Tinkers Delight: eGPU Style

[vasocreta]

So here is the plan: take my Thinkpad T430 and make it work with mid-range games. That's sort of a lie. I primarily want to run Eve Online with full graphics, but I am sure I will enjoy other games as well.

Why do this? Because I just can't swing building a nice gaming rig right now. Oh, and I like to tinker...and possibly break my sh*t.

 

The Approach:

CPU: Replace my current CPU -- a dual core, i7-3520m, 2.9GHz -- with a quad core, i7-3840QM, 2.8GHz. I am also swapping the single pipe heatsink (comes stock with non dGPU models) with the double-piped heatsink that comes with those models with a dGPU.

RAM: already upgraded a year or so ago to 16 gb of GSkill DDR3L.
I am also going to use the Innovation Cooling Graphite Thermal Pad in place of thermal paste basically because Linus tested it and says it works. Fingers crossed.

For graphics, I am going eGPU. The GPU is a pre-owned ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1050 TI Mini 4gb Graphics Card I picked up on Ebay. It will be mounted on a V8.0 EXP GDC and connected to the computer via expresscard, since I do not have Thunderbolt. Super ghetto, I know. And if you don't know what an ExpressCard is, that's ok; I'm old.
Obviously the GPU will be powered by a PSU. I decided not to skimp on that and went with an EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G3 because it looked rad and came with a $20 rebate. I'm basically considering this the first part I own for when I can actually build a real gaming rig.

Finally, I have to get a new laptop power supply to power the new CPU since my current dual-core CPU is only 35 watts and the quad will kick things up significantly and I need more juice. So moving from a 65 watt laptop power supply to 170 watt power supply to keep up with the CPU and still charge my laptop battery.

That's it. I will use an external monitor with the eGPU.

 

Really, I have no idea if this is going to work.

 

Did I mention I am running Ubuntu 18.04? That is a Linux distribution, for all of the sheltered kids who stare out of Windows all day. See what I did there?

 

Any constructive feedback is welcome. I have a good sense of humor, so I am also tolerant of some mild, good-natured trash talking.

 

That said, perhaps you will see me bumping along in New Eden at a respectable FPS. Or not.

 

I will post pics in about 2 weeks after all of the parts have arrived.

[Firewrath9]

24 minutes ago, vasocreta said:

 

Did I mention I am running Ubuntu 18.04? That is a Linux distribution, for all of the sheltered kids who stare out of Windows all day. See what I did there?

The graphite pad conducts electricty, would not reccomend for laptops. Get one of their regualr pads.

also ita ubuntu 18.04 LTS or bionic beaver

 

get shrekt by a Windows (and ubuntu and OS X and lubuntu) user

[vasocreta]

26 minutes ago, Firewrath9 said:

The graphite pad conducts electricty, would not reccomend for laptops. Get one of their regualr pads.

I had the same concern. I am a bit nervous about that, but I plan to ensure that the pad is cut to exact measurements of the die so it is well sandwiched under the heatsink. But if I don't go with the graphite, I will stick with my Grizzly Kryonaut.

And yes, it is 18.04 LTS or Bionic Beaver. But those are details that really only users of the OS know. I gather that most people don't even know what LTS means and think that Bionic Beaver is an old Hanna-Barbera cartoon...or a porno.

[vasocreta]

All parts nearly arrived. Am a bit nervous I am going to brick my machine, but where's the fun in certainty, right?

 

Still on the fence of whether I use the IC graphite pad or stick with Kryonaut. All evidence and research suggests I will be fine with the graphite pad, but my inexperience with it makes me tentative.

 

I kind of wish I had another bootable laptop lying around that I can experiment on. Wait....I just might be able to barely reassemble an old Dell that I have from a thumb drive.

 

Do I actually need a hdd in the machine to boot from a thumb drive?

Time for more research.

[vasocreta]

Gotta remove the teeth on the 170 watt power supply. X-Acto knife may work, but might make for a sloppy job.

 

I might need to invest in a Dremel. Or perhaps just use a sanding or grinding bit with my drill. Yeah, that could work. I just bought a damn Dremel.

[vasocreta]

Got the new processor (i7-3840QM) in using the IC Graphite pad. I am running at safe temps, but they are a tad higher than I'd like to see. With just my browser running I hover between 45-48 C on all 4 cores. I ran a stress test on the CPU and maxed out at 100 C.

All-in-all I it is fine, but I expected (hoped for) slightly lower temps.

 

That's the good news.

 

eGPU has so far been a massive fail. I just cannot get this to work. The OS barely starts when the ExpressCard is engaged and plugged into the EXP GDC or just hangs on a blank screen.

 

Will have to keep researching.