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The Razer Core has TI82 controller which is officially unsupported in macOS. There's a workaround to make it compatible (search for TB3-enabler script). It should work with both TB2 Macs through the Apple adapter and 2016 MBP in Windows only.

Newer Thunderbolt 3 enclosures will have the TI83 controller which is officially supported in macOS. However, Apple has software blocks in macOS to prevent external GPU through Thunderbolt 3 connection. There's no successful solution I'm aware of atm.

TI83 controller box such as the AKiTiO Node works in Windows. Here's my early testing using a Node with a 13" non-touchbar MBP. The eGPU is able to power the internal display.



Thanks! Now I just need to know if the core work without external monitor in macbooks that have discrete graphics. :)
 
System Information shows Thunderbolt 3 speed at 40 Gb/s and all supporting kexts loaded with video output to external screen. However, there's no Metal Support or acceleration.
Do you mean 3D acceleration or OpenCL?
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However, Apple has software blocks in macOS to prevent external GPU through Thunderbolt 3 connection. There's no successful solution I'm aware of atm.
This is so confusing and contradictory...
Apple may be listening after all. I upgraded my Late 2016 MacBook Pro to 10.12.2 Beta 2 tonight and eGPU is working better. It now has Metal Support and Acceleration.
 
Just a quick note that I have my eGPU working well in Windows 10 on the internal screen on my 2016 nTB MBP (16GB RAM/512GB SSD).

I had error 12 in the beginning and had to use a DSDT override to fix it. I got it working, but for some reason when I am running with the override I get no sound. Nothing comes out of my MBP's speakers or headphones, even when setting them as the main output. As soon as I turn the override off, the sound comes back.

My config is an Akitio Thunder2 with a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mini 4GB by Zotac. I have the mini version of the GPU so I don't need a 6 pin power supply and can run it with just the Akitio case and a larger external power supply I bought. It looks nice and sleek and melds in well on my desk. No exposed GPUs or wires.

Because the Thunder2 is TB2 I'm using Apple's TB3 to TB2 adapter. It seems to work well, but of course I'm not getting speeds any faster than when I have the eGPU hooked up to my 2014 mini because the Thunder2 is TB2.

It's been a fun experiment, but for now I'll just stick to using my eGPU with my mini and then streaming over Steam, which works quite well on my LAN. When I eventually replace my Thunderbolt Display and get a Thunderbolt 3 enclosure, and fix the sound issue, I'll probably get rid of the mini and just use the nTB MBP as all I use the mini for right now is gaming.
 
Do you mean 3D acceleration or OpenCL?
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This is so confusing and contradictory...

You quoted me out of context. The most up-to-date info I can provide with eGPU builds on the 2016 MacBook Pro is as followed:

  • Working with Thunder2 enclosure through Apple TB3 <--> TB2 adapter in both macOS and Windows - Thunderbolt 2 speed.
  • Only external screen output/not functional with Thunder3 (TI82 controller) enclosure in macOS, working well in Windows - Thunderbolt 3 speed.
  • Not working with Node (TI83 controller) enclosure in macOS, working in Windows - Thunderbolt 3 speed.
 
There will be updated TB3 chipsets with proper certification. Elgato and OWC are working at it now. eGPU will always require the hacks to work under macOS though.
 
Does the GTX 1060 or 1070 work as an eGPU or is it only the RX series right now?
 
Just a quick note that I have my eGPU working well in Windows 10 on the internal screen on my 2016 nTB MBP (16GB RAM/512GB SSD).

I had error 12 in the beginning and had to use a DSDT override to fix it. I got it working, but for some reason when I am running with the override I get no sound. Nothing comes out of my MBP's speakers or headphones, even when setting them as the main output. As soon as I turn the override off, the sound comes back.

My config is an Akitio Thunder2 with a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mini 4GB by Zotac. I have the mini version of the GPU so I don't need a 6 pin power supply and can run it with just the Akitio case and a larger external power supply I bought. It looks nice and sleek and melds in well on my desk. No exposed GPUs or wires.

Because the Thunder2 is TB2 I'm using Apple's TB3 to TB2 adapter. It seems to work well, but of course I'm not getting speeds any faster than when I have the eGPU hooked up to my 2014 mini because the Thunder2 is TB2.

It's been a fun experiment, but for now I'll just stick to using my eGPU with my mini and then streaming over Steam, which works quite well on my LAN. When I eventually replace my Thunderbolt Display and get a Thunderbolt 3 enclosure, and fix the sound issue, I'll probably get rid of the mini and just use the nTB MBP as all I use the mini for right now is gaming.

This sounds like a cool project. I was thinking about trying it with my i7 mid-2012 rMBP, but it sounds like I wouldn't be able to use my internal display due to the dual graphics in my laptop?
 
This sounds like a cool project. I was thinking about trying it with my i7 mid-2012 rMBP, but it sounds like I wouldn't be able to use my internal display due to the dual graphics in my laptop?

I had a mid 2012 15" rMBP before getting the 2016 nTB 13" MBP and I never got the eGPU to work with the internal screen on the 2012. From my research it's because the 2012 has a dedicated GPU. I thought I read somewhere that somebody got it working by disabling the dedicated GPU and I messed around with it for a bit but never got it working right. With the 2016, it was pretty easy to get it working with the internal display.

