System specs
2017 Macbook Pro (No Touchbar)
Intel i5-7360U (2.3ghz - 3.6ghz dual core 15W TDP)
iGPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
dGPU: none
macOS 10.13.6
eGPU hardware
Enclosure: Akitio Node Pro
Enclosure: Sonnet eGFX Breakaway 650W (Firmware version 25.1)
Nvidia GTX 1080TI OC ROG STRIX
2m CHOETECH active TB3 cable, seems to work flawlessly
1TB SSD Samsung T5
- 100GB exFAT --> NTFS via VMWare Fusion (Windows + Restore Points)
- 50GB APFS Time Machine backup (macOS)
850GB exFAT (Z:) SSD SHARED for games and a full Windows Dropbox backup
256GB Mac Internal SSD
Selective sync Dropbox (separate from Windows external Dropbox)- Applications etc.
Hardware pictures
(picture is before rEFInd "spoof os x version" to fix flickering logo and screen glitches)
Thunderbolt, Nvidia, eGPU, Boot Camp
Installation steps
For macOS:
Simply followed GitHub macOS-eGPU instructions, making sure to follow them directly.
If you get black screen, unplug DisplayPort to monitor, shut down, unplug eGPU, plug eGPU when on Desktop, and possibly log out/in
Lack of DirectX support makes it pointless, I manually plug HDMI to usb hub and remove eGPU before power on
For Windows:
This took a long time, and by now I'd reinstalled everything 5x times and thought I possibly bricked my internal display (LCD burn-in logo).
I recommend getting everything from this checklist (I recommend Downloads on an external drive in case of fresh install)
- Win10_1803_English_x64.iso
- Windows Support software (from Boot Camp app menus)
- Intel Thunderbolt Driver NUC software 17.x+
- DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller)
- Nvidia 1080TI x64 driver
- rEFInd from SourceForge (open-source contribution, unlocks Intel iGPU firmware on bootload screen)
- VMWare Fusion / WinToUSB.exe for Windows To Go (external SSD) see
- Unigine Heaven (benchmark)
- HWiNFO64 (hardware info, if you need it)
- Install rEFInd, uncomment "spoof os x version" in refind.conf after install - might have to run `mountesp` to view the ESP partition in Devices
- Install Windows with kb/mouse attached
- Install Boot Camp drivers (Windows Support)
- Install Intel Thunderbolt 17.x+ to recognize enclosure
- System Restore Point. Just do it.
- Boot into Windows Safe Mode (Restart holding Shift -> ... -> Safe Mode, Option boot on restart)
- DDU clean and restart (make sure eGPU stays unattached, also disconnect usb hub HDMI if any)
- Option boot to Windows (if you have rEFInd already set up, it would spoof os x but you don't want to yet)
- Plug in eGPU, install Nvidia driver
- On restart, just let rEFInd load up and everything should work beautifully!
rEFInd is open-source, activates integrated graphics to manage internal display, and prevents serious problems - Display Settings -> only show on monitor 2
- Nvidia Control Panel -> enable 165hz and Gsync
To enable external (Z:) SSD SHARED in Windows 10
- right click Start button -> Disk Management -> delete and re-add the exFAT partition via right click
- remove hidden attribute, Run -> `diskpart` -> `list volume` -> `select volume n` -> `attributes volume clear hidden` -> `exit`
Benchmarks
1440p medium-high CPU settings (without usb hub HDMI plugged in -- definitely bogs down system)
Unigine Heaven (relies on DirectX)
macOS: 7-10FPS
Boot Camp: 130-150FPS
PUBG
Boot Camp: 70-100FPS
League Of Legends
Boot Camp: 130-230FPS
Rocket League
Boot Camp: 165FPS
Chivalry Medieval Warfare
Boot Camp: 96-120FPS (UDKEngine.ini "smooth" to unlock FPS, see steam groups "thechivclub")
Comments
Originally had Akitio Node Pro, but couldn't get things to work correctly. Not sure if user error or I had a defective unit, but I could only get the enclosure recognized, not the card itself.
To save a lot of time, I didn't install Dropbox, but ultimately made sure to create Time Machine backup and Restore Points at every major step.
The Sonnet is amazing, very quiet when inactive. I tend to unplug at night (strange PSU charging up/down sound), and I'm testing a longer cable (2 meter CHOETECH cable TB3 for $50)
2017/2018 Macbook 15" + Razer Core X + Vega 56 (overclocked without eGPU cover)
2017 Macbook 13" + Sonnet 650W + 1080TI OC Strix
2017 15" MacBook Pro (RP555) [7th,4C,H] + RX Vega 56 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (Razer Core X) + macOS 10.14.6 & Win10 [build link]
Care to share your PUBG settings? I'm getting 60fps on highish settings @1440 with a 1070... thinking upgrading might not be worth it if you are playing at 1080...
2017 13" MacBook Pro Touch Bar
GTX1060 + AKiTiO Thunder3 + Win10
GTX1070 + Sonnet Breakaway Box + Win10
GTX1070 + Razer Core V1 + Win10
Vega 56 + Razer Core V1 + macOS + Win10
Vega 56 + Mantiz Venus + macOS + W10
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LG 5K Ultrafine flickering issue fix
2018 Mac Mini [8th,6C,B] + RX 580 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (AKiTiO Node Lite) + Win10 20H2 [build link]
@neaumusic hi! how has your cable experience been with the Choetech active cable? is it still working?
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
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