I recently got an AKiTiO Thunder3 enclosure. Using it with a Late 2016 MacBook Pro through Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C port presents a few challenges. These MacBook Pro laptops are definitely not going to cooperate with just any Thunderbolt 3 enclosures. We read reports from Razer Core owners seeing the Unsupported status under macOS Thunderbolt connection. It's the same with AKiTiO Thunder3 and likely with AKiTiO Node.
My AKiTiO Thunder2 RX 470 eGPU setup works perfectly fine on this Late 2016 MacBook Pro 13" through a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter. Ironically AKiTiO Thunder3 (and most Thunderbolt 3 enclosures) with a Thunderbolt 3 cable does not have official support.
We've learned IOThunderboltFamily.kext and its controller file dictate which Thunderbolt 3 devices are supported. Kid2010 on Netkas discovered a workaround to enable macOS support for all Thunderbolt 3 enclosures.
Goalque's trusted automate-eGPU script helps macOS communicate to my RX 470 Thunderbolt 3 eGPU. I can get video output to an external monitor but there's no graphics acceleration or Metal support.
When I tried an Apple flash drive mounted on a PCIe adapter, everything works perfectly through the Thunder3 - full 40 Gb/s 1x through the AKiTiO-supplied Thunderbolt 3 cable. There certainly are more hidden road-blocks on these Late 2016 MacBook Pro in regards to external graphics card implementation.
I installed macOS 10.12.2 Developer Beta 4 last night but there's no improvement. Out of frustration I daisy-chained the Thunder2 enclosure through Thunder3 enclosure to my Late 2016 MacBook Pro for fun.
Check out the bundle of cables and TB3<->TB2 dongle in this setup. To the professionals out there, this is your only way to expand the capabilities of your ultra-thin and sleek-looking MacBook Pro.
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2021 15" ASUS TUF Dash F15 [11th,4C,H] + RTX 3080 @ 32Gbps-TB4 (AORUS Gaming Box) + Win10 2004 // my 3rd RTX 3080 build [build link]
There is someone over at /r/egpu claiming that he has the Razer Core working (I think that is windows only, though, due to the mention of Bootcamp), including internal display rendering. Not sure what to make of that, and I hope he posts the promised update/guide.
Want to output [email protected] out of an old system on the cheap? Read here.
Give your Node Pro a second Thunderbolt3 controller for reliable peripherals by re-using a TB3 dock (~50$).
"Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be done, and why. Then do it."- Robert A. Heinlein, "Time Enough for Love."
2020 14" Lenovo ThinkBook Yoga 14s [11th,4C,G] + GTX 1080 Ti @ 32Gbps-TB4 (AKiTiO Node Pro) + Win10 20H2 [build link]
Nice work! Does the Akitio Thunder3 works on bootcamp?
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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Here's the key for internal screen acceleration on Windows 10 (Boot Camp):
https://github.com/0xbb/apple_set_os.efi
automate-eGPU EFI ● apple_set_os.efi
Mid 2015 15-inch MacBook Pro eGPU Master Thread
2018 13" MacBook Pro [8th,4C,U] + Radeon VII @ 32Gbps-TB3 (ASUS XG Station Pro) + Win10 1809 [build link]
@goalque that's awesome! We'd love to see your how-to. Which Thunderbolt enclosure are you using?
• external graphics card builds
• best laptops for external GPU
• eGPU enclosure buyer's guide
2021 15" ASUS TUF Dash F15 [11th,4C,H] + RTX 3080 @ 32Gbps-TB4 (AORUS Gaming Box) + Win10 2004 // my 3rd RTX 3080 build [build link]
Might work by installing rEFInd and uncommenting spoof_osx_version config line, or alternatively as I did in EFI Shell:
1) Download apple_set_os.efi
2) Download EFI Dev Kit: https://sourceforge.net/projects/efidevkit/files/latest/download
3) Format an USB stick in OS X Disk Utility (Choose Erase, Format: MS-DOS (FAT), Scheme: Master Boot Record)
4) Copy apple_set_os.efi to the root directory
5) Create a folder structure in Finder as follows: EFI/Boot/bootx64.efi
where bootx64.efi is the renamed Shell_Full.efi file from /Edk/Other/Maintained/Application/UefiShell/bin/x64/folder
6) Plug the USB stick into the USB-C to USB adapter, and connect it to your Mac (TB3 port closest to the esc key)
7) Connect the AMD eGPU
8) Turn on your Mac and hold the Option key down
9) Select "EFI Boot" with the enter key
10) Change file system to USB “fs2:”
11) Type “apple_set_os.efi”
12) Change file system to Windows partition “fs0:”
13) cd EFI\Boot
14) bootx64.efi
15) Wait for the “whoosh” sound!
