Download the Additional Tools for Xcode and run the Bluetooth Explorer app. Under tools pick HCI Controller Selector and activate your preferred bluetooth module.
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eGPU on MacBook Pro 4,1 and up with PCIe ExpressCard slot
- Thread starter Larsvonhier
- Start date
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Thank you for your answer, but when I upgraded my iMac 7,1 to Sierra I replaced the original airport and bluetooth cards with an integrated wifi+bluetooth to have Bluetooth 4.0 for Handoff and Continuity. I don't think I can find a bluetooth-only card with Bluetooth 4 that's compatible with my iMac. But if there is, I would definitely buy one and use that: a dongle is not a really good solution.
[doublepost=1537513963][/doublepost]
You mean, AFTER I have bought a dongle, right?
Yes, you need the new controller present. I'm just using the Asus USB-BT-400 BT4.0 adapter.
Ok, so I checked the verbose log output during boot:
I get the "NVDAGK100HAL loaded and registered" string, but also (after the "ACPI: SSDT ..." stuff)
a bunch of error msg. "kxld[com.apple.GeForce]: The super class vtable '....' for '...' is out of date
and then
"Can´t load kext com.apple.GeForce - link failed"
"Failed to load executable for kext com.apple.GeForce"
"Kext com.apple.GeForce failed to load"
"Failed to load com.apple.GeForce"
(the last four seem to be redundant and tell the same story with the same punch line ;-)
The "super class vtable ... etc" in few words are meaning "symbols not found", so you can't use the Geforce Kepler kexts from HS, probably should wait for a Mojave Nvidia Web Driver.
The Geforce.kext represents the key to OpenGL/Metal, similar to the GeforceTesla.text that @ASentientBot fixed masterfully, but I don't think you need a patch since your Geforce is Metal supported.
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Ah, I see. The hackintosh and MPro scene has the same issues and we´re all waiting for Nvidia to release a Mojave version of their Web Drivers - which will hopefully be shortly after official Mojave release.
You are right, this is a great way to breath new life into the system!
This was initially done last year about a year ago (including the metal support on MacBook Pro 4,1), so you should put a reference in your first post to this.. it is described in a thread you might have followed and was first posted there, regarding eGPU on the MacBook Pro 4,1 in High Sierra via ExpressCard/34 bus
This was all posted in the macOS High Sierra (10.13) Unsupported Macs Thread thread last year, as High Sierra was installed with dosdude's method and files. Of course it also works in Mojave once Nvidia releases the new drivers for it, ExpressCard/34 is essentially a direct connection to a PCIe 1x slot. Some modern games were also tested with fine results, can be advantage to have a big GPU memory so that data is loaded all in one go without using the 1x lane too much during gameplay. It was found to be very usable and responsive. With Metal and Metal 2 it's in theory even better effect as it makes the GPU even more autonomous and independent.
Check out posts #2120, #2087 and #1922
First tested with 560Ti with a 2GB VRAM size, thereafter the 1050Ti with 4GB VRAM and with full Metal support, and of course OpenCL and Metal compute tasks runs just as fine.. some youtube videos I posted back then:
Note that this is all running in 1080P, at very decent frame-rates, on a 10.5 years old laptop.
The Nvidia drivers will provide full Metal support on the Kepler architecture and up, i.e. 600-series and up.
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I like the "kit-product" part of this. I have an iMac 7,1 (2007), CPU upgraded to T9300 and internal SSD, running perfectly with High Sierra thanks to Dosdude's patch, and I'd like to continue using my machine with Mojave. I know it's still a work in progress, but how much do you think your "kit" for my machine could cost?
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All that's needed do exist and is easy to order, including plexiglas cabinet for the GPU. Throw in a PSU suiting the GPU and you're good to go. 2-3 items. EXP GDC works great and is very affordable. Choose your cable interface, ExpressCard/34, mini PCIe etc. Thats it. The rest is driver related, with Nvidia cards it's easy, use their web-drivers.
This can be set up very neatly with the PSU inside the cabinet for the GPU. For something like the GTX 1050Ti a small affordable PSU is enough (less than 300W), or use an older one if you have.
1050Ti was $130 when I bought it a year ago, and gives full Metal support of course and 4GB VRAM..
Quite a good bump up from the laptop's 8600m that came with 512MB, and only 32 compute cores, the 1050Ti has 768 compute cores... Puts the machine on steroids. The sweet spot is not a 1080Ti etc, as the bandwidth is still a limitation. However perfect with a budget-level card like the 1050Ti.
