2012 15" MBP GT650M + GTX970@10Gbps-TB1 (AKiTiO Thunder2) + Win10/OSX10.11 [w4vz]

[w4vz]

Hi,

After many failures here is my little contribution to this forum. This guide will be updated if I find anything new. Any question, just ask.

Hardware:

 

• Macbook Pro Retina Mid 2012 (thunderbolt 1)
• EVGA GTX 970
• Akitio box
• MODED AKITIO BOARD for power soldered on PCB
• MODED AKITIO BOARD with additional capacitors
• DELL DA2 PSU + MODED PCIE CABLES
• BenQ Monitor on HDMI

 

Softwares:

 

• OSX 10.11.2
• Windows 10 pro (Bootcamp BIOS)
• WebDriver: latest
• Cuda Drivers: latest

 

OSX INSTALLATION:

There is a script that automates the whole thing that can be found here , it worked wonderfully on my vanilla 10.11, easy as cake !! Thanks a milion @goalque

 

For manual installation follow the video below to the letter:

 

 

Stability Comments:

 

• OS X Stable
• Windows stable

 

• Restarting is quick (apple logo straight away) but starting the computer after a power OFF takes a good 30 sec more to get to the apple logo.
• Issue with safari not wanting to play netflix somehow; issue with HDCP handshake somehow, works fine with chrome.

 

Installing Windows 10 (BIOS) (I hate windows :s )

I installed windows 10 via bootcamp, purchased EGPU setup and used the 1.2 version.

I don't remember exactly how the EGPU appeared in the system infos but I think it was recognised as Nvidia gtx 970 straight away.

so after you have installed the latest Nvidia drivers for your eGpu it is time to get the eGpu software running:

 

• Unzip EGPUsetup 1.2 to c:\eGpu
• run setup-disk-image
• Restart and load eGpu Setup 1.2, select option 2
• Do PCI compaction all exept sata and make sure you have PCI WRITE and ALL ALLOC showing yes
• Optional: If freeze at the bootloader: edit PCI.BAT replacing a:x.x and b:x.x with 0a:x.x and 0b:x.x (I only found A occurences in mine) (in the editor alt/option+F to access the file menu)
• Optional: If the settings are not kept after reboot: edit Startup.bat by adding REM in front of all "call vidinit" like so: REM call vidinit... (in the editor alt/option+F to access the file menu)
• Run test startup.bat
• Run bootloader
• Select eGpu setup 1.2 again and now select option 1

 

If everything goes well you just have to do the last step every time you want to boot into windows with the eGpu

Maybe there is a way to automate the last step but yet to find out. Easy enough for now

Big thanks to @Tech Inferno Fan

This setup is similar to those of bsohn and errin

PHOTOS:

[MVC]

Nice job. I have a 2012 rMBP and have found it to be MASSIVELY easier to eGPU with then the 2013 and 2014 models I have tried.

Nice job.

[LukeHero]

Nice job. I have a 2012 rMBP and have found it to be MASSIVELY easier to eGPU with then the 2013 and 2014 models I have tried.

Nice job.

Out of curiosity, did you use EFI Windows or BIOS (Bootcamp) Windows? I have the same 2012 rMBP and having issues with my Windows.

[martinm0]

Out of curiosity, did you use EFI Windows or BIOS (Bootcamp) Windows? I have the same 2012 rMBP and having issues with my Windows.

I used Bootcamp on both my 2012 iMac (680MX) and 2014 MBA and have been able to get the eGPU working. I will state that for some reason Win 8.1 seems to be a bit more finicky on the iMac than the MBA (MBA worked perfectly first try). On my iMac, it seems like Windows Display manager never wants to extend my main display to the eGPU by default (windows are there, but not active) so I have to manually select each monitor from the eGPU and choose extend. Not sure why (doesn't happen in Win 7 or on the MBA in both 7 and 8.1).

What issues are you having?

[LukeHero]

I used Bootcamp on both my 2012 iMac (680MX) and 2014 MBA and have been able to get the eGPU working. I will state that for some reason Win 8.1 seems to be a bit more finicky on the iMac than the MBA (MBA worked perfectly first try). On my iMac, it seems like Windows Display manager never wants to extend my main display to the eGPU by default (windows are there, but not active) so I have to manually select each monitor from the eGPU and choose extend. Not sure why (doesn't happen in Win 7 or on the MBA in both 7 and 8.1).

What issues are you having?

I posted here stating a few of my issues:

I am considering going back to Bootcamp, but wanna wait until I have my eGPU set up first maybe to see if it is plug and play that way, cause that negates the issue of sound and the extra monitor thing doesn't really matter. That is if the artifacts I am now getting in games is fixed when playing via the eGPU.

http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/7910-diy-egpu-macbook-experiences-104.html#post137076

EDIT: I actually managed to fix some issues now. See the above link for the fixes.

