[GUIDE] MBP eGPU detection issues: delayed hotplugging, PERST# switch  

@Ken-Zu oh I forget to tell you - for me it's installed on the internal ssd, via Bootcamp, all the drivers are updated to the latest, either macOS and Windows side.

@samupetho I tried following your method with an external ssd and it looks like it does not work. I will try with internal ssd and bootcamp.

@Ken-Zu as far as I know, the external SSD method in this case is a big hassle, dou you have the time / would you mind trying to install Windows via Bootcamp, and follow my steps? Also if you have an external monitor, what I believe, is a must in our case, make sure to connect it to the eGPU - not to the laptop

@samupetho First, thank you very much. However, I do not use windows 10 to set up. It's really hard. I downgraded to windows 8.1 and everything works perfectly. The success rate is 100% without having to reinstall drivers or run scripts or any other tricks. Simply plug and play. I thought I would use windows 8.1 to play games and Macos to work. Thank for everything.

Dear @Ken Zu: OK, So you say windows 8.1 works perfectly plug and play, 100% all the time? Please tell me your bootup process, I might downgrade today too, to test how it works!

Thank you in advance!

 

Dear @samupetho: Yes, it works with 100% of all boot time. Very easy. Just plug TB2 into MBP (12.1) then turn on PSU power for EGPU (akitio TB2 + zotac 1060 3G) and finally boot MBP (use alt to boot into Windows 8.1). I use win 8.1 (Ver. 6.3, build 9600) and the latest Nivida driver. And it works perfectly. I tried with win 8 (build 9200) and it worked. Even when I install win on the external ssd as well as ssd of MBP. I played SC2, GTA V on the retina screen of MBP and of course great (but not comparable to fps with an external monitor). Win 10 is very difficult.

Hope you are lucky!

@Ken Zu 

That sounds really interesting, as soon as I'm home, I'll reinstall windows 8.1 instead of windows 10 via Bootcamp.

So once it is done, basically the process is, turn off macbook and egpu, plug it in, power it on, then boot to windows via boot selection and just that's all, no need for any scripts, or timing techniques (like plugging it in when the spinning wheel shows up, etc) just select windows, boot, and works 100% ?

Thanks!

@samupetho Yes, it was really easy for me. My method is:

1. Install windows 8.1 (or windows 8) to the MBP's ssd drive. Reboot into win.

2. Install the bootcamp driver, reboot into win.

3. Update from appple (apple software update), turn off mac.

4. turn on the PSU

5. Plug TB2 into mac.

6. Turn on the mac.

7. After listening to the machine's startup sound, keep alt to boot into windows 8.1 (or windows 8).

8. boot into windows 8.1, boot rotation may be a bit long please be patient.

9. Success. I tried that and successfully 100% of the boot time.

Hope to help you! I don't no need for any scripts, or timing techniques (like plugging it in when the spinning wheel shows up, etc) just select windows, boot, and works 100%

@Ken Zu

Thank you for your ideas, will reinstall windows 8.1 today. Approximately how long does it take for you to boot?

@samupetho About 3-4 minutes. Not too long ago. With time, I will record a video about the boot process.

@Ken Zu

Finally found my Windows 8.1 Pro license and iso, so today I can reinstall it, and try it out too! Thank your for your help/ideas, I'll get back to you later.

Posted by: samupetho

 

@Ken-Zu oh I forget to tell you - for me it's installed on the internal ssd, via Bootcamp, all the drivers are updated to the latest, either macOS and Windows side.

   

It is advised not to install windows 10 anniversary update because it can interfere with egpu detection. Advised is to use  build 10.0.10586 10. Sometimes the egpu btw can be seen in your device manager when you select show hidden devices. Then you can also see what the underlying problem is (presumbly error 12 no free resources).

Posted by: samupetho

 

@Ken Zu 

That sounds really interesting, as soon as I'm home, I'll reinstall windows 8.1 instead of windows 10 via Bootcamp.

So once it is done, basically the process is, turn off macbook and egpu, plug it in, power it on, then boot to windows via boot selection and just that's all, no need for any scripts, or timing techniques (like plugging it in when the spinning wheel shows up, etc) just select windows, boot, and works 100% ?

Thanks!

   

It can be that windows 8 will work more easy but in the end better put in the effort and install and do the dsdt override guide. That way you can use all windows 10 features and future direct x implementations.

@Mgear1981

Could be good, but still not "downgraded" it yet - I'll install the Creators update, to see, how is that doing with the egpu first. I don't see any use of doing the DSDT override, as I never got the error 12. And as far as I know, when the system bootup would hang at the spinning wheel, it has nothing to do with the lack of large memory? Or am I wrong? Anyways, I'll update today, with doing the DSDT, and will post and update, if that solved it, or not. (Or how is it in general)

you are wrong it has to do with the lack of resources. Please go to control panel device manager and under the viewing option select show hidden objects, a good change you will see your external graphics there. look for it and when you don't see it select view on connection. Somewhere under the pci express downport big change you will find your hidden graphics card.

