Asus ROG XG Station 2: my experiences

[jackeyjoe]

I seem to be one of the few people who has managed to get my hands on an XG Station 2, with it being the only external GPU option(it's the only one available in Australia) I thought I'd give it a go. Unfortunately it has been an overly frustrating experience, with nothing working. Let me preface by outlining how I intended to use the XG Station. My dream was to have a portable laptop(in this case a dell XPS 15 9560), which when at home could plug into an egpu dock so I had extra graphical oomph at home. My dream was shattered when I first tried plugging them in, they didn't work together!

Let me outline what I have figured out thus far:


The XG Station is based off a TI83 controller(confirmed here http://imgur.com/a/SGMTB). For people like me with Thunderbolt 1575 controllers that 'don't support' egpu's(even though the controller does), in theory it's game over unless our devices get updates supporting them. However, competing products like the AkiTio Node and newer Powercolor Devil Box run off the same TI83 controller and have had updates allowing them to work anyway. How? They add support for devices that don't officially support egpu's(like my XPS 15). Now, I can't even get onto Asus support because their email us page won't recognise my serial number(it's needed to send an email), and they aren't replying to any tweets I send which makes it quite hard, to say the least, I'm getting frustrated. All I want to know is if I have to return it due to a lack of any future firmware updates adding support.


Aside from glaring software problems, the actual device is well built for the most part, I don't like how the case folds apart, I can imagine the lock being a weak point, everything important is well built though. The style isn't for everybody(although if you're here you probably like it) but it looks ok enough, less flashy in person than I expected. Of what I could test, it's fast. Really fast. USB and ethernet are quick, easily matching my desktop(~280mb/s copying off an USB SSD). I like the idea of an extra USB type A, if I had a GPU I'm sure the extra bandwidth not allocated elsewhere would help.

Anyway, this is just a post hoping to draw attention to a glaring issue with the new Asus ROG XG Station 2, which will probably put a lot of people off buying it. I'd really appreciate if anybody who knows how to get onto support without using that web form to give me a nudge in the right direction too!

[ASUS-OP]

Glad to hear the good news bro.

Despite it is now working, I will still recommend to continue to chase Dell to provide proper Thunderbolt 3 host firmware update to make your combination 100% free from troubles.

Please do come back to us if you need any further assistance in the future.

regards,

jackeyjoe wrote:
You beauty!

Confirmed working with a Dell XPS 15 9560 after this firmware update. I'd kind of given up, but I'm really happy that you are willing to support my particular use case! You've kept me as an asus customer, now make a decent ultrabook to compete with the XPS 15!

[link626]

For JHL6240, Is the Version 4.0 nvm firmware the LATEST newest firmware released by Intel?

Because for some reason, a 4k professional Asus lcd monitor does not work through displayport output via the thunderbolt port.

ASUS-OP wrote:
Hi jackeyjoe,

In order to support external GPU, you will need:

1. A host system with Thunderbolt 3 firmware updated to the build below or newer (please consult your notebook manufacturer for support on this one):

DSL6540 --> Firmware Version 21 or later
JHL6540 --> Firmware Version 09 or later
DSL6340 --> Firmware Version 21 or later
JHL6340 --> Firmware Version 09 or later
JHL6240 --> Firmware Version 04 or later

Note: Firmware for each controller is not compatible with each other, and can only be provided by the host device vendor.

If your firmware is not updated, it will not be able to support external graphics card.

regards,

[ASUS-OP]

Hi link626,

The firmware version listed are the earliest NVM firmware Intel provided to ASUS as qualified Thunderbolt 3 host firmware to support external GPUs. There may be newer versions available to achieve the same goal.

Can you please list out the equipment you are using and how they are connected to help us understand more about your case?

regards,

link626 wrote:
For JHL6240, Is the Version 4.0 nvm firmware the LATEST newest firmware released by Intel?

Because for some reason, a 4k professional Asus lcd monitor does not work through displayport output via the thunderbolt port.

[link626]

ASUS-OP wrote:
Hi link626,

The firmware version listed are the earliest NVM firmware Intel provided to ASUS as qualified Thunderbolt 3 host firmware to support external GPUs. There may be newer versions available to achieve the same goal.

Can you please list out the equipment you are using and how they are connected to help us understand more about your case?

regards,

I have an Asus GL502VM laptop, and the latest thunderbolt firmware supplied by Asus is NVM 4.0
The GL502VM has a jhl6240 controller.

The JHL6340 is at least version 9.0, and was released around the same time as the JHL6240.
This made me wonder how old the nvm 4.0 firmware is.

Can you find out how old nvm 4.0 is for the jhl6240?

I tried a number of passive usb-c displayport adapters in the thunderbolt port, and could not get it to work with the samsung 24" CFG70 or the Asus 4k pb287q monitor. But it did work with a few benQ monitors. The adapters just pass through the displayport signal.
It would detect the samsung and asus monitors in the nvidia control panel, but would not display an image.
Switching to the GL502VM's mini displayport connector, the samsung and asus monitors would work.
So the problem is the thunderbolt port, which should behave like a normal displayport, but it wasn't.

I remember when I had the asus G501VW with thunderbolt, it did not work with some hdmi monitors until the thunderbolt firmware was updated.

Maybe it's the same with the GL502VM, and just needs a newer version than NVM 4.0

There aren't a lot of thunderbolt 3 equipped Asus laptops.
Would it be a lot to ask to have Asus keep up with thunderbolt firmware updates like Dell does?

