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Guarantee to make sure eGPU is being used?

doobybiggs

doobybiggs

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 5, 2012
562
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How do I know for sure my eGPU is being used? I was playing a game and my GPU fans were not even running and I wasnt getting all that good of FPS. I did the prefer external ... but did not lock it in (assuming that will always keep prefer external checked), maybe that is why? Once I have these setting set now is it recommended to restart or just restart the app?

Screen Shot 2020-09-11 at 8.55.25 PM.png
 
You can see each GPUs usage with Activity Monitor; Select View and pick the GPU Histogram or whatever they call it.

The Locked checkbox has nothing to do with eGPU; it's locking the file.

Modifications to Prefer External GPU do not take effect while the app is running
 
casperes1996 said:
You can see each GPUs usage with Activity Monitor; Select View and pick the GPU Histogram or whatever they call it.

The Locked checkbox has nothing to do with eGPU; it's locking the file.

Modifications to Prefer External GPU do not take effect while the app is running
Click to expand...

I quit the app, then restarted it ... I still get this, it still wont push the game to the eGPU

Screen Shot 2020-09-11 at 9.44.03 PM.png
 
casperes1996 said:
Are you running this to the internal display or a display connected to the eGPU?

It also doesn’t look like much utlisation is happening on the iGPU
Click to expand...

My connection goes:

Razer Core > TB > Mac Mini ... Mini > HDMI > Monitor

Do I have it setup correctly?
 
You should have the eGPU enclosure connected to your Mini via TB3, and your monitor connected to the ports on the back of the GPU card installed in the eGPU enclosure.
 
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So I have no idea how League of Legends is programmed, but I wanted to add this; I have never tried an eGPU so haven’t tested how this kind of code behaves on an eGPU, but my assumptions are as listed

The CreateSystemDefaultDevice gets you a Metal device, and what GPU this returns in the code is likely based on the settings in the Finder Get Info panel, but apps on macOS can also ask for the full list of Metal devices and do their own selection; The order they come in may be affected by the setting in Get Info, but I don’t see it very likely that the list will be cut down in case the app can use several Metal devices. Thus, if the app does some logic to pick a Metal device on its own around the system logic, like for instance asking which device is connected to the app-holding display, well, the Get Info option wouldn’t do anything.

As mentioned the behavior here is based on assumptions since I’ve never had or tested on an eGPU and haven’t consulted the documentation on the behaviour of eGPUs, but it seems like the only logical way the code would behave.

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Would’ve written it out on my Mac so I could run all the lines... But I’m in bed, so you just got a quick jot down on my iPad :p
 
yep i am a dummy ... plugged the monitor in correctly and everything went over to the 5700 like it should have :( :(

Thanks guys, appreciate it!
 
doobybiggs said:
How do I know for sure my eGPU is being used?
Click to expand...

I use the iStat menus app. It's well worth the $10.

I only use two menus from the app (but there are more options): Sensors (which is the temps of everything in the Mini) and CPU & GPU. I've attached a screenshot of the CPU & GPU menu. As you can see my eGPU uses all the memory in the box (4GB VRAM) and always less than 50% of the eGPU processor. It also uses almost none of the on-board Intel UHD 630. Which is a good thing because the Mini runs cooler.

Looking at my usage, I would probably be better off with 8GB of VRAM but I got a great deal on my Sonnet puck, so it's a keeper.
 

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Try the free XRG system monitoring utility before you spend $10 on iStat menu.


Note that the best performance will come from using a DisplayPort cable from the graphics card to a DisplayPort connector on the monitor. This may include higher refresh frequencies and/or HDR support. Use a DisplayPort 1.4 cable from a reputable vendor (like Monoprice).

HDMI is decidedly the second choice.
 
weaztek said:
I use the iStat menus app. It's well worth the $10.

I only use two menus from the app (but there are more options): Sensors (which is the temps of everything in the Mini) and CPU & GPU. I've attached a screenshot of the CPU & GPU menu. As you can see my eGPU uses all the memory in the box (4GB VRAM) and always less than 50% of the eGPU processor. It also uses almost none of the on-board Intel UHD 630. Which is a good thing because the Mini runs cooler.

Looking at my usage, I would probably be better off with 8GB of VRAM but I got a great deal on my Sonnet puck, so it's a keeper.
Click to expand...

I honestly preferred iStat Pro back when Dashboard was a thing, but alas, those days are over
 
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I was Running a lower end Mac game Forever Lost season 3, When I had my MM HDMI hooked up to the monitor and eGPU DP to the Monitor it ran terrible hot. No matter what selection I had for preferred. It was not till I unplugged the MM HDMI cable did the temps run normal and the game ran smooth. So now I am just running the DP cable from my Vega 56 card to the monitor. Seems like a charm till the next power outage or software update 😜
 
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