Is there a way to connect an eGPU to my LG Ultrafine 24" 4k (the new one) ? It has 2 TB3 and 3 USB-C connections. All GPUs have HDMI or DisplayPort, which obviously can't directly connect to the monitor. Would a DP to USB-C cable work to drive the monitor from the eGPU?
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eGPU to LG 24" Ultrafine 4k, possible?
- Thread starter LiE_
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That does look interesting. It’s a shame I can’t find any mention of it being used in the way I intend. It would be impossible for me to test without buying an eGPU.
The problem I think, is that the display's input is not USB-C (e.g. a number of displays have "USB-C in" which is effectively just using the DP Alt-Mode of the USB-C connector, and thus should work with that part), it's TB3. Same connector, different protocol, and I would be very surprised if it worked - at best you'd get video but the downstream USB-C ports would be either useless, or crippled to USB 2.0 speeds)
I was under the impression that the input is both USB-C and TB3 over USB-C. This allows the iPad to connect.
Also on Apple website under highlights it says:
Either way, thinking about it, it won't work properly. The DisplayPort on a GPU isn't designed to carry USB functionality so it would loose that even if the display was output.
I'll have to hold out hope that AMD release a Navi card with the VirtualLink connection (USB-C) and Apple support the GPU. The spec has support for VirtualLink, but none of the current board partners have put a USB-C output on the GPUs.
Ah, ok I missed that part, so yes, the video part would probably work then.
Yep, definitely.
The Blackmagic eGPU would work now, and in theory any other (macOS supported) card with TB3 out would work too - but given that most results for "AMD GPU TB3" refer to cards in eGPUs, I'm not finding anything quickly that does support it.
I did a bit more digging and it looks like there is a cable (Huawei VR2 cable) that should allow both display and USB (not fast USB but enough for audio and brightness control) to the LG 4K.
https://egpu.io/forums/gpu-monitor-...y-to-drive-lg-ultrafine-4k-monitor-with-egpu/
It's not a cheap cable.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-Orig...ble-DP1-2-USB2-0-to-Type-C-Cable/333267668172
I'll have to give it some thought.
£260 Razer Core X
£380 Vega64
£60 Huawei VR2 cable
£700 Total
So not cheap, but likely a better solution than building a separate PC for playing some games. Other factors to take into consideration are noise from the eGPU and the performance hit running an eGPU.
https://egpu.io/forums/gpu-monitor-...y-to-drive-lg-ultrafine-4k-monitor-with-egpu/
It's not a cheap cable.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-Orig...ble-DP1-2-USB2-0-to-Type-C-Cable/333267668172
I'll have to give it some thought.
£260 Razer Core X
£380 Vega64
£60 Huawei VR2 cable
£700 Total
So not cheap, but likely a better solution than building a separate PC for playing some games. Other factors to take into consideration are noise from the eGPU and the performance hit running an eGPU.
Update time. I bought the Razer Core X, a 5700 XT and the Huawei VR 2 cable.
So I have my Huawei VR 2 cable and I thought it may be useful to document how to use it, based on my testing. I couldn't find this info else where so others might find it interesting.
macOS Usage
- You cannot boot into macOS with the eGPU connected using this cable, you get no display. Unplug the eGPU from the Mac mini when booting into macOS.
- You should instead boot with the standard Mac mini > LG UltraFine TB3 connection.
- When macOS has loaded, unplug the Mac mini > LG UltraFine TB3 connection and plug in the eGPU. The eGPU will come to life and after a few seconds you'll have full display and brightness controls.
- Waking from sleep is fine with the eGPU connected.
Windows Bootcamp Usage
- Windows requires the eGPU to be connected when booting. However you do not get the boot loader with the eGPU connected, so you cannot select which OS to boot.
- To work around this, you should set Windows as the default OS when turning on your Mac mini.
- This allows you to reboot in macOS with the eGPU connected, and go into Windows bootcamp without having to do any unplugs.
Benchmark
Things to test
- What I haven't tested yet is if I switch the eGPU off at the power while the Mac mini is asleep, but then switch it back on and wake it up does it output to the display.
So I have my Huawei VR 2 cable and I thought it may be useful to document how to use it, based on my testing. I couldn't find this info else where so others might find it interesting.
macOS Usage
- You cannot boot into macOS with the eGPU connected using this cable, you get no display. Unplug the eGPU from the Mac mini when booting into macOS.
- You should instead boot with the standard Mac mini > LG UltraFine TB3 connection.
- When macOS has loaded, unplug the Mac mini > LG UltraFine TB3 connection and plug in the eGPU. The eGPU will come to life and after a few seconds you'll have full display and brightness controls.
- Waking from sleep is fine with the eGPU connected.
Windows Bootcamp Usage
- Windows requires the eGPU to be connected when booting. However you do not get the boot loader with the eGPU connected, so you cannot select which OS to boot.
- To work around this, you should set Windows as the default OS when turning on your Mac mini.
- This allows you to reboot in macOS with the eGPU connected, and go into Windows bootcamp without having to do any unplugs.
Benchmark
Things to test
- What I haven't tested yet is if I switch the eGPU off at the power while the Mac mini is asleep, but then switch it back on and wake it up does it output to the display.