For example, the Asus g501vw and ux501vw and other Thunderbolt 3 Asus laptops are stuck at NVM 15.
According to your information, they should be at NVM 21 by now, but it appears Asus has abandoned the updates.

DSL6540 --> Firmware Version 21 or later
JHL6540 --> Firmware Version 09 or later
DSL6340 --> Firmware Version 21 or later
JHL6340 --> Firmware Version 09 or later
JHL6240 --> Firmware Version 04 or later

[ASUS-OP]

Hi link626,

v4 should be the NVM firmware version 04 outlined in my list. According to the date of the image, it was released in September 2016.

Unfortunately I am unable to answer questions or escalate requests about ASUS notebook products, as I have no access to resources in that route. I can only assist for ASUS Open Plaform products, which is pretty much everything expect notebook, pad, phone, full size desktop, and smart watch.
You may want to drop admin a message and ask him to assist you further.

regards,

[link626]

ASUS-OP wrote:
Hi link626,

v4 should be the NVM firmware version 04 outlined in my list. According to the date of the image, it was released in September 2016.

Unfortunately I am unable to answer questions or escalate requests about ASUS notebook products, as I have no access to resources in that route. I can only assist for ASUS Open Plaform products, which is pretty much everything expect notebook, pad, phone, full size desktop, and smart watch.
You may want to drop admin a message and ask him to assist you further.

regards,

yeah, 4.0 is 04.

I emailed asus tech support, but only got a vague answer.
It's like I'm communicating with the wrong low-level support who can't actually get anything done.

If that was released in september, it's probably not current.

[RichCassini]

HI jackeyjoe - I have the exact same configuration as you but I am unable to get my Dell to load the NVidia Graphics Card driver (Windows driver error Code 43) - the Dell is recognizing the external card (GTX1080) but cannot load the driver.

What NVidia driver version did you use? What other tweaks did you have to do to get this working?

Many thanks,

jackeyjoe wrote:
I seem to be one of the few people who has managed to get my hands on an XG Station 2, with it being the only external GPU option(it's the only one available in Australia) I thought I'd give it a go. Unfortunately it has been an overly frustrating experience, with nothing working. Let me preface by outlining how I intended to use the XG Station. My dream was to have a portable laptop(in this case a dell XPS 15 9560), which when at home could plug into an egpu dock so I had extra graphical oomph at home. My dream was shattered when I first tried plugging them in, they didn't work together!

Let me outline what I have figured out thus far:


The XG Station is based off a TI83 controller(confirmed here http://imgur.com/a/SGMTB). For people like me with Thunderbolt 1575 controllers that 'don't support' egpu's(even though the controller does), in theory it's game over unless our devices get updates supporting them. However, competing products like the AkiTio Node and newer Powercolor Devil Box run off the same TI83 controller and have had updates allowing them to work anyway. How? They add support for devices that don't officially support egpu's(like my XPS 15). Now, I can't even get onto Asus support because their email us page won't recognise my serial number(it's needed to send an email), and they aren't replying to any tweets I send which makes it quite hard, to say the least, I'm getting frustrated. All I want to know is if I have to return it due to a lack of any future firmware updates adding support.


Aside from glaring software problems, the actual device is well built for the most part, I don't like how the case folds apart, I can imagine the lock being a weak point, everything important is well built though. The style isn't for everybody(although if you're here you probably like it) but it looks ok enough, less flashy in person than I expected. Of what I could test, it's fast. Really fast. USB and ethernet are quick, easily matching my desktop(~280mb/s copying off an USB SSD). I like the idea of an extra USB type A, if I had a GPU I'm sure the extra bandwidth not allocated elsewhere would help.

Anyway, this is just a post hoping to draw attention to a glaring issue with the new Asus ROG XG Station 2, which will probably put a lot of people off buying it. I'd really appreciate if anybody who knows how to get onto support without using that web form to give me a nudge in the right direction too!

[ASUS-OP]

Hi RichCassini,

Please kindly check if your notebook uses Nvidia Optimus Technology (i.e. under Nvidia control panel you are able to switch difference process between Intel and Nvidia graphics.)

If the answer is yes: Please disable your NVidia GTX1050 GPU from Device Manager to allow the Nvidia GPU driver to use the graphics card in XG STATION 2 under Hybrid Graphics mode.

If the answer is no: Please make sure you are displaying only from the monitor connecting to the XG STATION 2, as Hybrid Graphics won't work on your notebook screen if the notebook display is connected directly to the Nvidia discrete GPU.

Let us know your situation to allow us to assist you further.

regards,

RichCassini wrote:
HI jackeyjoe - I have the exact same configuration as you but I am unable to get my Dell to load the NVidia Graphics Card driver (Windows driver error Code 43) - the Dell is recognizing the external card (GTX1080) but cannot load the driver.

What NVidia driver version did you use? What other tweaks did you have to do to get this working?

Many thanks,

[ImDez]

For JHL6240, does rog xg station 2 work at full speed? (with gl702vm)

[ASUS-OP]

Hi ImDez,

The physical connection of the JHL6240 is GEN3 x2. If you connect XG STATION 2 to any host devices with this controller, then you will not be able to get the full speed of the XG STATION 2.

regards,

ImDez wrote:
For JHL6240, does rog xg station 2 work at full speed? (with gl702vm)