2018 Mac Mini>eGPU>4K monitor setup

[edtorious]

I'm new to Mac Mini, eGPU and 4k monitor setup. I've always had iMac so looking for some help. Right now my set up is the monitor connected to my Mac using DP to USB-C cable and then the eGPU using USB-C to USB-C cable to my Mac. I noticed the eGPU has DisplayPort in the back so can I connect my monitor thru the eGPU using DP to DP cable(my eGPU only has one USB-C port) and then from my eGPU to the Mac using the USB-C cable? Is there an advantage or benefits rather than my original setup?

 

[rmdeluca]

I'm new to Mac Mini, eGPU and 4k monitor setup. I've always had iMac so looking for some help. Right now my set up is the monitor connected to my Mac using DP to USB-C cable and then the eGPU using USB-C to USB-C cable to my Mac. I noticed the eGPU has DisplayPort in the back so can I connect my monitor thru the eGPU using DP to DP cable(my eGPU only has one USB-C port) and then from my eGPU to the Mac using the USB-C cable? Is there an advantage or benefits rather than my original setup?

You should connect your monitor directly to the Display Port on the back of the eGPU. Otherwise one of the following will occur:

1) Your eGPU won't be utilized at all

2) Your eGPU will be utilized, but will have to send completed frames back over the Thunderbolt bus to your internal GPU, which will then display them on your monitor

You don't want either.

NOTE: don't be alarmed if your monitor doesn't display anything until your Mac has fully booted. If you're using FileVault though, this could be an issue. In that case, hopefully your monitor has multiple inputs or you've memorized the FileVault pre-boot steps.

 

[edtorious]

Ok, I will try this. I gotta buy a displayport cable first though. Thanks!
[doublepost=1543190403][/doublepost]Follow up questions. I know there's a script out there to enable all apps to utilize the eGPU. Is that advisable?

 

[rmdeluca]

Follow up questions. I know there's a script out there to enable all apps to utilize the eGPU. Is that advisable?

Mojave can do this for you now. Bring up the “Get Info” for the app and check the box to tell it use the eGPU. There’s no guarantee this will actually gain you anything though. You either need to A/B test it yourself or get a first hand account from someone who has.

 

[CLS727]

In what use cases will the eGPU even make a difference?

For someone that doesn't play games, doesn't do video editing.... just lots of skype/imessage/whatsapp, lots of chrome, and lots of microsoft excel.... would it be beneficial ?

 

[edtorious]

@rmdeluca thanks for the reply. So while I wait for my DisplayPort cable to do what you suggested, I thought I'd try it with the HDMI cable for now while I wait for the DP cable. So I connected my monitor to the eGPU via HDMI cable and then from eGPU to my mac via USB-C. Once I booted the mac, nothing was displaying on monitor and then it says no signal then it went to standby but then the monitor went alive and it looks like it's doing something but still blank screen and then no signal and it went to standby and then couple of seconds later, it will do the same thing all over again but the monitor gets no signal.

I unplugged the HDMI cable and plugged it back in then it works but not till I plugged and unplugged the HDMI cable a couple of times. And when it works, it doesn't work all the time. When the monitor goes to sleep or when I restart, I'm getting the same problem again. I tried different HDMI cable and still same problem. I heard something about resetting the NVRAM or PRAM, I wonder if I should do that but my problem is I can't see anything on the monitor so I can't tell when to release the buttons during the reset.

Oh well, I guess I should just wait for the DP cable to come in and hope that it doesn't have the same problem.

 

[rmdeluca]

@rmdeluca thanks for the reply. So while I wait for my DisplayPort cable to do what you suggested, I thought I'd try it with the HDMI cable for now while I wait for the DP cable. So I connected my monitor to the eGPU via HDMI cable and then from eGPU to my mac via USB-C. Once I booted the mac, nothing was displaying on monitor and then it says no signal then it went to standby but then the monitor went alive and it looks like it's doing something but still blank screen and then no signal and it went to standby and then couple of seconds later, it will do the same thing all over again but the monitor gets no signal.

I unplugged the HDMI cable and plugged it back in then it works but not till I plugged and unplugged the HDMI cable a couple of times. And when it works, it doesn't work all the time. When the monitor goes to sleep or when I restart, I'm getting the same problem again. I tried different HDMI cable and still same problem. I heard something about resetting the NVRAM or PRAM, I wonder if I should do that but my problem is I can't see anything on the monitor so I can't tell when to release the buttons during the reset.

Oh well, I guess I should just wait for the DP cable to come in and hope that it doesn't have the same problem.

What specific monitor, eGPU enclosure and GPU are you using?
[doublepost=1543257683][/doublepost]

In what use cases will the eGPU even make a difference?

For someone that doesn't play games, doesn't do video editing.... just lots of skype/imessage/whatsapp, lots of chrome, and lots of microsoft excel.... would it be beneficial ?

It doesn't really sound like your use case calls for an eGPU.

 

[edtorious]

What specific monitor, eGPU enclosure and GPU are you using?
[doublepost=1543257683][/doublepost]

Viewsonic VX3211-4K, Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 and Sapphire Radeon RX Vega 64.

