GTX 1060 performance on 10.13 High Sierra

[izo1]

I'm telling you. I'm just not seeing any of the lag you keep talking about. I typically leave my main system up for weeks at a time between reboots. The only times I reboot are to test something and/or if some software install requires it.

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@thenephilim also reports this issue as well as other forums and users.

I've been using computers since the early 90s, every single day. Macs and PCs. I'm not some new user who just found out about computers :\

You are probably not pushing your machine with every day apps like Adobe stuff to be truly frustrated with nVidia GPUs.

I am about to pick up an RX560 4GB and going to slap that in the system for now until things are better or Vega 64 is more affordable. Will report back of the results in this thread compared to the 980Ti's which I took out. I'm running iGPU now and it's perfect, but I can't get the second monitor to work which is slowing me down with work.

I reverted my MacBook Pro 2014 (750m) to Sierra and it's working flawlessly in terms of Photoshop, Lightroom, etc.

I use 2 monitors:

1: 27" Apple Cinema Display 2560x1440
2: 23" Apple Display 1920x1200 (older model)

The only reason I'm still on macOS is because of the superior UI for design and post production. I can never go to Windows and I'm willing to go through all this trouble just to make this thing work. I'm praying 2018 Mac Pro (big if!) has nVidia and AMD support with PCIe slots. I really need CUDA for certain 3d applications like Octane and Premiere Pro works better with CUDA.

Sierra was perfect for me, but I started developing in VR a bit and need Steam in High Sierra so going back to Sierra is not really a great option at this time, although I have a 2nd SSD I can boot into Sierra any time.

Apple has added eGPU support so they now must be friendly with nVidia...

 

[izo1]

Here's an update.

Note: this is EXACTLY the same system that had the 980Ti's in there. Same install and nothing has changed in terms of software.

1. Bought an XFX RX560 4GB from Best Buy
2. XFX is known to have issues due to very custom VBIOS.
3. Found Sapphire RX560 4GB VBIOS online
4. Flashed XFX RX560 4GB (took 30 seconds).
5. Switched back to SMBIOS 14,2 to enable dual monitor support (I don't want to do the AGDPfix).
6. Booted into High Sierra 10.13.2 (17C205)

Everything works PERFECTLY. Yeah this is a low budget GPU but it's amazing how well it works. I had trouble with iGPU and second monitor and now everything works perfectly fine.

I will keep the 980Ti's for a bit or just put them on sale until things are fixed (Apple has been notified and they are trying to reproduce it). This isn't only caused by the WebDrivers, but also built in nVidia drivers, who's responsibility lies with Apple not nVidia. Apple STILL supports many nVidia based Macs dating back to 2011/2012.

I will most likely go to Vega 64 water cooled if the prices drop a bit in the future. For now the RX560 is ok for what I do under macOS.

I did not go with RX580 because I don't like it's performance and it costs too much for what it does.

Honestly it feels like a totally different computer now. It's so fast a fluid like it used to be under Sierra and El Capitan.

I can't wait until .4 and .5 and .6 for High Sierra, it will be smooooooth by then and "hopefully" nVidia issues are fixed, and they should be since eGPU is now officially supported.

So I hope this helps people who are having headaches. Please look into a cheap RX560 for now or iGPU if you are using a single monitor (however I advise against it, iGPU is usually crappy)

 

[macbrush]

4K display definitely is part of the problem. As I mentioned in another post, I have a 1440p and a 2160p display, whole UI would suddenly become extremely sluggish while I am using FCPX, sometimes moving the window around or drag to another display will solve it, sometimes I have to quit FCPX altogether and wait for a min or 2; during those laggy moments, my 1080Ti would sudden used over 9GB of VRAM. If I disconnect the 4K display, I don't have such problem at all.

