Akitio 2, AMD R9 and MBPr

[thecliffhanger]

Hi, i'm trying to run AKITIO thunder 2 with AMD R9 280x as gpu on a macbook pro retina 13" (macOS Sierra 10.10.12)

Everything is ok, from cables to psu: i'm using 2 pcie risers in order to get the gpu screwed in a desktop case and macbook sees correctly Akitio thunderbolt interface.

From now on, what should i do? 

Besides i've tried same config with win10 (external hd) but no signal it could work: what i am doing wrong?

[thecliffhanger]

I'm working on AMD7000.kext, AMDX4000kext and AMDsupport.kext, editing them and adding in every block with <key>CFBundleIdentifier</key> the string <key>IOPCITunnelCompatible</key>
<true/> before </dict>

saving and resetting mac

 

But osx doesn't load these kexts and when i check them they seem just untouched, no modify saved

Any help?

[thecliffhanger]

While on mac never changed, i managed to use "properly" the gpu on win10. Everything seems ok but after 5 mins i get blue screen and windows autoresets

[euqlaog]

 

16 hours ago, thecliffhanger said:

Hi, i'm trying to run AKITIO thunder 2 with AMD R9 280x

One of the cards that leads to a system crash. Get a HD 7970, that stays stable.

[thecliffhanger]

Could i "simply" flash the gpu bios in order to make it a 7970?
I followed your guide (where i replied) but you didn't talk about system crashes: was it all ok for you?

I managed to play a game in win10 by removing the 2 raisers: maybe it was just a case, but it was stable for 15 mins, then blue screen again

In AMD panel it shows pci express 2,0 x4, but it should be pci express 3,0 x16, right?

Edited October 22, 2016 by thecliffhanger

[thecliffhanger]

I've used your automated script, rebooted, dvi cable from gpu to external monitor and it works, but it says anyway "intel iris 6100" on external too (screenshot attached)

In system profile amd kexts are loaded and in graphic section seems everything ok
 

[euqlaog]

NA211TB doesn’t have these issues. The only difference between R9 280X and HD 7970 is the chipset. Tahiti XTL core has better power efficiency but it is prone to signal loss between power states, and Thunder2 can’t cope with it. OS X/macOS will crash eventually as well. I don’t know if this can be fixed by a new vBIOS.

 

Your TB2 card narrows the link to PCIe 2.0 x4.

[thecliffhanger]

Understood

At the end i can't really use the akitio thunder 2 with this gpu, nor in macos nor in windows, am i wrong? Should i get a nvidia 6xx to 9xx in order to have a plug&play system or i'll have same problems?

[euqlaog]

Yes, you have to replace your GPU with the Thunder2. Maxwell 9xx series cards are reliable choice. I can’t recommend any, please browse through the implementation section:

https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/forum/113-implementation-guides-apple/

 

EDIT: Just noticed that your MBP is equipped with the Intel Iris 6100, it’s an early 2015 13” model which is problematic in the early boot stage with Maxwell series cards.

Edited October 22, 2016 by goalque

[thecliffhanger]

I red about gtx 960-970 seems pretty working like a charm.

About the early boot: can i power on akitio after boot, when i reach desktop? Or gpu won't work?

[euqlaog]

Well, the power up process is not very convenient:

https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/10143-2015-13-macbook-pro-gtx1070fe16gbps-tb2-akitio-thunder2-win10-creativie/

https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/8212-2015-13-macbook-pro-gtx97016gbps-tb2akitio-thunder2-win81osx1010-tranj10/

https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/10081-early-2015-13-macbook-pro-gtx107016gbps-tb2-akitio-thunder2-win1081-3d-printed-enclosure-nasiryahm/

 

I would consider HD 7970, Sapphire Nitro+ RX 480, or R9 Nano if the R9 280X did not show any sign of these boot issues. At least R9 Nano and HD 7970 should stay stable with the Akitio on Windows 10.

[josue.l]

I'm fairly new to making egpus but I've been encountering issues with my setup. I currently have a MacBook pro 15'' mid 2015 intel pro iris on Mac Sierra 10.12 , with a akitio thunder 2 and a Evga 960 SSC 4gb card. I am not using any riser cables, the epgu unit is being powered with a Dell DA-2,  PCIE 8 Pin to Dual 8 (6+2) one end going to the gpu and the other powering the Akitio with a  PCI-E to 12v 5.5mm x 2.5mm DC barrel. I ran your script (which is amazing thank you!) it detects that the card is a GTX 960 but after I download the drivers and restart my computer, I plug in my monitors to the EGPU, I do not receive any picture to any of my hdmi or dvi monitors. Can you please help me? I've been needing the extra rendering power for school work. I would highly appreciate it thank you.

 

 

6 hours ago, goalque said:

Well, the power up process is not very convenient:

https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/10143-2015-13-macbook-pro-gtx1070fe16gbps-tb2-akitio-thunder2-win10-creativie/

https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/8212-2015-13-macbook-pro-gtx97016gbps-tb2akitio-thunder2-win81osx1010-tranj10/

https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/10081-early-2015-13-macbook-pro-gtx107016gbps-tb2-akitio-thunder2-win1081-3d-printed-enclosure-nasiryahm/

 

I would consider HD 7970, Sapphire Nitro+ RX 480, or R9 Nano if the R9 280X did not show any sign of these boot issues. At least R9 Nano and HD 7970 should stay stable with the Akitio on Windows 10.