2012 15" MacBook Pro Retina (GT650M) [3rd,4C,Q] + GTX 1060 @ 10Gbps-TB1 (AKiTiO Thunder2) + Win10 [enjoy] // includes videos  

I dont like the new retina MacBook Pro 2016 and choose to spend my money for the eGPU setup

you can see new thread here - 2013 15" Macbook Pro Iris Pro + [email protected] (AKiTiO Thunder2) + Win10 [enjoy]^ // Optimus Internal Display

I read a lot of info before i start my project! Now i have more then 5 times better laptop just for 633 EUR!

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MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012) / Windows 10 64 Bit (BIOS) / Bootcamp

2.3 GHz Intel Core i7 "Ivy Bridge" (I7-3615QM) (Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz) with 6MB shared L3 cache

8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M 1024 MB / Intel HD Graphics 4000 1536 MB

256GB SSD + 1TB WD My Passport Ultra Metal Edition (Silver)

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I. PARTS

1. Akitio Thunderbolt2 PCIe Expansion Box 290 EUR

2. 2 x Startech.com 6 inch PCI Express Power Splitter Cable 20 EUR

3. EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 Super Clocked (1607 /1835)  GAMING 6GB  275 EUR

4. Dell 220W DA-2 35 EUR

5. DC Barrel 5.5mm x 2.5mm 1 EUR

6. HDMI to VGA adapter from Bulgaria 12 EUR - to play on the retina internal screen

TOTAL: 633 EUR

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II. DELL 220W DA-2 SETUP: 

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III. Uninstall GT650M Drivers from Device Manager and Download and install 327.70 NVIDIA Drivers -  http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/107012/en-us

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IV. ERROR 12 FIX

Obtain nando4's DIY eGPU Setup 1.35 and install per supplied instructions

Restart and load eGPU Setup 1.35 and select 2 with your keyboard:

1. 

2.

3.

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V. Install again 327.70 NVIDIA Driver when you with the two GPU's in Windows

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VI. UPDATE THE DRIVERS

Update to latest NVIDIA Drivers - 378.66

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VII. DONE

I can play all games - FULL HD / 60 FPS (all to MAX + AA) on External Display

I can play all games - 1680x1050 / 30-40 FPS (all to MAX + AA) on my Internal Reitna Display

 I also made a custom Windows 10 theme aka macOS Gaming 10.10.10

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PLAY ON INTERNAL RETINA MONITOR 

So the main limitations with this model of Macbook is the fact that you need an external display. We can got around this limitation with this little device and three resistors:

It's a HDMI to VGA adapter. 

All you need to do is put 3x 100ohm resistors inside the VGA port to create a fake external display. You can see where the resistors need to go with this image:

So the deal with this is, any program started on the 'external screen' (being powered by the eGPU) will use the eGPU. So what you'll want to do is set the fake display as your main display. Then anything started on that display will be running from the eGPU. Now there is a little limitation here; only games that run in windowed mode will work (which is most). You'll want to start the game on the fake screen in windowed mode and then drag it over to your internal display.

So how do you grab from a display you can't see? Well, I found this free program called Dual Monitor Tools (it's free right here: Dual Monitor Tools - Home ) and what you can do in this program is set a keyboard shortcut to move the selected window over to the other display. So you click on the game in the task bar, and hit the shortcut you assigned and it'll pop over to the internal screen, but because it was launched on the fake screen, it'll be powered by the eGPU.

Simple as that, there's no performance hit either as you're just dragging the game to the other screen.

A good tip is to have the internal display set as default first, launch the game, go to options and set the game to windowed mode now, then quit and relaunch after you've changed the fake screen as your primary. Otherwise you might not be able to switch it with the shortcut while it's in full screen.

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HOW TO START THE SETUP (when i want to play games):

1. Power the laptop and hold alt opt key

2. Click on Bootcamp

3. choose eGPU Setup 1.35 from boot menu and select 1 with your keyboard

4. choose again Windows 10 from boot menu

5. Start the game i want

6. Press the combination for Dual Monitor Tools to show the game on my Internal Display (i use Borderless Gaming so i run my games fullscreen on my retina display)

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 PICTURES:

Akitio TB2 Case Mod + EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 Super Clocked (1607 /1835)  GAMING 6GB

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VIDEOS:

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BENCHMARKS:

Unigine Heaven 4.0 Benchmark Score EXTERNAL DISPLAY 1920x1080:

Unigine Heaven 4.0 Benchmark Score INTERNAL RETINA DISPLAY 1680x1050:

3DMark Fire Strike v.1.1 Benchmarks Score:

6584 in Fire Strike (V1.1) - External (fake display) - the basic test (for example only 1522 with dGPU - GT 650M)
Graphics score: 7 210 
Graphics test 1: 32.47 FPS
Graphics test 2: 30.30 FP

FOR EXAMPLE: This user have 8556 in Fire Strike (V1.1) (  http://www.3dmark.com/fs/9689714  ) with the closer CPU to mine so there is 20% performance loss because of TB1 but I still can play all games Very High or Ultra FULL HD!

1680 x 1050 - External (fake display) - just change the resolution i don't touch any settings
Graphics score: 9 089
Graphics test 1: 46.98 FPS
Graphics test 2: 34.11 FPS

1680 x 1050 - Internal Retina Display  (Borderless) - just change the resolution i don't touch any settings
Graphics score: 7 852  - the score is enough to play all games VERY HIGH/ULTRA with 1680 x 1050 on the Internal Retina Display  (Borderless)
Graphics test 1: 33.96 FPS
Graphics test 2: 34.32 FPS 

1680 x 1050 - Internal Retina Display  (Windowed) - just change the resolution i don't touch any settings
Graphics score: 8 377 
Graphics test 1: 37.83 FPS
Graphics test 2: 35.12 FPS

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HOW TO CLOSE THE AKiTiO

1. I made by myself 90 degrees 6 pin i use one of my  Startech.com 6 inch PCI Express Power Splitter Cable to close the Akitio

 2. I buy 6-pin to 6+2-pin PCI-E power cable (you can use 6pin to 6 pin but i cant find here in Bulgaria), cut him and put him in the Akitio original hole close to Akitio Barell plug

3. I remove the Akitio back panel (also help for the Air)

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enjoy