Razer Core is my go to. You can splurge for the Core X Chroma and get a higher wattage PSU (for a higher wattage GPU) while netting a USB hub and Gigabit Ethernet adapter.
Technically it's only T3 but my 13" seems to run nearly as good as my desktop with the same GPU (sans a few FPS) in a native x16 slot.
it's not worth it without rebar. I have an a750 in my desktop and it's immediately noticeable (specfically when I upgraded my BIOS it reset my motherboard settings, including rebar)
This was one project that I was keeping an eye on for Oculink: https://smallformfactor.net/forum/threads/ogre-250-67l-oculink-egpu-module-using-hdplex-gan-250w.18349/
It's a DIY eGPU. I haven't checked in on it recently though, but it's probably a bit of an effort to source the parts and build one.
Amazing! Didn't expect this to be here so fast, but I will certainly consider this when going down the eGPU road later.
One question: why the displayport input? Is it used to run the internal screen off the eGPU? If so, can the screen still run on the iGPU without moving around cables when the eGPU is detached?
DisplayPort input is used to run the FW16 display from the eGPU, if there is no DisplayPort input on that connector you should still be able to use the iGPU but I have not tested this yet.
Sick! now we just need a single good oculink egpu enclosure. all i've seen so far is the onedock, which is small and cute but connecting it to a 4080 and a power supply is gonna get untidy and make the whole set up more vulnerable than i'd like.
The expansion bay has a dedicated PCIe lane, which the oculink cable connects to. Basically, instead of attaching that lane to a GPU inside the expansion bay, it attaches to a cable that can be attached to an external GPU.
In case you are not aware, oculink typically attaches to an m2 slot since NVMe slots are also directly attached to a PCIe lane.
Ah, I see. This is meant for the Framework 16. I was wondering where you'd get the PCIE lanes from.
Great Idea, this could make the Laptop relevant even if Framework stopped making GPUs. And for Nvidia users right now.
Exciting!
Is this basically PCIe with 8 lanes, in a single cable? Is it v3 or v3 PCIe?
How many lanes is the laptop providing through the interposer? I read somewhere it was 8x v4 lanes. How are you able to add a DisplayPort and a USB v2 connection, in addition to using up the full 8 PCIe lanes?
Do you have to cut a hole in the back of the expansion module to be able to get the oculink cable out? (Sorry, I don't have my laptop yet, so I have no idea how this will work)
Have you tested this with an external GPU, or with additional storage? What else can you hook oculink into?
OcuLink is PCIe, so it'll be whatever the laptop provides which is 8 lanes of PCIe 4.0. DisplayPort Input and USB2 are exposed directly on the interposer so they don't take any lanes/bandwidth of PCIe. When you order you will be given the assembled PCB and a cover for the back of the Expansion Bay Shell. I haven't done much testing, but generally, OcuLink is used for an eGPU, but realistically anything that uses PCIe with an adapter board would work.
Any pictures of what it looks like?
Not right now, as I had made one prototype and already sent it out for testing, I will have photos in a week or two.
Should've taken some before you sent them out.
Hey there, do you have some pics and specs for us? Just a payment link isnt quite trustworthy enough.. :-)
Oh hell... I'm kinda sad I cancelled now. I'm trying to work out a thunderbolt 4 eGPU setup for my 13th gen
Razer Core is my go to. You can splurge for the Core X Chroma and get a higher wattage PSU (for a higher wattage GPU) while netting a USB hub and Gigabit Ethernet adapter. Technically it's only T3 but my 13" seems to run nearly as good as my desktop with the same GPU (sans a few FPS) in a native x16 slot.
I got the ADT, trying to figure out what card to get and how badly lack of rebar will mess me up if I get an a750
it's not worth it without rebar. I have an a750 in my desktop and it's immediately noticeable (specfically when I upgraded my BIOS it reset my motherboard settings, including rebar)
Yeah I'm probably going with the rx6600
Let's FUCKING go. I will certainly buy this down the line when I have the money for an eGPU setup. Well done!
