2016 Macbook Pros and eGPUs

[theitsage]

@goalque  The “whoosh” is music to my ears! Thank you for your guidance. I tried running the metal test but got the following error:

<unknown>:0: error: no such file or directory: 'x86_64-apple-macosx10.12'

 

Edited November 11, 2016 by theitsage

[euqlaog]

3 hours ago, theitsage said:

@goalque  The “whoosh” is music to my ears! Thank you for your guidance. I tried running the metal test but got the following error:

<unknown>:0: error: no such file or directory: 'x86_64-apple-macosx10.12'

 

Hmm.. check that Xcode.app exists in /Applications folder and put "sudo" in front of the swiftc command:

sudo swiftc -sdk $(xcrun --show-sdk-path) -target x86_64-apple-macosx10.12 -o metaltest metaltest.swift

and you will need to type "agree" if it shows Xcode license agreement.

[fakebanana]

I've also had more progress with 10.12.2 beta 2 - goalque's EFI utility now detects graphics cards plugged into the Razer Core. Unfortunately, that's as far as I can get (choosing to "Load OS X", or enabling "Warm restart" returns a "Not Supported" error - maybe this is a limitation of the demo?). automate-eGPU.sh still doesn't detect anything.

[ikir]

Cmon guys give us good news

[IMcD23]

On 11/10/2016 at 7:01 PM, DanKnight said:

How did you get your core to work? Can't get mine to work. Still stuck on the Error Code 12.

I'm getting the same Error 12 in Boot Camp. I tried installing the Intel Thunderbolt drivers, and still nothing. I have a 15" with Touch Bar, Radeon Pro 460, and trying to use the Razer Core with a GTX 980 Ti. Have you gotten yours to work yet?

Edited November 16, 2016 by IMcD23
added what GPU I'm using

[rwssoccer1]

19 hours ago, IMcD23 said:

I'm getting the same Error 12 in Boot Camp. I tried installing the Intel Thunderbolt drivers, and still nothing. I have a 15" with Touch Bar, Radeon Pro 460, and trying to use the Razer Core with a GTX 980 Ti. Have you gotten yours to work yet?

This looks like the best solution for you: 

 

[Tech Inferno Fan]

On 06/11/2016 at 5:21 PM, RB.mac said:

 

I did manage to get this to work.  No luck on using eGPU to run anything on internal display only so far.  I can start a game on external display and drag in windowed mode to internal display but really not the use case I was intending.

 

 

Enabling Optimus  - accelerated internal LCD mode

 

The 2016 15" MBP has HD530 (iGPU) + RX450M/RX455M (dGPU). The problem when booting Windows is the UEFI/gmux sets the dGPU to drive the internal LCD.

How to fix this?  Follow the 2013-2014 GT750M 15" MBP guide: https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/9402-working-dgpu-macbook-internal-display-via-optimusgtx-970-egpu/ to:

 

1.  use rEFIt to set apple_set_os.efi to spoof Win boot to match OSX boot where the iGPU is enabled

2.  use gmux-switch to switch the gmux so the internal LCD is drive by the iGPU

3. Disable any dGPUs (yes, AMD or NVidia) in Device Manager so the NVidia driver uses the eGPU for Optimus functionality.

 

 

[Tech Inferno Fan]

On 11/11/2016 at 0:01 PM, DanKnight said:

How did you get your core to work? Can't get mine to work. Still stuck on the Error Code 12.

 

FIX: Win10 error 12 against the eGPU

 

i. Go to Device Manager -> View Devices By Connection. Find your eGPU then disable the PCIe bridges above it one at a time like shown below including the (in this case) Root port #5. . Then re-enable them. The idea is to force reallocation by Windows. This worked on a Zbook 15/17 G2. A variation of this is to uninstall the top level PCI Bridge/Port so as to have Windows re-pnp the system upon reboot.

 

 

ii. Someone with the same error 12 issue reported a Windows reinstall helped fix the issue, though removing the top-level PCI bridge in (i) should be pretty much the same thing. LINK

 

iii. Finally, some Macbooks owners have been reporting that a DSDT override fixes their error 12: https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/5874-guide-dsdt-override-to-fix-error-12/ . Do (i) again after doing this if still error see 12.

 

iv. Enable VGA Output on the PCIe bridge hosting the Macbook TB3 controller using rEFIt or rEFInd as explained at https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/1843-2012-15-rmbp-gt650m-gtx560ti8gbps-tb1-th05-win81-shelltoe/

[rettymoo]

Any one knows how to solve this one?

