eGPU doesn't get used by EEVEE on Windows (Mac / Bootcamp) #74352

New Issue

Mirko Santangelo · 2020-03-02T05:24:51+01:00

Mirko Santangelo commented

2020-03-02 05:24:51 +01:00

System Information
Operating system: Windows 10 1903 (Bootcamp)
Graphics card: Radeon RX 560, Radeon RX Vega 64
Device: Macbook Pro 15" 2018

Blender Version
Broken: 2.82

Short description of error
While using a eGPU on Windows 10 via Bootcamp, Blender doesn't use the external GPU to accelerate and power EEVEE. No matter if the Blender Graphic Setting preferences are set to High Performance, ergo utilizing the RX Vega 64 in any scenario. Missing usage of the external GPU can be tracked via the Task Manager -> Performance Tab. (See screenshots).

**Note 1:**Cycles on Windows/OpenCL recognize and uses the external GPU with no issue as expected.

Note 2: On Mac OS Catalina, EEVEE can use the external GPU as expected by enabling the option 'Prefer External GPU'.

So the problem affects only Windows when an external GPU is used for EEVEE only.

Exact steps for others to reproduce the error

Open Blender and launch a rendering with EEVEE
Check GPU usage through Task Manager
On any operating during rendering the external GPU is not used at all.

**System Information** Operating system: Windows 10 1903 (Bootcamp) Graphics card: Radeon RX 560, Radeon RX Vega 64 Device: Macbook Pro 15" 2018 **Blender Version** Broken: 2.82 **Short description of error** While using a eGPU on Windows 10 via Bootcamp, Blender doesn't use the external GPU to accelerate and power EEVEE. No matter if the Blender Graphic Setting preferences are set to High Performance, ergo utilizing the RX Vega 64 in any scenario. Missing usage of the external GPU can be tracked via the Task Manager -> Performance Tab. (See screenshots). **Note 1:**Cycles on Windows/OpenCL recognize and uses the external GPU with no issue as expected. **Note 2:** On Mac OS Catalina, EEVEE can use the external GPU as expected by enabling the option 'Prefer External GPU'. So the problem affects only Windows when an external GPU is used for EEVEE only. ![Annotation 2020-03-01 232325.jpg](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8382907/Annotation_2020-03-01_232325.jpg) ![Annotation 2020-03-01 232145.jpg](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8382906/Annotation_2020-03-01_232145.jpg) **Exact steps for others to reproduce the error** - Open Blender and launch a rendering with EEVEE - Check GPU usage through Task Manager - On any operating during rendering the external GPU is not used at all.

Mirko Santangelo commented

2020-03-02 05:24:51 +01:00

Added subscriber: @mix1189

Jeroen Bakker commented

2020-03-02 11:46:47 +01:00

Added subscriber: @Jeroen-Bakker

Jeroen Bakker commented

2020-03-02 11:46:47 +01:00

Changed status from 'Needs Triage' to: 'Needs User Info'

Jeroen Bakker commented

2020-03-02 11:46:47 +01:00

@mix1189: have you selected the eGPU to be the primary GPU before starting Blender. OpenGL only works on primary GPU. Most OS's have this option (similar to the Prefer External GPU option).
Please attach the system-info.txt generated from Blenders help menu. This will show what GPU the OS has selected to use as primary GPU.

@mix1189: have you selected the eGPU to be the primary GPU before starting Blender. OpenGL only works on primary GPU. Most OS's have this option (similar to the `Prefer External GPU` option). Please attach the system-info.txt generated from Blenders help menu. This will show what GPU the OS has selected to use as primary GPU.

Mirko Santangelo commented

2020-03-02 23:38:09 +01:00

Hi Jeroen,
yes, I set the eGPU to be primary for Blender using the recommended Windows feature via the Graphic Settings.

