Hi everyone!
I have used this homepage to be able to get this working so i thought i would pay back with a build post as the least i could do.
No pictures of the system, but i guess you know how the stuff looks by now anyway 
System specs
2013 MacPro 6,1
3.7GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon E5,
1TB SSD,
64GB RAM,
2x AMD FirePro D300
eGPU Hardware
AMD VEGA FE 16GB Air
Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
Apple Thunderbolt Cable (2 m)
*eGPU connected to one of the lower TB2 ports on the Mac Pro.
MacOS Version
OS 11.1 Big Sur
Windows Version
20H2
Installation steps
Mac OS
- Followed installation instructions for Purge Wrangler (disable sip etc)
- Run PurgeWrangler without eGPU connected.
- Rebooted and connected eGPU and everything worked.
Windows (Bootcamp)
Most important step to get it to work: Remove everything connected to USB during boot! (see below)
How i did it:
- Boot into windows.
- Run Apple Update tool.
- Run Windows update with option to get all other updated drivers for the system (intel drivers etc)
- Download latest Bootcampdrivers (blue version)
- Run DDU in safemode.
Installation of drivers (Im sure a plain install might work, this was just the way i did it this time)
- Restart and find your eGPU in “Device manager” right click and select your downloaded drivers and install.
- Start Windows with a monitor connected to Mac Pro (as eGPU won’t work until you disable PCI devices + unplug USB (see below), it will have error 12)
- Disable the following in Device manager:
Click: “Show devices by connection”
Be sure to also click on “Show Hidden Devices” otherwise all PCI devices you have to turn off won’t show.
Disable the following:
- PCI bus 21, device 0, function 0
- PCI Slot 4 (PCI bus 21, device 5, function 0)
- PCI Slot 5 (PCI bus 21, device 6, function 0)
- PCI bus 17, device 10, function 0
Now for the part that was my problem all along to get this to work.
I spent so much time installing/ uninstalling/ Driver versions/ HackFlags/ etc etc etc
I don’t use HackFlags or pci.sys or anything else.
As i used a USB connected mouse (and the Mac Pro USB “hub” is on the same PCI lanes as the eGPU this blocks the eGPU and gave me error 12)
See image above where it is: Fresco Logic USB
Startup of Windows to enable eGPU:
You can have the eGPU connected and powered on (i never turn it off)
- Start computer (holding alt key to get to boot menu)
- !! Unplug everything USB (from the Mac Pro) when you get to the boot menu !!
Don't leave any USB hubs connected (that is also a device).
- Select Windows boot drive and start windows (i use Bluetooth keyboard)
(It might work if you have a USB keyboard if you start Windows and quickly disconnect the keyboard if you don’t have a bluetooth one)
- When the eGPU is activated when Windows starts you can plug in your USB devices again.
This will happen without logging in to windows.
I have a monitor that is connected to both the eGPU and the Mac Pro at the same time so i can switch back and forth (if i need to)
After the install i can have my monitor connected only to the eGPU (i just can’t see anything when i have to go through the boot menu)
I noticed that Radeon Software did not install this way, so i just ran the regular "Install" in Bootcampdrivers after everything worked, it just installed the Radeon software without a reboot.
Performance:
MacOS
Heaven:
Windows
Heaven (with GPUZ info from the run):
Radeon Software Version:
Conclusion / Problems:
Windows :
No issues, fantastic performance both in AutoCad, benchmarks and games!
Highly recommended!
Mac OS:
I get the “expected” results in benchmarks but there is something else going on that limits performance.
Using Parallels its just “slower than expected” and not at all as responsive as with a TB3 mac.
With Photo apps (that use eGPU) something “blocks” the performance and causes “micro stutters)
Using Steam and trying games the performance isn’t there.
I tried a TB3 mac mini i5 6 core and i got the same benchmarks but MUCH better actual performance in apps / parallels / games, its almost night and day difference.
There is something going on here that limits performance for sure even though benchmarks are good.
