Have to unplug and plug in eGPU for reboot/startup

[russell_314]

When I reboot or start up my 2018 Mac mini I have to unplug and plug in the TB3 cable to the eGPU to get it to show a display. My eGPU is a Razer Core V1 with a 5700XT graphics card. It's a minor annoyance but I'm just making sure I didn't miss something obvious in settings.

I had to jump through hoops to get the Core V1 to work with my mini because Razer sent me the wrong model but that's a different fiasco.

 

[IngerMan]

Do you have file vault on? If so you need a HDMI from the MM to HDMI 1 on your display. You need to turn off the eGPU on a reboot or start up. No need to unplug. After powered up turn on your eGPU, it will be recognized and you can switch to that display on the monitor.

Can you run Geekbench 5 for compute and report please. It’s for another thread.

 

[russell_314]

Do you have file vault on? If so you need a HDMI from the MM to HDMI 1 on your display. You need to turn off the eGPU on a reboot or start up. No need to unplug. After powered up turn on your eGPU, it will be recognized and you can switch to that display on the monitor.

Can you run Geekbench 5 for compute and report please. It’s for another thread.

File vault is off. The Core X V1 doesn't have a power switch so it would be either unplug the power or TB3 cable. Maybe it's just something I have to deal with because of the older eGPU.

 

[IngerMan]

So you don’t have this power switch on the back?

 

[russell_314]

So you don’t have this power switch on the back?

View attachment 957189

No that picture is the Razer Core X. What I have is the Razer Core V1. It's an older smaller unit. Basicly what happened is my new Core X was defective out of the box so after two months they finally sent me a replacement but it was the wrong unit. I didn't want to wait another two months for Razer's 💩 customer service to send me the correct one.

Here's the Razer site to the product. https://support.razer.com/gaming-laptops/razer-core/

 

[russell_314]

 

[IngerMan]

Bummer, I would be back on the phone for a replacement what you paid for.

Myself, I don’t power down my MacMini or the Monitor or the eGPU, I just let them sleep. Sometimes I go months with out a reboot. When it does happen via update or power outage, sometimes its a new learning experience. Sometimes it powers up correctly and other times I have to force boot and shut things off. When I think it finally works correctly on re-boot it shows me who is boss and it fails. Welcome to Mac Mini and eGPU 🤦‍♂️

 

[IngerMan]

Could you run Geek bench 5 compute and share your score? I’m hitting 50,000+ on a Asus RXVega 56 and Asus XG Station Pro. FYI it has a power switch 😜

 

[MevetS]

I had this issue, using a Razor Core X. I solved it with a HDMI plug. You can read about it at this link:

Mac Mini to replace classic Mac Pro?

I ordered one from Amazon and it arrived today. And it solved my problem. My set up, a 2018 Mac mini i7, 500 GB, 32 GB RAM. I have a Razor Core X eGPU with a Sapphire Pulse RX 580 GPU that I took out of my 2010 MacPro when I transitioned to the Mini. I have two ancient Apple monitors, a...

forums.macrumors.com

There is additional info on how to set up the plug to mirror displays further along in that thread.

I have since acquired an old TV, with HDMI ports, and now I have that connected to the HDMI port on my Mini, giving me three monitors, two on the Razor Core X and one directly connected to the Mini.

Good luck.

 

[watakoola]

eGPU is the problem

That's become the 'standard' way to start for most eGPU Mac mini setups. I use it with my OWC Mercury Helios FX 650 eGPU.

forums.macrumors.com

 

[jayducharme]

The latest Catalina update might help with that. I have the Razer Core X, and after the latest update I've been able to boot (twice) without the HDMI cable plugged in, just the Razer. It might not keep working that way, but it seems to be reliable at the moment. And I'm crossing my fingers that Big Sur fixes the issue once and for all.

Update: Now the mini is refusing to boot without the HDMI cable connected. So I guess we'll see if Big Sur makes any difference. My hopes are dimming.

 

[brandair]

Is it normal that the Mac Mini reboots under Mojave as soon as you disconnect the eGPU (Akition Node with Radeon RX 480)? Quite annoying, if this is standard procedure.

 

[watakoola]

I'm running Catalina. Once out of the two times I've accidentally disconnected the eGPU the Mac mini shut down. Maybe the T2 chip is being overly protective and seeing this as a security threat?*

*Pure guess on my behalf, with zero knowledge to back myself up!

 

[CC88]

@IngerMan and @russell_314 can I ask what are you using eGPU for?

Thanks a lot and sorry for my OT.

 

[IngerMan]

I was using mine for gaming. Originally Windows gaming when I could boot camp repeatedly but after Widows update I gave up last year.

I used it for Mac OS gaming as well, other than just wanting to explore having a eGPU I could of not got one.

