Build Your Own Low-Cost OCuLink GPU Dock on a Budget! (Easy DIY Guide)
TLDRIn this video, ETA Prime demonstrates how to construct a budget-friendly, small form factor OCuLink eGPU dock using components from Amazon. The guide explains the advantages of OCuLink over Thunderbolt 3 or 4, highlighting its ability to support PCIe 4.0 for faster and more stable connections. The build features a low-profile RTX 4060 GPU from Gigabyte, which is energy efficient at under 150W, making it suitable for the chosen 150W Pico power supply. The video provides a step-by-step assembly process, including connecting the GPU to the OCuLink board, powering the board, and using an 8-pin PCIe connector. The completed setup significantly enhances the performance of a mini PC, as evidenced by benchmarks and gaming tests, showcasing the potential of a DIY eGPU solution for those seeking a cost-effective way to boost their device's graphical capabilities.
Takeaways
- 💻 Use an oculink port for a faster and more stable connection than Thunderbolt 3/4 or USB 4, supporting PCIe 4.0 up to 63 Gb/s.
- 🛍️ Purchase a low-cost oculink board from Amazon, which includes a cable and an adapter for about $40.
- 🔌 The oculink board requires a power supply; a Pico power supply at 150W is suggested for a compact setup.
- ⚙️ A regular PC power supply with a 24-pin ATX connector can also be used if you prefer not to use a Pico power supply.
- 🔩 You may need an 8-pin PCIe connector for the GPU, which can be achieved by using an adapter if your power supply doesn't include one.
- 🔧 No soldering or cutting is necessary if you don't want to; you can simply zip-tie the cables for a neat setup.
- 🧲 Rubber feet can be added to prevent the setup from sliding around on the desk.
- 📦 You can build an enclosure for a cleaner look, but it's not necessary for the functionality of the setup.
- 🖥️ The RTX 4060 GPU used in the guide is low profile and has 8GB of GDDR6 memory, suitable for small form factor builds.
- 🕹️ The setup allows for gaming at 1440p with DLSS and frame generation, providing good performance for less powerful systems.
- 📈 Benchmarks show significant performance improvement when using the external oculink RTX 460 over an integrated GPU.
- 🔗 Links to all the components used in the video are provided in the description for easy reference and purchase.
Q & A
What is the main purpose of building a low-cost OCuLink GPU Dock?
-The main purpose is to easily connect an external GPU to a laptop, mini PC, or handheld gaming device, enhancing their graphical capabilities, especially for gaming.
What are some devices that have an OCuLink port built-in?
-Some devices with an OCuLink port include Lenovo's OCuLink eGPU and laptop, as well as the Morine GEM 10 and GEM 12 mini PCs.
What is the advantage of using OCuLink over Thunderbolt 3 or USB 4 for an eGPU?
-OCuLink can run at PCIe 4.0 speeds, providing up to 63 Gb/s, which is faster and more stable than Thunderbolt 3 or USB 4, which typically run at PCIe 3.0 speeds up to 40 Gb/s.
Which GPU model was used in the video for the DIY OCuLink GPU Dock?
-A low-profile RTX 4060 from Gigabyte with 8 GB of GDDR6 was used in the video.
Why was the RTX 4060 chosen for the GPU in the DIY project?
-The RTX 4060 was chosen to keep the dock relatively small and to keep the GPU power under 150W, which is suitable for the Pico power supply used in the project.
What is the most important component needed for an OCuLink dock?
-The most important component is the OCuLink board, which provides the necessary PCIe x16 slot, OCuLink connector, and a 24-pin ATX power connector.
How much does the relatively cheap OCuLink board cost that can be purchased on Amazon?
-The relatively cheap OCuLink board costs about $40 on Amazon.
What type of power supply was used in the video for the DIY project?
-A 150W Pico power supply was used, which is smaller and more suitable for a compact setup.
How is the power supplied to the Pico power supply in the setup?
-The Pico power supply is connected to a 12V power source using a 5.5 Barrel Jack, and an 8-pin CPU power connector is adapted to an 8-pin PCIe connector for the GPU.
What kind of performance improvement did the RTX 460 provide over the integrated GPU in benchmarks?
-The RTX 460 provided a significant performance improvement, with a jump from a score of 7,861 in Fire Strike with the integrated GPU to 2,712 with the RTX 460, and from 3,363 in Time Spy to 10,624.
What are some of the games tested in the video, and what were the performance results?
-Games tested include Horizon Forbidden West, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, Mortal Kombat 11, Spider-Man Remastered, and Cyberpunk 2077. The RTX 460 provided good performance in these games, with average FPS ranging from 40 in Horizon Forbidden West at medium settings to 104 FPS in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 at Ultra settings.