Thats it, as described in #2120, you end up with a nice accelerator added, both for graphics and compute. Both working for High Sierra and Mojave.
https://www.dx.com/s/exp+gdc?cateId=0&cateName=All Categories
http://www.dx.com/p/exp-gdc-external-graphics-metal-chassis-silvery-white-435110
This is not the one I ordered a year ago, they had a nice honeycomb plexiglass one.. maybe it can still be found.
http://www.dx.com/p/exp-expresscard...video-card-w-pci-e-16x-interface-black-412508
https://www.banggood.com/Expresscar...l-Independent-Video-Card-Dock-p-1009976.html?
This one mentions incompatibility with the Pascal series, however I doubt it, its just mentioned as they probably did not test it.. can be ordered from Deal Extreme instead to be certain, see below.
Latest Nvidia drivers are always found here:
https://www.tonymacx86.com/nvidia-drivers/
EDIT:
Plexiglass cabinet is here:
https://www.dx.com/p/exp-gdc-honeycomb-case-storage-box-for-external-graphics-card-462900#.W6uj-S-B23I
This is the exact item I ordered one year ago, and the actual version I was sent was v.8.5c.
https://www.dx.com/p/pci-e-v8-4d-exp-gdc-external-laptop-video-card-docking-station-916475117#.W6ukKC-B23I
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For all who don´t want to "throw in" some parts into a box - wait & see, more to come! ;-)
@monoton: No offense, but obviously for some of us here (including myself) this was new info - and some aspects were still not covered:
- iMac support
- decent housing in compact form (1/2 size cards)
- Mojave NVidia driver for non-standard-support cards (i.e. GTX650)
- finally: the kit&product aspect for all who are interested but don´t want to build it on their own
[doublepost=1537689978][/doublepost]
Will post kit / product infos as soon as I receive the housing (custom made from Alumin(i)um) and have it assembled to show photos.
@monoton: No offense, but obviously for some of us here (including myself) this was new info - and some aspects were still not covered:
- iMac support
- decent housing in compact form (1/2 size cards)
- Mojave NVidia driver for non-standard-support cards (i.e. GTX650)
- finally: the kit&product aspect for all who are interested but don´t want to build it on their own
[doublepost=1537689978][/doublepost]
I´m currently figuring out the case for 1/2-size cards. Comes at comparable price to what monoton linked, but I hope it to look less "Dr. Ug. Ly". ;-)
Will post kit / product infos as soon as I receive the housing (custom made from Alumin(i)um) and have it assembled to show photos.
No offence here either; iMac support is inherent and nothing new, as they have mini PCIe or SSD drive slot which is supported by the mini PCIe adapter or M2 adapter for EXP GDC..any Mac with M2, mini PCIe or ExpressCard/34 is of course supported by the EXP GDC..
The Honey-comb plexiglas-housing is rather compact and nice.
The Nvidia web-drivers should support them all.. actually, so no need to stress with drivers there, Nividia will release update for Mojave hopefully as soon as its publicly out, and all Kepler architecture cards and above will be supported in Metal as far as I know, with their drivers. Did you find issues with the Nvidia web-drivers? They should be the best and most optimised etc.
It's easy to assemble and set up, its also rather easy to source the parts and/or make a housing individually each for their own I would say - however looking forward to see your kit, for some it can be an easier choice. Why claim that's more ugly, honeycomb plexiglass? It's not hard to make it look good, nor make alternative cabinets.. The one seen in the link is a different one I agree is more ugly. Just plates of metal. The Plexiglass one is rather nice ! Maybe they still have it.
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But what happens if you unplug the express card? Does Mojave boot up normally or are there issues if no eGPU is present? It might make it worth it for me to pick up a pre-retina MBP if this is the case. They can be found for really cheap and are still fantastic machines with max memory and an SSD or 2. Especially if you have Raid 0 setup!
If you’re thinking of buying a pre retina: go for a 2012 MBP 13 run AllN1 and poof! You’ll have an eGPU enabled officially Mojave supported MacBook.
To be honest as much as I like this idea this setup is only interesting for people already owning a pre thunderbolt Mac.
You can decide on boot time to have the card installed - the eGPU will be activated, or just leave it out (no eGPU). In addition, you can "eject" the running eGPU/ExpressCard any time and continue on internal GPU as long as you de-activate the card before unplugging it with the function in the drop-down menu - see screenshot.
