2018 Mac Mini [8th,6C,B] + Radeon VII @ 32Gbps-TB3 (Netstor HL23T-Plus) + macOS 10.15 [itsage]  

Yep, the 2018 Mac Mini is stealthy in a pretty great way. I love seeing the essential proof of concept here. One Mini can utilize a couple Radeon VII eGPUs (and even potentially four of them!). With graphics performance scaling quite usefully.

Adding a powerful dual-eGPU set up to the Mini is a nice looking avenue. Creating the equivalent of a re-born $3,299 “Mac Pro” that way is appealing. Especially with Metal-specific multi-GPU optimized renderers coming to Catalina. Accelerated Octane and Redshift GPU-rendering could be within reach of us individual Mac users.

Next test: 8 GPUs using Thunderbolt chaining...

@joevt I will try daisy-chain a couple more eGPUs to AKiTiO Node Pro and Node Duo soon. Let’s hope the entire setup won’t trip the circuit breaker. 😀 

@itsage the eGPU support at boot applies only to Catalina? also, does it work with file vault enabled macs?

@juan_c_yunis It’s only for the 2018 Mac mini firmware (since Catalina dev beta 5). I don’t use FileVault so I can’t confirm but my guess is it should work. Make sure to use DisplayPort cable to the monitor. I’ve seen reports and experience HDMI cable/connection causing issues.

Posted by: @joevt

Next test: 8 GPUs using Thunderbolt chaining…

I tried 6x eGPUs today. Thanks to @Mac_editor‘s Purge-Wrangler script, I could use Razer Core (TI82) and R9 Fury cards. The mix were 1x R9 Fury, 1x R9 Nano, 1x RX 580, 1x Vega Frontier, 1x Vega Nano, and 1x Radeon VII. They were all recognized in macOS. Unfortunately only the first 4x could be used. The 5th and 6th were not found by any applications. System Information was confused and couldn’t load up. If I had it opened prior to connecting more than 4, it would stay open. This seems like a software limitation.

@itsage

Do 4 GPUs work when daisy-chaining instead of using all TB ports?

Edit: noticed in your image that one of the daisy-chained GPUs (Port 1, GPU 2) was working as expected, so that’s not the issue. It’s software limits as you surmise. They should increase this, and hopefully they do by the time Mac Pro lands. 

@mac_editor Port 1 and Port 3 were hosting two eGPUs through daisy-chaining. The R9 Nano was the 5th one recognized and Vega Frontier was the 6th one.

@itsage So chained GPUs do work, but you can't have more than four total. How long can a chain be? I think you have enough to make a chain of 3.

Does the system_profiler command also fail? use "system_profiler -listDataTypes" to get a list of data types that can be output. Then try each one separately like this: "system_profiler SPThunderboltDataType" and "system_profiler SPDisplaysDataType".

There was a thread about max GPUs in macOS:
https://egpu.io/forums/pro-applications/macos-max-number-of-gpus/

@joevt Terminal was able to produce Thunderbolt but errored out on Graphics/Displays. A chain of 3 worked too. I placed the Radeon VII at the end of the chain and OpenCL performance saw little loss. Everything worked fine and stable. Here are some screen caps.

DESKTOP-CD3P9OR:~ itsage$ system_profiler SPThunderboltDataType
Thunderbolt:

    Thunderbolt Bus 1:

      Vendor Name: Apple Inc.
      Device Name: Mac mini
      UID: 0x00012674BD516501
      Route String: 0
      Firmware Version: 47.1
      Domain UUID: 716FFF90-1C00-175F-B7FD-C76D8C40B4CA
      Port:
          Status: Device connected
          Link Status: 0x2
          Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s x1
          Current Link Width: 0x2
          Receptacle: 4
          Link Controller Firmware Version: 1.34.0
      Port:
          Status: Device connected
          Link Status: 0x2
          Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s x1
          Current Link Width: 0x2
          Receptacle: 3
          Link Controller Firmware Version: 1.34.0

        GAMING BOX:

          Vendor Name: GIGABYTE
          Device Name: GAMING BOX
          Vendor ID: 0xED
          Device ID: 0xB009
          Device Revision: 0x1
          UID: 0x00ED5F31E4702100
          Route String: 1
          Firmware Version: 27.27
          Port (Upstream):
              Status: Device connected
              Link Status: 0x2
              Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s x1
              Current Link Width: 0x2
              Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.36.0