Outlines
😀 Building a Low-Cost Small Form Factor Oculink eGPU Dock
In this paragraph, ETA Prime introduces a tutorial on constructing an affordable and compact Oculink eGPU dock using components sourced from Amazon. The eGPU dock enables the connection of an external GPU to a laptop, mini PC, or gaming device, potentially utilizing an m.2 slot. The video highlights devices like the Morine GEM 10 and 12, which have built-in Oculink ports, and discusses the advantages of Oculink over Thunderbolt 3/4 or USB 4, such as higher bandwidth and stability. The chosen GPU is a low-profile RTX 4060 from Gigabyte with 8GB of GDDR6, aiming for a power consumption under 150W. The core component is the Oculink board, which can be purchased for around $40 and includes necessary cables and adapters. The paragraph also covers power supply options, suggesting a Pico power supply for a compact build and detailing how to connect it to the Oculink board and GPU.
🛠️ Assembling the Oculink eGPU Dock and Testing
This paragraph details the assembly process of the Oculink eGPU dock. It starts with connecting the Pico power supply to the 24-pin connector on the Oculink board and suggests using a 90° adapter for a cleaner setup. The power supply is then wired up, with the 8-pin CPU power output being adapted to an 8-pin PCIe connector for the GPU. The paragraph emphasizes that only one 8-pin connector is needed for the RTX 460 GPU and that unnecessary cables can be removed or neatly organized with zip ties. After assembling, the Pico power supply is connected, and the GPU is plugged into the x16 slot on the Oculink board. The paragraph also discusses the addition of rubber feet for stability and provides a visual of the final setup without an enclosure. The eGPU dock is tested with a mini PC featuring an Oculink port, and the video demonstrates successful initialization into Windows with the RTX 460 taking over from the integrated GPU. Benchmarks and performance metrics are shared, showing significant improvements when using the external GPU over the integrated GPU.
🎮 Performance Testing with AAA Games
The final paragraph focuses on the gaming performance of the DIY Oculink eGPU setup. The video presents results from running several AAA games at 1440p with various settings and technologies like DLSS and frame generation. Games tested include 'Horizon Forbidden West' at medium settings, 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3' at ultra settings with an average of 104 FPS, 'Mortal Kombat 11' at high settings, 'Spider-Man Remastered' at very high settings with unlocked frame rates, and 'Cyberpunk 2077' at ultra settings with an average of 83 FPS. The paragraph acknowledges that frame generation may not be for everyone but emphasizes its utility in extracting the most performance from lower-powered systems. The video concludes with an invitation for viewers to ask questions and a thank you for watching, and it promises to provide links in the description for purchasing the components used in the video.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡OCuLink
💡eGPU Dock
💡RTX 4060
💡PCIe 4.0
💡Pico Power Supply
💡M.2 Slot
💡ATX Power Supply
💡8-Pin PCIe Connector
💡Frame Generation
💡DLSS
💡Gigabyte
Highlights
ETA Prime demonstrates building a low-cost, small form factor OCuLink eGPU dock using Amazon parts.
The dock enables easy connection of an external GPU to laptops, mini PCs, and handheld gaming devices.
Lenovo has released an OCuLink eGPU and laptop with an external OCuLink port in Asia.
Morine GEM 10 and GEM 12 are mini PCs with built-in OCuLink ports.
OCuLink provides a faster and more stable connection than Thunderbolt 3/4 or USB 4, supporting PCIe 4.0 up to 63 Gb/s.
The guide recommends a low-profile RTX 4060 from Gigabyte for its power efficiency and performance.
A crucial component for the OCuLink dock is the OCuLink board, available on Amazon for around $40.
The dock can be powered by a Pico power supply, which is more compact than an ATX power supply.
A 150W Pico power supply is used to keep the setup small and to match the power requirements of the RTX 4060.
An 8-pin PCIe connector is required for the low-profile RTX 4060, which can be adapted from a CPU power connector.
The guide suggests using a 120W 12V power supply for the Pico power supply, available on Amazon.
Unnecessary cables can be removed or neatly organized with zip ties for a cleaner setup.
The final setup includes the 24-pin connector for the Pico power supply and a 90° adapter for a cleaner look.
The RTX 460 is plugged into the x16 slot on the OCuLink board and powered up for testing.
The setup is tested with various games at 1440p, showcasing the performance of the RTX 460 with OCuLink.
Benchmarks demonstrate significant performance improvements over the integrated GPU.
The guide provides a list of components and links for building a similar OCuLink eGPU dock on a budget.