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Big Sur and eGPU

RC12

RC12

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 12, 2015
34
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This is a continuation of this thread:

forums.macrumors.com

Catalina & eGPU...

Found some good news from a fellow 2018 Mac mini user in the Big Sur forums: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/my-2018-mac-mini-now-boots-with-egpu-attached.2242522/
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com

Currently on Beta 3, after multiple tests, I am able to boot successfully through my eGPU (Mac mini 2018 + Razer Core X + RX 590)! I have tested this through a restart and cold boot, with no issues. I use dual monitors, so initially the display is mirrored on the login screen, but a minor complaint that is greatly welcome versus having to unplug the GPU every boot.

One issue I have seen is that the eGPU will continue to cause the computer to crash if an update is being installed. Doesn't seem like it has caused any major issues from an OS stand point, but something of note for now. Running silentknight shows everything is still up to date firmware wise.

Lastly, not related to eGPU, but many have noticed kernel panics or system seizures under Beta 3. This seems to happen each time the computer is woken from deep sleep. I have yet to find a solution, but like many of you, I will continue to send the crash reports!
 
Did you have to do anything special? Like, have the eGPU unplugged during the update to Big Sur or did it just work? I have been considering just taking the performance loss by having my monitors plugged into the Mac mini rather than eGPU and just deal with how annoying it is.
 
SnowWhiteFF said:
Did you have to do anything special? Like, have the eGPU unplugged during the update to Big Sur or did it just work? I have been considering just taking the performance loss by having my monitors plugged into the Mac mini rather than eGPU and just deal with how annoying it is.
Click to expand...

leaving the eGPU plugged in during an update causes the Mac mini to power cycle endlessly. So I just leave it unplugged for a good half hour during an update. I also have a small 7 inch raspberry pi screen I plug directly into the mini. When this screen is plugged in, regardless of eGPU position, everything runs flawlessly. It’s truly apple’s decision not to load the eGPU kexts on boot causing these issues
 
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RC12 said:
This is a continuation of this thread:

forums.macrumors.com

Catalina & eGPU...

Found some good news from a fellow 2018 Mac mini user in the Big Sur forums: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/my-2018-mac-mini-now-boots-with-egpu-attached.2242522/
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com

Currently on Beta 3, after multiple tests, I am able to boot successfully through my eGPU (Mac mini 2018 + Razer Core X + RX 590)! I have tested this through a restart and cold boot, with no issues. I use dual monitors, so initially the display is mirrored on the login screen, but a minor complaint that is greatly welcome versus having to unplug the GPU every boot.

One issue I have seen is that the eGPU will continue to cause the computer to crash if an update is being installed. Doesn't seem like it has caused any major issues from an OS stand point, but something of note for now. Running silentknight shows everything is still up to date firmware wise.

Lastly, not related to eGPU, but many have noticed kernel panics or system seizures under Beta 3. This seems to happen each time the computer is woken from deep sleep. I have yet to find a solution, but like many of you, I will continue to send the crash reports!
Click to expand...

Hi, I also have a 2018 Mac mini with an eGPU (Sonnet Breakaway Box 350 with a MSI Radeon RX 480). Installed the Big Sur Public Beta and both my Windows 10 and macOS Catalina freeze when starting graphic tasks like games and video editing.

Erased everything, reinstalled macOS and Windows 10 from scratch and the problem persists. Im not that tech savvy, can you give some advice on what to do? Does Big Sur Public Beta updates the firmware?
 
man, I was really considering an eGPU and upgrading from my 2012 iMac to a Mac Mini 2020/21 and now with all these issues from something that should be simple'ish and a major help ... I am not so sure anymore
 
doobybiggs said:
man, I was really considering an eGPU and upgrading from my 2012 iMac to a Mac Mini 2020/21 and now with all these issues from something that should be simple'ish and a major help ... I am not so sure anymore
Click to expand...
From my experience, it really hasn’t been very problematic for me. The only issues I’ve had with my machine are the minor inconvenience of having to unplug the eGPU on boot (now fixed in my experience), Bluetooth lag (only on third party mice), and fan noise, only because I was spoiled by my Mac Pro 2013. It’s an excellent machine, but if you haven’t bought one yet, I would personally wait until Apple Silicon comes out. Even if Apple Silicon sucks, which it probably won’t, you’ll be able to pick up a 2020 Mac Mini for cheap. I’m very happy with my Mac Mini.
 
