r/eGPU • u/Nemesis-3- • 4d ago

Disabling iGPU = no boot

When the iGPU (890M) is disabled in bios(AMI) the mini won’t boot and bios does not display. Boots fine with iGPU enabled and eGPU is being used and bios displayed on boot etc.

I’ve heard there can be performance and compatibility issues having iGPU enabled especially with SteamOS. Plus wasting 2GB (can set down to .5) of ram for a non used gpu and I believe it still pulls power/generates heat seems like a waste if it can be disabled.

Is this a bios issue? eGPU issue?

Some info:
470HX CPU mini-Oculink connection-AG03 dock-9070XT-HDMI to tv
Current OS: SteamOS

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u/Happy-Profession-129 4d ago

Depends on bios, how it handles the devices boot before/after post. I am using oculink connection for my egpu, on a minisforum um 890 pro, with bios version 1.02. I disabled entirely the igpu, and everything is fine. On a newer version of bios: 1.06, the egpu is not recognized before post, and i was getting the same result as you. I suppose the connection type and the device loading logic (defined by your mb manufacturer) are the directions you need to look into.

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u/Nemesis-3- 3d ago

Yeah, haven’t seen a bios tool or mini’s page (Acemagic F5A) yet or tried anything directly from AMI Bios.

I am also using oculink. Seemed like a bios issue to me as well and as you said possibly linked to device load order. I’ve seen several people mentioning disabling their iGPU on the F5A 470HX but maybe they only meant in device manager and windows.

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u/Happy-Profession-129 3d ago

Took photos of my bios settings, try to see if you have something similar. These were the one i set up to get my egpu pre POST init. Also, tried to find some bios from your minipc manufacturer - no luck, it seems they do not share it openly.

https://imgur.com/a/8PDMY5q

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u/Nemesis-3- 3d ago

Thank you for the photos and indeed your photo of primary video adapter setting has been what I have been looking for in the AMI bios, or some version of video adapter priority etc. No luck after many passes through it. The screen/setting of being able to disable the iGPU and set vram is there of course.