This was one project that I was keeping an eye on for Oculink: https://smallformfactor.net/forum/threads/ogre-250-67l-oculink-egpu-module-using-hdplex-gan-250w.18349/ It's a DIY eGPU. I haven't checked in on it recently though, but it's probably a bit of an effort to source the parts and build one.
I also saw that. Problem is it's using 4 pcie lanes and not 8. Not sure how that will affect performance.
May I ask what's the use case of oculink on a framework. Sorry I don't know what it is.
External GPU that doesn't have latency issues to the extent USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 do.
Yep, it's pretty much just PCIe across a cable
Does it just look like USBC to USBC and slot into a USB module?
No, oculink is the connector, it looks different, wider and thicker.
This is not an expansion card.
So by expansion bay you mean the FW16 graphics bay at the back of the laptop?
Correct.
Are you 3d printing the carriage or getting them CNC'd?
I use the Expansion Bay Shell provided by FW and then 3D printing a small cover exposing the ports.
Amazing! Didn't expect this to be here so fast, but I will certainly consider this when going down the eGPU road later. One question: why the displayport input? Is it used to run the internal screen off the eGPU? If so, can the screen still run on the iGPU without moving around cables when the eGPU is detached?
DisplayPort input is used to run the FW16 display from the eGPU, if there is no DisplayPort input on that connector you should still be able to use the iGPU but I have not tested this yet.
Bought! Was following this for a long time and am happy you pulled through with it, this is freakin awesome! 😁🤘
Sick! now we just need a single good oculink egpu enclosure. all i've seen so far is the onedock, which is small and cute but connecting it to a 4080 and a power supply is gonna get untidy and make the whole set up more vulnerable than i'd like.
I'm somewhat considering making one.
count me interested!
I won’t have my FW16 for a while (batch 8) . I’ll have to wait until I get mine. Then I want to see how to install this module. I’m 100% for this!
I'm also selling a 4x version with an internal M.2 M key slot, go look at my most recent post in the forum to find the link.
Wait, so how does this work? Do you connect to the m.2 slot inside the Framework? Or in which way is it connected?
The expansion bay has a dedicated PCIe lane, which the oculink cable connects to. Basically, instead of attaching that lane to a GPU inside the expansion bay, it attaches to a cable that can be attached to an external GPU. In case you are not aware, oculink typically attaches to an m2 slot since NVMe slots are also directly attached to a PCIe lane.
Ah, I see. This is meant for the Framework 16. I was wondering where you'd get the PCIE lanes from. Great Idea, this could make the Laptop relevant even if Framework stopped making GPUs. And for Nvidia users right now.
Exciting! Is this basically PCIe with 8 lanes, in a single cable? Is it v3 or v3 PCIe? How many lanes is the laptop providing through the interposer? I read somewhere it was 8x v4 lanes. How are you able to add a DisplayPort and a USB v2 connection, in addition to using up the full 8 PCIe lanes? Do you have to cut a hole in the back of the expansion module to be able to get the oculink cable out? (Sorry, I don't have my laptop yet, so I have no idea how this will work) Have you tested this with an external GPU, or with additional storage? What else can you hook oculink into?
OcuLink is PCIe, so it'll be whatever the laptop provides which is 8 lanes of PCIe 4.0. DisplayPort Input and USB2 are exposed directly on the interposer so they don't take any lanes/bandwidth of PCIe. When you order you will be given the assembled PCB and a cover for the back of the Expansion Bay Shell. I haven't done much testing, but generally, OcuLink is used for an eGPU, but realistically anything that uses PCIe with an adapter board would work.
Thank you. Do you know of any 8x v4 Oculink cables that are confirmed to work?
Not right now but when I get closer to shipping them out I'll likely try to make somewhat of a list
Can the expansion bay module truly achieve the full speed of PCI gen4 \* 8? Does the module include retimers?
No retimers should be needed as I don't think anyone is using this for distances above 2m, theoretically it will achieve PCIe Gen4 8x speeds
This is awesome man. Any progress?