And if I want full speed over Compressor, I'll have to turn off the 4K display, otherwise I am adding at least 30% - 50% to the processing time.

one thing: users reports for HS stability with NVIDIA have a 4k-display. You have 4k too, as i can see. @kgp, for exapmple uses 4k-display and reports no issues too. if it not a second display - everything runs smooth.

look to this https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8141739?start=0&tstart=0

 

[izo1]

4K display definitely is part of the problem. As I mentioned in another post, I have a 1440p and a 2160p display, whole UI would suddenly become extremely sluggish while I am using FCPX, sometimes moving the window around or drag to another display will solve it, sometimes I have to quit FCPX altogether and wait for a min or 2; during those laggy moments, my 1080Ti would sudden used over 9GB of VRAM. If I disconnect the 4K display, I don't have such problem at all.

And if I want full speed over Compressor, I'll have to turn off the 4K display, otherwise I am adding at least 30% - 50% to the processing time.

I'm not using 4k, I'm on 1440p and 1200p (2 monitors). I don't have a 4k monitor but would love to test it with the RX560 if that helps anyone.

You mentioned it uses 9GB VRAM sometimes that is DEFINITELY some type of leak and a big bug with nVidia. It shouldn't be using that amount of RAM for anything. Not even high end games with insane hi-res textures use that much RAM on full load at 4k.

So far on this RX560 everythings super smooth. I don't plan to do VR or game with this machine right now just need it for work. I wish I got an RX580 at least, but the prices are ridiculous so I'll just wait for Vega 64 or until Apple or nVidia fixes these issues.

 

[Gaulomatic]

I had serious issues with nVidia GPUs and HS as well, things are getting really out of control when using scaled resolutions. This applies to Keppler, Maxwell and Pascal GPUs alike. Especially Electron apps are near to unusable.

So I switched out all my (in principle not so bad) nVidia crap for an AMD Vega 64. WOW! That's is a difference! Everything runs butter smooth, the UI is back to normal and in fact even much better than in Sierra on nVidia. It runs OOB, even HDMI audio is natively supported.

I can highly recommend this card(s) - if available!

 

[izo1]

I had serious issues with nVidia GPUs and HS as well, things are getting really out of control when using scaled resolutions. This applies to Keppler, Maxwell and Pascal GPUs alike. Especially Electron apps are near to unusable.

So I switched out all my (in principle not so bad) nVidia crap for an AMD Vega 64. WOW! That's is a difference! Everything runs butter smooth, the UI is back to normal and in fact even much better than in Sierra on nVidia. It runs OOB, even HDMI audio is natively supported.

I can highly recommend this card(s) - if available!

Totally understand you now, I know you posted about this before.

I was hesitant but I got a lowly RX card for now 'till Vega 64 (water cooled) prices aren't insane.

The GOOD NEWS is Apple is aware of this issue and they are trying to reproduce it. It is not a WebDriver issue, even their native nVidia drivers have this issue on Macs still supported. Apple stopped using nVidia after the GPU glitch debacle so from 2015 they've been only using AMD. I can't say any more about this but expect the issue to be resolved soon (I hope).

@Majatnic would you be willing to run some tests on your nVidia based MacBook Pro? There's a few things but I don't know how we can be in touch.

 

[pastrychef]

Here's an update.

Note: this is EXACTLY the same system that had the 980Ti's in there. Same install and nothing has changed in terms of software.

1. Bought an XFX RX560 4GB from Best Buy
2. XFX is known to have issues due to very custom VBIOS.
3. Found Sapphire RX560 4GB VBIOS online
4. Flashed XFX RX560 4GB (took 30 seconds).
5. Switched back to SMBIOS 14,2 to enable dual monitor support (I don't want to do the AGDPfix).
6. Booted into High Sierra 10.13.2 (17C205)

Everything works PERFECTLY. Yeah this is a low budget GPU but it's amazing how well it works. I had trouble with iGPU and second monitor and now everything works perfectly fine.

I will keep the 980Ti's for a bit or just put them on sale until things are fixed (Apple has been notified and they are trying to reproduce it). This isn't only caused by the WebDrivers, but also built in nVidia drivers, who's responsibility lies with Apple not nVidia. Apple STILL supports many nVidia based Macs dating back to 2011/2012.