 

[padams35]

The static issue seems to be display specific and may not have anything to do with the eGPU. I have a similar issue with a Pavilion 22xw 1080p display: alternating screen static and black display when waking the mini from sleep. However in my case it happens for both direct connection and eGPU connect, but doesn't happen when starting up: only when restarting or waking from sleep.

Fixes that worked for me:
a) Cycling power on the display when static occurs
b) Prevent the Mini from sleeping in Energy Saver preferences
c) Connecting a second display that doesn't have wake synchronization issues.

 

[baupfhor]

NOTE: don't be alarmed if your monitor doesn't display anything until your Mac has fully booted. If you're using FileVault though, this could be an issue. In that case, hopefully your monitor has multiple inputs or you've memorized the FileVault pre-boot steps.

Thanks for that, threw me for a loop. Maybe ill just disable filevault.

 

[F-Train]

@rmdeluca thanks for the reply. So while I wait for my DisplayPort cable to do what you suggested, I thought I'd try it with the HDMI cable for now while I wait for the DP cable. So I connected my monitor to the eGPU via HDMI cable and then from eGPU to my mac via USB-C. Once I booted the mac, nothing was displaying on monitor and then it says no signal then it went to standby but then the monitor went alive and it looks like it's doing something but still blank screen and then no signal and it went to standby and then couple of seconds later, it will do the same thing all over again but the monitor gets no signal.

I unplugged the HDMI cable and plugged it back in then it works but not till I plugged and unplugged the HDMI cable a couple of times. And when it works, it doesn't work all the time. When the monitor goes to sleep or when I restart, I'm getting the same problem again. I tried different HDMI cable and still same problem. I heard something about resetting the NVRAM or PRAM, I wonder if I should do that but my problem is I can't see anything on the monitor so I can't tell when to release the buttons during the reset.

Oh well, I guess I should just wait for the DP cable to come in and hope that it doesn't have the same problem.

You should maybe read this thread, especially if you have FileVault enabled: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mac-mini-and-blackmagic-egpu.2154440/

I have run a Mac mini with AMD/Sapphire's RX 590 in an Asus housing and with an HDMI cable, and it all worked perfectly, right down to the GPU being in lockstep with the mini when the latter went to sleep, etc. But I don't use FileVault.

Just to be sure of one thing, your HDMI cable is plugged into the Vega itself, not some HDMI port on the housing, right?

 

[edtorious]

The static issue seems to be display specific and may not have anything to do with the eGPU. I have a similar issue with a Pavilion 22xw 1080p display: alternating screen static and black display when waking the mini from sleep. However in my case it happens for both direct connection and eGPU connect, but doesn't happen when starting up: only when restarting or waking from sleep.

Fixes that worked for me:
a) Cycling power on the display when static occurs
b) Prevent the Mini from sleeping in Energy Saver preferences
c) Connecting a second display that doesn't have wake synchronization issues.

I tried the cycling power and it didn't work for me. With direct connection, it works.
[doublepost=1543299329][/doublepost]

You should maybe read this thread, especially if you have FileVault enabled: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mac-mini-and-blackmagic-egpu.2154440/

I have rub a Mac mini with AMD/Sapphire's RX 590 in an Asus housing and with an HDMI cable, and it all worked perfectly, right down to the GPU being in lockstep with the mini when the latter went to sleep, etc. But I don't use FileVault.

Just to be sure of one thing, your HDMI cable is plugged into the Vega itself, not some HDMI port on the housing, right?

Thank you for pointing me at that other thread. I will post my problem there. Yes, the HDMI cable is plugged in to the Vega itself. I don't have the FileVault on.

 

[edtorious]

So finally got my Displayport cable. Bad news and good news. I plugged the DP cable from my monitor to the eGPU and then I plugged the USB-C cable from my eGPU to the Mac. As usual the monitor is not getting any signal during the process, I cannot see the Apple logo. But the good news is, after the boot up, the monitor will get a signal finally and show me the login screen. I tried to restart and it's the same result. I'm not sure what will happen if it goes to sleep.

So for now I'm happy but if I ever need to do a recovery mode, that's when I'm going to have to do a direct connection from my monitor to the Mac instead. It's a bit hassle but I guess I'll have to live with it hopefully for now. I hope Apple find a fix. If anybody else has a suggestion, I will greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

 

[open0]

In what use cases will the eGPU even make a difference?

For someone that doesn't play games, doesn't do video editing.... just lots of skype/imessage/whatsapp, lots of chrome, and lots of microsoft excel.... would it be beneficial ?

There would not be beneficial ! So if you use light applications, there is no need an eGPU.
[doublepost=1546265092][/doublepost]

So finally got my Displayport cable. Bad news and good news. I plugged the DP cable from my monitor to the eGPU and then I plugged the USB-C cable from my eGPU to the Mac. As usual the monitor is not getting any signal during the process, I cannot see the Apple logo. But the good news is, after the boot up, the monitor will get a signal finally and show me the login screen.

Thats normal, be happy with your eGPU !