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Thank you for your help, but after visiting the pages you linked I saw that it's actually not that simple. For example, this is one of your links:
https://www.banggood.com/Expresscar...l-Independent-Video-Card-Dock-p-1009976.html?
but in the notes in that page it clearly says that "It is NOT compatible with GTX1050TI", just to name the only card you mentioned in your post.
Also, I can't understand the difference between this mini PCI-E version:
https://www.banggood.com/Mini-PCI-E...l-Independent-Video-Card-Dock-p-1011222.html?
and this one that says MAC version:
https://www.banggood.com/MAC-Versio...l-Independent-Video-Card-Dock-p-1011221.html?
Also, Larsvonhier in post #48 says that
Full acceleration is only reached on High Sierra (OpenGL/CL/Metal), not on Mojave yet. Mojave only detects the eGPU and uses it (expanding the Finder desktop etc.).
This means that there are still many problems with this kind of upgrade. So, if Larsvonhier could build something for me that actually works for my iMac and that's also nice looking, it could be a good solution for people that don't want to spend too much time in trial and error.
Now with Mojave officially out, I hope that Nvidia and others update their drivers and tools soon.
This will solve Mojave HW acceleration for this solution!
This will solve Mojave HW acceleration for this solution!
As I try to avoid protruding latches to hold the GPU card, some kind of frame in the housing is needed.
edit: 2nd photo courtesy of monoton, from post below
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Plexiglass cabinet is here:
https://www.dx.com/p/exp-gdc-honeycomb-case-storage-box-for-external-graphics-card-462900#.W6uj-S-B23I
This is the exact item I ordered one year ago, and the actual version I was sent was v.8.5c.
https://www.dx.com/p/pci-e-v8-4d-exp-gdc-external-laptop-video-card-docking-station-916475117#.W6ukKC-B23I
This works perfectly, combined price under $70. You can safely order those and just a PSU (or use one you have..) and you are all set.
Use High Sierra for now with the Nvidia drivers, find the correct download from the link I posted in a post above, #59.
Check out posts #2120, #2087 and #1922 also.
There are really no problems. With High Sierra and the ExpressCard/34 adapter it works perfectly fine for me with the 1050Ti and has so for one year by now.
Look at the other links I also provided, version 8.5c should be good to buy, its the one I have and as you see from the screenshots in the original post about this from last year, the 1050Ti works perfectly fine there. Including all Metal software. If I remember correctly I ordered v. 8.0 a year ago, and v. 8.5c is what I got shipped, by now they probably only do minor changes. I will remove the banggood link, don't know why it mentions to not work with those Nvidia cards. Even v.9.5 can be ordered now.
Any of those version should be fine, it's already a mature and well developed product.
About the drivers, its a given, there is no support in Mojave before Nvidia updates it, I also provided the link to check the latest version, it is in immediate sync with Nvidia as it fetches the version numbers from their site. Maybe Nvidia is a bit delayed due to some substantial changes to the graphics subsystem in Mojave, and maybe they are also taking their time to add Turing support there too. Who knows.. Until then its of course recommended to stay on High Sierra which has the drivers in order from Nvidia. One should not need to use some dirty hacks here, just wait for the Nvidia drivers..
High Sierra is already good and stable, works great with the latest Nvidia drivers, and now on my MacBook Pro 4,1 (early 2008) even APFS-boot in firmware is added from dosdude1's APFS firmware patcher tool for unsupported Macs. So now it boots natively from APFS too! Fetch it here: http://dosdude1.com/apps/
As I see it, there are really no issues here.. It has been know for a year now that this is working solid.
I have tested this rather well on the v. 8.5c, and it is solid with the Nvidia official drivers added to macOS from their installer. Let me know if you have any questions, you only need that kit with the right adapter and a small PSU, I got a $50 one which works perfectly fine with the 75W-only 1050Ti card.
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To have that cludge scattered on my desk does not satisfy me, personally.
I want to contain everything in one box, even the PSU.
That‘s why all the „solutions“ described above won‘t do. Hey, we Apple enthusiasts have a bit of style, right?
Sending out manufacturing details to production soon. Mounting frame (see above) also on schedule, I found a way to get it machined from black ABS 15mm slates.
Stay tuned...
I want to contain everything in one box, even the PSU.
