External GPU (eGPU) Resources

[FilmIndustryGuy]

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.

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.

Thanks. Can you compare performance with egpu connected to monitor vs egpu connected to Mac mini? Not just games but maybe motion and fcpx.

 

[LiE_]

I can run some benchmarks but I don’t have any video editors.

 

[FilmIndustryGuy]

I can run some benchmarks but I don’t have any video editors.

thanks. much appreciated since I have the same setup as you. I read a testing report online once on how the egpu preformed better when plugged into the Mac mini directly so ive been confused ever since and thought my only real option was the balckmagic egpu. is your setup running pretty silent on idle or is this something you would turn off when doing basic stuff?

 

[LiE_]

thanks. much appreciated since I have the same setup as you. I read a testing report online once on how the egpu preformed better when plugged into the Mac mini directly so ive been confused ever since and thought my only real option was the balckmagic egpu. is your setup running pretty silent on idle or is this something you would turn off when doing basic stuff?

The eGPU is always connected to the Mac mini directly, it's just that the eGPU is connected to the monitor, and not the Mac mini, which you can also do but you take a hit on performance.

The Huawei VR cable is what makes it possible to connect a DisplayPort eGPU to the 4K Ultrafine monitors. Officially the BlackMagic is the only solution that Apple talks about.

The Razer Core X out of the box isn't quiet. My GPU has a zero RPM mode, so no fans run on the GPU on idle and that is dead silent. The 120mm fan on the Core X is pretty terrible, but I have changed that for a Noctua fan which is much quieter. You could probably disconnect the 120mm and not have much impact on thermals. The PSU also has a fan and that is again not very quiet, you can swap this out for the Corsair SF600 or SF750, those both have zero RPM mode, so no fans running until over 300w power draw.

So for complete silence you'd go with a GPU that has zero RPM mode (e.g. Sapphire Nitro+), disconnect the case fan and change the PSU. If you plan to have it under the desk, then you'll be fine with changing the case fan for the Noctua. You may even find with the Noctua it's barely audible even on your desk.

I haven't changed my PSU yet, I have it under the desk currently and it helps with the noise, but I can still hear it. The other reason you will want to change the PSU is when the Mac mini is in sleep mode the fan on the PSU still spins, this is the biggest reason I am going to change the PSU.

 

[hkoster1]

@lifeisepic Thanks for your reporting, I have now also ordered that Huawei VR 2 cable.
FWIW, there are plenty of USB-C -> DisplayPort cables around that handle Alt mode, but
these are one-way only. For connecting the LG 4K UltraFine you need DP -> USB-C, and
for that you need a cable like theone for the Huawei VR 2.

My Mac Mini has the i5, and in passthrough mode Valley scores only 2249 with fps 53.7
(29.4 -- 78.1).

 

[Coyote2006]

Can you also connect and run a 5K (or multiple) with the Huawei VR 2 cable?

 

[LiE_]

Can you also connect and run a 5K (or multiple) with the Huawei VR 2 cable?

unfortunately no as the 5K is ThunderBolt 3 and not USB-C.

 

[Coyote2006]

unfortunately no as the 5K is ThunderBolt 3 and not USB-C.

Ah, ok thanks.

 

[LiE_]

@FilmIndustryGuy I have installed the SF750 and with the Noctua fan the thing is dead silent at idle. Really pleased.

 

[playaproved]

@FilmIndustryGuy I have installed the SF750 and with the Noctua fan the thing is dead silent at idle. Really pleased.

Awesome! Thanks for doing all of this research and leg work. I’ll probably end up with a very similar setup in the near future.

 

[H2SO4]

@FilmIndustryGuy I have installed the SF750 and with the Noctua fan the thing is dead silent at idle. Really pleased.

Hullo, exactly which Noctua did you fit please?

 

[LiE_]

Hullo, exactly which Noctua did you fit please?

Noctua NF-S12A FLX but I have read that you can also use Noctua NF-F12 PWM chromax.

Page 10 | AMD Navi 7nm for eGPU - Radeon RX 5700 & RX 5700 X...

Page 10 | 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, ...

egpu.io

 

[H2SO4]

Noctua NF-S12A FLX but I have read that you can also use Noctua NF-F12 PWM chromax.

Page 10 | AMD Navi 7nm for eGPU - Radeon RX 5700 & RX 5700 X...

Page 10 | 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, ...

egpu.io

That's great. Just getting info together, not sure which way I'll go yet.

• eGPU with additional integrated PCI slot for another HD or.....
• eGPU and separate external TB3 drive case.

Both routes are very expensive.

 

[LiE_]

That's great. Just getting info together, not sure which way I'll go yet.

• eGPU with additional integrated PCI slot for another HD or.....
• eGPU and separate external TB3 drive case.