See link: https://www.howtogeek.com/351522/how-to-choose-which-gpu-a-game-uses-on-windows-10

Here's a copy of the system-info.txt from my Blender. I noticed that the Radeon RX 560 is used as the main rendered on the OPEN GL section.

system-info.txt

The expected result should be the RX Vega 64. Apparently Blender is ignoring the option set in Windows.

Hi Jeroen, yes, I set the eGPU to be primary for Blender using the recommended Windows feature via the Graphic Settings. See link: [[ https://www.howtogeek.com/351522/how-to-choose-which-gpu-a-game-uses-on-windows-10 ]] Here's a copy of the system-info.txt from my Blender. I noticed that the Radeon RX 560 is used as the main rendered on the OPEN GL section. [system-info.txt](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8384150/system-info.txt) The expected result should be the RX Vega 64. Apparently Blender is ignoring the option set in Windows.

Germano Cavalcante commented

2020-03-11 19:59:54 +01:00

Changed status from 'Needs User Info' to: 'Needs Triage'

Germano Cavalcante commented

2020-03-12 12:47:30 +01:00

Added subscriber: @mano-wii

Germano Cavalcante commented

2020-03-12 12:47:30 +01:00

I have experience in choosing the GPU that is used in Blender.
Using Graphics Settings is one way, but you can also use Radeon's own utilities.
The times I had a problem with this were due to poor driver installation.

For information on installing the latest graphics driver see https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/dev/troubleshooting/gpu/index.html

Operating system: Windows-10-10.0.18941 64 Bits
Graphics card: Radeon (TM) RX 480 Graphics ATI Technologies Inc. 4.5.13586 Core Profile Context 19.50.01.05 26.20.15001.5006

I have experience in choosing the GPU that is used in Blender. Using Graphics Settings is one way, but you can also use Radeon's own utilities. The times I had a problem with this were due to poor driver installation. For information on installing the latest graphics driver see https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/dev/troubleshooting/gpu/index.html --- **Operating system:** Windows-10-10.0.18941 64 Bits **Graphics card:** Radeon (TM) RX 480 Graphics ATI Technologies Inc. 4.5.13586 Core Profile Context 19.50.01.05 26.20.15001.5006

Germano Cavalcante commented

2020-03-12 12:47:48 +01:00

Changed status from 'Needs Triage' to: 'Needs User Info'

Mirko Santangelo commented

2020-03-13 02:14:47 +01:00

Hey @mano-wii ,
thanks for the tip but unfortunately this doesn't seem to be the root of the issue.

I ran some tests and made the following findings. Worth to mention that I've updated my setup with a NVIDIA 2070 Super and I have the same exact problem.

I did a clean install of all the drivers on my Macbook Pro, using DDD (Both AMD and NVIDIA drivers). I've also tested multiple NVIDIA driver versions, but got the same results, aka, no eGPU acceleration for Blender while using only the internal display. I'm already on the latest NVIDIA drivers.
Basic 3D apps, like Paint 3D seems to work and properly use the eGPU via the internal display. (I set their graphic preferences via Windows Graphic Setting).
Using the NVIDIA control panel I've set my 3D settings to be forced to use the 2070 Super and the High Performance Mode (Global and Blender.exe). Blender seems to ignore these settings as well.

Now's here where things get interesting...I connected an external monitor to the eGPU and set the latter as my primary display. Launching Blender from the external monitor will let it use the eGPU as expected (Alongside the laptop dGPU, which is not optimal).
After moving the main Blender window from the external display into the laptop internal display, Blender will still use the acceleration from the eGPU.
Unplugging the external monitor, without closing the Blender window, will keep the Blender viewport on the eGPU acceleration. But relaunching Blender from the internal display will still ignore the eGPU.

So looks like Blender is not capable to use the eGPU to accelerate the viewport on Windows (ignoring any option from Windows Graphic Setting and the NVIDIA dedicated panel), if opened from the internal laptop display without any external monitor connected.