That‘s why all the „solutions“ described above won‘t do. Hey, we Apple enthusiasts have a bit of style, right?
Sending out manufacturing details to production soon. Mounting frame (see above) also on schedule, I found a way to get it machined from black ABS 15mm slates.
Stay tuned...
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Here I have everything integrated into one nice plexiglas stand, also the PSU which is exactly within the width of the plexiglass case. This was also done a year ago, along with the first testings of this on the Mac.
Just connect power, cable from the machine via ExpressCard/34 and screen connector.
To reduce cables the unused ones can be modified and removed from the PSU, however I like to have the option to later use it for other things. They are neatly bundled up. A strong DC adapter can also be used and accepted by the EXP GDC. Have not tested that myself though, it would be interesting.
Prices October 2017:
Plexiglas stand: $30
EXP GDC: $50
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti: $130
SFX form factor PSU: $40
Total: ~ $250
You can order from the links in my previous post above.
Many might already have a GPU they wanna use. Then even cheaper to get going, ~ $120.
About looks, plexiglass was used even in several Apple models, like the Cube. I like seing the internals, it’s rather nice actually. It can also be spray painted on the inside or outside easily, another option.
With this setup I can of course also run the Cinema Display via display port from the 1050Ti, at native 2560x1440.
Just connect power, cable from the machine via ExpressCard/34 and screen connector.
To reduce cables the unused ones can be modified and removed from the PSU, however I like to have the option to later use it for other things. They are neatly bundled up. A strong DC adapter can also be used and accepted by the EXP GDC. Have not tested that myself though, it would be interesting.
Prices October 2017:
Plexiglas stand: $30
EXP GDC: $50
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti: $130
SFX form factor PSU: $40
Total: ~ $250
You can order from the links in my previous post above.
Many might already have a GPU they wanna use. Then even cheaper to get going, ~ $120.
About looks, plexiglass was used even in several Apple models, like the Cube. I like seing the internals, it’s rather nice actually. It can also be spray painted on the inside or outside easily, another option.
With this setup I can of course also run the Cinema Display via display port from the 1050Ti, at native 2560x1440.
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A strong (external type) DC adapter works, I have tested it but it has a disadvantage: The barrel type DC connector cannot safely handle peak currents of 10+ Ampere, so either the GPU gets under-supplied (voltage drops) or the DC jack heats up and corrodes fast - or both at the same time. (There is a reason for the ATX style connector).
I´m going to use a small form factor PSU, not a PC type, with 120W continuous output power - see picture in previous post.
Side note: Material (acrylic plexi glas or aluminum or steel or _you_name_it_) does not per se define quality and craftmanship. The moment I saw the construction of the honeycomb case I did not want to go that route - and it is really just my taste I´m talking about that drives me. So everybody feel free to buy, assemble, try out what´s available.
My work-in-progress is to set up one more alternative that is not yet available - a solid, small form factor all-in-one eGPU solution that is safe to use, withstand ESD and fulfill EMC (metal helps there ;-)
Pricewise I try to stay below the 300US$ line (with a complete GTX650 setup) or substantially lower for folks who have higher GPU ambitions with more powerful 1/2-size cards. Will have to see what the thermal conditions allow and what other cards stay below 120W.
@Pressure : Excellent footer ;-)
I´m going to use a small form factor PSU, not a PC type, with 120W continuous output power - see picture in previous post.
Side note: Material (acrylic plexi glas or aluminum or steel or _you_name_it_) does not per se define quality and craftmanship. The moment I saw the construction of the honeycomb case I did not want to go that route - and it is really just my taste I´m talking about that drives me. So everybody feel free to buy, assemble, try out what´s available.
My work-in-progress is to set up one more alternative that is not yet available - a solid, small form factor all-in-one eGPU solution that is safe to use, withstand ESD and fulfill EMC (metal helps there ;-)
Pricewise I try to stay below the 300US$ line (with a complete GTX650 setup) or substantially lower for folks who have higher GPU ambitions with more powerful 1/2-size cards. Will have to see what the thermal conditions allow and what other cards stay below 120W.
@Pressure : Excellent footer ;-)
I find it to be a perfect material for what it is supposed to do, that does not absorb much heat. All is kept well together and transparency is nice with it. No need to talk about taste. People choose what they choose for each purpose. Much air passes through that's why it has the structure it has. Don't need to spend much more for a 10.5 years old machine really in my opinion, it does the job well and after all it was intended for a first test over a year ago, the main focus was on really checking if it all worked technically. Verify that this was indeed possible on the Mac at all. This was not verified on Macs previously, as far as I have seen.
