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[SUCCESS] Gigabyte Designare Z390 (Thunderbolt 3) + i7-9700K + AMD RX 580

Hi Casey, in the spirit of giving back to your superb build guide, I wrote up a short procedure to run the NZXT liquidctl script automatically at login. Maybe it's a bit too specific and edge-case but please feel free to add it to your guide if you think it's useful.

Configuring the liquidctl script to run on startup (for all users). Copy the liquidctl.sh script to a shared directory and create a short .plist file in /Library/LaunchAgents:

  1. Copy the liquidctl.sh script to /Users/Shared.
  2. Create a new liquidctl.plist file in /Library/LaunchAgents.
  3. Edit the liquidctl.plist file with admin privileges and paste in the example below. Either use vi or a text editor with admin privileges: sudo vi /Library/LaunchAgents/liquidctl.plist. Remove the #Explanation: sections from the example below:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> <plist version="1.0"> <dict> <key>Label</key> <string>liquidctl.sh</string> #Explanation: This is a verbose label for your login script. Name it something unique and identifiable. I just named mine the same as the script itself <key>ProgramArguments</key> <array> <string>/Users/Shared/liquidctl.sh</string> #Explanation: This is the absolute path to the liquidctl.sh script </array> <key>RunAtLoad</key> <true/> </dict> </plist>

4. Change ownership of the liquidctl.plist file so that root owns it:
sudo chown root /Library/LaunchAgents/liquidctl.plist
5. Check that you've done everything correctly by attempting to load the .plist manually:
sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchAgents/liquidctl.plist
If this command returns anything other than a blank line, go back and check your steps.

Done! Now, even if another operating system has messed with your NZXT Kraken, every time you boot back into Mac OS your Kraken will configure itself automatically no matter what settings might try to persist from other operating system instances.

Caveat: the liquidctl.sh script unloads IOUSBHostHIDDevice. This is necessary to avoid [Errno 13] Access denied (insufficient permissions) that you might encounter when running liquidctl commands. However, this can result in temporary disabling/resetting of your USB devices. My Logitech wireless receiver sometimes loses connection with my wireless mouse or keyboard after running the script. Simply unplug and plug back in the unifying receiver. I don't know what happens with other USB devices, but I suspect unplugging and plugging them back in will work to bring them back online.
 
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@mcljot — will certainly add this to the guide as well!
 
Cheers for that. I've got a RX 580 + GeForce 1080Ti, and was hoping to have them both installed so I could just use the 1080Ti for gaming in Windows. I haven't reintroduced the 1080Ti into my system yet and have been looking for this exact solution by making the second GPU invisible to macOS to prevent any instability.

We'll see how it goes.
Glad to hear. If it works for you and @tsamy I’ll add it to the build guide as well. Note that this will only disable a GPU in Slot 2.
 
If the Wifi card works in a x8 or x16 it's possible that the x1 slot itself could not be working properly. A simple way to rule that out if you can put something else there that does work.

Got it. I'll try digging at my stockroom to look for an X1 card. I think I have a 100MB Ethernet PCI card that I used with Lion/Leopard before. I'll try that over the weekend. Or perhaps, when the Fenvi of @CaseySJ arrives, we can all finally know when my X1 slots are defective when they work on his end. :mrgreen:
 
Good morning CaseySJ,

Tested again this morning twice, with 5 minutes cold start between them and both are the SAME within their operating systems,i.e., on Windows 10 the Thunderbolt MAC address is the same between cold restarts, and for Ubuntu Linux the same happens...

I have two MacBookPro, one from 2014 (used on these tests) & another one from 2016, so I'll try testing tonight again with 2016 model, ok ?

Do you want me check anything from the MBP side ?

I also use the Thunderbolt 2 to thunderbolt adapter with both my MBPs.
Thank you for the follow-up tests! This is what we know so far:
  • On same Gigabyte motherboard, Windows and Linux can both enable Thunderbolt Networking.
  • On same Gigabyte motherboard, Windows and Linux assign different MAC addresses to the same physical port.
  • On same Gigabyte motherboard, macOS does not enable Thunderbolt Networking.
  • When we reboot, the MAC address remains the same.
It would be helpful to try the following:
  • If we install a new copy of Linux on a spare disk, does it use the same MAC address as the original Linux?
  • If we install a new copy of Windows on a spare disk, does it use the same MAC address as the original Windows?
  • Because there are 2 Thunderbolt ports on the Gigabyte AORUS Extreme and also 2 ports on the Gigabyte Designare, do you see a different MAC address when you switch to the other Thunderbolt port?
I know that doing new OS installations is time-consuming, so no worries if you want to avoid that! :) Ill try that on my own when my Thunderbolt adapter arrives (on Friday).
 
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Got it. I'll try digging at my stockroom to look for an X1 card. I think I have a 100MB Ethernet PCI card that I used with Lion/Leopard before. I'll try that over the weekend. Or perhaps, when the Fenvi of @CaseySJ arrives, we can all finally know when my X1 slots are defective when they work on his end. :mrgreen:
My Fenvi card landed somewhere in the US yesterday, which means it should be delivered before the week is out.
 
My Fenvi card landed somewhere in the US yesterday, which means it should be delivered before the week is out.
Did you order this from China ? Why not go with Newegg ?
 
Glad to hear. If it works for you and @tsamy I’ll add it to the build guide as well. Note that this will only disable a GPU in Slot 2.
Thanks alot CaseySJ for your help, sorry for late reply to you i was at work, i can confirm your ssdt file working fine, my nvidia 1080ti is disappeared completely from information about my mac,
Again thanks for the file and for this great guide and big project you did.
 
Again thanks for the file and for this great guide and big project you did.
Casey really "raised the bar" a lot higher for how to write up a User Build. Is a fantastic job on a complex subject.
 
Did you order this from China ? Why not go with Newegg ?
I was ordering several things directly from China that day, including a Rock Pi 4B SBC (single board computer). The Rock Pi is meant, for now, to replace my Raspberry Pi Model 2B+. I have Debian Linux installed, and will add a media server soon. With on-board WiFi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, USB 3.1, Gigabit Ethernet, 4GB LPDDR4 DRAM, HDMI 2.0 (4K at 60Hz), and the same physical size as the Raspberry, this thing can be a DIY'ers dream. Alas, it does not (yet) run Ubuntu Desktop.
 
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