Should work with the Apple TB3-TB2 adapter and Windows 10 built-in AMD drivers. Not sure if Node or Core are workable.
I have a variety of TB enclosures 
automate-eGPU EFI ● apple_set_os.efi
Mid 2015 15-inch MacBook Pro eGPU Master Thread
2018 13" MacBook Pro [8th,4C,U] + Radeon VII @ 32Gbps-TB3 (ASUS XG Station Pro) + Win10 1809 [build link]
I'll give this how-to a try this weekend and report back. Thank you!
• external graphics card builds
• best laptops for external GPU
• eGPU enclosure buyer's guide
2021 15" ASUS TUF Dash F15 [11th,4C,H] + RTX 3080 @ 32Gbps-TB4 (AORUS Gaming Box) + Win10 2004 // my 3rd RTX 3080 build [build link]
I have mid-2012 Retina MBP with Nvidia GT650M 1GB
goalque - can i use the internal display with the steps you post here?
I want somehow to run via my internal display, i want to play on my retina display!
my rMBP 15':
- 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz) with 6MB shared L3 cache
- 16GB 1600MHz DDR3L
- 256GB SSD
- Intel HD Graphics 4000
- NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5
Its still beast with GTX 1080, but i want to play games on my internal RETINA display somehow?
Is this is posible!
I want to do this on Windows 10 via bootcamp or external SSD with windows....
can i use - gpu-switch by 0xbb (to set Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphic as the display's main driver) i only found that ?
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Later 2013) 3.2GHz Quad Core Intel i7-4750HQ / 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 / 256GB SSD + 1TB
✪ mini eGPU ● PCI Express vs. Thunderbolt ● Mac CAN game ● Gaming Laptops vs. MacBook Pro with eGPU
2012 13" MacBook Air [3rd,2C,U] + GTX 1060 @ 10Gbps-TB1 (AKiTiO Thunder2) + macOS 10.12 // external HDD Windows [build link]
Acceleration with RX 480? Is it already working with 10.12.2?
MacBook Pro 13" 2020 Touch Bar M1 8-core CPU 8-core GPU - 16GB unified memory - 512GB PCIe SSD
MacBook Pro 13" 2020 Touch Bar i7 quad-core 2.3Ghz - 16GB RAM - 1TB PCIe SSD
my awesome Radeon VII eGPU
my Mantiz Venus extreme mod with Sapphire Nitro+ RX Vega 64
2018 13" MacBook Pro [8th,4C,U] + Radeon VII @ 32Gbps-TB3 (Mantiz Venus) + macOS 10.15 [build link]
I have mid-2012 Retina MBP with Nvidia GT650M 1GB
goalque - can i use the internal display with the steps you post here?
I want somehow to run via my internal display, i want to play on my retina display!
my rMBP 15':
- 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor (Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz) with 6MB shared L3 cache
- 16GB 1600MHz DDR3L
- 256GB SSD
- Intel HD Graphics 4000
- NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M with 1GB of GDDR5
Its still beast with GTX 1080, but i want to play games on my internal RETINA display somehow?
Is this is posible!
I want to do this on Windows 10 via bootcamp or external SSD with windows....
Unfortunately no reports of activating the HD4000 to drive the internal LCD of a GT650M MBP. Next closest option is to buy of build a HDMI/DVI/VGA dummy plug to give a fake LCD https://egpu.io/forums/mac-setup/turn-your-macbook-pro-to-a-gaming-laptop-with-akitio-thunder2/#post-132
Then can use management software to start ** windowed ** games on the fake LCD and drag them to your GT650M-driven internal LCD.
eGPU Setup 1.35 • eGPU Port Bandwidth Reference Table
2015 15" Dell Precision 7510 (Q M1000M) [6th,4C,H] + GTX 1080 Ti @32Gbps-M2 (ADT-Link R43SG) + Win10 1803 // compares M.2 vs TB3 performance inc unoptimized H-CPU BIOS [build link]