Granty

7 hours ago, Arthur MN said:

Dear Granty

 

You can convert from GPT to MBR using DISKPART, so you have to enter the command prompt as administrator, and type diskpart, then type list disk to show all the storage units, now type select disk and add the corresponding letter to the disk. Your SSD.
Finally type convert mbr, and it will be ready ...

Lets see if it works ...

 

* If you want to access your Mac's settings, follow these steps:

1- Turn off your MacBook.
2 - Turn it on after it is completely off.
3- Press "Command", "Option" and the letters "O" and "F" simultaneously before the system starts.
4- Hold these keys until the request screen appears.

Thanks for the information.

I actually tried using Diskpart to convert the drive but it wouldn't work.

I ended up deleting a load of files and then cloning my hdd to the ssd. Everything works perfectly now. 

Thanks

@misiozol Well I finally managed to solve my issues. I deleted a load of files on my HDD to get the data useage down to just 50gb, and then cloned it straight to the SSD using the Samsung software - it worked perfectly! 

I also managed to get my eGPU all setup and running too, so glad that's sorted now, such a frustrating process to go through - definitely helps if you are stubborn. Now hopefully gaming performance has improved a bit!? 

Just now, misiozol said:

there is quite few of them if u have samsung ssd u'll have it on instalation disc

Ah yes I do have a Samsung installation disk... but unfortunately my ssd is currently in the optical bay of my laptop. Doh!  (Perhaps I can download it from Samsung instead).

My hdd has 340gb of data. so won't fit on my 120gb ssd - I just need Windows on the ssd. It'd be easier if I just build a proper gaming rig!

1 minute ago, misiozol said:

 

I see no problem here, move games to hdd check that all is working and clone hdd do ssd , so where is problem ?

What cloning software would you recommend?

2 hours ago, Arthur MN said:

I think you should make the changes in the BIOS ...
In the boot options, put your SSD drive first, and disable the rest.

I hope I have really understood your problem, this would be a solution for notebooks and PCs ...

 

Hugs

Changes in the BIOS sounds like a good idea but I'm not sure how to do that on my Macbook 9,1 (Mid 2012).

I can get through the pci compaction process, have all the 'Yes' answers, but I go through the EFI boot, using the Alt key, I then press 1 in the menu, the bootloader runs through all the way to the end but it can't get past the chainloading stage because it is looking for a drive set to 'mbr'. But my ssd is 'gpt' and I can't seem to successfully convert it to 'mbr'.

I see there is software online (AOMEI at disk-partition.com), they claim it can convert gpt to mbr and vice versa but you have to purchase their 'Pro' version $45 (it may not even work).

Is it at all possible to make this DIY eGPU setup work with a gpt partitioned ssd? 

Any ideas?

3 hours ago, misiozol said:

Can u tell me why not just clone hdd to ssd ?

Hi. The hdd is 500gb but my ssd is just 120gb. So the plan was to store the games on the hdd, with Windows 10 on the ssd. 

1 hour ago, simon753 said:

Use MBR file structure will solve your issues. I had been through this I feel you bro XD. 

Thanks m8, i will try this later tonight. Such a frustrating process but should be worth it

11 hours ago, simon753 said:

In order to use eGPU setup 1.2, I set my SSD disk as MBR disk in "active" mode. So you would need to change your setting and reinstall windows 10. PS:I backup my system every steps in case everything crashs, such as after I install a clean system and backup once, after that I install bootcamp driver and backup again and so on. 

I can see now that I cannot set the SSD drive to 'Active' because it is using the GPT file structure and not MBR (see 1.pdf). So perhaps that is the issue?

Either the eGPU Setup 1.2 is looking for the Primary boot drive but at the wrong location or I need to start from scratch using the MBR file structure. What do you guys think?

1.pdf

5 hours ago, simon753 said:

Well, usually I set my ssd as "active" state by using another PC, you would need to use terminal and type "diskpart" to get into the disk setting process. 

Simon, I have done as you suggested and used command prompt > diskpart.

I typed 'List Disk' and selected Disk 0 (see attached image).

