State of External GPU in macOS - High Sierra 10.13.4 Update  

I currently have a late 2012 mac mini with three displays setup.  I am into video editing 4k using premiere pro cc 2018 and am interested in an eGPU.  Is it possible to use the egpu just for the processing power it allows from the graphics card?  I don't want to use it for displays or better resolution

@theitsage
large memory pool? Apple made easier to setup Windows eGPU before or not? I think they will eventually makes better bootcamp drivers for this. At last I hope even if I'm not interested in Windows.

Quick question: has anyone tried an eGPU set-up with a GTX6xx series card?

Is there a risk that old Nvidia cards would not be compatible even with the NVIDIAEGPUSupport workaround?

Thanks!

my gtx680 Mac version with Mantiz (2014 MacBook Pro gtx750m)worked fine through 12.2.6. I was a little tricky as to when to plugin the thunderbolt cable. However the latest beta isn't supporting T2 computers.

@Tico thanks for the input! Which plugin method worked best for you?

Well, and what about 10.13.4 b4 ? is it still only for TB3 ?
I've got MacBook Pro Retina 13'' early 2015 with TB2<--TB3 Mantiz Venus with Vega 64 by Powercolor Red DEVIL and I'm still on 10.13.3 ... So its working really well, I'm using it for FCPX ...
The only inconvinience its that i need to Log Off and ON after connecting MANTIZ Venus. And its recognize by system as AMD RX xxx. No crushes.
I'd Love to test 10.13.4 b1 but dunno how to get it and if its worth to install it..

@maciej_szostak no luck so far. TB3 is a must for the latest beta.

Google for beta1, I found this: www.techglobex.net/2017/06/free-download-macos-high-sierra-10.13-beta-xcode-9-beta-dmg-pkg.html But I didn't test it. I still on beta1 and happy with MBP750m + Vega64 with fixed Fan speeds.

10.13.4 is going to end any unofficial support there was for TB / TB2 Macs. That's not changing IMO.

No that is not oficcially supported, and on a TB1 laptop it is categoric no.

Does anyone else have this issue of your Mac crashing and restarting while it's asleep?

Been happening since 10.13.4 beta 1 till now, laptop is in clamshell mode. For now I have disabled system sleep while on power adapter, and no issues.

Setup is Macbook Pro Retina 15" 2016 455 + Mantiz Venus / Vega 56

Newwwww beta.
Update: public beta too!

How about 10.3.4 beta 5?

@kelvin_tan it does happen to me, even disabling sleep it happens to me, i think it is because i have screensaver enabled.

Have anyone tried connecting the eGPU late in the tb-chain?
mac<->tb2cable<->tb2dock<->tb3adapter<->tb3eGPU?

Tried 10.13.4 beta 5 yesterday. Seems like eGPU native functionality for T1 and T2 users is axed.
Are any workarounds(like automate-eGPU script ) to make it work on 10.13.4 betas ?

I've never installed macOS beta before but now downloading the public beta. Should I revert it when the 10.13.4 releases?

edit: OK, got it. I'm going to just update regularly when the normal version is published. 

For the working part, I really liked it. I'm using Sonnet Breakaway Box 550w version with 8gb Sapphire Pulse RX 580 (just similar to Apple Dev Kit) and there is no need to logout and login to activate the eGPU. Just the screen flashes once and eGPU activates. I see the eject symbol on top right and clamshell mode works when I close the lid which I was expecting. 

edit 2: I'm having performance drops during usage if I do cmd tab to switch between apps. I happens quite often.

TB1 and TB2 are done. Just need to accept it. Apple never promised support so maybe they shouldn't have teased us 🙂

Would have saved me some cash if they hadn't!

10.13.4 beta 5 on MacMini is still crashing randomly when Akitio Node is connected (enabled) even though graphics are not detected/enabled.

EDIT: This is related to machine sleep. Disabling sleep fixed issues.

@rolfl
But you can run eGPU on MacOS in older Mac device with TB2 (Mac Mini) even with randomly crashing?