        Node Duo:

          Vendor Name: AKiTiO
          Device Name: Node Duo
          Vendor ID: 0x41
          Device ID: 0x311
          Device Revision: 0x1
          UID: 0x0041B7DE0051C400
          Route String: 3
          Firmware Version: 33.3
          Port (Upstream):
              Status: Device connected
              Link Status: 0x2
              Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s x1
              Current Link Width: 0x2
              Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.35.0
          Port:
              Status: Device connected
              Link Status: 0x2
              Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s x1
              Current Link Width: 0x2
              Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.35.0

            JHL6540F 15W:

              Vendor Name: TUL
              Device Name: JHL6540F 15W
              Vendor ID: 0x168
              Device ID: 0x500C
              Device Revision: 0x1
              UID: 0x016895EF5558D800
              Route String: 303
              Firmware Version: 33.1
              Port (Upstream):
                  Status: Device connected
                  Link Status: 0x2
                  Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s x1
                  Current Link Width: 0x2
                  Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.35.0
              Port:
                  Status: Device connected
                  Link Status: 0x2
                  Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s x1
                  Current Link Width: 0x2
                  Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.35.0

                JHL6540F LP:

                  Vendor Name: TUL
                  Device Name: JHL6540F LP
                  Vendor ID: 0x168
                  Device ID: 0x500B
                  Device Revision: 0x1
                  UID: 0x01683993C911AD00
                  Route String: 30303
                  Firmware Version: 14.1
                  Port (Upstream):
                      Status: Device connected
                      Link Status: 0x2
                      Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s x1
                      Current Link Width: 0x2
                      Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.28.0

    Thunderbolt Bus 0:

      Vendor Name: Apple Inc.
      Device Name: Mac mini
      UID: 0x00012674BD516500
      Route String: 0
      Firmware Version: 47.1
      Domain UUID: 858823C8-3B60-1F50-BD40-B21837ACDC82
      Port:
          Status: Device connected
          Link Status: 0x2
          Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s x1
          Current Link Width: 0x2
          Receptacle: 2
          Cable Firmware Version: 0.9.0
          Link Controller Firmware Version: 1.34.0
      Port:
          Status: Device connected
          Link Status: 0x2
          Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s x1
          Current Link Width: 0x2
          Receptacle: 1
          Cable Firmware Version: 0.9.0
          Link Controller Firmware Version: 1.34.0

        Core:

          Vendor Name: Razer
          Device Name: Core
          Vendor ID: 0x127
          Device ID: 0x215
          Device Revision: 0x1
          UID: 0x808642772480A910
          Route String: 1
          Firmware Version: 16.16
          Port (Upstream):
              Status: Device connected
              Link Status: 0x2
              Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s x1
              Current Link Width: 0x2
              Cable Firmware Version: 0.9.0
              Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.25.0
          Port:
              Status: No device connected
              Link Status: 0x7
              Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s x1
              Current Link Width: 0x1
              Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.25.0

        Node Pro:

          Vendor Name: AKiTiO
          Device Name: Node Pro
          Vendor ID: 0x41
          Device ID: 0x30C
          Device Revision: 0x1
          UID: 0x00418A0FBD986200
          Route String: 3
          Firmware Version: 23.1
          Port (Upstream):
              Status: Device connected
              Link Status: 0x2
              Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s x1
              Current Link Width: 0x2
              Cable Firmware Version: 0.9.0
              Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.26.0
          Port:
              Status: Device connected
              Link Status: 0x2
              Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s x1
              Current Link Width: 0x2
              Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.26.0

            HL23T-Plus:

              Vendor Name: NetStor
              Device Name: HL23T-Plus
              Vendor ID: 0x58
              Device ID: 0x23D
              Device Revision: 0x1
              UID: 0x005882348411CB00
              Route String: 303
              Firmware Version: 33.1
              Port (Upstream):
                  Status: Device connected
                  Link Status: 0x2
                  Speed: Up to 40 Gb/s x1
                  Current Link Width: 0x2
                  Link Controller Firmware Version: 0.35.0

DESKTOP-CD3P9OR:~ itsage$ system_profiler SPDisplaysDataType
2019-09-08 08:24:31.518 system_profiler[1346:124923] Non-zero termination status from '/usr/sbin/system_profiler -nospawn -xml SPDisplaysDataType -detailLevel full', termination status: 11

Nice findings. So I went a different route for my production GPU needs a long time ago, but I still have a 6,1 and a 2012 Mac Mini sitting on my desk.  I can snag a cheap Razer Core v1 (TI82) and the Purge Wrangler script will enable it now?  Time to check Craigslist.

