eGPU crashes my macbook pro when plugged in

@bonafidel7

How does your machine handle boot up? I'm like @hexsus, if I boot up with the eGPU on, it will crash continually for no apparent reason and with no apparent synchronicity. It also does crazy things to the screen as @hexsus shows in that other post. This happens even with the current power setups and port plugins that I have upgraded to. I am completely convinced that this is an issue inside the Macbook Pro and has something to do with how the OS is managing the usb-c and power buses.

When I boot up with the eGPU off and the let the MBP sit alone for a little while and emotionally prepare itself to connect to another very complicated entity, the joining together, so far, is peaceful with zero tantrums. More seriously, I think this means that the MBP works thru all it's boot processes and has nothing processing and it's only then that the OS seems to be able to handle interfacing with the eGPU.

As I said above...I really don't expect to see this issue resolved. A new MBP model will fix the issue and those of us with eGPU's, which is most likely a very small population, will have to either abandon eGPU's entirely for our current platforms or we keep the eGPU's and upgrade to the new platforms that have fixed the OS issues. At this point, I need more computing power anyway so I'm thinking that the eGPU is going to stay online and I'm going to upgrade to the next gen MBP when I becomes apparent that eGPU support has been fixed.

@pLlave

"emotionally prepare itself..." LMAO

Sorry to hear that. I can't believe y'all are having issues this severe.

I do not experience boot issues or the erratic behavior mentioned.

I have FileVault turned on, so the eGPU and screens don't get recognized until I've logged in. I don't recommend this as a solution, it's just my setup for security reasons.

I had the first MBP gen with USB-C/TB3 - late 2016 15", and used that with a similar eGPU setup I have now. I vaguely recall having a few issues early on, but those stabilized after a few OS updates and I'm pretty sure I did a clean install at some point.

It's a shame any newer MBPs are not more stabile and capable of working seamlessly with eGPUs.

I'm thinking you are correct about the OS and it's ability to work with USB-C/TB3 controllers in these MBPs.

Since I had success with that early gen MBP w/TB3, I'm thinking it's more the fault of the current OS (Big Sur).

Something has been broken between the OS and the Auto-graphics switching... maybe.

Here's what my latest test revealed-

I'll unplug my eGPU without safely disconnecting (since that's the only way to prevent the MBP from sh*tting itself).

After that, the MBP seems to be unable to switch or engage the Discrete GPU built in.

I'll launch Final Cut, games, Adobe stuff, and nothing will turn on the Discrete GPU after I've unplugged the eGPU.

It'll use the Intel gfx for everything until I reboot.

I just noticed this and need to do more testing, stay tuned.

I may open a support ticket with this new information and see what happens...

[Edited by Moderator]

Adding system log entries from around the time of the last crash. Nothing in Crash/Spin/Log/DiagMac Analysis Data around the time of the last crash.

Same issue here macbook pro 13 2020, connected to egpu with radeon 580. Crashes when connecting egpu, works fine after reboot.

exactly same problem here with 2019 Macbook Pro and 2018 mac mini running catilina 10.15.6, freeze and crashed every time eGPU was connected (Radeon 580 in a Akitio enclosure)

Just tried using the eGPU on Big Sur - no luck. It works on hot-plug but crashes on removal. That behaviour I know from non-Apple hardware but did not expect to face this with official Apple hardware

No crashes since Magic Window 4K update. In my case that appeared to have been the issue, Magic Window 4K app incompatibility with Big Sur first release.