Get Fusion Pro to Use Discreet GPU instead of eGPU for Graphics - macOS

[EMPF1969]

Dear VMware Friends,

My MacBook Pro 2019 has 3 GPUs,

Intel UHD Graphics 630 (1.5GB) - Built-In

AMD Radeon Pro 5500M (8GB) - Discreet

AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT (16GB) - External GPU via Thunderbolt 3 (eGPU)

Please, how could I force Fusion to use for Graphics the 5500M instead of the RX6900?

It is such a waste of Graphics MEMORY if the 5500M is not used when the RX6900 could be solely dedicated to the MacBook Pro?

Many thanks and kind regards

Trevor

[Technogeezer]

Are the documented procedures for enabling eGPU access not meeting what you need? (Prefer external GPU). Or are you looking to guarantee that the eGPU is never used rather than not preferred? 

I do have to ask why you are so concerned about “wasting” graphics memory? If you have a higher powered card, why not use it as eGPUs do speed up Fusion VM graphics. 

[bluefirestorm · Accepted solution]

Shut down the VM and add the following line to the vmx configuration file.

mks.mtl.forceDevice = "AMD Radeon Pro 5500M"

That should force it to use that GPU. You should see a line the mksSandbox.log file

<timestamp> In(05) mks  MTLRenderer: Using Metal device from config "AMD Radeon Pro 5500M"

[EMPF1969]

@Technogeezer 

It is a strange question that you have for me?

Why wasting 8Gb of my RX6900XT when the Pro 5500M is there unused and it is perfectly suited for Fusion Pro?

The 16Gb of the RX6900XT are then all allocated to the Macbook Pro for everything else?

[EMPF1969]

@bluefirestorm 

I am confused for not finding the configuration file as stated when looking at the App Directory.

As a reminder I am using Fusion Pro 12 on mac OS not Workstation Pro 16

[continuum]

In Workstation vmx-files are stored in a directory. The home directory of a VM contains files like: vmx, vmdks, logs. nvram ...
In Fusion VMs are stored in directories or backpacks ( or was it bundles ?)
So if you dont find the vmx-file of a VM check if it the VM is stored in a backpack - if yes open it.

[EMPF1969]

@continuum 

Thank you.

I found them within my Users Folder where my Personal Profile is, and where I saved the VM

As opposed to relocating them in the Applications Folder at the source of the Drive

[Technogeezer]

@continuum The term is "bundle" on macOS, but when all is said and done it's just a special kind of directory.

@EMPF1969 - here's one way to get to the vmx file to edit it

• First close any Settings dialog that you may have open in the Fusion GUI for the VM you're looking to change.
• Then, holding the option key, right-click on the VM in the Virtual Machine Library and select "Open Config File in Editor".  This will open the Mac's TextEdit editor with the VM's vmx file
• Make your edits and exit TextEditor
• Quit Fusion. If you don't the edits may not "take"
• Re-open fusion.

[EMPF1969]

@Technogeezer 

Thank you,

I seem to have a serious obstacle...

The VM Is encrypted so it looks as attached

 

[ColoradoMarmot]

No, it's not.  The memory is only used when needed for the workload being displayed.  Unless you're running short of GPU memory (see activity monitor), there's no reason to force things to use different GPUs (which may cause display artifacts).

[bluefirestorm]

If you don't want to decrypt the entire VM, you can look at this thread.

https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-Fusion-Discussions/Is-there-a-tool-to-allow-editing-of-an-e...

The Python program posted on GitHub in that thread can be used to decrypt just the vmx configuration file to edit and re-encrypt it after editing is done.

[EMPF1969]

@ColoradoMarmot 

That is exactly why I need to use the Radeon Pro 5500M for additional Graphics Memory and, in particular, for running short of 64Gb of RAM every single time!

I had been using Parallels Pro 17 until now and it never used Graphics Memory and instead consumed System Memory for the Graphics,

The eGPU is connected to a 32" 4K Display via DP and Thunderbolt to the MacBook Pro and for info it requires a lot capacity out of the RX6900XT... I am glad I have a i9 8Core/16Threads so the system is very stable and very responsive... Perhaps I should contemplate a Mac Pro next time but again it could still require a couple of Graphics Card...

Fusion Pro is solely used for Windows 11 Pro Workstation Edition for Office Work so happy to dedicate the Pro 5500M's 8Gb and use the Intel's GPU as hardware Decoder when converting large video files...

[EMPF1969]

@bluefirestorm 

Thank you,

It amazes me how smart one is to come out with such powerful tools to bypass encryption of a system apparently secured to prevent such alteration. 

[EMPF1969]

@bluefirestorm 

Thanks a lot,

This is the result:

2022-06-11T05:47:45.481Z In(05) mks MTLRenderer: Using Metal device from config "AMD Radeon Pro 5500M"
2022-06-11T05:47:45.481Z In(05) mks Metal Device name: AMD Radeon Pro 5500M
2022-06-11T05:47:45.481Z In(05) mks Metal Device removable: FALSE
2022-06-11T05:47:45.481Z In(05) mks Metal Device headless: FALSE
2022-06-11T05:47:45.481Z In(05) mks Metal Device lowPower: FALSE
2022-06-11T05:47:45.481Z In(05) mks Metal Device maxThreadsPerThreadgroup: 1024x1024x1024
2022-06-11T05:47:45.481Z In(05) mks Metal Device recommendedMaxWorkingSetSize: 8573157376
2022-06-11T05:47:45.481Z In(05) mks Metal Device depth24Stencil8PixelFormatSupported: TRUE
2022-06-11T05:47:45.481Z In(05) mks Metal Device GPU family: 2
2022-06-11T05:47:45.481Z In(05) mks Metal Device Apple GPU family: 0
2022-06-11T05:47:45.481Z In(05) mks Metal Shading Language version: 2.4
2022-06-11T05:47:45.481Z In(05) mks Metal RW Texture Tier: 2
2022-06-11T05:47:45.482Z In(05) mks Metal Arg Buffer Support: Tier 2
2022-06-11T05:47:45.482Z In(05) mks Metal Device PCI ID: 1002:7340
2022-06-11T05:47:45.482Z In(05) mks Metal GPU chip: Navi14 (RDNA)
2022-06-11T05:47:45.747Z In(05) mks Metal Device plugin: AMDRadeonX6000MTLDriver 4.8.54 24060
2022-06-11T05:47:45.747Z In(05) mks Metal Device: Pull Model Interpolation support: No

However, although the vmx file now shows the desired GPU,,

mks.mtl.forceDevice = "AMD Radeon Pro 5500M"

I never changed this line which makes me wonder since it appears that Fusion already used the Pro 5500M for it to be known as the Discreet GPU?

mks.forceDiscreteGPU = "TRUE"

[EMPF1969]

@ColoradoMarmot 

Thanks,

I am not experiencing display artifacts, however, for example, when I am watching YouTube, the Video is delayed.

I do not know if this is what you meant, but I am disappointed... Perhaps it is down to removing the TMP and encryption to changes made to the vmx file? 

It is rather confusing to have at one's disposal three GPUs and only the eGPU could be used?

Perhaps I should try with a new VM?

[EMPF1969]

@Technogeezer 

Perhaps I should stick to your advice...

YouTube videos are delayed compared to the speech... 

So perhaps it may be due to removing both the TMP and encryption, but will try with a new VM and let you know...

I feel disappointed if I could not do I as hoped since I use my MacBook Pro heavily

I tried Parallels Pro 17, and it uses System Memory for the Graphics so it is not better