Hello. I just hooked up my 2018 Mac Mini to a Razer Core X Chrome with a Radeon VII and I am having the "fans during sleep" problem. Do you know how to fix this issue?

@jltawil

what adrenalin software are you running? you should be running the direct download from AMD and not the bootcamp drivers.

This is in Mac OS X Mojave 10.14.6 I am not running windows on the machine other than a VMWARE W10 clone for menial tasks. After reading about everyone's woes with the R7 I've pretty much given up...

It’s an OS X thing. Someone explained that it sleeps (the machine) but forgets to tell the eGPU to sleep so the fans go all on.

@flint-ironstag Yes the Purge-Wrangler script handles both TI82 controller patching and eGPU on Thunderbolt 2. It’s a very smooth and quick process thanks to the continuous improvements @mac_editor has done. It’s down to choosing a GPU that fits the Razer Core V1 power envelope.

@jltawil The Radeon VII wasn’t optimized by AMD for eGPU use. Its firmware is missing the ability to detect the enclosure USB-C controller power state. Without this functional communication the enclosure would go to sleep and cut off power to the slot but the Radeon VII has no idea then runs its fans full blast. There are some variations of sleep mode in different Thunderbolt 3 enclosures. To date I only found the NetStor HL23T-Plus to be the one with proper sleep mode for the Radeon VII.

@itsage

Shutdown from Win10 doesn't have the issue... Shutdown and Sleep in Mac OS does still. I love my Radeon VII but I wish I had spent the extra cash to go to Nvidia's 2080 Ti... but that is for another day.

@itsage

I ended up returning the Radeon VII back to the retailer. I already own the Razer Chroma X and I really did not want to deal with having to return that and get a different enclosure. I ended up ordering a PowerColor Radeon RX VEGA 64 to go with my Mac Mini.

So my next question is this - how do we output to the Ultrafine 4k Displays with the EGPU?

@itsage

I am fairly new to using FCPX (early this year).  I recently bought Radeon 7 with Razer Core X Chroma to boost FCPX with my iMac i7-7700k 64GB.  I need more GPU horespower to smoothly use 4k editing with avg. of 6+ effects.  I am using latest Catalina and 10.4.7 FCPX.  I am not clear on what the issue Radeon 7 is with eGPUs you speak about.  Sounds like eGPU goes into sleep mode cutting power to Radeon 7 but somehow fans still blowing full power?

I looked at many of your posts regarding multiple eGPU use, Radeon 7 etc.  I am with the understanding that more than 1 eGPU will not work with FCPX but it appears using your Nestor eGPU you are able to get 4 eGPUs working.  Maybe I am wrong in my observation but if this is true I would love to know how I can do the same and get FCPX to use both internal and multiple eGPUs for more graphics power.

I am willing to to look at acquiring a 2013 Mac Pro or recent Mac Mini to accomplish this.  I am not an expert or have deep knowledge with eGPUs but if there is a way to get FCPX to use multiple graphics cards including multiple eGPUs I would love to know how to do it.

Is that possible?  If so, how does one go about doing it and what hardware etc. is needed to pull this off?

I cant say I have experienced the sleep issue with Radeon 7 eGPU mix yet, but I have only done one overnight render on a 200GB project and I will say something wasn't right with it.  It seemed it stopped rendering at some point overnight and only when I woke up the iMac display did it continue rendering.  Is this the issue you speak about or is it something else altogether?

Love to hear your input as I am very interested in your work with eGPUs and want to know if anything can be done to meet my needs/goals for FCPX and multiple eGPUs.

Thanks

When will the Netstor be available for purchase?  Want to pickup a Radion VII, but seems to not work well with other enclosures.

@james211 Good question. Netstor doesn't seem to make it easy to buy their stuff...

There's an unboxing thread (from august) at
https://egpu.io/forums/thunderbolt-enclosures/unboxing-netstor-hl23t-plus-thunderbolt-3-external-pci-express-expansion-box/

The actual review (recent) is at
https://egpu.io/forums/thunderbolt-enclosures/netstor-hl23t-plus-review-singular-focus/