2018 Mac Mini with Radeon RX580 eGPU: connecting Thunderbolt monitor to eGPU not working

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2018 Mac Mini with Radeon RX580 eGPU: connecting Thunderbolt monitor to eGPU not working

Hi! I have a 2018 Mac Mini and am still using my 2014 Apple Thunderbolt display. I just got a Radeon RX580 in a Razer Core X box to support it. Currently the eGPU is connected to the Mac Mini by USB-C, and the monitor is connected to the Mac via a Thunderbolt-to-USB-C adaptor.

If I connect the display to the eGPU using a Thunderbolt-to-HDMI adaptor and restart, the display remains black. Is there any way to use the Thunderbolt display connected directly to the eGPU?

Mac mini, macOS 10.14

Posted on Jul 11, 2019 8:11 AM

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Answer 1

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Malcolm J. Rayfield

Level 7

23,095 points

Jul 11, 2019 10:34 AM in response to Luke Murphy1

The Thunderbolt display requires a Thunderbolt port (Thunderbolt-3 is you use a Thunderbolt adapter). If the graphics card has no Thunderbolt port (Mini DisplayPort is not Thunderbolt) you will have to connect the display to a port on the Mac Mini via a Thunderbolt adapter. It will still benefit from the eGPU.

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

91,264 points

Jul 11, 2019 8:58 AM in response to Luke Murphy1

Have a look at > Use an external graphics processor with your Mac - Apple Support

near the bottom, the article states

1. If you have a Mac mini (2018) with FileVault turned on, make sure to connect your primary display directly to Mac mini during startup. After you log in and see the macOS Desktop, you can unplug the display from Mac mini and connect it to your eGPU.

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