[IMcD23]

1 hour ago, rettymoo said:

Any one knows how to solve this one?

 

I have mine working after making modifications to IOThunderboltFamily.kext. The Razer Core now shows up as 40Gb/s and my GPU shows up in the Graphics/Displays section.

 

http://forum.netkas.org/index.php/topic,11654.msg34140.html#msg34140

1 hour ago, kid2010 said:

by default it seems macOS refuse to recognize a set of TB3 devices (like Razer Core). After digging around, it looks like the decision is made by IOThunderboltFamily. There is a shouldSkipEnumeration function and by patching it to always return false, I was able to get MBP working with my Razer Core. I tried with RX460 and it's working (not really good though)

I'm not exactly sure why Apple decided to refuse to talk with some TB3 devices and I cannot be sure whether or not the patch will physically harm the machine.

 

 

 

Edited November 17, 2016 by nando4
link quote

[MacGamer]

10 hours ago, Tech Inferno Fan said:

 

Enabling Optimus  - accelerated internal LCD mode

 

The 2016 15" MBP has HD530 (iGPU) + RX450M/RX455M (dGPU). The problem when booting Windows is the UEFI/gmux sets the dGPU to drive the internal LCD.

How to fix this?  Follow the 2013-2014 GT750M 15" MBP guide: https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/9402-working-dgpu-macbook-internal-display-via-optimusgtx-970-egpu/ to:

 

1.  use rEFIt to set apple_set_os.efi to spoof Win boot to match OSX boot where the iGPU is enabled

2.  use gmux-switch to switch the gmux so the internal LCD is drive by the iGPU

3. Disable any dGPUs (yes, AMD or NVidia) in Device Manager so the NVidia driver uses the eGPU for Optimus functionality.

 

 

Has anyone confirmed that this works? 

[Casey_S]

Received the high-spec 2016 15" MBP yesterday and I'm looking to test the Thunder3 with it. I made my own eGPU out of the Thunder2 for the 2015 15" MBP and I use it on a daily basis so I know what I'm doing when it comes to setup and maintenance, but I noticed the discussion about TB3 cables. Should I buy an active TB3 cable in addition to the Thunder3? If so, any recommendations?

[euqlaog]

On 11/12/2016 at 7:45 PM, fakebanana said:

I've also had more progress with 10.12.2 beta 2 - goalque's EFI utility now detects graphics cards plugged into the Razer Core. Unfortunately, that's as far as I can get (choosing to "Load OS X", or enabling "Warm restart" returns a "Not Supported" error - maybe this is a limitation of the demo?). automate-eGPU.sh still doesn't detect anything.

 

Sorry for the late reply. Yes, it’s a limitation of the demo. It seems that people are reporting about an error code 12 issue, especially with Maxwell series cards connected to a MBP13,1.

 

I can confirm that my EFI app resolves this on Windows 10. Unfortunately, I cannot confirm Razer Core’s functionality and everything about this project is confidential. Here’s a couple of public 3DMark11 (still my favourite) benchmarks, with an Apple TB3 (USB-C) to TB2 adapter:

 

RX 480: http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/11748177

GTX 980: http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/11751133

 

Stay tuned.

[Tech Inferno Fan]

Error 12 fix

 

I've added another item which may be the key to fixing error 12 on these 2016 MBPs https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/10718-2016-macbook-pros-and-egpus/&do=findComment&comment=152894

Quote

iv. Enable VGA Output on the PCIe bridge hosting the Macbook TB3 controller using rEFIt or rEFInd as explained at https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/1843-2012-15-rmbp-gt650m-gtx560ti8gbps-tb1-th05-win81-shelltoe/

 

[MacGamer]

I'm very interested in playing on the Mac's internal display, but all the 2016 15" models have an AMD dGPU. Would there be better chances at getting a Radeon to work with the internal display, or am I out of luck?

[euqlaog]

1 hour ago, MacGamer said:

I'm very interested in playing on the Mac's internal display, but all the 2016 15" models have an AMD dGPU. Would there be better chances at getting a Radeon to work with the internal display, or am I out of luck?

If you're going to choose AMD eGPU, you can drag a windowed app to the extended internal screen, and its contents will be accelerated by the eGPU.

 

If someone has forgotten:

Quote

I promised Optimus automation for a MBP11,5, and it is provided as “Disable dGPU ON/OFF” option. You will see black screen about 10 seconds, but the internal display is activated as soon as Windows has loaded.

This functionality is included in the demo.