And then I typed 'List Partition', which shows Partition 4 as the Primary.

Just guessing, but do you think the eGPU Setup 1.2 config file needs to specifically target Disk 0, partition 4 ?

1.pdf

Hi Simon, yes I have already installed Windows 10 onto the ssd.

Hi guys. I have just created a post about my issue but I am keen to find a solution asap, so I posted here too. 

I have had my egpu setup and running fine on my macbook pro (mid 2012) which has a hdd drive, and to improve the gaming performance I've bought an ssd.

I manage to get through all the steps in eGPU Setup 1.2 but when i go through to the bootloader, it says at the very end "No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key".

I'm guessing it is to do with my ssd being in the optical drive bay location and the original hdd (hd0) now being disconnected, so I get this error. What exactly do i need to change so the bootloader finds the ssd?

Many Thanks

Know how you feel @rbut, I wanna play some BF1 =)

I messaged an Nvidia software guy yesterday and asked if they were fixing the Nvidia drivers:

I said:
"Maybe you can help... I've tried installing many Nvidia drivers, including: 372.70, 372.90, 373.06, 375.70 and only 372.70 appears to recognise my Zotac GTX 1060 which is connected to my laptop via an Akitio Thunder2 eGPU (Thunderbolt port). The other drivers all cause the error 43. Is this an issue with ALL GTX1000 cards?"

and he replied:

"This is a known issue. Fortunately it was just fixed and QA is testing the fix. Assuming it checks out, it will appear in our next driver later this month". 

So fingers crossed guys, we will have a solution for this soon, at least sometime this month anyway.

No my devcon.txt file seems to work ok

It only took me an hour to get the egpu back up and running, so it's getting easier with practice.

I tried that nvidia bypass trick using that Rename.BAT file but it didn't work for me. Will have to wait till Nvidia fix the issue.

@mrchrister,  Weird thing, I left my laptop for about 15mins after having done a bit of gaming last night and tried watching some Youtube videos but they would only run in slow motion and with no sound!? What is that about? The eGPU played games fine.

The next day I tried booting up but it kept on getting stuck at the final stage of the Windows boot, right at the point where the external screen lights up! So I booted up the eGPU Setup software and saw the two pci compaction YES's had changed to NO's (NOOOOOOO). I guess the slow motion thing has something to do with the USB/compaction settings changing? Anyone experienced this before?

Gonna try and do the compaction process now - took me ages the last time and I just got lucky, so don't remember exactly what I chose in the menus, or what order.

Hope it doesn't take too long this time around...

12 hours ago, mrchrister said:

Hey @Granty

did you get it fixed?

Here is my devcon.txt for 1060 6GB under Windows 10 Bootcamp. Just put it in c:/config

 

Cheers,

Chris

 

 

 

 

devcon.txt.zip

Hey @mrchrister, Yes I now have a fully armed and operational battlestation, sorry I mean eGPU! 

It took me a few days trying to figure things out, because when I got to the compaction stage, it kept freezing up at the end, that was because the eGPU Setup software couldn't find the correct files, so I ended up creating a bootable USB which did the trick.

Thanks! It was good of you to attach your devcon.txt file but all is good now! (apart from the Nvidia driver problems, so stuck with 372.70 which won't allow me to play BF1 ).

Great little GPU the Zotac GTX1060 Mini, very impressed with it so far. My laptop runs so much cooler than before, which should help to extend its life a bit! I only have the fans running at about 4000rpm and the cpu hovers between 55-60 degrees which is awesome.

Granty

I see, well good luck with that @bloodhawk when you try that tomorrow! Weird that Nvidia made these changes in their recent drivers. The eGPU market seems to be getting bigger and bigger now, so they need to fix this asap! =)

@bloodhawk I tried following this method: https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/962633/pc-games/bypassing-the-driver-version-check-of-a-game-/post/4967359/#4967359 but I couldn't run the text file on the desktop as 'Administrator' as the option was greyed-out. Be good to hear if you manage to get Nando's method working! 

