Mac + eGPU
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Please add your OS and Hardware Configuration in your signature, it makes it easier for us to help you analyze problems. Example: Win 7 64 | Geforce GTX680 | i7 3770 | 16GB
Please add your OS and Hardware Configuration in your signature, it makes it easier for us to help you analyze problems. Example: Win 7 64 | Geforce GTX680 | i7 3770 | 16GB
@Uhlhorn Grounding does make a bit of a difference with splitters causing some issues even on PC builds. If You start messing with eGPU & adding multiple stages between Your computer & GPU, be sure to make the properly!
& by the way, that alternative is around 1k & still (without modifications) house only single GPU.
@Collider it's a tricky topic, 'cos with 4-5 GPus You getting into problems with OS..
If I were to build a a rig for myself, I would hook eGPU (akitio based for trashcan) & then setup render node with possibility to expand up to 4GPUs - this way I would have least amount of troubles.
You have to keep in mind that eGPU via Thunderbolt2 is a workaround, not soemthing officially supported (o very welcome from let's say apple side =)
nope =) no difference.. Signal is capped with x4 on Akitio & then even to x1 if You use some sort of splitter..- cable there doesn't matter at all, maybe just allow You to have longet span between Your device & eGPU (but I haven't tested those long corning cables)Uhlhorn wrote:@glimpse: Hmm, does it help to use an optical Thunderbolt cable?
Thanks for the reply glimpse, your posts have been super helpful, as well as everyone on this list. I'm learning quite a bit in a very short amount of time
*ok - I just found this thread viewtopic.php?f=9&t=53398 - seems to answer a few questions. Your top suggestion it seems in terms of cost/performance would be to build a custom water-cooled PC with 780's (is that still true, or would 980 be better?). I don't want to work on PC, just use as network node, so would there be any difference in motherboards/ram configs?
Can you elaborate on the render node a little bit? What sort of node can I buy/build that will hook up to the trashcan, powerbook or 5k iMac? Or are you talking about a network node, either pc or cheesgrater mac? I've just been concentrating on TB setups, what are my other options? Like most small/med studios, I'm looking for best bang for my buck, expandability, and stability.then setup render node with possibility to expand up to 4GPUs - this way I would have least amount of troubles.
*ok - I just found this thread viewtopic.php?f=9&t=53398 - seems to answer a few questions. Your top suggestion it seems in terms of cost/performance would be to build a custom water-cooled PC with 780's (is that still true, or would 980 be better?). I don't want to work on PC, just use as network node, so would there be any difference in motherboards/ram configs?
7x 980Ti | ASRock EP2C612 WS | Xeon E5-2620 v4 Eight-Core Broadwell Processor 2.1GHz | 64GB DDR4 2133 | water cooled
Amfeltec says, that the AKiTiO box does not support switched splitters. This is the problem.glimpse wrote: I've tried using Akitio + backplane (call it splitter as it takes x1 & splits into 4 x16 mechanical). Worked out fine.
Your issue might be cause by grouding & other things..- anyway, both Thunderbolt part & splitter itself sits in the path of signal & that's most likelly is the problem - these signals are very sensitive. You might end up needing a lot of tinkering to get this work as You wish =)
What backplane do You use?
Strange, 'cos I've used their PCIe backplane plugged into Akitio when I needed to connect custom eGPU box to MacBookAir =) & it worked..but again, I see why Amfeltec do not advice that route (It might take quite a bit of fiddling), Here You can see the box connected (I was limited to two GPUs due to OSX version limitation, but it worked as it should).Uhlhorn wrote:Amfeltec says, that the AKiTiO box does not support switched splitters. This is the problem.glimpse wrote: I've tried using Akitio + backplane (call it splitter as it takes x1 & splits into 4 x16 mechanical). Worked out fine.
Your issue might be cause by grouding & other things..- anyway, both Thunderbolt part & splitter itself sits in the path of signal & that's most likelly is the problem - these signals are very sensitive. You might end up needing a lot of tinkering to get this work as You wish =)
What backplane do You use?
however..I would advice to get one GPU in Akitio & build propper node - this will be cheaper, much more stable & predictable. I'm not sure, but I think OSX has GPU limmit of like 5GPUs anyway (& all of those should be the same). Haven't seen anyone running more yet..& as mentioned, certain OS version drop that number down to two.. (let's say Your OS upgrades while You work & bam - You don't see soem of Your cards anymore =)
What version of OS X do You use? I am actual using 10.11.5, and it is so buggy that I plan to downgrade to 10.11.4. Perhaps the kernel panics are a problem of 10.11.5 only.
Mac OS X El Capitan should support 6 GPUs, because the preferences pane shows 6 slots.
Mac OS X El Capitan should support 6 GPUs, because the preferences pane shows 6 slots.
have to look for sure, but I think it was El Capitan (...4). In the end is not about slot, or so..- there are boot & other issues..it's not about how much You can get conected, but how much You can get working stably. Been playing a lot, but haven't made more than 5work & from what I knwo soem have issues runing even 4..- so it's slippy topic with a lot of things unknown. Jsut wanted to elt You knwo so You would not get upset when gettign all the parts & experience is far from plug'n'play =)
