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 + GTX1060@16Gbps-TB2 (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!
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)
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
II. DELL 220W DA-2 SETUP:
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
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.
V. Install again 327.70 NVIDIA Driver when you with the two GPU's in Windows
VI. UPDATE THE DRIVERS
Update to latest NVIDIA Drivers - 378.66
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
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.
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)
PICTURES:
Akitio TB2 Case Mod + EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 Super Clocked (1607 /1835) GAMING 6GB
VIDEOS:
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
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)
enjoy
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Later 2013) 3.2GHz Quad Core Intel i7-4750HQ / 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 / 256GB SSD + 1TB
✪ mini eGPU ● PCI Express vs. Thunderbolt ● Mac CAN game ● Gaming Laptops vs. MacBook Pro with eGPU
2012 13" MacBook Air [3rd,2C,U] + GTX 1060 @ 10Gbps-TB1 (AKiTiO Thunder2) + macOS 10.12 // external HDD Windows [build link]
I read a lot of info before i start my project! Now i have more then 5 times better laptop just for 633 EUR!
great write up! This will, for sure, be incredibly helpful anyone looking to incorporate a TB2 egpu in their setup.
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
.I install 3DMark and run the Fire Strike 1.1 here are the results:
6584 in Fire Strike (V1.1) - External (fake display) - the basic test
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
Here is also a video of the setup
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Later 2013) 3.2GHz Quad Core Intel i7-4750HQ / 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 / 256GB SSD + 1TB
✪ mini eGPU ● PCI Express vs. Thunderbolt ● Mac CAN game ● Gaming Laptops vs. MacBook Pro with eGPU
2012 13" MacBook Air [3rd,2C,U] + GTX 1060 @ 10Gbps-TB1 (AKiTiO Thunder2) + macOS 10.12 // external HDD Windows [build link]
Between i just buy Far Cry Primal, and this is the first game that have a menu to choose the video card you want to play!
1. So to play the game I made my Retina display as my main display
2. Start the game
3. Choose GTX 1060 6GB
4. set Borderless Windowed
5. Restart the game
6. DONE, i can play without Borderless Gaming and Dual Monitor Tools - Home
If in future more games have that options, it will be easy for us, because Retina display will be Primary always,
Not big problem for me now because i drag the taskbar from primary display (fake display) to my Retina display and i have fake main display but i must use Dual Monitor Tool or Shift + Left + CMD to move programs to my Retina display and Borderless Gaming app
And again Far Cry Primal with Far Cry Primal HD Texture Pack and all set to ULTRA Setting with 1680x1050 I can play the game with 30-50 FPS on my retina display Its look amazing!
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Later 2013) 3.2GHz Quad Core Intel i7-4750HQ / 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 / 256GB SSD + 1TB
✪ mini eGPU ● PCI Express vs. Thunderbolt ● Mac CAN game ● Gaming Laptops vs. MacBook Pro with eGPU
2012 13" MacBook Air [3rd,2C,U] + GTX 1060 @ 10Gbps-TB1 (AKiTiO Thunder2) + macOS 10.12 // external HDD Windows [build link]
And again, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Ultra preset with 1680x1050 I can play the game with 30-40 FPS on my retina display Its look great!
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Later 2013) 3.2GHz Quad Core Intel i7-4750HQ / 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 / 256GB SSD + 1TB
✪ mini eGPU ● PCI Express vs. Thunderbolt ● Mac CAN game ● Gaming Laptops vs. MacBook Pro with eGPU
2012 13" MacBook Air [3rd,2C,U] + GTX 1060 @ 10Gbps-TB1 (AKiTiO Thunder2) + macOS 10.12 // external HDD Windows [build link]
When my AKiTiO Thunder2 grows up, it wants to be like yours. Awesome build and documentation!
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2020 13" MacBook Pro [10th,4C,G] + RX 6700 XT @ 32Gbps-TB3 (CM MasterCase EG200) + Win10 1903 [build link]
Need For Speed
Ultra + TAA with 1680x1050 I can play the game with 30-40 FPS on my retina display...
Call of Duty Infinite Warfare
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Later 2013) 3.2GHz Quad Core Intel i7-4750HQ / 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 / 256GB SSD + 1TB
✪ mini eGPU ● PCI Express vs. Thunderbolt ● Mac CAN game ● Gaming Laptops vs. MacBook Pro with eGPU
2012 13" MacBook Air [3rd,2C,U] + GTX 1060 @ 10Gbps-TB1 (AKiTiO Thunder2) + macOS 10.12 // external HDD Windows [build link]
For everyone who is interested:
Here is the deference between Thunderbolt™ 1,Thunderbolt™ 2 and Thunderbolt™ 3
In my case, my eGPU have TB1 (PCIe x4 2.0) so we have only 5% drop vs. TB2 and TB3, so no reason to update to TB2 or TB3 laptop and Akitio Node or Akitio TB3 I will have only 5-10% better performance from what i read or 5 FPS increase in games with other words!
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Later 2013) 3.2GHz Quad Core Intel i7-4750HQ / 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 / 256GB SSD + 1TB
✪ mini eGPU ● PCI Express vs. Thunderbolt ● Mac CAN game ● Gaming Laptops vs. MacBook Pro with eGPU
2012 13" MacBook Air [3rd,2C,U] + GTX 1060 @ 10Gbps-TB1 (AKiTiO Thunder2) + macOS 10.12 // external HDD Windows [build link]
For everyone who is interested:
Here is the deference between Thunderbolt™ 1,Thunderbolt™ 2 and Thunderbolt™ 3
In my case, my eGPU we have TB1 (PCIe x4 2.0) so we have only 5% drop vs. TB2 and TB3, so no reason to update to TB2 or TB3 laptop and Akitio Node or TB3
I will have only 5-10% better performance from what i read.
@enjoy, you have a x4 2.0 electrical link (16Gbps) but your TB1 channel is constricted to 10Gbps. With an external LCD TB1 to TB3 can do OK.
Its when you drive the internal LCD that bandwidth requirements increase. A lot. Running 4k internal @ 60Hz requires 15Gbps, more than your entire 10Gbos link can supply. Hence these new XPS/Macbooks with high res screens want TB3 for good eGPU performance on the internal LCD (NVidia Optimus or AMD X-Connect).
eGPU Setup 1.35 • eGPU Port Bandwidth Reference Table
2015 15" Dell Precision 7510 (Q M1000M) [6th,4C,H] + GTX 1080 Ti @32Gbps-M.2 (ADT-Link R43SG) + Win10 1803 // compares M.2 vs TB3 performance inc unoptimized H-CPU BIOS [build link]
Yes but with the "fake display" we removed that limits, I speak for my case.
I just add the post for people that maybe want to buy TB2 or TB3 laptop and use the same method as mine, for now i don't have a reason to update my laptop, because for example - Macbook Pro 2016 with Akitio Node or Akitio TB3 and my EVGA 1060 SC 6GB will have the same permormance like me (or close) if they run the games with NVidia Optimus on the internal dipslay right ?
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Later 2013) 3.2GHz Quad Core Intel i7-4750HQ / 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 / 256GB SSD + 1TB
✪ mini eGPU ● PCI Express vs. Thunderbolt ● Mac CAN game ● Gaming Laptops vs. MacBook Pro with eGPU
2012 13" MacBook Air [3rd,2C,U] + GTX 1060 @ 10Gbps-TB1 (AKiTiO Thunder2) + macOS 10.12 // external HDD Windows [build link]