I have been holding off on upgrading to Catalina because of the issues I have seen posted regarding booting with an EGPU connected. I have a 2018 Mac mini with a Razer Core X EGPU box containing an RX580.
I was wondering if the latest update to Catalina (10.15.2) fixes these issues.
Mac mini 2018 or later
Kappy wrote:
Whatever changes are in 10.15.2 are listed here: What has changed in Catalina 10.15.2?.
If you want to ask about specific problems with your eGPU, then please state them. You are not using an Apple product, so you should direct your questions to the manufacturer. Razer does not make Apple compatible hardware, and may not be aware there are problems.
Nope, no specific problems with my eGPU at the moment. I would have stated so if I did have some. I'm trying to prevent them from occurring by not installing Catalina until those problems posted on the web have been fixed.
Some examples:
https://www.cultofmac.com/658768/macos-catalina-egpu-issues/
https://www.imore.com/macos-catalina-causing-problems-external-gpus
And, actually, Razer does make Mac compatible products. Regarding my eGPU chassis, the Core X, this is what Razer says:
"Does the Razer Core X work with a Mac?
Yes, they are compatible with Thunderbolt 3 Macs running macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 or later and requires a compatible AMD graphics card."
However, you are correct that they may not 'know' that problems have cropped up since Catalina.
And, from Apples support article https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208544
"AMD Radeon RX 470, RX 480, RX 570, RX 580, and Radeon Pro WX 7100
These graphics cards are based on the AMD Polaris architecture. Recommended graphics cards include the Sapphire Pulse series and the AMD WX series.
Recommended Thunderbolt 3 chassis for these graphics cards:
So, per Apple the RX 580 combined with the Razer Core X should be compatible with the Mac. And it has been up to the release of Catalina.
Please read Writing an effective Apple Support Communities question. We are here to help. We are all users. We are not mind-readers nor clairvoyants. We only know what you write down and tell us. Be specific and thorough. Include your hardware information and installed version of macOS.
I could have been more clear in my question. Instead of "I was wondering if the latest update to Catalina (10.15.2) fixes these issues." I should have asked: "Did the 10.15.2 update fix the problem with some Macs not being able to boot when connected to an eGPU using an RX580 and running Catalina." I assumed anyone that either was having this problem or had read about it would understand what I was talking about. My bad. I hope this post provides you sufficient information so that you don't have to be clairvoyant.
FYI: These are user-only forums. You are not speaking to Apple. if you need to speak with Apple Support, then contact product and tech support: Contacting Apple for support and service including international calling numbers.
Yep, 100% aware of this. I wanted to crowd source the answer. Figured that there are a lot more 'users' than 'Apple Support' out there that might either have experienced this problem or run across an article where someone said it was fixed. Especially since I have not seen an 'official' admission from Apple that the problem exists. There may be one, but I have not run across it.
No difference here. Still must boot with eGPU off. Wait ~20-30sec. Turn eGPU on. See login screen.
Have signed up for the Apple beta program (beta.apple.com). Will send feedback via their 'Feedback Assistant' app.
Will look at Intel NUCs.
Shutdown the mini this morning an hour or so after booting with eGPU off, waiting and turning eGPU on. Left the eGPU switched 'on' - though it 'soft' powers off when the mini shuts down. Spent 3 hours snorkeling. Came home and, for grins, powered up the mini with the eGPU still 'on'. Black screen. Stepped away for a minute or two and came back to find the login screen! To be clear: on/off switch on the eGPU was left 'on' and the mini powered down.
It's been a long time since that worked. I'm not ready to do the happy dance yet, but I can hear the music. Faintly. If it holds through the weekend ...
That said, I still wouldn't trust this setup on a production machine. For what it's worth: 2018 mini i7/32g RAM; Razer Core X w/ PowerColor 5700 XT; Dell U2718Q. Mini -> Core X via TB3 -> Dell via DisplayPort. There were multiple restarts during .3 install. An SMC reset after the install. And a couple more shutdown/startup cycles between then and now. Maybe that's what it takes. <shrug/>
Mac mini 2018
Sonet Breakaway box
5700 XT
Just installed 10.15.3 this morning and the EGPU issues are gone!
I can boot up with the EGPU connected, no issues at all!
Happy to finally see this working after so many months
Same here ... after successfully booting yesterday, today nothing. Well not exactly: booted to a gray screen. Shutdown and tried again. Back to black screen.
If it's your mini (not a work system), sign up for Apple's beta program: beta.apple.com
You'll get a dedicated feedback app. It sends relevant system logs along with your description and screen shots (if you care to include them). If nothing else it will let Apple know the extent of the issue. It's not like anyone is reporting this in the mainstream tech media. No pressure there.
It's hit or miss. Booted with eGPU on this morning (flashy screen -> login screen). Black screen again on boot this afternoon. Not ready for primetime.
It seems that if I get the gray screen there's a possibility it may continue to login. The screen flashes like it's trying to find sync and eventually hits. Black screen, I might as well power everything off and do the 2-step boot (mini first then eGPU after a short wait).
DisplayPort video looks crisper than HDMI at 4K for me. HDMI only as a last resort ... or when BOOTCAMPing.
No change.