@Mgear1981

maybe you misunderstood me? My issue is no really dsdt related, because my setup works perfectly fine without that. My only thing is, that my bootop procedure is way too long, and the dsdt is relating to if it would fasten up the things? Because how I bootup is: uninstall all drivers, reboot to windows, install drivers back after hotplugging egpu, shutdown, boot to macos, hotplug egpu, automate script first normal mode, then -a mode, shutdown, and booting back to windows, plugging in the egpu when the spinning wheel starts- what I want to do is to skip somehow the driver uninstallation process all the time, and I'm not sure why, but that's my only way booting succesfully?

Well could really be a ressources probleem tough. Why dont you try to do the dsdt method and see what happens? Could very Well fix your slow bootup issues. Thank you for clarifiying

This has nothing to do with DSDT. The system freeze occurs during the POST stage. Switching to an AMD card might help.

Have you tried both TB ports and hot-plugging, then disabling/re-enabling the parent downstream switch port in device manager?

No, not yet. 

Today will be exciting anyways, as with the pascal drivers release for macOS, I'll play around with that, too. And I'll try to experiment with what you said, @goalque. Will report back later!

I have an early 2015 13" rMBP with a GTX 1050ti and Akitio Thunder2. It is a total pain getting into bootcamp with the eGPU connected. I really just have to try 2-5 times and hope it works, what I don't understand is why it is so inconsistent. Sometimes it works after booting up first time with the eGPU is plugged in, often I get it working when I plug it in as soon as the windows logo appeared, and once I was actually able to hot plug the eGPU after startup and it worked perfectly!

Most of the time windows hangs on the boot screen and sometimes the screen will just stay completely black on startup. I rarely run into error 12 or whatever the other one is, most of the time if I can get the computer started up with the eGPU connected it will work properly. I have tried all the suggestions on this thread but the most reliable for me is plugging in the eGPU as soon as the windows logo shows up (but before the loading thing does) or just starting up from scratch with the eGPU connected (I usually alternate between them). Right now I love the simple setup and this is really the only problem with it. If someone could find an easy, reliable solution to this that would be awesome.

@Froast I also have a system setup like you. And the same mistakes. But that is when I use windows 10. When I downgrade to windows 8.1 it works very well. There are not any errors. People say booting up with windows 10 is a real challenge. Currently I am satisfied with windows 8.1. Hopefully there is a way that works perfectly for Windows 10.

@Ken Zu

And what versions do you use? Latest windows 8.1 update (idk whatever it is, just the latest what windwos update gets you), latest nvidia drivers, laterst macOS ? Have you done the dsdt in windows?

I never got my Thunder3 and 970 card to work over TB3-to-tb adapter under 10.11.

I upgraded to 10.12 and reinstalled everything by the book and still can't get it going.

The Thunder3 is now supported, the nvidia drivers are the latest and the system profiler can see tha card but still only identifies it as kind of generic strange card. Can i get it going or might it be a dead card?

 

[Chipset model: Nvidia Chip Model
Type: GPU
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x4
VRAM: 256mb
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x13c2
Revision ID: 0x00a1
Rom Revision: Preset 1.0.0
Metal: Supported

 

Edit: Check The Power Stupid...

 

Poorly fitted connector was the culprit.

 

And we are up and running!

I'm having the same problem. It works on the windows side. 

I've un installed the nvidia device manager, re-installed it, scrip sees GTX1060. If I hotplug the thunder 2 the system report only sees Chip Model. 

I get caught in the endless boot loop when trying to restart. Haven't seen a solution so far that helps this. 

Anyone have any thoughts on what to try next?

I'm having trouble with my 15" 2016 Late Macbook Pro touch bar and razer core.  I can no longer get my device manager to recognize my GTX 1080 FE under display adapters.  All of the usb and ethernet ports work and it charges my computer but I cant get it to recognize my GTX 1080 anymore.  It was working for about 3 weeks.  I had the correctly set up the dsdt override and was able to play all of my games at max resolution.  Then one day I got the error 12 and normally to fix it you disable and re-enable the PCI slots.  Well i disabled the slot below where you were supposed to and ever since my core has not been able to recognize my 1080.  Ive done everything from a fresh install of windows on bootcamp and even sent off my core to razer.  They tested the unit and said there is nothing wrong with the unit itself.  I doubt my 1080 is bad as well.  Anyone have any ideas on how to fix my issue?  Thanks.

