Dec-2018:
automate-eGPU EFI v1.0.5 has support for older AMD cards as well, no kext workarounds.
TB1, TB2 and TB3 are supported.
This thread is obsolete and no longer supported by me.
Apri-8-2018: Updated package for macOS 10.13.4 has been posted here. This newest automate-eGPU.kext provides additional support to Fiji cards such as R9 Nano and R9 Fury X. Download and move this kext file into /Library/Extensions, rebuild kext caches, then reboot.
»»» automate-eGPU.kext.zip «««
These are the supported cards:
• Polaris - RX: 460, 560 | Radeon Pro: WX5100, WX4100
• Fiji - R9: Fury X, Fury, Nano
• Hawaii - R9: 390X, 390, 290X, 290
• Tonga - R9: 380X, 380, 285
• Pitcairn - R9: 370X, 270X, 270 | R7: 370, 265 | FirePro: W7000
• Tahiti - R9: 280x, 280 | HD: 7970, 7870, 7850
Goalque has given early access to automate-eGPU BETA v0.1.0 for all. This utility enables the following AMD cards to be used as a hot-pluggable external GPU through the Thunderbolt connection:
• RX Series: 460, 560
• R9 Series: 390X/290X, 390/290, 380X, 285, 270X/370X, 270
• R7 Series: 370, 265
• HD Series: 7970, 7870, 7850
• FirePro: W7000
In order to complete the installation, the prerequisites are as follows:
• The end user is required to disable SIP (System Integration Protection) because this beta build is not signed.
• The end user must have the eGPU enclosure plugged in and one of the supported AMD cards properly powered and mounted in the enclosure.
This software does not modify any system files. To uninstall the software, simply delete the generated automate-eGPU.kext from /Library/Extentions/ folder. You will be guided through the steps necessary to install this software.
Download and run this installer to enable 17 more AMD graphics cards in macOS High Sierra 10.13. to 10.13.3.
»»» automate-eGPU-BETA-v010.pkg.zip «««
• external graphics card builds
• best laptops for external GPU
• eGPU enclosure buyer's guide
2020 14" MSI Prestige 14 EVO [11th,4C,G] + RTX 3080 @ 32Gbps-TB4 (AORUS Gaming Box) + Win10 2004 [build link]
I've tried this automate-eGPU.kext successfully with RX 460, RX 560, and R9 285 on both Thunderbolt 2 and Thunderbolt 3 Macs. The nice improvement over the automate-eGPU.sh script is ease of installation and because the kext is now located in /Library/Extentions/ it may survive macOS system upgrade. When I upgraded macOS from 10.13 to 10.13 Supplemental Update, automate-eGPU.kext remained functional.
Combined with the officially supported GPUs, we now have 25 AMD graphics cards to use as plug-and-play external graphics in macOS High Sierra. If you have one of the cards listed, please give this a try and post your feedback whether this works for you.
• external graphics card builds
• best laptops for external GPU
• eGPU enclosure buyer's guide
2020 14" MSI Prestige 14 EVO [11th,4C,G] + RTX 3080 @ 32Gbps-TB4 (AORUS Gaming Box) + Win10 2004 [build link]
I've tried this automate-eGPU.kext successfully with RX 460, RX 560, and R9 285 on both Thunderbolt 2 and Thunderbolt 3 Macs. The nice improvement over the automate-eGPU.sh script is ease of installation and because the kext is now located in /Library/Extentions/ it may survive macOS system upgrade. When I upgraded macOS from 10.13 to 10.13 Supplemental Update, automate-eGPU.kext remained functional.
Combined with the officially supported GPUs, we now have 25 AMD graphics cards to use as plug-and-play external graphics in macOS High Sierra. If you have one of the cards listed, please give this a try and post your feedback whether this works for you.
Nvidia-based Macbook is still incompatible with AMD-eGPU in high sierra 10.13 official...
@ goalque
IF you have beta or untested workarounds, I can help to test them.
late-2013 15" MacBook Pro GT750M + RX580@16Gbps-TB2 (AKiTiO thunder 2) + macOS 10.13
Nice work! The installer however seems to have the same issues as those I experienced with mine. The output of the preinstall script is plainly ignored: While the installer seems to be supposed to check for connected enclosures and GPUs it does not fail without those being connected.
I could not yet find any way to make the installer respect its scripts, as I had special OS checks as well as TB1/TB2/TB3 checks, SIP and NVIDIA Web-Driver checks included with non of them working.
Creator of the update-redundant macOS 10.12 eGPU enabler package for NVIDIA
AKiTiO Thunder 2 PCIe Expansion Box
NVIDIA GTX 750Ti
MacBook Pro 9.2 ••• until being stolen.
Thanks to the community for helping getting me going again.
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
.Quick question: after installing is it then ok to re-enable SIP?
Thanks for posting, I'll try this tonight with my 560 on TB2.
Mac Mini 2014 - Akitio Thunder2 - 120w PSU - MSI Aero ITX RX 560 OC - High Sierra
Nice work! The installer however seems to have the same issues as those I experienced with mine. The output of the preinstall script is plainly ignored: While the installer seems to be supposed to check for connected enclosures and GPUs it does not fail without those being connected.
I could not yet find any way to make the installer respect its scripts, as I had special OS checks as well as TB1/TB2/TB3 checks, SIP and NVIDIA Web-Driver checks included with non of them working.
Can you elaborate? I've tried running the installer without an eGPU connected and saw the error message and the installer failed. I also tried running the installer with an Nvidia eGPU and encountered error which resulted in a failed installation.
Quick question: after installing is it then ok to re-enable SIP?
Thanks for posting, I'll try this tonight with my 560 on TB2.
I have not tried this yet. Can you give it a shot and let us know whether re-enable SIP is a possibility?
• external graphics card builds
• best laptops for external GPU
• eGPU enclosure buyer's guide
2020 14" MSI Prestige 14 EVO [11th,4C,G] + RTX 3080 @ 32Gbps-TB4 (AORUS Gaming Box) + Win10 2004 [build link]
Nice work! The installer however seems to have the same issues as those I experienced with mine. The output of the preinstall script is plainly ignored: While the installer seems to be supposed to check for connected enclosures and GPUs it does not fail without those being connected.
Should note that only on tb3-devices or iGPU-devices, at current no for nGPU-devices.
late-2013 15" MacBook Pro GT750M + RX580@16Gbps-TB2 (AKiTiO thunder 2) + macOS 10.13
Hi !
Only for knowledge.... Mine XFX AMD Radeon 270X EDJR doesn't work.... There is a way to do some flah in this graphic card ?
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
.Is the kext code not available (open-source) on Github? I am quite interested to see what's going on inside the kext.
I guess its sort of understandable when people/companies like Bizon are around...
purge-wrangler ✧ tbt-flash ✧ purge-nvda ✧ set-eGPU
Insights Into macOS Video Editing Performance
Master Threads:
2014 15-inch MacBook Pro 750M
2018 15-inch MacBook Pro
2019 13" MacBook Pro [8th,4C,U] + RX Vega 64 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (Mantiz Venus) + macOS 10.14.6 & Win10 [build link]