* I tried the method found on the Geforce forum (link above), but it didn't work the first time, but I thought I would try again. Luckily I had kept the file and when I tried creating and running the shortcut file again on my desktop, it WORKED!! So now I can play BF1  

So at least now I don't have to wait for Nvidia to get their act together.

1 minute ago, bloodhawk said:

 

Sweet!

Its stupid that such a basic option is hidden. They could just leave it disabled, not many people even know about it, or what it does.

You're right it is stupid... I've only just got my egpu setup and working, I don't want to f**k about with the Bios, I just want to play BF1 =)

* HURRY UP NVIDIA!!

Hi guys. I have acquired all of the parts for my eGPU project.

I am using an Akitio Thunder2 pci-e box with my Mid 2012 - MacbookPro 9,1 • i7 2.7ghz (3820qm Ivy Bridge) • 8gb Ram • Windows 10 (Bootcamp / BIOS) • Dell DA2 PSU with @Dschijn's cable mod to power both the Akitio box and Zotac GTX1060 Mini 6gb, and all powers up fine. 

I removed the previously installed Nvidia drivers from Windows using DDU and then installed the most up to date drivers (Version: 375.63), with the eGPU attached and turned on. Now in the Device Manager the GTX1060 driver is showing with the 'error 12' code. 

After researching this topic on this forum, I found several threads, and I see that many people are using

@Tech Inferno Fan's eGPU 1.2/1.3 Setup script. I read some helpful posts by @LukeHero and @w4vz, which lead me to believe that Nando's eGPU Setup 1.2 would be best for my 2012 Macbook Pro - is that correct? 

Perhaps I should have waited but I bought and installed eGPU Setup 1.2 and I got as far as the 'compaction' step but Nando's boot/bios script can't see the devcon.txt file and shows a message saying "WARNING! No C:\config\devcon.txt. Compaction may freeze. Run V:\devcon\mkdevcon in Windows to create devcon.txt.". But when I ran the setup-disk-image (as admin user) it did create the devcon.txt file within a V:\ directory.

C:\devcon.txt file contains:

ACPI\PNP0C01\2
    Name: System board
    Device has the following resources reserved:
        MEM : 20000000-201fffff
        MEM : 40000000-401fffff
ACPI\PNP0C02\1
    Name: Motherboard resources
    Device has the following resources reserved:
        MEM : fed1c000-fed1ffff
        MEM : fed10000-fed17fff
        MEM : fed18000-fed18fff
        MEM : fed19000-fed19fff
        MEM : e0000000-efffffff
        MEM : fed20000-fed3ffff
        MEM : fed90000-fed93fff
        MEM : fed45000-fed8ffff
        MEM : ff000000-ffffffff
        MEM : fee00000-feefffff
ACPI\PNP0C02\2
    Name: Motherboard resources
    Device has the following resources reserved:
        IO  : 002e-002f
        IO  : 004e-004f
        IO  : 0061-0061
        IO  : 0063-0063
        IO  : 0065-0065
        IO  : 0067-0067
        IO  : 0080-0080
        IO  : 0092-0092
        IO  : 00b2-00b3
        IO  : 1000-100f
        IO  : 0400-047f
        IO  : 0500-057f
ACPI\PNP0200\4&41DBD23&0
    Name: Direct memory access controller
    Device has the following resources reserved:
        IO  : 0000-001f
        IO  : 0081-0091
        IO  : 0093-009f
        IO  : 00c0-00df
        DMA : 4
ACPI\PNP0C09\0
    Name: Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Embedded Controller
    Device is currently using the following resources:
        IO  : 0062-0062
        IO  : 0066-0066
ACPI\PNP0C0A\0
    Name: Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery
    Device is not using any resources.
ACPI\PNP0B00\4&41DBD23&0
    Name: System CMOS/real time clock
    Device is currently using the following resources:
        IO  : 0070-0077
ACPI\PNP0103\4&41DBD23&0
    Name: High precision event timer
    Device has the following resources reserved:
        MEM : fed00000-fed003ff
        IRQ : 0
        IRQ : 8
ACPI\PNP0C0E\2&DABA3FF&2
    Name: ACPI Sleep Button
    Device is not using any resources.
ACPI\PNP0C0D\2&DABA3FF&2
    Name: ACPI Lid
    Device is not using any resources.
ACPI\PNP0000\4&41DBD23&0
    Name: Programmable interrupt controller
    Device has the following resources reserved:
        IO  : 0020-0021
        IO  : 0024-0025
        IO  : 0028-0029
        IO  : 002c-002d
        IO  : 0030-0031
        IO  : 0034-0035
        IO  : 0038-0039
        IO  : 003c-003d
        IO  : 00a0-00a1
        IO  : 00a4-00a5
        IO  : 00a8-00a9
        IO  : 00ac-00ad
        IO  : 00b0-00b1
        IO  : 00b4-00b5
        IO  : 00b8-00b9
        IO  : 00bc-00bd
        IO  : 04d0-04d1
ACPI\PNP0A08\0
    Name: PCI Express Root Complex
    Device is currently using the following resources:
        MEM : 000a0000-000bffff
        MEM : 8fa00000-feafffff
        MEM : fed40000-fed44fff
        IO  : 0000-0cf7
        IO  : 0d00-ffff
ACPI\PNP0C0C\2&DABA3FF&2
    Name: ACPI Power Button
    Device is not using any resources.
ACPI\PNP0C04\4&41DBD23&0
    Name: Numeric data processor
    Device has the following resources reserved:
        IO  : 00f0-00f0
        IRQ : 13
ACPI\PNP0100\4&41DBD23&0
    Name: System timer
    Device has the following resources reserved:
        IO  : 0040-0043
        IO  : 0050-0053
15 matching device(s) found.