I will most likely go to Vega 64 water cooled if the prices drop a bit in the future. For now the RX560 is ok for what I do under macOS.

I did not go with RX580 because I don't like it's performance and it costs too much for what it does.

Honestly it feels like a totally different computer now. It's so fast a fluid like it used to be under Sierra and El Capitan.

I can't wait until .4 and .5 and .6 for High Sierra, it will be smooooooth by then and "hopefully" nVidia issues are fixed, and they should be since eGPU is now officially supported.

So I hope this helps people who are having headaches. Please look into a cheap RX560 for now or iGPU if you are using a single monitor (however I advise against it, iGPU is usually crappy)

Personally, I would use a system definition that best matches your CPU which is iMac17,1. The iMac14,2 system definition is a lowest common denominator system definition that works to get everyone up and through the installation process. On the hacks that I've put together, I also enable the IGPUs in "headless" configurations to better mimic real iMacs.

The closer your hardware and configurations are to real Macs, the better things will behave. The further you deviate from them, the more problems you should expect.

Also, the latest versions of Lilu.kext, NvidiaGraphicsFixup.kext, and Shiki.kext when working together with the proper Boot-args make things run much better. I have "shikigva=60".

If/when you ever put your Nvidia card back in there, give these changes a shot.

 

[Gaulomatic]

@izo1

Good to hear that Apple knows about the issue and is working on it. But the recent bugs in macOS are insane. The DisplaySever is a mess: memory leaks, high CPU usage, breaking common apps. Icon Server isn't any better until 10.13.2: memory leaks, crazy HD usage, locking UI. And don't get me speak about APFS - this is a whole story of its own. It seems that everything Apple introduced in the latest iteration of macOS was tested on iOS - and only on iOS. I mean, I get flashbacks of Windows while using High Sierra.

I do not believe that Apple will find back to its strengths anytime soon. The hype train for iPhones crushed the desktop investments. High Sierra on my MacBook is running much more unstable than any other macOS on my Hack's. Think about it. That's Apple 2018.

 

[thenephilim]

@izo1

Good to hear that Apple knows about the issue and is working on it. But the recent bugs in macOS are insane. The DisplaySever is a mess: memory leaks, high CPU usage, breaking common apps. Icon Server isn't any better until 10.13.2: memory leaks, crazy HD usage, locking UI. And don't get me speak about APFS - this is a whole story of its own. It seems that everything Apple introduced in the latest iteration of macOS was tested on iOS - and only on iOS. I mean, I get flashbacks of Windows while using High Sierra.

I do not believe that Apple will find back to its strengths anytime soon. The hype train for iPhones crushed the desktop investments. High Sierra on my MacBook is running much more unstable than any other macOS on my Hack's. Think about it. That's Apple 2018.

I have to concur, Apple is on the downswing. This is what happens when your goal is to maximize shareholder value, fiddling with UIs and apps at every release just to have something to shout about, moving further and further astray from solid UI and UX design principles that was industry leading.
I haven't met a single person that thinks making OSX look and behave more like iOS was a good idea. Here in silicon valley, the vast majority of my fellow software engineers work on MBPs, which arguably is what made MBPs so popular starting about 12 years ago - I already hear grumblings about looking elsewhere here and there. My current MBP touchbar is a real turd, connectors constantly unplugging, the ridiculously sized touchpad constantly in the way and the touch bar itself which is really just slowing me down than adding anything. It no longer has that amazing combination of beautiful design and functional purpose that makes me more efficient. Anyways, before I get too carried away .... /rant

 

[N-Bomb]

Also, the latest versions of Lilu.kext, NvidiaGraphicsFixup.kext, and Shiki.kext when working together with the proper Boot-args make things run much better. I have "shikigva=60".

Is there a list of these shiki settings and what they do? I only have -shikigva as far as I can see.

Also as an aside, could these problems be related to SMBIOS? I'm using iMac17,1 myself.