eGPU and system level processes

[cschmelz]

I've seen folks say "plug directly into the eGPU" and other such threads to optimize eGPU performance HOWEVER here is my issue

2020 Mac Mini w/ 64gigs RAM, i7, high end config.
Added the 5700XT Sonnet puck eGPU. Had some issues with booting so I have a dummy plug in the Mac Mini HDMI out and my monitor (LG 48CX) plugged directly into the 5700XT.

I've run the script to swap every app to eGPU and manually have checked my apps to ensure they stayed stuck to the eGPU

Right now on activity monitor not doing anything fancy it says 57% of GPU is on the UHD 630 build in and only 9% on the eGPU. On that internal 630 50% of that is VTDecoderXPCServices aka the window server/media. Is there ANY way to move more system level processes to the wicked fast 5700XT and off the piece of crap 630?

I am running Mac OS 11.4 beta 1 as of today w/o improvement (not surprsingly)

 

[Adamz Asah]

To avoid booting issues, just turn off FileVault, disk is encrypted on T2 Macs anyway. Than you can boot directly with eGPU. I do not plug in any display to Mac Mini itself, everything goes trough eGPU. Than I do not need to care about what to set in the OS. I just let the Big Sur do its thing.

 

[frou]

To avoid booting issues, just turn off FileVault, disk is encrypted on T2 Macs anyway. Than you can boot directly with eGPU. I do not plug in any display to Mac Mini itself, everything goes trough eGPU. Than I do not need to care about what to set in the OS. I just let the Big Sur do its thing.

You're right about Mini 2018 + FileVault + eGPU having known (and seemingly unsolvable) boot issues.

But if an encrypted disk is actually required, I don't think the basic T2 + Internal-SDD thing is meaningful. IIRC all that prevents is a different T2 chip from being able to read your SSD. And no thief is desoldering SSDs and transplanting them into different Mac Minis anyway.

 

[InuNacho]

I migrated from a pimped out 2010 Mac Pro to my 2018 Mini and eGPU has always been a bit touch and go. Unlike on my Mac Pro, the Mini just randomly hangs onto VRAM for no apparent reason, even after applications have been closed.
I've also noticed that MacOS is starting to get more power hungry with native apps.
Heres is Preview looking at a 800MB Tif scan.