Just updated, I don't see nothing relevant...

Sorry to say but the TB2 supposed stopped support it's not a simple "accept it question".
I've invested heavily in a Trash Can to use eGPU's. I currently have two sonnet boxes with a NV GTX 1080Ti in each one. It's working great under 10.13.3. I have to simple connect them both, log out and login and I have lots of RAW power for photogrammetric calculation. As far as I know, in "www.apple.com/mac-pro" apple it's still selling my model with no signs of it to be discontinued nor any official lack of support of this machine was announced. It is, as a matter of fact, to this day and ongoing, the highest priced Apple machine. It was sell with the argument that was going to be a HUB for external devices, such as eGPU's (said in several interviews by Phil Schiller for instance). So if apple discontinues TB2 support will doom this model. I foresee sues. I can survive working as I'm doing now for months to come, without upgrading to 10.13.4. However I will upgrade in the future and I do not see how will apple will answer to several professional customers if this lack of TB2 will endure!

@Username
It works. No problem with sleep. Some applications recognize eGPU (i.e. Matlab, Lightroom). However, my MacBook will crash with hot-unplugging.

But you can run eGPU on MacOS in older Mac device with TB2 (Mac Mini) even with randomly crashing?

@WUjoFefer

 No, 10.13.4 b5 still disables eGPU functionality for TB2. (I would assume non-GPU devices should work still since Node shows up, but I don't have any card to try)

I'm very interested in developers opinion such as goalque, who looked for possible solution seriously.
I know they don't like to discuss beta's, but after fifth beta nothing has change, so chances for T1/2 to be enabled in 10.13.4 GA are not great.

I've not tried the beta or investigated, but there's been nothing in the release notes or anywhere else that I've seen that says it's blocked. The only official documentation I've ever seen basically said TB1/2 eGPUs aren't officially supported but might work.

As I see it, 10.3.4 is still in beta and they're clearly doing a lot of work on eGPU support. As such, I expect there to be things that are buggy and things that don't work. TB1/2 support may be broken due to bugs, or disabled due to a bug that causes major problems. In either case it could be fixed and restored. Or, it may be a bug specific to TB1/2, which isn't officially supported, and therefore won't be fixed.

In any case, I'd say there's still hope it'll be fixed.

TB3 Mac users with 10.13.4 beta 5: how has your experience been? Any signs of additional NVIDIA support being added, or Post 1 steps you no longer have to perform in order to get your eGPU working? BTW Post one of this thread needs an update to reflect Beta 5 status generally. 🙂

@chippy-mcchipset AMD Vega FE, still not sleeping properly GPU tries to sleep but awakes again. Haven't had a crash so far.

For the first time I installed macOS beta version and now my eGPU performance dropped like 3 times. I'm using 15" late 2016 MacBook Pro with Sonnet Breakaway Box 550 and Sapphire RX 580 Pulse. 

What can I do? Any suggestions?

@rhenriques11 If official eGPU support in 10.13.4 was to exclude the Mac Pro trashcan it would leave a very bad impression on current owners (myself included). Like you said, the nMP is still currently on sale and should be treated better.

Anyone with TB2 machine should give feedback to Apple

If you've run the beta and it's not working (or crashes or whatever), file a bug here:
http://bugreport.apple.com/

Does anyone have 10.13.4 Beta 1 and can provide archive of /System/Library/Extensions
I'd like to look at differences and possible solution for 10.13.4 TB1/2 users.

Thanks

Does anyone have 10.13.4 Beta 1 and can provide archive of /System/Library/Extensions

If you don't have a copy of beta 1 but did previously have it installed and you have Time Machine backups, you could grab a copy from there.

@laimis17 Check your PM.

This is Apple we are talking about...they cut and run when they feel like it unfortunately. I don't think they are going to make any type of consideration for users of the trashcan MP. If they want to be done with Thunderbolt 2 for whatever reason, they will just be done and not say another word about it.