If the next Mac Mini increases the iGPU performance by 3 to 4 fold, which it should easily then I don’t see to many folks adding it. But lets face it the iGPU is pathetic, it was the same iGPU in my 2017 15 MBP

 

[CC88]

I was using mine for gaming. Originally Windows gaming when I could boot camp repeatedly but after Widows update I gave up last year.

I used it for Mac OS gaming as well, other than just wanting to explore having a eGPU I could of not got one.

If the next Mac Mini increases the iGPU performance by 3 to 4 fold, which it should easily then I don’t see to many folks adding it. But lets face it the iGPU is pathetic, it was the same iGPU in my 2017 15 MBP

Thank you very much for answering. Really appreciated.

 

[russell_314]

@IngerMan and @russell_314 can I ask what are you using eGPU for?

Thanks a lot and sorry for my OT.

Playing games but nothing serious

 

[CC88]

Playing games but nothing serious

thank you.

 

[russell_314]

I had this issue, using a Razor Core X. I solved it with a HDMI plug. You can read about it at this link:

Mac Mini to replace classic Mac Pro?

I ordered one from Amazon and it arrived today. And it solved my problem. My set up, a 2018 Mac mini i7, 500 GB, 32 GB RAM. I have a Razor Core X eGPU with a Sapphire Pulse RX 580 GPU that I took out of my 2010 MacPro when I transitioned to the Mini. I have two ancient Apple monitors, a...

forums.macrumors.com

There is additional info on how to set up the plug to mirror displays further along in that thread.

I have since acquired an old TV, with HDMI ports, and now I have that connected to the HDMI port on my Mini, giving me three monitors, two on the Razor Core X and one directly connected to the Mini.

Good luck.

Okay just to update. I got a display emulator plug from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074NNZYW4

I looked up the post and I think some people are using an older version of macOS because in my version mirror displays is a check box not dragging the display onto the other one. Either way you just have to have your displays set to mirror so the real one is showing the same as the fake one.

The one downside. Even though you select mirroring this does not happen till after you log in with your password. So when starting you just get a blank wallpaper screen with no spot to put your password because it's on what it thinks is monitor one, the display emulator. The fix is just to blindly type your password and press enter. The field is selected even though you can't see it so when you press enter it logs in.

I really love Apple products but they're the only ones I know that you have to do insane workarounds just to do something simple like connect an eGPU 🤦‍♂️

 

[watakoola]

Okay just to update. I got a display emulator plug from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074NNZYW4

I used to use one, but it's now no longer required in my case, as I started booting with a HDMI cable direct to the mini, and then transferred it (the HDMI cable) to the eGPU after login.

However, since 10.15.7, even that method is obsolete. I'm booting from the eGPU and 'only' losing the Apple logo and progress bar. The login screen pops up and off I go!

 

[MevetS]

I too am no longer using the HDMI plug, but only because I acquired a small flat screen TV and have connected it directly to the Mini (via HDMI), giving me three monitors, the other two connected to the eGPU. And now things ‘just work’.

 

[bgalakazam]

Interesting. I only get the direct off eGPU the first time around. Once I turn Mac Mini off I have to hard reboot 2-3 times the next power on to get it to show the screen. Also sleeping the Mini doesn't turn off the eGPU which leaves the fan noise.

 

[Daverich4]

I used to use one, but it's now no longer required in my case, as I started booting with a HDMI cable direct to the mini, and then transferred it (the HDMI cable) to the eGPU after login.

However, since 10.15.7, even that method is obsolete. I'm booting from the eGPU and 'only' losing the Apple logo and progress bar. The login screen pops up and off I go!

Same here. Once I turned off FileVault, restarting my MacMini is the same as if the GPU wasn’t connected.

 

[russell_314]

Same here. Once I turned off FileVault, restarting my MacMini is the same as if the GPU wasn’t connected.

I wish that was the case with me. No security on to include FileVault and it still won't recognize the eGPU at boot. Sometimes the fake HDMI plug doesn't work either. I just decided to keep it on 24/7 and restart little as possible. I think eGPU is one of those edge cases where Apple kind of supports it but not really so it mostly works but maybe has a few issues. I don't suspect I'll be able to upgrade to Big Sur but I'm happy with Catalina on this machine.

 

[russell_314]

Interesting. I only get the direct off eGPU the first time around. Once I turn Mac Mini off I have to hard reboot 2-3 times the next power on to get it to show the screen. Also sleeping the Mini doesn't turn off the eGPU which leaves the fan noise.

After it boots up try unplugging the TB3 cable of the eGPU, wait maybe one second (Not sure if that part is necessary) and plugging it back in. That's what I do and it works every time. I think hard reboots will catch up to you sooner or later causing issues.