I have a Lenovo laptop placed inside a Lenovo "docking" station with a working USB 3.0 port. This USB 3.0 port won't achieve as high of speeds as a PCI port, but for someone who just wants to get started using a GPU for machine learning training (e.g. writing test software), that's okay.
I also have a pretty simple GPU to test with, a GeForce GT 710. To attach it to my computer, I am using only the USB cable and X adapter from this. Coming in the mail, I also have an adapter to turn a miniPCI port into a USB 3.0 port "for a graphics card", which I haven't tested yet.
I downloaded the installer for my specifications from the NVIDIA webpage. However when running them in Ubuntu, I get an error that an NVIDIA graphics card can't be found. I think this could be because I'm running it from a USB 3.0 port. I have a power adapter for the graphics card. The fan is spinning, so I know that it is on.
How can I get my system to recognize the graphics card for what it is?
I know it is possible because there are now many overpriced "eGPUs" on the market that work this way. I am definitely not going to buy an eGPU straight-up. I'd like to have a DIY version instead.
31 Answer
The comments above are correct. It works using this adapter.
- You can use a GPU through a miniPCI with the adapter above. Most laptops have a spare miniPCI
- You can't necessarily use a GPU through any old USB 3.0 port
- You may be able to use a GPU through a USB 3.1 port. This might be called a Thunderbolt port.
- Just because an adapter uses a USB 3.0 cable, doesn't mean that it is compatible with USB 3.0. It may simply be using the cable for data transfer, but not as a USB 3.0 standard protocol.
I was able to get my NVIDIA graphics card to appear with the lspci command.