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UPDATE: Just updated to Beta 5 on accident, and it went through FLAWLESSLY. I didn't unplug my eGPU, didn't do anything special. It. Just. Worked. :D Came back to my log in screen!
 
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RC12 said:
UPDATE: Just updated to Beta 5 on accident, and it went through FLAWLESSLY. I didn't unplug my eGPU, didn't do anything special. It. Just. Worked. :D Came back to my log in screen!
Click to expand...

This is amazing news!! Cant wait to hear back from others if Beta 5 corrected the issue.

How does updating things work now? Does it still crash like you mentioned above?
 
doobybiggs said:
This is amazing news!! Cant wait to hear back from others if Beta 5 corrected the issue.

How does updating things work now? Does it still crash like you mentioned above?
Click to expand...
It’s still to be determined if it’s actually fixed, but all I did was hit update and let it go.
 
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doobybiggs said:
What about restarts etc., do you leave it plugged in at all times except upgrades?
Click to expand...
Plugged in all the time. It is the only video I have plugged in. You do not see the apple logo but it boots to login screen every time.

I have unchecked "Automatically keep my Mac up to date" unchecked, so I know it will not do any updates, until I change out my video.
 
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What's the latest status, as of the Big Sur beta released at the end of September?

Is the year long nightmare of dodgy eGPU boot reliability definitely going to be solved once-and-for-all on Big Sur release day?
 
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frou said:
What's the latest status, as of the Big Sur beta released at the end of September?

Is the year long nightmare of dodgy eGPU boot reliability definitely going to be solved once-and-for-all on Big Sur release day?
Click to expand...


curious to know as well ...
 
I just put my Razer Core Chroma and RX590 dGPU on my 2018 Mac Mini. It had problems with Display Port but worked without any problems with HDMI port.

Strange why it would cause problems with Display Port but have no issues with HDMI connection.
 
I've updated the last 2 betas with eGPU connected. No problems. In the first round the eGPU was set as primary desktop, in the other it was secondary.
 
frou said:
What's the latest status, as of the Big Sur beta released at the end of September?

Is the year long nightmare of dodgy eGPU boot reliability definitely going to be solved once-and-for-all on Big Sur release day?
Click to expand...
Nobody can tell you. I'm on the latest public beta and I can boot fine but it can be ****ed up at any time.
 
I can confirm that Big Sur (beta 20A5395g) will boot correctly with the monitor attached to the eGPU. I get the Apple loading screen (no progress bar though) and the login screen without having to swap cables. This is great, hopefully nothing changes!

My setup: 2018 Mac mini, Razor Core X, Sapphire Radeon RX Vega 56, hdmi to dvi cable from the eGPU to monitor.
 
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iAssimilated said:
I can confirm that Big Sur (beta 20A5395g) will boot correctly with the monitor attached to the eGPU. I get the Apple loading screen (no progress bar though) and the login screen without having to swap cables. This is great, hopefully nothing changes!

My setup: 2018 Mac mini, Razor Core X, Sapphire Radeon RX Vega 56, hdmi to dvi cable from the ePGU to monitor.
Click to expand...
I get that already with a 2020 Mac Mini / Sapphire Pulse 580 running on Catalina.
 
Strictly speaking, the whole debacle is more about the Boot ROM than macOS itself. One of the later point releases of Mojave introduced the same Mac Mini eGPU dodginess because it brought along with it the same Boot ROM version that Catalina users had already been "enjoying".

So if it is fixed in the era of Big Sur, that fix might also find its way to Catalina users too.
 
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