The 2014 15-inch MacBook Pro 750M
Full system specifications: https://support.apple.com/kb/SP704
The 2014 15-inch MacBook Pro with the NVIDIA GeForce GT750M can be one of the most troublesome eGPU hosts and plays well in only certain scenarios. This master thread is an encapsulation of all my discoveries regarding this Mac.
As of writing, the latest version of macOS publicly available is Catalina, 10.15.2. The recommended eGPU configuration for this is to use an AMD eGPU with a Thunderbolt 3 enclosure (see Buyer’s Guide), and Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter. You will require purge-wrangler to ensure that the eGPU is set up correctly. If you are intending to use an external monitor connected to the eGPU, then you will also require purge-nvda. The use of purge-nvda causes multiple anomalies, including but not limited to:
- Loss of sleep and brightness controls on the internal display.
- Loss of clamshell mode and deep sleep, which may require force shutdown.
- Loss of video output from the Thunderbolt and HDMI ports of the Mac.
- Loss of discrete GPU, which needs to be deactivated for the external monitor to work over an AMD eGPU.
- Power draw from the discrete GPU, even if inactive.
You may choose to combat these issues by following a build meant for a similar Mac that makes use of more complicated procedures to ensure that the aforementioned issues do not occur on disabling the discrete GPU: https://egpu.io/forums/builds/MacBook-pro-15-retina-mid-2012-razer-core-x-with-rx-580-and-functional-sleeping-waking-up-and-brightness-control/
It is possible to entirely automate and probably simplify the procedure used in the linked build. However, I have not investigated further due to lack of time, incentive, and the Mac itself, as I switched in 2018.
One other option is to compromise on performance by connecting your external monitor directly to your Mac, and avoid having to use purge-nvda and thus avoid those anomalies.
If instead of an AMD GPU, you happen to have a Kepler-class NVIDIA GPU which you would want to use, then you are in luck because you will only need purge-wrangler or automate-eGPU EFI and can get by without any of the complications above.
If you want to use a newer NVIDIA GPU, such as Maxwell or newer, then you must adhere to three important constraints:
- Use macOS High Sierra or older.
- Use a special boot procedure every time you wish to use the eGPU.
- Be subject to some or all of the above complications mentioned above as purge-nvda will be required.
I recommend avoiding this configuration as much as possible. Note that the boot procedure can possibly be avoided if you use a Thunderbolt 2 enclosure instead. This configuration is also basically impossible to use with bootcamp, unless you use a Thunderbolt 2 enclosure.
With Bootcamp, the situation is simple: As long as you are not using a Maxwell or newer NVIDIA GPU, any eGPU will work normally as long as you boot with the eGPU plugged in. All you need to do is install the correct drivers for the eGPU, unless Windows hasn’t already done so within minutes – though you may still want to update them. This Mac does not support hot-plugging thunderbolt devices in Windows. One exception where a Maxwell or newer GPU may work is with a Thunderbolt 2 enclosure such as the Akitio Thunder2.
To conclude, this Mac can be a pain depending on your eGPU. The no-pain setup for this Mac is to use a Kepler GPU such as the NVIDIA GTX 780, which still supported as of Catalina. But those cards may not be powerful enough, in which case, the next best scenario is to use an AMD eGPU. Explore more in the builds table.
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Thank you for sharing! I have this setup and have just been dealing with the issues caused by purge-nvda. Didn’t know there was anything you could do to try to resolve them. I’ll have to give it a try.
I’m using this particular MBP and eGPU with AMD cards (even with Navi) works right off the bat for Win 10 (1803). I’m not brave enough to try Catalina. The first card I tried with my eGPU box (Sonnet Breakaway 350) is Sapphire RX 580 and it worked perfectly with High Sierra, Mojave and Win 10 (1803). For Mac OS I had to deploy @mac_editor‘s purge-wrangler and purge-nvda, but these are two very straightforward procedures given all the detailed tutorials. For Win 10 it’s just plug’n’play, no nasty error 12 encountered. As I’m using a 4K screen, I purchased a… Read more »
@naticom
I believe you should be okay on Catalina, but since I do not have this machine anymore, I cannot provide evidence myself. Last update was here: https://egpu.io/forums/mac-setup/nvidia-workaround-for-high-sierra-egpu-acceleration/paged/9/#post-66460
Although the Mac isn’t exactly the same, they behave similarly. I don’t anticipate Catalina causing issues with bootcamp on this Mac (but again cannot provide the evidence).
@mac_editor
Hi mate! I know u have done a lot of great work here! Thank you, this is my first post and i wanna ask if u could undervolt your mac’s 750m gpu? I know about volta and made nice undervolting via -75 + power limit to 40w. What about gpu? Any tricks?
@stillsmile
Hi, I am not familiar with any undervolting methods for NVIDIA GPUs on macOS. Perhaps searching on Hackintosh forums might provide more insight.
@mac_editor
just saw your reply here in Volta thread about wondering how to undervolt GPU… Thought u ve made this
@stillsmile
The only thing I’ve made relating to the 750M is a way to disable it (not undervolt).
@mac_editor
could u please link me how to?
I m planning to buy Sonnet and eGPU so would be perfect to prepare my mac.
@stillsmile
It’s mentioned in the main post: purge-nvda.
@mac_editor
I think i missed the point that i cant use normally any eGPU + External monitor cuz of my 750m…Crap…
So under mac os i need to go with loop connection with EGPU + normally connects my monitors?
@naticom
How is gaming with this laptop and egpu? I mean, CPU is pretty old for current times, and at least for me, on summer with the hot the laptop is throttling (I think this is because 750m on windows but not sure).
Anyway, do you know if the “Razer Core X” is working with this laptop?
Just an update. I accidentally upgrade my 2014 MBP from Mojave to Catalina and my Bootcamp Win 10 still works without any problem while connecting with an eGPU. No hotplug is needed.
After researching various build posts (linked from the “builds” table), I went ahead and picked up a Razer Core X to use with my 2014 MBP. My main goal is to use it with Boot Camp. The GPU I’m currently using is a GTX 660Ti, and I may soon be upgrading to a used GTX 770, thanks to a friend. These are both Kepler cards. In any case, it seems to work reasonably well in Boot Camp without too much effort. All I had to do was: install boot camp – I wanted a fresh re-install of Win10 without disrupting… Read more »
@mac_editor thanks for this very helpful thread, as I’m considering an eGPU for a late 2013 MBP 15″ with 750M, and considering my options for Mac OS and Windows bootcamp gaming with an external monitor.