Can anybody shed some light on this for me please? I will gladly provide more details if necessary. =)

Thanks  for reading.

Granty

*edit: I just checked and bootcamp is installed on an MBR (master boot record) partition. 

@mrchrister Yes I'm just a couple of weeks away from purchasing a Zotac GTX1060 Mini, can't wait to get it running. I see the GTX970 has come down a bit in price to below £200 now but I think I'll pay that little bit extra for what appears to be a slightly better graphics card. 

I received my modded cable from @Dschijn and it works perfectly! I'm sure he would be very happy to help you, he was very helpful. And as you have parents in Germany, that will make shipping fairly quick too. 

Thank you for the reply @Dschijn, if I got you to solder me a cable, how much would this cost? to include the angled cable, as I would really prefer to close the case. 

Hi guys, this is a great informative post, which has helped to convince me to have a go at putting together an eGPU for my MacbookPro,9,1 (mid 2012 • i7 2.7ghz • 8gb ram). I will use an external 40" tv screen to play games via Bootcamp / Windows 10 (Pro). I was brought to this forum via a Youtube video by @Dschijn.

I have purchased an Akitio Thunder2 and have decided on adding a Zotac GeForce GTX 1060 Mini, as it should fit inside the case and it has good reviews, relatively low power consumption (power consumption 120W / 1 x 6-pin plug socket) and judging by these forums a Dell DA-2 brick (220W) should provide enough power to run correctly by splitting the power between the gpu and Akitio box through two 6-pin plugs.

I have ordered a barrel plug: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0118JT7IW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 but am unsure which power cable(s) to purchase - although I understand I would need an 8-pin (for the Dell psu) split to a 6-pin plug for the gpu and the other to the barrel plug (2.5mm by 5.5mm) to power the Akitio box. I did try emailing "[email protected]" several days ago but no reply. Is there anyone else selling pre-assembled cable mods similar to this or would I need to buy and combine a few cables etc?

Any advice at all would be great! (Please also let me know if my planning is totally wrong) Thanks. 

Thanks for the reply errin!
I've been looking regularly ebay and I got lucky as I found an Akito Thunder2 PCIe box for just £140.00, it's only 5 months old (it just arrived today).
Next I need to buy a GTX1060 and research which PSU to use and then figure out how to put it all together - should be fun!