[shadfan130]

Hi, Thanks for the guide! I have made my Mba recognize gtx 750 ti under OS X 10.10.3 today. Although under system report it shows both my gtx 750 ti and intel graphics 5000, when i click about this mac, the graphic card still shows intel graphics 5000, seems like the gtx 750 ti is not under use.

My question is how to I make my gtx 750 ti as the primary graphic card? Do I need an external screen connected to the graphic card? Is it possible to just use the internal screen?

Thanks.

[Simurgh5]

I have the same MBA, I have an external display connected - to make the 750Ti the primary card, I just make the external display the primary display and then the 750Ti ist definitely used for both displays according to the system profiler. But if you want to find out if the card is used: run benchmarks with and without eGPU and see if there is a difference.

[w4vz]

@shadfan130 under OSX you have to use an external screen; no choice. Under windows you can use optimus.

That said I experimented a while ago and I think you can get accelerated internal screen under OSX with mirror mode and a dummy plug on the eGpu because it worked for me if I started a game on mirror mode with my screen then disconnected it I could still play on the internal screen without performance loss. Haven't tried to dig any deeper yet.

[PICKLEBOY]

This is the first post I've seen for the 2012 MBP 15" that used the eGPU Setup program and first implementation I've seen of it. How much of a sure fire way is using "eGPU Setup" to get a eGPU working easily? The reason I am confused is that the website for eGPU Setup's copyright was 2012... seems like pretty old software with not much explanation on their site.

I guess my question is, if it is so "easy" to install the eGPU on windows using this paid tool, and have it fully implemented into your Bootcamp partition, why are others not using this method to install their eGPU's on Windows 10 and relying on methods that limit their abilities to use the eGPU (i.e. no internal display, specific boot up orders, etc.)?

Is your method more future proof or reliable compared to LukeHero's method for example (which requires a EFI Install of Windows): http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/10438-2012-15-mbpr-gt650m-gtx970%4010gbps-tb1-akitio-thunder2-win8-1-%5Blukehero%5D.html

[Tech Inferno Fan]

This is the first post I've seen for the 2012 MBP 15" that used the eGPU Setup program and first implementation I've seen of it. How much of a sure fire way is using "eGPU Setup" to get a eGPU working easily? The reason I am confused is that the website for eGPU Setup's copyright was 2012... seems like pretty old software with not much explanation on their site.

I guess my question is, if it is so "easy" to install the eGPU on windows using this paid tool, and have it fully implemented into your Bootcamp partition, why are others not using this method to install their eGPU's on Windows 10 and relying on methods that limit their abilities to use the eGPU (i.e. no internal display, specific boot up orders, etc.)?

Is your method more future proof or reliable compared to LukeHero's method for example (which requires a EFI Install of Windows): http://forum.techinferno.com/implementation-guides-apple/10438-2012-15-mbpr-gt650m-gtx970%4010gbps-tb1-akitio-thunder2-win8-1-%5Blukehero%5D.html

I create and distribute egpu setup 1.30 at http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/2123-diy-egpu-setup-1-30-previously-setup-1-x.html . There are many mbr/boot camp egpu implementations on this system using this software. See the MBR implementations linked at http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/6578-implementations-hub-tb-ec-mpcie.html#Thunderbolt for details. We've had 100% success in overcoming error 12 that way.

[PICKLEBOY]

I create and distribute egpu setup 1.30 at http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/2123-diy-egpu-setup-1-30-previously-setup-1-x.html . There are many mbr/boot camp egpu implementations on this system using this software. See the MBR implementations linked at http://forum.techinferno.com/diy-e-gpu-projects/6578-implementations-hub-tb-ec-mpcie.html#Thunderbolt for details. We've had 100% success in overcoming error 12 that way.

Wow, didn't see that page before. Very interesting, seems that no one's setup is about the same. I plan on making a eGPU this spring once I have the $$$ I would like to go with the simplest/easiest setup possible in terms of booting it up and it running reliably. I do know I will be using a GTX 970. Since I already have a Bootcamp W10 install it seems like this would be the route to go down. I see that 1.3 has some improvements, but is 1.2 still recommended for 2012 Retina MBP?

[Tech Inferno Fan]

Wow, didn't see that page before. Very interesting, seems that no one's setup is about the same. I plan on making a eGPU this spring once I have the $$$ I would like to go with the simplest/easiest setup possible in terms of booting it up and it running reliably. I do know I will be using a GTX 970. Since I already have a Bootcamp W10 install it seems like this would be the route to go down. I see that 1.3 has some improvements, but is 1.2 still recommended for 2012 Retina MBP?

Yes, eGPU Setup 1.20 is used for this Macbook. @w4vz just updated his opening post with details for the first MBR Win10 eGPU implementation on this system using Setup 1.20.

[w4vz]

Wow, didn't see that page before. Very interesting, seems that no one's setup is about the same. I plan on making a eGPU this spring once I have the $$$ I would like to go with the simplest/easiest setup possible in terms of booting it up and it running reliably. I do know I will be using a GTX 970. Since I already have a Bootcamp W10 install it seems like this would be the route to go down. I see that 1.3 has some improvements, but is 1.2 still recommended for 2012 Retina MBP?

