Catalina & eGPU...

[waydabber]

With the latest 10.15.4 beta 2 I was able to boot with eGPU connected! This is the first time since 10.15 beta 5. There is no Apple logo during boot only a black screen though (but there is video signal, the display does not go to sleep).

2018 Mac Mini boot ROM is now 1037.100.340.0.0 (iBridge: 17.16.14236.5.2,0)

 

[MarkAtl]

With the latest 10.15.4 beta 2 I was able to boot with eGPU connected! This is the first time since 10.15 beta 5. There is no Apple logo during boot only a black screen though (but there is video signal, the display does not go to sleep).

2018 Mac Mini boot ROM is now 1037.100.340.0.0 (iBridge: 17.16.14236.5.2,0)

Encouraging...hopefully 4th patch will be the charm.

 

[rgeraght]

Holy Shiitake mushrooms, its fixed for me I can boot as normal into both MacOS Catalina and Bootcamp using eGpu, no messing around. Raxor Core X with Vega 64, Mac mini 2018.

Is Apple going to break this again? Probably which is sad,

 

[hagjohn]

10.15.4 b2 updated all the way with my eGPU on.

 

[MacU!]

thank god it has been fixed!
next time I am not gonna update my Mac before checking out this thread because the rom update is not reversible.

 

[defean]

Unfortunately I can‘t chime into the positive feedback on 10.15.4 public beta 2. The problematic behavior (black screens during boot/reboot) for my setup (Mac Mini 2018 / Blackmagic eGPU (RX580) / LG 5k) did *not* change/improve. So I‘m still suffering from black boot screens with the RX580.

But the brief moment of hope was quite enjoyable... Oh well maybe some day...

 

[MacU!]

Unfortunately I can‘t chime into the positive feedback on 10.15.4 public beta 2. The problematic behavior (black screens during boot/reboot) for my setup (Mac Mini 2018 / Blackmagic eGPU (RX580) / LG 5k) did *not* change/improve. So I‘m still suffering from black boot screens with the RX580.

But the brief moment of hope was quite enjoyable... Oh well maybe some day...

so the fix is for Vega only I guess. My setup is a 580 in Razer Core X with Mac mini 2018. So it won't change a thing... Sigh...

 

[nomugs]

I’m on public betas but any update on how the latest developer update is with eGPU’s? I’m still having issues with my Mac Mini, Razer Core X and 5700 XT on beta 2.

 

[hagjohn]

Have you guys noticed the "Prefer HDR mode" under display settings since beta 2? ... assuming you have a compatible GPU and HDR monitor. An HDR notice comes up on my screen, I assume it is coming from the monitor, not MacOS.


This screenshot comes from beta 3.

 

[defean]

This keeps getting better... I updated to 10.15.4 public beta 3, which sets a new record low... The Mac Mini boot ROM was updated again (1037.100.348.0.0 (iBridge: 17.16.14244.5.5,0)) and the problematic behavior (black screens during boot/reboot) for my setup (Mac Mini 2018 / Blackmagic eGPU (RX580) / LG 5k) did actually get worse... So far 50% of the boot processes did get me to the login screen. With this beta *all* boot processes lead to a black screen, which only can be fixed by unplugging the TB3 cable and plugging it back in.

 

[defean]

I updated to Catalina 10.15.4 beta 4 (public) last night. The Boot Rom version changed again (1037.100.351.0.0 (iBridge: 17.16.14252.5.1,0)), and the behavior (black screens during boot/reboot) for my setup (Mac Mini 2018 / Blackmagic eGPU (RX580) / LG 5k) is roughly back to what it was with beta 2 (and before), i.e. 50% black screens and 50% login screens... so unfortunately again no improvement of the issue with beta 4....

If the rumors are true and a new Mac Mini will be released soon, I'll be very curiously waiting for the 1st tests of the new model with a (Blackmagic) eGPU. What would be the chances of this combo having no issues?

 

[narr]

Thanx for keeping us up to date, defean!

Well, this situation is becoming very frustrating. A real joke! Meanwhile I use a headless HDMI adapter, which solves the problem. I always get to the login screen (not seeing the login input fields, though) but have to blindly type in the PW (mirroring the displays doesn‘t help, I get a blurry screen on my 4k monitor). But at least no hotplugging around with cables.

Also, I do not have to use the boot procedure where you switch on the egpu after the mini) anymore. I can live with this but I shouldn‘t have to.

It all worked flawlessly on Mojave. Then the security update came along which updated the Mini‘s boot rom. I updated to Catalina afterwards as the boot problem was already happening. Is Apple even aware of this?