Both work great though with external displays, and if you have an external display your 2012 will work great with an eGPU.
 
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Can a egpu solution make the 13 ntb handle more external monitors than the officially supported number?
 
Can a egpu solution make the 13 ntb handle more external monitors than the officially supported number?
Each eGPU will enable as many additional displays as it can support itself.

But you might run out of bandwidth depending on what you do (eg, sending 1x full screen uncompressed 4K@60 video to the card will be more than what TB1 can support so it will stutter).
 
Each eGPU will enable as many monitors as it can support itself.

But you might run out of bandwidth depending on what you do (eg, sending 1x full screen uncompressed 4K@60 video to the card will be more than TB1 can support).

Let's say I setup one tb3 port with a dock like the owc one, with 2 external monitors plugged in.

Can I use the other port with the egpu and attach eventually another 1/2 monitors?
 
Let's say I setup one tb3 port with a dock like the owc one, with 2 external monitors plugged in.

Can I use the other port with the egpu and attach eventually another 1/2 monitors?
I tested my 2011 MBP with 1 built-in display + 1 built-in external (dock) + 2 displays from 1 eGPU.
 
I tested my 2011 MBP with 1 built-in display + 1 built-in external + 2 displays from 1 eGPU.
That's nice, so basically using tb3 should have enough bandwidth for this setup, also with some 4k display.

Thanks for your feedback
 
That's nice, so basically using tb3 should have enough bandwidth for this setup, also with some 4k display.

Thanks for your feedback
I have some sleep issue with my eGPU on the Mac. I will try using some software to prevent sleep.
 
Each eGPU will enable as many additional displays as it can support itself.

But you might run out of bandwidth depending on what you do (eg, sending 1x full screen uncompressed 4K@60 video to the card will be more than what TB1 can support so it will stutter).

Luckily Thunderbolt 3 is around 4 times faster than Thunderbolt 1...
 
13" 2016 works with internal display on OSX?

Only in Windows. There's a trick by using a display adapter-to-no-where to make the eGPU accelerate an app in window mode, then drag it into the internal display in macOS - details here.

Another update on AKiTiO Node eGPU - it is now working with all 3 generations of Thunderbolt Macs.

akitio-node-thunderbolt-3-egpu-late-2016-13-macbook-pro-macos.png


akitio-node-thunderbolt-3-egpu-2016-15-macbook-pro-macos.png


akitio-node-macbook-pro-17-tb3-tb3-adapter-macos.png


akitio-node-2015-macbook-air-11-tb3-tb2-adapter-macos.png
 
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Only in Windows. There's a trick by using a display adapter-to-no-where to make the eGPU accelerate an app in window mode, then drag it into the internal display in macOS - details here.

Another update on AKiTiO Node eGPU - it is now working with all 3 generations of Thunderbolt Macs.

Do you think that scene is gonna change anytime soon? I mean, eGPU with internal display in OSX without having an external monitor at all, even for the trick?

And I'm guessing that's a macOS limitation, correct? Even with the Razer Core, result would be the same?
 
Do you think that scene is gonna change anytime soon? I mean, eGPU with internal display in OSX without having an external monitor at all, even for the trick?

And I'm guessing that's a macOS limitation, correct? Even with the Razer Core, result would be the same?

Without Apple's blessing it's not changing as quick as we would like. The AKiTiO Node is the best eGPU enclosure for a Mac atm the moment. With the latest firmware, all you have to do is automate-eGPU script by Goalque and it's ready to go. Older Thunderbolt 3 enclosures such as the Razer Core and Thunder3 have unsupported Thunderbolt controllers so you need to run TB3-enabler first.

But is 3D acceleration working (on 2016)?

Yes it is working on the Late 2016 MacBook Pro. Here's a detailed post with video and benchmarks on Thunderbolt eGPU for Mac.
 
Without Apple's blessing it's not changing as quick as we would like. The AKiTiO Node is the best eGPU enclosure for a Mac atm the moment. With the latest firmware, all you have to do is automate-eGPU script by Goalque and it's ready to go. Older Thunderbolt 3 enclosures such as the Razer Core and Thunder3 have unsupported Thunderbolt controllers so you need to run TB3-enabler first.



Yes it is working on the Late 2016 MacBook Pro. Here's a detailed post with video and benchmarks on Thunderbolt eGPU for Mac.

Thanks!
 
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I would like to run 2 5K displays on my macbook pro 2016 13" and have the MBP in clamshell mode while I do this. Is this something that an eGPU would enable me to do?
 
Can some one post results of Rift or Vive with MBP 13 + eGPU? How the connections will be (windows on external drive, USB connections for VR head set, charging the laptop).

Which eGPU enclosure would be good with this setup? Akitio Thunder3 or Node?

Would 8GB RAM on MBP be sufficient or its safe to go 16GB?

In this video he's tried a TB2 with TB2 eGPU enclosure, and gets 75 FPS on Oculus. Its a 2014 15' MBP with TB2.

Sorry about too many questions, I tried searching but could not find answers for all my questions.
 
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