This was more like R&D, curiosity and checking feasibility, certainly not about selling something after claiming to have discovered something that really was established by someone else before, and then not correcting it.. I think the readers of the thread should also be shared the options, and exactly what parts have been used. As long as it is discovered and known what parts work well it is easy to replicate. All the work is then done.
The PSU I chose is 300W so it can scale up to much stronger cards too if that would ever be necessary. Then again there is the bandwidth limitation so probably not..
SFX PSU is perfect for it too. I would probably not do this for any old machine without ExpressCard/34, as the machine would have to be opened to access mini PCIe or M2 connectors.. and it's not gonna be pretty with the cable sticking out from a cracked open iMac.. I would say only do it if you have a Mac with ExpressCard/34.
This is not my main machine after all, I did all this for fun and really for testing how far I could push the limits of the machine in terms of expandability. It works surprisingly well, however we have to keep in mind it's only one lane given to the ExpressCard/34 at PCIe v.1.0 speeds..
Link Width: x1
Link Speed: 2.5 GT/s
For me I saw it as a good way to add a compute card to the machine, and also get the Metal supported graphics in relation to using DosDude's patched installer too. That was why it was first described in that thread
For OpenCL and Metal Compute it's fantastic for many scenarios. Offload a bunch of data to the GPU, compute and fetch the result back. For many compute tasks the link speed is not so important, as it is for some graphics in terms of frame-rate affected if the pressure over the bus is large.
However, still very usable for graphics too. Tough the link speed does cripple the card a to some extent.
I write this on a big Cinema Display connected to the eGPU, and it works really well all in all.
If first doing it, why not go for a more modern card that also consumes less power. You would probably depend on the Nvidia drivers though they will come also for Mojave, eventually.
This was more like R&D, curiosity and checking feasibility, certainly not about selling something after claiming to have discovered something that really was established by someone else before, and then not correcting it.. I think the readers of the thread should also be shared the options, and exactly what parts have been used. As long as it is discovered and known what parts work well it is easy to replicate. All the work is then done.
The PSU I chose is 300W so it can scale up to much stronger cards too if that would ever be necessary. Then again there is the bandwidth limitation so probably not..
SFX PSU is perfect for it too. I would probably not do this for any old machine without ExpressCard/34, as the machine would have to be opened to access mini PCIe or M2 connectors.. and it's not gonna be pretty with the cable sticking out from a cracked open iMac.. I would say only do it if you have a Mac with ExpressCard/34.
This is not my main machine after all, I did all this for fun and really for testing how far I could push the limits of the machine in terms of expandability. It works surprisingly well, however we have to keep in mind it's only one lane given to the ExpressCard/34 at PCIe v.1.0 speeds..
Link Width: x1
Link Speed: 2.5 GT/s
For me I saw it as a good way to add a compute card to the machine, and also get the Metal supported graphics in relation to using DosDude's patched installer too. That was why it was first described in that thread
For OpenCL and Metal Compute it's fantastic for many scenarios. Offload a bunch of data to the GPU, compute and fetch the result back. For many compute tasks the link speed is not so important, as it is for some graphics in terms of frame-rate affected if the pressure over the bus is large.
However, still very usable for graphics too. Tough the link speed does cripple the card a to some extent.
I write this on a big Cinema Display connected to the eGPU, and it works really well all in all.
If first doing it, why not go for a more modern card that also consumes less power. You would probably depend on the Nvidia drivers though they will come also for Mojave, eventually.
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Just ordered my first prototype housing, only to find out that it´s much costlier than expected. Have to bring down the final costs for this by 150$ somehow. Seems possible with a vendor change, but search starts anew in that case.
Will receive the parts around Oct. 8th.
Here´s a CAD glimpse of the back panel, anyway. Done with the very handy tool from Schaeffer for designing and ordering panels and housings. Available for macOS, Linux and Win. (Older version even for OSX PPC 10.4. and 10.5.)
Will receive the parts around Oct. 8th.
Here´s a CAD glimpse of the back panel, anyway. Done with the very handy tool from Schaeffer for designing and ordering panels and housings. Available for macOS, Linux and Win. (Older version even for OSX PPC 10.4. and 10.5.)