I tried 1.3 first but it did not work very well. 1.2 was fine.

[Kurbeco]

For the Win10 side of things, once it is all setup - what is the boot sequence like? I've got an EFI install of Windows 10 that works 'sometimes'. If putting it into MBR / legacy BIOS mode and using Setup 1.20 (or 1.30) will let me boot reliably then I'd love to do that instead.

[w4vz]

Yes it has been 100% reliable so far for me.

Once everything is setup the boot sequence is to load egpu setup and select option 1

[Kurbeco]

ok, I think I'll do that instead of messing around with EFI mode (which seems to be pot luck on if it'll boot)

[w4vz]

Yes i tried EFI before also but it was a real nightmare. It also crashed my entire computer and i had to reinstall both OS when i tried to convert the HD partition table from EFI back to hybrid mbr. Careful there, i could not find a solution that works to do that.

[Kurbeco]

There is nothing precious on the hard drive, I will just wipe it and start again rather than try to convert but thanks for the warning

[LukeHero]

The eGPU setup works fine

[Enano]

Maybe you guys can help me out.
I'm guessing you have to create a config folder in c: since there is none, but after that, i attempt doing the rest of the process.
My OS is in spanish, so i erase PCI Bus line and when i press f5 in DiY eGPU boot, it wont find my gpu.
Don't know what to do, kinda desperate at this point.
Thanks in advance.

 

MBP 2012 13"

Intel Core i7 2.9 3520M

Intel HD 4000

8 RAM

Win 8.1

 

Edited December 17, 2015 by Enano
Adding specs

[hlgyrms]

i  running setup_disk_image but have warning massege what can i for this steps?

 

*Setup 1.2 by  @Tech Inferno Fan

*Using language is korean.

*see attached image and index in devcon.txt

thanks.

Quote

ACPI\PNP0C01\2
    Name:     Device has the following resources reserved:
        MEM : 20000000-201fffff
        MEM : 40000000-401fffff
ACPI\PNP0C02\1
    Name:     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:     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:     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     Device is currently using the following resources:
        IO  : 0062-0062
        IO  : 0066-0066
ACPI\PNP0C0A\0
    Name: Microsoft ACPI     Device is not using any resources.
ACPI\PNP0B00\4&41DBD23&0
    Name:     Device is currently using the following resources:
        IO  : 0070-0077
ACPI\PNP0103\4&41DBD23&0
    Name: High precision     Device has the following resources reserved:
        MEM : fed00000-fed003ff
        IRQ : 0
        IRQ : 8
ACPI\PNP0C0E\2&DABA3FF&0
    Name: ACPI     Device is not using any resources.
ACPI\PNP0C0D\2&DABA3FF&0
    Name: ACPI     Device is not using any resources.
ACPI\PNP0000\4&41DBD23&0
    Name:     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     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&0
    Name: ACPI     Device is not using any resources.
ACPI\PNP0C04\4&41DBD23&0
    Name:     Device has the following resources reserved:
        IO  : 00f0-00f0
        IRQ : 13
ACPI\PNP0100\4&41DBD23&0
    Name:     Device has the following resources reserved:
        IO  : 0040-0043
        IO  : 0050-0053
15 matching device(s) found.
 

Edited March 14, 2016 by hlgyrms

[simon753]

I have almost the same setup with you, but there's some bottle neck issues.

 

Hardware:

• Macbook Pro Retina Mid 2012 (thunderbolt 1)
• NVIDIA GTX Titan
• Akitio box
• 850W ATX PSU

Softwares:

• OSX 10.11.5
• Windows 10 pro (BIOS External USB 3.0 drive)
• WebDriver: latest
• Cuda Drivers: latest

I've test a few times on Windows and OSX, I found that Windows system is more stable than OSX. When I try to do some benchmark such as Unigine Heaven or Valley, it just freeze after a few minutes, sometimes it can't not even reach the result and freeze, I wonder if it's because of the power supply of the PCI-e slot, but refers to what Nando told us https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/5661-us189-akitio-thunder2-pcie-box-16gbps-tb2/&do=findComment&comment=115060

Other than Molex to barrel plug, there's no modification needed for the Akitio PCB board right? Does anyone know how to fix it?

[thomasjiam]

Hello,

 

What would anyone recommend if I am having trouble on osx 10.9.5 ? Do i need to get to yosemite ? Moded web driver installer is telling me osx 10.9.5 not supported, and after i run script it says only kepler cards are supported. I am using MSI geforce 980ti + AKITIO thunderbolt 2 . I am out of options :/

Edited November 5, 2016 by thomasjiam

[Granty]

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

 

Edited June 25, 2017 by Granty
added new information

[simon753]

4 hours ago, Granty said:

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

 

 Your SSD needs operating system to work. Are you gonna use OSX or windows?