I’ve read there can be some issues with running Windows from an external drive. Boot camp asks you to remove any external drives before installing Windows.
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External GPU (eGPU) Resources
- Thread starter F-Train
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I’ve read there can be some issues with running Windows from an external drive. Boot camp asks you to remove any external drives before installing Windows.
I had a few Windows issues over the years but with the Mac Pro, I just installed straight to the SSD without using Bootcamp, (I did go back and get the drivers afterward). Am hoping to be able to just pop it into the eGPU chassis, (onto what is technically the PCI bus), and have it boot using the option key method.
It does, but I thought you could configure it so that you can pretty much boot from wherever you like, as per this page?
I do realise it may still not work though.
The Mantiz Venus is a popular 1-cable eGPU+Hub combo with additional I/O ports and space for both a full length card and a 2.5" SATA SSD. However since everything shares the same thunderbolt cable GPU performance is somewhat reduced. If performance is more important than convenience you will do better to keep the SSD and eGPU as separate devices.
I am not aware of any eGPU enclosures that can fit dual full length PCIe cards. AKiTiO makes a Node Duo, but that only fits cards 8.5" and shorter plus requires upgrading the PSU if any cards need a power connector.
Yep, it's there in the beta already.
Page 6 | AMD Navi 7nm for eGPU - Radeon RX 5700 & RX 5700 XT
Page 6 | With Radeon Navi set to launch in a few days, I thought we should start a discussion on eGPU use with RX 5700 and RX 5700 XT. First of all, d...
egpu.io
No but you can use a cable from Huawei to connect display port + USB to a 4K Ultrafine. My cable is on the way from China as we speak.
Huawei VR 2 Computer Connection Cable
Specially designed for Huawei VR 2. Contain 1 USB-A, 1 USB-C and 1 DisplayPort 1.2.. Transmission speed of up to 21.6Gbps. Made of TPE material, stable and safe.
woop, this changes things. thanks.No but you can use a cable from Huawei to connect display port + USB to a 4K Ultrafine. My cable is on the way from China as we speak.
Huawei VR 2 Computer Connection Cable
Specially designed for Huawei VR 2. Contain 1 USB-A, 1 USB-C and 1 DisplayPort 1.2.. Transmission speed of up to 21.6Gbps. Made of TPE material, stable and safe.www.giztop.com
have a read on eGPU.io for more info. It’s where I learned about it.
No but you can use a cable from Huawei to connect display port + USB to a 4K Ultrafine. My cable is on the way from China as we speak.
Huawei VR 2 Computer Connection Cable
Specially designed for Huawei VR 2. Contain 1 USB-A, 1 USB-C and 1 DisplayPort 1.2.. Transmission speed of up to 21.6Gbps. Made of TPE material, stable and safe.
What about the 5K Ultrafine? I guess the "Apple" eGPU is the only one the supports it right?
I remember reading about hat, apparently there's a utility card that can merge two display port inputs into a thunderbolt 3 alt mode usb-c connection, if i recall correctly.
This. There’s some people doing that in eGPU.io forum.
The 5K can’t be driven by USB-C so it isn’t compatible with the Huawei cable.
I just wonder how this will be solved in the new MacPro. I mean we can probably only use the Apple GPUs to run the 5K/6K monitors and no other GPUs. Or is it possible to connect the GPUs internally to an TB3 output out of the box?
5700 XT eGPU running now in macOS ?
Just need my Huawei VR cable to drive my monitor properly, using it currently via passthrough which does give performance boosts just not as much as directly connecting to the monitor.
Mac mini (Late 2018) - Geekbench
Benchmark results for a Mac mini (Late 2018) with an Intel Core i7-8700B processor.
browser.geekbench.com
Score won't be any use until I'm connected directly to the monitor, it's using passthrough mode currently.
Monitor -> Mac -> eGPU
instead of
Monitor -> eGPU -> Mac
Actually just plugged in a different monitor directly to the eGPU and got an even lower score. How strange.
Mac mini (Late 2018) - Geekbench
Benchmark results for a Mac mini (Late 2018) with an Intel Core i7-8700B processor.
browser.geekbench.com
Wonder if it's because I am running the silent VBIOS.
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That's weird. I would have thought the XT would have been quicker. Could be silent VBIOS. I do not believe I have that on my XFX. The only thing different between our systems is the Video Card/eGPU and memory, I believe.
Im due to receive my new Mac Mini/Ultrafine 4K setup within the next two days. I’ve been researching eGPUs, as I was looking into adding one next year.
What I’m finding is that outside of the BlackMagic eGPUs, there really isn’t much (any) compatibility with TB3 on video cards. My question is, should I be looking into getting a different monitor for better compatibility, or will there be more video cards with TB3 coming out in the near future?
What I’m finding is that outside of the BlackMagic eGPUs, there really isn’t much (any) compatibility with TB3 on video cards. My question is, should I be looking into getting a different monitor for better compatibility, or will there be more video cards with TB3 coming out in the near future?
I’ll let you know by the end of the week. I have a cable that should allow Display Port to connect to USB-C, arrive later this week.
Could be the memory, not sure how that affects the results to be honest. I'll try again with normal VBIOS when I get a moment but I can't see the score jumping much.
So I have my Huawei VR 2 cable and I thought it may be useful to document how to use it, based on my testing. I couldn't find this info else where so others might find it interesting.
macOS Usage
- You cannot boot into macOS with the eGPU connected using this cable, you get no display. Unplug the eGPU from the Mac mini when booting into macOS.
- You should instead boot with the standard Mac mini > LG UltraFine TB3 connection.
- When macOS has loaded, unplug the Mac mini > LG UltraFine TB3 connection and plug in the eGPU. The eGPU will come to life and after a few seconds you'll have full display and brightness controls.
- Waking from sleep is fine with the eGPU connected.
![veIMdpM.png]()
Windows Bootcamp Usage
- Windows requires the eGPU to be connected when booting. However you do not get the boot loader with the eGPU connected, so you cannot select which OS to boot.
- To work around this, you should set Windows as the default OS when turning on your Mac mini.
- This allows you to reboot in macOS with the eGPU connected, and go into Windows bootcamp without having to do any unplugs.
Benchmark
![ajo9VH4.png]()
Things to test
- What I haven't tested yet is if I switch the eGPU off at the power while the Mac mini is asleep, but then switch it back on and wake it up does it output to the display.
Tested, turning off the eGPU while in sleep mode will cause the Mac mini to crash.
macOS Usage
- You cannot boot into macOS with the eGPU connected using this cable, you get no display. Unplug the eGPU from the Mac mini when booting into macOS.
- You should instead boot with the standard Mac mini > LG UltraFine TB3 connection.
- When macOS has loaded, unplug the Mac mini > LG UltraFine TB3 connection and plug in the eGPU. The eGPU will come to life and after a few seconds you'll have full display and brightness controls.
- Waking from sleep is fine with the eGPU connected.
Windows Bootcamp Usage
- Windows requires the eGPU to be connected when booting. However you do not get the boot loader with the eGPU connected, so you cannot select which OS to boot.
- To work around this, you should set Windows as the default OS when turning on your Mac mini.
- This allows you to reboot in macOS with the eGPU connected, and go into Windows bootcamp without having to do any unplugs.
Benchmark
Things to test
- What I haven't tested yet is if I switch the eGPU off at the power while the Mac mini is asleep, but then switch it back on and wake it up does it output to the display.
Tested, turning off the eGPU while in sleep mode will cause the Mac mini to crash.
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