfeltec.com/products/x4pcie-splitter4.php

Do you think we can get 4 pcie 1x and connect 4 of the HP1A and HP4A and upgrade a single mobo to 4 more gpus per pcie 1x in it??

Cheers

[suhail_spa]

its splitting into 4 PCIex1- as you can see..
isnt there an adapter that splits into 4 of PCIex16...?
that might help- and i am sure this is what Cubix people are using...
why to take the longer route- and mess up the space inside the computer- by using this and connecting it with another set of HP1A/HP4A..and further mess it up..
it would be worth searching for such product though...which splits into four PCIex16 from PCIex1
thanks for sharing this...
cheers!

[ttaberna]

I've been looking for this stuff for couple of months, cos I think cubix stuff is so expensive.
So I want to do the next:
Buy an splitter and 4 Hp1a or hp4a (don't really know the difference of having 1 or 4 hdmi conectors).
I have a 1200w goldmaster PSU, connect up to 6 Vcards in my desktop computer. 5 calculus Vcards (580 3gb or 560 2gb it depends on money I 'll have left).
Make a aluminium box for casing the add-on, or maybe buid a complete system in a kind of ikea metal shelf doing some brico.

Do you guys think it might work??
If not I am going for a new mobo asus xtreme or something like that.
Please tell me what you think.
Cheers

[matej]

Please tell me what you think.

I had a similar idea (not that I really need that many cards, but it did cross my mind). I would buy two equal computer cases (or find one of a similar dimensions you already have), cut out the right side (the side of the mobo) of the second case and fix them together horizontally, so that you would get one wide case. The graphic cards would then be mounted in the second case. It wouldn't look pretty, but who cares

[suhail_spa]

H ttaberna..
I hav already ordered mine!!
Today ordered the PE4H kit for laptops..for about 120$(including shipping)...and going to purchase a mini cabinet and power supply (already spoken to a vendor about it)..and also ordered a factory overclocked Gtx460 2Gb- today itself..
I hope to get my kit next week- and will give it a shot then..and post the experiences (good or bad )
In your case- it depends if u can get a splitter doing multiple Pcie x16 from a single Pcie x1- it shud work in theory..provided u hav a good power supply. Do let me know if u find this kind of splitter (maybe ask Cubix )
Hi Matej...
Thnx for going thru this..m waiting for my kit and other stuff to arrive..if it works for laptop, thn wld definitely wrk for desktops (though the Forum link i posted which says it work has many happy customers- who say it works just fine..)
Even if my rig doesnt work..i can anytime add a mobo and processor etc etc and get a decent cpu out of it...
Lets see
Cheers!