 

[hagjohn]

I updated to Catalina 10.15.4 beta 4 (public) last night. The Boot Rom version changed again (1037.100.351.0.0 (iBridge: 17.16.14252.5.1,0)), and the behavior (black screens during boot/reboot) for my setup (Mac Mini 2018 / Blackmagic eGPU (RX580) / LG 5k) is roughly back to what it was with beta 2 (and before), i.e. 50% black screens and 50% login screens... so unfortunately again no improvement of the issue with beta 4....

If the rumors are true and a new Mac Mini will be released soon, I'll be very curiously waiting for the 1st tests of the new model with a (Blackmagic) eGPU. What would be the chances of this combo having no issues?

I cannot get B4 to install.

 

[defean]

Is Apple even aware of this?

I would think that they are aware. My Mini has AppleCare, so very early on I opened a support case and complained about the black screens. I was put through to the real tech support team after a while. The guy listened to my descriptions, told me he would have to do some research aaaaaaaaaand...... never got back to me! After a week I send him a mail and tried calling the support again. They promised me a callback, which I never received. A couple of weeks later I found this thread, figured out that more people were affected by this and that the root cause seems to be the boot ROM.

I also used the feedback agent to report this issue and heard from other people opening support cases. So I'm pretty sure, that Apple is aware. I just would like to know, if they even work on this or just ignore it cause the user group with setup is probably somewhat small.

 

[frou]

The Blackmagic eGPUs are quasi-official Apple products (much like the LG 5K monitor), so they should care about it!!

 

[defean]

they should care about it!!

I thought so too... My 1st attempt on figuring out these issues was to take my whole setup (Mini/BM eGPU/LG5k) to the local Apple Store. There they told me that the only thing they can do is test the Mini. For the other products I should contact the manufacturers (LG and/or BM). That's the unfortunate reality how Apple looks at these products. They sell them exclusively, but they don't want to have anything to do with them if there are any problems.

I was shocked to figure that out. In my scenario, they would've checked the Mini on its own (isolated, cause it's the only real Apple product in the chain), figured out, that it is perfectly fine and send me off to deal with the rest myself. Now knowing, that actually the problem *is* the Mini (boot ROM) makes this extra sickening.

(additional fun fact: I contacted the Blackmagic support after my Apple store visit and they actually did send me a replacement eGPU, which of course didn't solve the issue... )

 

[narr]

@defean any success with the new beta?

My guess: probably not.

 

[defean]

@narr I seem to be developing a reputation for trying the betas fresh from the oven, which is quite true these days...

So here we go... I updated to Catalina 10.15.4 beta 5 (public) last night. The Boot Rom version changed again (1037.100.355.0.0 (iBridge: 17.16.14257.5.1,0)), but the behavior (black screens during boot/reboot) for my setup (Mac Mini 2018 / Blackmagic eGPU (RX580) / LG 5k) did again *not* change/improve (in my case).

 

[MarkAtl]

Thanx for keeping us up to date, defean!

Well, this situation is becoming very frustrating. A real joke! Meanwhile I use a headless HDMI adapter, which solves the problem. I always get to the login screen (not seeing the login input fields, though) but have to blindly type in the PW (mirroring the displays doesn‘t help, I get a blurry screen on my 4k monitor). But at least no hotplugging around with cables.

Also, I do not have to use the boot procedure where you switch on the egpu after the mini) anymore. I can live with this but I shouldn‘t have to.

It all worked flawlessly on Mojave. Then the security update came along which updated the Mini‘s boot rom. I updated to Catalina afterwards as the boot problem was already happening. Is Apple even aware of this?

I’m going to try a headless HDMI adapter next. All I want is something pretty bulletproof.

 

[hagjohn]

I have not been able to boot properly to the login screen via eGPU in beta 5.

 

[MacU!]

this bug and coronavirus, which one goes first...

 

[IvanW]

this bug and coronavirus, which one goes first...

Why? The virus of course, that’s something we know people are actively working on...

 

[frou]

Seems like under normal conditions, 10.15.4 final would have been released yesterday.

 

[defean]

I updated to Catalina 10.15.4 beta 6 (public) yesterday. The Boot Rom version changed again (1037.100.358.0.0 (iBridge: 17.16.14261.5.1,0)), but the behavior (black screens during boot/reboot) for my setup (Mac Mini 2018 / Blackmagic eGPU (RX580) / LG 5k) did again *not* change/improve (in my case).

 

[Stephen.R]

black screens during boot/reboot

.. do they activate/get signal/picture when the login screen shows, or is it blank until after login?