I use Parallels with the AutoCad suite so i needed a big frame buffer, and for that it works well.
So, in my opinion, if you will use eGPU for MacOS don’t go for a TB2/TB3 solution unless you have to (depending on usage case of course).
Have a good day!
@anotheregpuser, Thank you for sharing this build guide! Nice to see the 6,1 is still able to use eGPU in both macOS and Boot Camps with latest versions. Enjoy!
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oh my god! thank you SO much for this... you have just stopped me from having to re-ebay my card and egpu enclosure!!
I followed your instructions to the letter, and first time, it worked!... and then I rebooted... and it stopped working. I found some letters that are missing in your instructions:
[ EDIT: The following two point ARE in the original instructions... I just missed them! 😀 ]1. In Device Manager, go to View and "Devices by Connection" to get the same view as yours
2. go back to View again, and then click "Show hidden devices"
For some unknown reason, when I looked at my list, I was missing two of the PCI-to-PCI Bridge devices... when I enabled Show Hidden Devices, they appeared! Disabled them, rebooted... now as solid as a rock!
I also managed to update the graphics drivers to the latest (March 2021) version from BCD... which is something I could never do using the D500, they always crashed with anything apart from the Nov 2019 drivers.
Now it is time to do purge-wrangler.sh on the MacOS side of things (which I know already works, because I already did that, but uninstalled it in a fit of rage before seeing your post!!)... then I can boot to MacOS or Windows using the eGPU...
I <3 my nMP 😛
My setup varies slightly from @anotheregpuser:
System specs
2013 MacPro 6,1
2.6GHz 12-Core Intel Xeon E5,
1TB Transcend SSD,
64GB RAM,
2x AMD FirePro D500
eGPU Hardware
Razer Core X Chroma (money-saving tip: check out Amazon Warehouse, I managed to get mine from there for £235, about £100 off!)
AMD XFX RX 580
Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
Thunderbolt Cable (2 m)
*eGPU connected to one of the lower TB2 ports on the Mac Pro . (bottom right in my case)
@kevinpawsey, Hello!
Happy I could help you!
The USB thing is something I have never seen anywhere else so really happy that It worked for u!
I had soo much frustration too before I figured it out.
Regarding the missing information (I know there is a lot of text in my post, but it is hidden in there)
- Disable the following in Device manager:
Click: “Show devices by connection”
Be sure to also click on “Show Hidden Devices” otherwise all PCI devices you have to turn off won’t show.
Have a nice day!
@anotheregpuser, oh my, you are right, sorry about that! lol ... well, if I would have read that properly that would have saved me some time! haha
Thank you for taking the time to do your guide... I will update my build to reflect the fact that you DO say to show hidden devices! haha
@anotheregpuser, YOU ARE A BEAST!
I can confidently tell you, you have posted the ONLY palpable, simplest solution in all the WEB about Mac 2013 Bootcamp eGPU.
Can't thank you enough
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
.Hey guys, for some reason, I lost the PCIs mentioned above. They were working before, but when I tried to connect the eGPU to a different thunderbolt Bus, I lost the DISABLED PCis and I cannot see them no more. I’ve reinstalled Bootcamp several times with no success.
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
.@ralonso, Thank you for your kind words, happy I could help you with your eGPU
Now, why did you go and change ports when you got it working
Remember: The eGPU only works on the 2 lower ports, so if you change ports, you might not see the them, because the eGPU is connected to different PCI lanes (can't test that, don't have the MacPro any more)
Don't know if you have resolved your issues now but my best guess is:
- Put your eGPU back to the lower TB port where it worked.
- Connect your display directly to the MacPro (not eGPU)
- Start your computer and the "missing" PCI bus should come back (must click "Show hidden devices" also in the "View" menu).
If you by accident disabled other PCI devices then specified then you might have to go through "Safe Mode".
If that doesn't work, then maybe a reinstall of windows should do it.
Good luck!