[GUIDE] Win10/11 solutions for eGPU detection, BSOD, crashin... (2024)

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STEP 1: getting eGPU detected and functional - general consolidated knowledge from numerous forum posts

Warning: you may avoid BIOS updates and/or Windows Updates along with which often non-reversible TB3/TB4/USB4 firmware updates are applied after which have had reports of broken eGPU functionality. eg: HP EliteBook/ZBooks have a Lock BIOS Version BIOS option to prevent this.

Still, here's some troubleshooting steps for your consideration to see if can coax your eGPU into action:

1. On Intel systems I use, I set BIOS Thunderbolt security = Disabled, Thunderbolt Boot Support = enabled, VT-D/Virtualization=disabled. Worth checking if your BIOS has any equivalent USB4v1 settings
2. test your eGPU hardware works by attaching to any TB3/TB4/USB4v1 system and see if the GPU is detected and works
3. Per Buyer's Guide footnote about TB3/TB4/USB4 cable quality to ensure stable & uninterrupted connection with your system:
   

   USB4 systems have stricter USB4-certified cable requirements where these are confirmed to give full performance: Anker 515 1m USB4 cable, Belkin Connect USB4 cable, Cable Matters 40Gbps USB4 cable, Orico 2m active TB3, Satechi USB4 Pro cable, Spigen 0.8m USB4 cable, SKY USB4 4k 240w cable, Ultunite USB4 cable.

4. if eGPU works but under extended use load see drop outs/BSODS, try:
   - attach a different PSU, PCIe wiring and/or reseat wiring to ensure continuous, ripple-free 12V can be supplied to eGPU
   - use MSI Afterburner to undervolting/downclock your GPU to 70% factory values in case it's ASIC/VRAM is operating beyond it's stable point, also lessening power draw requirements in case your PSU is being overloaded
5. create a Linux Ubuntu Live USB stick, boot it and see if the eGPU is detected to confirm hardware is functional, bypassing Windows OS drivers/quirks as described here

Windows-centric software tweaking

1. (optional) suggest use WinToUSB to create a fresh test Win10 or Win11 installation as is preferred on an external USB drive to leave your production Windows installation untainted by testing
2. disable Parsec, something that has shown to interfere with eGPU operation
3. disable bitlocker, something that has shown to prevent eGPU devices being presented to Windows
4. remove Intel Thunderbolt Control Panel/Centre app that may get auto-installed by MS Store
5. boot in Safe Mode and do eGPU detection / driver installation without GeForce Experience
6. perform a Snappy Driver Installer Lite Scan to do a driver update
7. for Nvidia eGPUs, run nvidia-error43-fixer if the eGPU has an error code 43 against it. If not, for good measure modify nvidia-error43-fixer.bat as described below and run it anyway (sourced fix from here):
   

   I ran the error43 fixer script just to try it out. It didn't do anything since no NVIDIA GPU in state 43 was found. After that I had a look into the .bat file and commented the lines 130 + 131 out, like so (lines 129 - 132 below):

   :: Check if adapter has error code 43. If not, exit subroutine
   :: call devset status "%HW_id%" | findstr "code 43" > nul
   :: if errorlevel 1 goto :EOF
   set NV_ERR43_FOUND=1

   See Also

   KISS MAGAZINE / FANZINE - STRIKE 32 - 32 pages A4 - ITALY 1994 - M003299 • EUR 5,00

   and ran it again. Now it modified the registry anyway. Suddenly the external displays were detected on the eGPU.

8. For AMD eGPUs on systems with AMD iGPUs, sideload the iGPU driver to get eGPU functional as discussed at https://www.reddit.com/r/LegionGo/comments/1b7bee0/guide_how_to_sideload_amd_780m_graphics_driver/

6. Resolving error code 43 when trying to get Nvidia mobile/Tesla/Quadro/Prof-RTX dGPU + Geforce eGPU working concurrently

If running nvidia-error43-fixer does not clear an error code 43 against a Nvidia GPU, this may be due to a requirement to have a unified Nvidia driver to service all GPUs. Details below:

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9. Disable Resizable BAR with Nvidia Profiler Inspector

If you are having a stuttering issue with a specific game and a modern Nvidia GPU, a possible solution is to use the third party application Nvidia Profile Inspector to disable Resizable BARfor that title:

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