flyfree

Metal API renders smoothly through my 4K eGPU display, windowed and full screen. Reference GTX 980 and R9 390 tested.

17/10/15 14:51:41,900 MetalKitEssentials[431]: [DYMTLInitPlatform] platform initialization successful
17/10/15 14:51:41,969 MetalKitEssentials[431]: Metal GPU Frame Capture Enabled
17/10/15 14:51:41,969 MetalKitEssentials[431]: Metal API Validation Enabled

The future is not about OpenGL, it’s about Metal. Mac may become finally a real gaming platform. All the Macs introduced since 2012 are supported as mentioned in WWDC 2015. Meaning that Metal works with the all GPU vendors - Intel, AMD and Nvidia on OS X El Capitan. Nvidia Maxwell architecture is only supported if Nvidia continues releasing compatible web drivers, not only for high performance apps, but also through Core Animation and Core Graphics.

@goalque, how can I check if my system supports Metal or not?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

After installing new web driver with v0.9.6, the system recognizes GTX 980, but doesn't utilize it. The results of Valley benchmark tests show same scores with or without eGPU. Even I got better score without eGPU. Also there is no connection to the external monitor. Would you let me know how to attack this problem?

The system configuration is

• Mid 2014 15" Macbook Pro GT 750M
  
• Akitio Thunderbolt to PCIe box
  
• EVGA GTX 980
  
• Dell P2415Q
  
• El Capitan 10.11
  

Hello,

First i want to thanks all the community for all the devotion and goalque for his wonderful script.

I have an issue with my setup :

- macbook pro 15’ mi-2014 with GT 750M

- Akitio

- PCIe Riser with molex

- XFX ProSeries (Black Edition) 750W Fully Modular 80+ Gold Power Supply

- Palit Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 Ti Super Jetstream Graphics Card

I have tried countless hours to make it works without success.

.........

Maybe the riser is "bad" and is corrupting the signal quality. Can you test with powering the AKiTiO by a barrel plug?

As Dschijin said the riser might cause the problem. In my case, I disassembled Akitio box and directly plugged the card itself to GPU without a riser. And another thing is I'm using DP cable.

I’ve no problems with iGPU only Macs. When awaken from sleep, the gmux device decides whether to use iGPU or dGPU for the internal retina screen. This is my best guess: since your MBP’s 750M dedicated graphics is beta supported by the driver, which simultaneously has to maintain eGPU connection, kernel panic can happen.

There is a tool “gfxCardStatus” which calls AppleMuxControl’s methods from the user space. You can try forcing iGPU only mode and see if that helps, either “automatic graphics switching” turned on/off in Energy Saver settings. Would be possible to add similar functionality in script’s daemon background process.

Thanks again, goalque. I'll try both methods and post the results later.

And I forgot to mention that I'm using Dell P2415Q. (Just for the record.)

Update: Selecting iGPU works, but turning off "Automatic Graphics Switching" option is not. So I need to close Paralles before going to bed since Paralles prevents from switching to "Integrated Only" on gfxCardStauts.

@goalque

My MBP restarts whenever It wakes up from sleep mode. Is there any solution for this issue?

My configuration is

2014 15" MBP with 750M El Capitan GM

GTX 980

Akitio TB to PCIe box

Corsair 650RM

Dell P2415Q

Thanks for the url. I'm able to use GTX 980 now. But the issue is my 2014 15" MBP with 750M reboots whenever it wakes up from sleep mode. Don't you have this problem?

this script is going to work in El Capitan OSX 10.11 + ?????

Yes, it works flawlessly. You need to add -url option. See following post.

http://forum.techinferno.com/showthread.php?t=10922

@flyfree:

I guess you mean the Thunderbolt cable and “hot plugging”? 2014 Mac mini and 2015 Macs do support hot plugging and removing the TB cable on Windows. Connect the TB cable and the eGPU pops up in device manager and gives the screen output - if not, switch the cable to another TB port. Technically it should be possible to do the same on OS X. The only exception are storage devices. Regarding any other PCIe devices, Thunderbolt technology allows unplugging at any time, but drivers have to be aware of it. However this is a step more complicated programming task - maybe possible with a kernel extension. We could just wait for the TB3

Script’s [-a] mode changes Intel’s Thunderbolt controller (156C) properties and is beneficial also when booting into Windows, no more black screens with 2015 Macs. But you have to circulate through OS X and turn on [-a] mode each time. Booting into OS X only preserves the value.

Yes, I was talking about the "hot plugging and unplugging" of Thunderbolt cable. Based on your reply, it's hard to expect those kind of functionalities on OS X any time soon. That's too bad.

@goalque Thank you so much for the script. It saved me.

I have a question about the "Hot Swap". Is it technically possible to remove the mDP cable without shut down the system? I know it not possible now, but in the future can we get that? I'm using Macbook pro and don't want to shut down whenever I need to go out with the laptop and boot again for the eGPU.