I'm attaching two system info reports that have been generated by using only the internal display and the both internal and external displays.

system-info-2070-internal-only.txt

system-info-2070-external-display.txt

Hey @mano-wii , thanks for the tip but unfortunately this doesn't seem to be the root of the issue. I ran some tests and made the following findings. Worth to mention that I've updated my setup with a **NVIDIA 2070 Super and I have the same exact problem.** 1. I did a clean install of all the drivers on my Macbook Pro, using DDD (Both AMD and NVIDIA drivers). I've also tested multiple NVIDIA driver versions, but got the same results, aka, no eGPU acceleration for Blender while using only the internal display. I'm already on the latest NVIDIA drivers. 2. Basic 3D apps, like Paint 3D seems to work and properly use the eGPU via the internal display. (I set their graphic preferences via Windows Graphic Setting). 3. Using the NVIDIA control panel I've set my 3D settings to be forced to use the 2070 Super and the High Performance Mode (Global and Blender.exe). Blender seems to ignore these settings as well. ---------------------------- 4. **Now's here where things get interesting**...I connected an external monitor to the eGPU and set the latter as my primary display. Launching Blender from the external monitor will let it use the eGPU as expected (Alongside the laptop dGPU, which is not optimal). 5. After moving the main Blender window from the external display into the laptop internal display, Blender will still use the acceleration from the eGPU. 6. Unplugging the external monitor, without closing the Blender window, will keep the Blender viewport on the eGPU acceleration. But relaunching Blender from the internal display will still ignore the eGPU. So looks like Blender is not capable to use the eGPU to accelerate the viewport on Windows (ignoring any option from Windows Graphic Setting and the NVIDIA dedicated panel), if opened from the internal laptop display without any external monitor connected. I'm attaching two system info reports that have been generated by using only the internal display and the both internal and external displays. [system-info-2070-internal-only.txt](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8402978/system-info-2070-internal-only.txt) [system-info-2070-external-display.txt](https://archive.blender.org/developer/F8402977/system-info-2070-external-display.txt)

Philipp Oeser commented

2020-03-20 14:15:41 +01:00

Changed status from 'Needs User Info' to: 'Needs Triage'

Germano Cavalcante commented

2020-03-20 14:48:28 +01:00

On my laptop with a dedicated and integrated video card it works normally.
Apparently it takes a developer with a multi-GPU setup to test.

On my laptop with a dedicated and integrated video card it works normally. Apparently it takes a developer with a multi-GPU setup to test.

Alejandro Martinez commented

2020-05-21 18:17:07 +02:00

Added subscriber: @Alej

Alejandro Martinez commented

2020-05-21 18:17:07 +02:00

Have you tried plugging a 'ghost' HDMI or DP headless dongle on the eGPU?

I'm on a path to get into Blender full-on and had similar questions about how this is all working out
Have seen several videos and forums where it would fix similar issues on other softwares (mostly MacOS editing suites mind you, but I think it would be the same).

(Check on amazon for HDMI Headless Dongle, not expensive at all)

Have you tried plugging a 'ghost' HDMI or DP headless dongle on the eGPU? I'm on a path to get into Blender full-on and had similar questions about how this is all working out Have seen several videos and forums where it would fix similar issues on other softwares (mostly MacOS editing suites mind you, but I think it would be the same). (Check on amazon for HDMI Headless Dongle, not expensive at all)

Clément Foucault commented

2020-07-02 01:07:45 +02:00

Changed status from 'Needs Triage' to: 'Needs Developer To Reproduce'

Ethan Sherriff commented

2020-07-08 00:27:06 +02:00

Added subscriber: @EthanSherriff

Richard Antalik commented

2020-11-26 18:06:24 +01:00

Added subscriber: @iss

Richard Antalik commented

2020-11-26 18:06:24 +01:00

@mix1189 I am looking at older reports, is this still an issue? Or have anything changed?

Philipp Oeser removed the

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eGPU doesn't get used by EEVEE on Windows (Mac / Bootcamp) #74352