Dschijn

OSX: - External display connected to the eGPU is possible - Internal display can be blacked out by reducing brightness to 0% Windows: - External display connected to the eGPU is possible - Internal display with eGPU performance is only possible with the iGPU (Intel Iris) - Internal display can be blacked out by reducing brightness to 0%

Good job! The GTX 960 seems so lost in that huge case

Yes, that looks fine!

Of course, my fault. I was thinking he was just talking about using the eGPU+bootcamp partition in Parallels without the eGPU. Thunderbolt eGPU in Parallels will not work.

Here is Linus Review:

Awesome

Sorry to hear that!

In theory you can just put it into the PCIe slot. But people are talking about stability problems, doing it this way! Unfortunately an additional PSU should be used to provide more power to the AKiTiO and the GPU. A fan isn't necessary! A riser is an extention of the PCIe slot. In general it is used to reposition a PCIe card away from the slot. The powered version is connected to a PC PSU to provide an additional 12V lane with extra power. That was mainly used for bitcoining setups, where people have been connecting multiple high end GPUs to one Mainboard. To avoid stability problems and the "weak" AKiTiO PSU you should use one, especially if you consider using a more powerful card. Windows itself is giving you the best performance! Wine still relys on a working OSX eGPU setup and might only be a good choice for offline and "older" games. Furthermore you will have to use an external display connected to the eGPU. That is up to you! Some people like the "ghetto style" with the naked components. A case will keep everything together. A CoolerMaster Elite 130 is small, cheap and everthing fits in, even fans I would say a $200 AKiTiO is currently the best way! A PE4L still needs a Thunderbolt to expresscard enclosure, right? Yes! Please read this Guide: http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides/8059-%5Bguide%5D-2013-15-macbook-pro-gt750m-gtx780ti%4016gbps-tb2-sonnet-ee-iii-d-osx10-10-a.html The easiest way is to use Windows 8.1. But understand that using the internal screen will reduce your eGPUs performance! Windows 8.1 is recommended and doesn't have such problems! Before you don't know what you want... there will be not such a Guide. To get an idea or inspirations, take a look at this section of the forum: Implementation Guides

Sure I can help For your setup I would recommend to test the eGPU with another display as the TV. 4k have been troublemakers in the first steps of setting up the eGPU. Addionally please do that testing on a DVI or Displayport. If the GTX 970 recognized and listed in the devices it should work! I switch on my setup in a very simple way: The PSU switch (on the back of the PSU) is constantly turned on and I control the power to the PSU with a regular multiple power socket with a switch like this: Link

Hi, that depends on your setup! If you want to use the AKiTiO PSU you can run the eGPU without a riser. But maybe the power that the AKiTiO PSU can provide isn't enough… To avoid that a powered riser is recommended. If you want to use a certain case you will need a riser to place the GPU away from the AKiTiO PCB. In general a PSU between 350-500W will do fine. They differ in size, PCIe connectors, efficiency, noise... Important is to make sure, that the PSU has enough of the PCIe connectors. OSX gaming on the internal screen will not work. Windows 7 will need additional software http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/2123-diy-egpu-setup-1-30-a.html Windows 8.1 is much easier on eGPUs and the UI can be changed. For e.g. with the software "Classic Shell".

If the price is the same, you should go for the GTX 960. The new chip is slightly faster as the GTX 770, but needs much less power under full load. The lower power consumption results in lower noise, better cooling and less heat. Additionally the MSI and ASUS GTX 960s can disable their fan in idle and low loads.

@goalque @johndshea: Thx for the input. Until now I had the idea that non 2014 MBPr 13" and 15" will work with a GTX 9X0. But well still agree, that a 15" MBPr 2014 with Iris only can't work with a GTX 9X0 right now in 10.10, right?

In this forum there has been the idea that 2014 15" MBPr are yet not working with GTX 9X0 cards in OSX. For example I couldn't get my setup working in OSX at all, as well as other users. Yes, there are working setups with a GTX 9X0 card in OSX, but that are not 2014 MBPr. Edit: Maybe I am wrong. Please follow this thread: http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/7910-diy-egpu-macbook-experiences-36.html

Yeah, but 2014 MBPr can't handle a GTX 9X0 in OSX right now…

You are talking about running the Bootcamp partition in Parallels right? I think it shouldn't be a problem, but not 100% sure. The thing is, Parallels will install driver for itself to give the best performance. But I would assume, that it will just add driver and not remove any of them. Imho it is worth to try.

Hey Nilsson, 1. a riser that looks like this one (sorry it's in germany, please focus on the pictures): [PCIE] 16x - 16x PCI-Express POWERED Riser Flex 2. A GTX 770, 780 or 780Ti. Additionally an external display, because you can't get eGPU performance for games on the internal display. OR you should consider Windows 8.1! Especially for gaming and performance the best choice.

Paralles should only affect the drivers and not the EFI partition!

@Nilsson15: 1. OSX and GTX 9X0 with 2014 MBPr isn't working right now! 2. Better try to find a powered riser with capacitors

You need to differentiate what kind of 3D performance you need. If you want games to run you must use an display directly connected to the eGPU (Thunderbolt is not an option). If you can assign a GPU to the program (like in the program settings) you can use any display directly conencted to the Mac. For the best OSX compatibility you should consider a GTX 780, 780Ti, Titan, Titan Black, Titan Z. GTX 980 or 970 ar not really working with 2014 MBP.

@pacheco: AKiTiO with a GPU of your choice should be fine with an external display. Internal display will be difficult.

I doubt that you will be able to connect a TB Display to the MB and get eGPU performance in OSX. That might work in Windows but is complicated because of the 750m. Do you really need 3D performance in OSX? I have my display directly connected to the MB for OSX (without eGPU). For Windows I have the Display connected to the eGPU too. So that display has 2 active connections in Windows (eGPU and miniDP from the MB), but I disabled the 2nd one. Bottomline is, I have eGPU performance on the external screen in Windows and non eGPU performance in OSX on one display.

@w4vz: I am pretty sure that is in Windows

Windows, OSX, Optimus,…?

uff… Hard to tell, because imo you did it right. You had the chance to install the Nvidia driver in Windows 8.1, right? Can you try: - to fix the GRUB problem? Step 6: http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides/8558-%5Bguide%5D-macbook-enabling-optimus-internal-lcd-mode.html#post110757 - when you "boot" into Windows with the eGPU and all the screens are black, can you see anything happen on the MacBook screen during the first seconds? Like the Windows spinning circle? Sometime I boot into Windows and the external display is "grey'ish" (not crashed). So apply the following steps without any visable interface: I can press any button 1x, enter my password and can go into windows.

What happens if you boot from the "EFI Boot" Partition?