Need to run applications using Windows and a powerful eGPU? Here's one way to do it!
Apple enabled eGPU functionality seemingly eons ago to make macOS a fully functional development platform for AR and VR. Sometimes, however, users might need to boot in Windows to test, compare, and simply run certain applications. Apple's hardware can make things problematic with this in mind. Adding hardware peripherals on a Windows-based PC is pretty straightforward. Adding hardware peripherals to a Mac running Windows is another matter. Now that eGPUs have been available for quite some time on macOS, things have improved. And since Microsoft has released an eGPU friendlier update to Windows 10 (update 1803), you can now take some 'easier' steps to get your eGPU to function on your Mac whilst running BootCamp.
How to use an eGPU with a Mac Once you’ve gone through the steps to enable eGPU support (if required), you can plug the eGPU unit into one of your Thunderbolt 1, 2 or 3 ports. Plug in the eGPU.
The eGPU has 8GB of HBM2 memory, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, four USB 3 ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, and a DisplayPort 1.4 port, allowing for 85W of power to charge your MacBook Pro at the same time. The new Blackmagic eGPU Pro allows accelerated graphics-intensive pro app workflows and supersmooth gaming, enables VR experiences or content creation, and supports multiple accessories for the. An eGPU is simply an empty box – called an ‘enclosure’ – that contains a PCI expansion slot for a graphics card and a power supply to drive the card. The enclosure will also have a Thunderbolt 3. The ultimate resource for eGPU users Active Forums, How-tos, Software & Support Buyer’s Guide, Reviews & Comparison of eGPU Thousands of User Builds. Video: Should you get an eGPU for your new 2018 Mac mini? By Vadim Yuryev Saturday, February 16, 2019, 08:59 am PT (11:59 am ET) The 2018 Mac mini is a welcome refresh to the compact Mac product. This black magic Egpu is awesomeness I use this thing with my MacBook Pro 2017 full max out and with my iPad Pro 12.9 2 Gen and I have my iPad Pro direct connected to my black magic egpu. And I am runny duet app on my MacBook Pro and this thing charger's my macbook pro and it charger's my iPad Pro with ease, and be for it was a little bit slow.
Install Windows with BootCamp
First, you need to install Windows via BootCamp. For detailed information on how to do that follow our how-to guide. Make certain you perform this step without the eGPU attached.
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Prepare your Mac for special boot options
For our next steps, we will assume you are familiar with Disk Utility. If you need more information, please take the time to understand the basics of the application before using it. It can seriously bork your system to an unrecoverable state. You've been warned! Once you have Windows installed at the most basic level (no need to worry about updates yet), reboot into macOS. You can do this by:
- Hold down the option key on your keyboard while powering on the machine.
- You'll see some boot options that you can select. Select the Macintosh HD.
- Hit return.
Once in macOS:
- Start Disk Utility.
- Create a new APFS Partition. It needn't be large but I made mine around 6GB so I can easily store boot files on it but a small 80MB size would do just fine.
- Name the partition EFI.
In order for us to be able to use the eGPU, we'll need to trick the hardware into thinking we are starting up in macOS when in reality we'll be starting it up into Windows. A utility will be needed during boot time to allow for the Intel GPU to be enabled. Although my MacBook Pro also has a secondary more powerful dGPU onboard, for some reason, the Radeon 560 GPU when paired with the eGPU causes system locks and blue screens. This will be our workaround.
- Navigate to https://github.com/0xbb/apple_set_os.efi/releases.
- Download the latest version of apple_set_os.efi.
Now we must set up the file structure to be able to be properly read by Mac's boot manager.
- Open terminal.
- Type cd /Volumes/EFI. This is the partition we set up earlier.
- Type mkdir efi.
- Hit enter.
- Type mkdir efi/boot.
- Hit enter.
Next, we must copy the apple_set_os.efi file we download to the newly created directory structure we just created. I'm assuming you still have the same terminal application open as stated in the previous steps. Otherwise, ensure you're in the /Volumes/EFI directory.
- Type cp ~/Downloads/apple_set_os.efi efi/boot/bootx64.efi
- Hit enter.
Restart into Windows using the new EFI boot option
Similar to the way we booted into macOS, we'll now need to boot into Windows using our utility.
- Power off your Mac.