Mac Mini 2018, i7 6-core, 64GB RAM
ASUS XG Station Pro
MSI RX5700 connected to 30-inch monitor via DisplayPort
Unplugged eGPU. Plugged monitor directly into McMini using HDMI. Ran the 10.15.3 update. Rebuilt PRAM and SMC. Ran the setup without eGPU for a few days for it to settle down. Rebuilt PRAM and SMC.
Finally plugged the eGPU in and ran it the usual way (turn-on Mini first, then turn-on eGPU after 30 sec delay). Everything appears to work okay.
Do a few hours of work and select restart on the MacOS menubar…
Black screen of death. Nothing has changed.
---
Because this has dragged on so long over so manu updates, I can only assume that some higher-up has decided to cripple the mac-mini/ eGPU combo in order to not cut into profits from selling more expensive hardware.
Am also amazed at the committed silence from the usual Mac/ Apple news-sites. Complicit? Payola? "Minigate"?...
Without taking a poll, I wonder how many people are affected. To be more precise, how many people are driving a mini with only one display connected to an eGPU. The only other Mac without a display is the MacPro. Multiple monitors there most likely. Laptops and iMacs have a builtin monitor. So that leaves this community who don't have a second monitor plugged in. I offer this up because ...
I've found a cheap solution. I was about to drag out an old 1080p LCD TV and hook it up to the HDMI port on the mini (two displays: 1 through the eGPU and 1 directly connected via HDMI). I was curious to see what exactly was going on when I attempted keying in my login credentials when the mini booted to a black screen: I could hear the 'boink' of the keystrokes. I don't have desk real estate for 2 monitors, but then remembered that I'd purchased an HDMI plug that tricked my old mini into thinking it had a screen attached (let me screen share that box which is doing duty as a file server).
In a nutshell, the mini boots looking for an HDMI connection. If it can't find one for some reason it doesn't failover to the eGPU. The plug tricks it into thinking there is an HDMI connection and lights up the eGPU connected screen. I still have to blindly type in my username/password (login takes place on the HDMI phantom screen), but then shifts to the eGPU. YOU WILL have to fiddle with the 'Displays' preferences to get the menu bar to appear on the eGPU display, but that sticks across boots.
Bottom line is it seems to be the way Apple mashed Displays/Spaces together in Catalina.
Second try:
I was thinking it's a 'feature': You know, security and all. Require a directly connected display to login. I just picked HDMI because I don't have 2 monitors that support DisplayPort (and the fakeHDMI dongle is easy to plug/unplug relative to a cable and monitor).
It's a toss up as to the which method is easier (2-step power-up vs. blind typing login info on a phantom display). I've got a game (Civ VI) that black screens randomly since Catalina. Haven't had time to test it with this setup, but was hoping it might cure it. Or at least point to something happening 'off screen'.
Probably have to look at screensharing this mini to solve that one though. Or actually hookup that TV.
Thanks aaquino3. Doesn't appear to work if eGPU is connected to monitor's DisplayPort. I get the Catalina background with no login boxes. Blind typing at this point still works to bring up the desktop.
HDMI incorporates HDCP. Catalina may use this security layer for the login screen. Or not.
I’m using the DisplayPort on my eGPU. And it works just fine.
The way your Display Preferences is set sounds like it’s extended. That’s why you’re blind typing because the login screen is on the other screen.
Did you select “Mirror Displays” in the Arrangement Tab of the Display Preferences?
"Mirror Displays" is set. The HDMI emulator plug is 1080p. Didn't notice earlier. Good enough for running a headless mini file server. And giving me the blind boot option on this mini. I wonder if a 4K HDMI plug is needed to make your setup work? Have to add one to the next Amazon order I guess.
My monitor is 4K (native resolution). Running at 4K through eGPU DisplayPort.
If I screen share my mini to a MacBook Pro I see both displays with the 'HDMI' display 1/4 the size of the main display. If I set the mini to "Mirror Displays" there is only one (the main display). Not sure how it would map a 1080p (2K) display to a 4K display in mirrored mode. Random thought: I should try using the display preference offer of 2K instead of selecting the monitor's resolution.
At any rate, I ordered the 4K plug from Amazon. Shipping is more expensive than the plug. Should be here by Monday.
I'm hesitant to start swapping cables (per your description) as everything is behind or under something else. Just a major pain.
Thats my thought as well, I'm not sure how the mini would map a 1080 to a 4k display in mirror mode.
I was on the same boat as you when it comes to swapping cables. But these eGPU issues has been bothering me so I just had to try to find a solution.
I'd love to help you by trying every solution there is out there. But I don't have a 4k monitor.
Good luck!
Thanks for the link and ordered the blind HDMI plug. Will be interesting to see if it works.
In the interrrim I'm going to try something else: I have a DisplayPort cable running from the eGPU and HDMI from the mac Mini. Will plug both cables into my 4K 30-inch monitor and do the mirrored desktops trick.
I'm running Catalina 10.15.3 on my Mac Mini 2018. I have an eGPU (AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 running inside a Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650. It boots up with a blank screen. So far I've been unplugging the USC-C to the eGPU unit and connecting the HDMI cable between the Mac Mini and monitor to get the log in prompt. Once I log in and it finishes loading, disconnect the HDMI and then reconnect the USB-C. Quite a pain. I will try some of the recommends I've read about keeping the eGPU off for a few minutes after start up and then turning it on. That will be a little better work around until they fix this. Hope they fix this soon. Thanks.
Are EGPU issues fixed in 10.15.2 Catalina