 

As @Tech Inferno Fan noted, I'm confident that MBP13,3 behaves similarly as the MBP11,5 (M370X dGPU) regarding gmux, and HD530 can be activated manually as well for Nvidia Optimus. Someone just has to try.

Edited November 19, 2016 by goalque

[Morv]

15 minutes ago, goalque said:

If you're going to choose AMD eGPU, you can drag a windowed app to the extended internal screen, and its contents will be accelerated by the eGPU.

 

Isn't there a chance it's going to work with an AMD GPU on the internal display due to XConnect? I don't have a AMD GPU to test it but the functionality of XConnect should be the same as Optimus by now, shouldn't it?

[euqlaog]

18 minutes ago, Morv said:

 

Isn't there a chance it's going to work with an AMD GPU on the internal display due to XConnect? I don't have a AMD GPU to test it but the functionality of XConnect should be the same as Optimus by now, shouldn't it?

There might be a chance, but I’ve not found a switch yet. However, some hotfix enabled hot-plugging and surprise removal on MBP11,5 via TB2 (tried once, not sure about the current status).

 

"AMD Radeon Software Crimson Edition Hotfix drivers are compatible with AMD Discrete graphics products."

http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/desktop?os=Windows+10+-+64

 

AMD also provides BootCamp driver for MacBook Pro (2015+), but it’s rather old (release date 4/5/2016):

http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/desktop/bootcamp

[MacGamer]

41 minutes ago, goalque said:

If you're going to choose AMD eGPU, you can drag a windowed app to the extended internal screen, and its contents will be accelerated by the eGPU.

 

If someone has forgotten:

This functionality is included in the demo.

 

As @Tech Inferno Fan noted, I'm confident that MBP13,3 behaves similarly as the MBP11,5 (M370X dGPU) regarding gmux, and HD530 can be activated manually as well for Nvidia Optimus. Someone just has to try.

I may take the gamble. Worse case is that it fails and I can sell the GPU on eBay haha. 

 

Does the extended internal screen only work on AMD, and have you heard anything about performance? Thinking of a GTX 1070 (if it's possible) to drive games at 2880x1800 or a comparable AMD. 

[Tech Inferno Fan]

18 minutes ago, MacGamer said:

I may take the gamble. Worse case is that it fails and I can sell the GPU on eBay haha. 

 

Does the extended internal screen only work on AMD, and have you heard anything about performance?

 

The window drag method works with NVIDIA or AMD. @LukeHero has a method where an external lcd isn't needed. Instead, he creates a pseudo external lcd with a hdmi-vga adapter, windowed app started on pseudo monitor driven by the egpu and management software used to move it to the internal lcd.

 

https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/8088-2012-15-mbpr-gt650m-gtx97010gbps-tb1-akitio-thunder2-win10-lukehero/

 

It's something to keep in mind if can't get NVIDIA Optimus working.

[MacGamer]

I'm considering giving it a shot. All I'll need is a compatible GTX card and AKiTiO Node, correct? I've never built my own eGPU before. 

[euqlaog]

1 hour ago, MacGamer said:

I may take the gamble. Worse case is that it fails and I can sell the GPU on eBay haha. 

 

Does the extended internal screen only work on AMD, and have you heard anything about performance? Thinking of a GTX 1070 (if it's possible) to drive games at 2880x1800 or a comparable AMD. 

It’s more meaningful to use an external monitor to achieve maximum performance. Haven’t heard about internal screen performance with an AMD dGPU. One German review sheds some light on this:

https://www.computerbase.de/2016-10/powercolor-devil-box-test/2/

 

XConnect technology may require a specific dGPU.

 

If doesn’t work, there are ready-made headless adapters if you want to try @LukeHero's method:

http://www.fit-pc.com/web/products/fit-headless/

http://www.newertech.com/products/hdmi_headless_video_adapter.php

[euqlaog]

Awesome. Internal screen performance is ~96% of the external in 3DMark11. The total score was even better than the external due to physics.

 

http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/11753719

 

This was through the TB3-TB2 adapter. It says “AMD XConnect Lite Technology” in the system tray.

 

 

[Morv]

@goalque So it does work like Nvidia Optimus but with way better performance on the internal display? Which driver? Simply the current AMD driver or a specific driver?

[rwssoccer1]

 

32 minutes ago, goalque said:

Awesome. Internal screen performance is ~96% of the external in 3DMark11. The total score was even better than the external due to physics.

 

http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/11753719

 

This was through the TB3-TB2 adapter. It says “AMD XConnect Lite Technology” in the system tray.

 

 

Nice! So was this without any modifications to the PCIE...etc...

Edited November 19, 2016 by rwssoccer1