- Power on your Mac whilst holding the option key.
- Select EFI boot.
- Hit enter.
You'll now start back up into Windows with all of your connected GPUs visible to the OS. However, the non-Intel dGPU in your MacBook Pro will cause a conflict with your eGPU once you've installed the proper AMD Radeon drivers. So instead of using the AMD provided drivers for the internal dGPU, make certain you leave the driver installed as a Basic Display Adapter.
Allow the OS to automatically download and install the proper drivers for your eGPU adapter. Once the certified versions of eGPU display adapter drivers have installed, you can then download and update drivers using the device manager. Using the manufacturer's display driver adapter installer causes my internal dGPU to be discovered prompting a driver upgrade and then a system freeze.
On top of that, updating my display driver with the Apple-provided BootCamp updater also causes a system hang. Avoid that as well for the time being. If you find yourself having made a driver installation mistake, restart in safe mode, delete the installed display adapters in device manager and start again.
Final comments
That's how I got my eGPU to run under BootCamp on my macOS on my 2016 MacBook Pro. If you've found better less intrusive methods, let us know in the comments!
macOS Catalina
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Created in close collaboration with Apple, Blackmagic Design's Blackmagic eGPU and Blackmagic eGPU Pro bring accelerated pro app workflows, smoother gameplay, and true-to-life VR content creation to your Mac.
Technical specifications
Blackmagic eGPU includes a Radeon Pro 580 graphics processor with 8GB DDR5 memory, giving your connected Mac graphics performance that's similar to a high-end 27-inch iMac.
Blackmagic eGPU Pro includes a Radeon RX Vega 56 graphics processor with 8GB HBM2 memory. This gives your connected Mac graphics performance that's similar to iMac Pro.
Egpu For Mac Mini
In addition to boosting graphics performance, both Blackmagic eGPUs provide 85 watts of charging power to MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
Blackmagic eGPU has these ports to connect displays and VR accessories:
- Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)
- Four USB 3.0
- One HDMI 2.0
Blackmagic eGPU Pro has these ports:
- Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C)
- Four USB 3.0
- One HDMI 2.0
- One DisplayPort 1.4
System requirements
Blackmagic eGPU is compatible with any Thunderbolt 3-equipped Mac running macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 or later. Blackmagic eGPU Pro requires a Thunderbolt 3-equipped Mac and macOS Mojave 10.14.1 or later. Learn how to update the software on your Mac.
If you have a Mac mini (2018) with FileVault turned on, make sure to connect your primary display directly to Mac mini during startup. After you log in and see the macOS Desktop, you can unplug the display from Mac mini and connect it to Blackmagic eGPU.
Connect and use Blackmagic eGPU
When you connect Blackmagic eGPU or Blackmagic eGPU Pro to your Mac with a Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) cable, the eGPU menu bar item appears, indicating that the eGPU is ready for use.
Blackmagic eGPU automatically accelerates the graphics from Metal-based apps on external displays and devices that are connected to the eGPU. You can use Activity Monitor to confirm that your eGPU is in use:
External Gpu For Imac
- Open Activity Monitor, which is in the Utilities folder inside Applications.
- Choose Window > GPU History. A graph appears, charting the activity of your computer's internal GPU and Blackmagic eGPU.
To disconnect Blackmagic eGPU, use the menu bar item to safely disconnect the eGPU from your Mac before unplugging the cable.
Use the 'Prefer external GPU' option
Egpu For Macbook Pro 2012
Starting with macOS Mojave 10.14, you can turn on 'Prefer external GPU' in a specific app's Get Info panel in the Finder. This option lets Blackmagic eGPU and Blackmagic eGPU Pro accelerate apps on any display connected to the Mac — including displays built in to the Mac:
- Quit the app if it's open.
- Select the app in the Finder. Most apps are in your Applications folder. If you open the app from an alias or launcher, Control-click the app's icon and choose Show Original from the pop-up menu. Then select the original app.
- Press Command-I to show the app's info window.
- Select the checkbox next to Prefer external GPU.
- Open the app to use it with the eGPU.
Learn more about using eGPUs with your Mac.
Blackmagic Egpu
Learn more
Egpu For Macbook
macOS currently doesn't support eGPUs in Windows using Boot Camp or when your Mac is in macOS Recovery, at FileVault login, or installing system updates.