Installing Windows 8.1 solved my problem with Macbook Pro 13 (Early 2015) + Akitio Thunder2 + EVGA GTX 1050Ti. Working exactly as

Posted by: Froast

 

I have an early 2015 13" rMBP with a GTX 1050ti and Akitio Thunder2. It is a total pain getting into bootcamp with the eGPU connected. I really just have to try 2-5 times and hope it works, what I don't understand is why it is so inconsistent. Sometimes it works after booting up first time with the eGPU is plugged in, often I get it working when I plug it in as soon as the windows logo appeared, and once I was actually able to hot plug the eGPU after startup and it worked perfectly!

Most of the time windows hangs on the boot screen and sometimes the screen will just stay completely black on startup. I rarely run into error 12 or whatever the other one is, most of the time if I can get the computer started up with the eGPU connected it will work properly. I have tried all the suggestions on this thread but the most reliable for me is plugging in the eGPU as soon as the windows logo shows up (but before the loading thing does) or just starting up from scratch with the eGPU connected (I usually alternate between them). Right now I love the simple setup and this is really the only problem with it. If someone could find an easy, reliable solution to this that would be awesome.

   

I have exactly the same setup. If there is a solution that would be hugely appreciated!

Posted by: hdogan

 

Installing Windows 8.1 solved my problem with Macbook Pro 13 (Early 2015) + Akitio Thunder2 + EVGA GTX 1050Ti. Working exactly as

   

How do you downgrade to Windows 8.1? Is it a whole new Bootcamp wipe and reinstallation? Can you keep all files? Does it boot every time?
Thanks in advance!

Yes, I've wiped old installation and re-installed 8.1. It works every time. Booting steps are same as @Ken Zu described.

1. Power your EGPU box.
2. Plug thunderbolt cable
3. Wait 10-15 seconds to make sure EGPU is boot up.
4. Power on your mac with pressing option/alt key.

Windows 8.1 boot rarely takes longer (black loading screen), but it always runs without an error. You can just unplug thunderbolt cable (when lid is open) before switching to macOS (I generally use Restart to macOS function of Bootcamp utility on Windows).

I've managed to boot into Windows 10 a few times, usually unsuccessful. At one point I even started up GTA 5 when Device Manager said there were no drivers installed. And there GPU was definitely working. Just annoying that there is no consistently successful way to boot. I wonder what the difference is between Windows8.1 and Windows 10 in terms of booting with eGPU plugged in?

 

I will definitely give it a go as soon as I can. I have exactly the same setup as you.

2015 rMBP 2.9Ghz i5

Akitio Thunder 2

EVGA Geforce 1050ti SuperClocked

I've got lots of failures when it was running on Windows 10, this is why i downgraded to Windows 8.1. When I was running Windows 10, I booted the mac without thunderbolt port plugged and with pressing option/alt key, when I see boot menu (selecting OS) I plugged in and wait a bit to make EGPU power up properly (again waiting 10-15 seconds). And than select Windows/Bootcamp. But most of time it failed to detect and sometimes it just went to infinite loading screen. I also tried to plug EGPU after selected Windows boot and loading spinner shows up. It sometimes worked and sometimes just went to infinite spinner again. Downgrading to Windows 8.1 will probably solve your booting/EGPU detection problem.

@hdogan thanks for that! Is there a particular build version of Windows 8.1? I want to make sure that I've got exactly the same environment as you so that mine works!

Another 2015 rMBP 13" user @sampuetho said that his rMBP was even worse in Windows 8.1. 

So just wanting to make sure I get the best settings for this to work.

Cheers!

I'm using latest Windows 8.1 (updated with Windows Update). I've downloaded ISO image from MS (Single Language version) ( https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8ISO)   It's an old build, released on about April 2014. Updated to latest version to see if EGPU still works, and it worked flawlessly (Caution: it took (really) lots of time to upgrade latest version, so there are tons of updates since April 2014).

My setting is; rMTP 13 (Early 2015), 8GB RAM, 2.7 i5 CPU, 128GB storage. https://support.apple.com/kb/sp715?locale=en_US  

Latest macOS and Windows 8.1 BootCamp with external SSD (Samsung T3 250GB)

Akitio Thunderbolt 2 + 120W (12V 10A) external PSU (no-name cheap one from local seller)

EVGA GTX 1050Ti 4GB SuperCloaked

Awesome, thanks for that!

I won't be able to downgrade for a while. But I'm looking forward to not having to install Nvidia drivers each time I boot haha. 

@hdogan @knobchse Man you are really lucky, if you could make it work on windows 8.1, I tried everything, and it won't even recognise the card... Well but my fault was maybe when I tried it on the internal ssd via bootcamp? Never tried any external hdd/ssd solution, as my usb3 hdd is full of important data/backups, what I don't want to mess with.

@hdogan is bootcamp on your external ssd? Or is it just your games?

@sampuetho I hope I can get it working, not sure what I'll do if I can't 🙁