Both routes are very expensive.

I have a Samsung EVO 860 1TB (cost about £120) in a USB-C enclosure:

ineo USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C (10Gbps) Aluminum External Hard Drive Enclosure for 2.5 inch 9.5mm & 7mm SATA HDD SSD [C2561c]

ineo USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C (10Gbps) Aluminum External Hard Drive Enclosure for 2.5 inch 9.5mm & 7mm SATA HDD SSD [C2561c]

www.amazon.co.uk

10Gbps is more than enough for me.

 

[H2SO4]

I have a Samsung EVO 860 1TB (cost about £120) in a USB-C enclosure:

ineo USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C (10Gbps) Aluminum External Hard Drive Enclosure for 2.5 inch 9.5mm & 7mm SATA HDD SSD [C2561c]

ineo USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type C (10Gbps) Aluminum External Hard Drive Enclosure for 2.5 inch 9.5mm & 7mm SATA HDD SSD [C2561c]

www.amazon.co.uk

10Gbps is more than enough for me.

Ah, maybe I've been setting my goals too high?
I'll be booting from it periodically so was thinking I'd need more bandwidth than that 10Gbps?
Is yours for just additional space or is it an additional boot drive?

 

[LiE_]

Ah, maybe I've been setting my goals too high?
I'll be booting from it periodically so was thinking I'd need more bandwidth than that 10Gbps?
Is yours for just additional space or is it an additional boot drive?

It's for additional storage, I have macOS and Bootcamp on my internal 256GB drive.

Many people use a Samsung T5 to boot from, which is essentially the what I have in my enclosure.

Samsung T5 1 TB USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps, Type-C) External Solid State Drive (Portable SSD) Deep Black (MU-PA1T0B)

Samsung T5 1 TB USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps, Type-C) External Solid State Drive (Portable SSD) Deep Black (MU-PA1T0B)

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[H2SO4]

It's for additional storage, I have macOS and Bootcamp on my internal 256GB drive.

Many people use a Samsung T5 to boot from, which is essentially the what I have in my enclosure.

Samsung T5 1 TB USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps, Type-C) External Solid State Drive (Portable SSD) Deep Black (MU-PA1T0B)

Samsung T5 1 TB USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps, Type-C) External Solid State Drive (Portable SSD) Deep Black (MU-PA1T0B)

www.amazon.co.uk

Looks like a nice piece of hardware. I'd buy it if I didn't already have lots of drives hanging around.

So i've just ordered the Razer CoreX and one of the Noctuas you recommended. Soon as it comes I'll pop an SSD in it and see if it works for booting, (if all goes well my 5,1 goes up for sale). Then it'll be back to eGPU use.

 

[ofarlig]

Anyone with the i5 or i7 have run Time Spy and can tell me their CPU score? I got got the i3 version and have played around with a Asus XG Station Pro and my 2080 Ti and the graphics performance seems to be better than expected but the CPU is bottlenecking hard. Wondering how much difference it would make with the i5 or i7.

In general it won't be worth going the eGPU route for performance reasons when I already have a beefy gaming rig that is smaller than the eGPU enclosure to begin with. But it is fun to test things.

 

[LiE_]

I may be selling my eGPU in the end, if anyone is in the UK it may be a nice opportunity to score some less a month old kit for a good price let me know if there is any interest and I'll create an ad on here. I'm also a member of Overclockers UK forum where I have sold stuff for over 10 years.

 

[FilmIndustryGuy]

I may be selling my eGPU in the end, if anyone is in the UK it may be a nice opportunity to score some less a month old kit for a good price let me know if there is any interest and I'll create an ad on here. I'm also a member of Overclockers UK forum where I have sold stuff for over 10 years.

why? poor performance? what are you replacing it with?

 

[LiE_]

why? poor performance? what are you replacing it with?

Turns out it's pretty overkill for my needs
I'm still within my returns window for the PSU and GPU, but the cable and enclosure I'll have to take a hit on.

 

[iAssimilated]

Turns out it's pretty overkill for my needs

I'd also be interested in what the replacements end up being.

 

[LiE_]

I'd also be interested in what the replacements end up being.

Im not replacing it. I bought it to play some games but I’m very casual and not as in to games as I thought so the entire thing is surplus.

 

[LiE_]

For those in the UK, I have put the cable up for sale here

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/huawei-vr-2-cable.2210836/

 

[frou]

I also gave my eGPU enclosure (Sonnet) the Noctua Fan + Corsair 0rpm PSU treatment to get acceptable idle acoustics.

It's a bit galling to have to spend a lot to replace the stock Fan and PSU because the eGPU enclosures are overpriced in the first place. After a mediocre stock Fan and PSU are removed, it's mostly an empty box with a $10 Intel TB3 chip in it!