eGPU - PS 2021 dosn't workt under Big Sur / grey area when open a file

[DiconB]

Hey guys 🙂 The problem has been addressed several times, but I couldn't find a solution yet. Maybe there's someone here.

Hardware/Software: Big Sur on a MacBook pro 2020, PS 2021, eGPU Razor Core + Radeon RX5700 XT, all up to date.

- MacOS Catalina + PS 2020 - everything works perfectly. PS and Camera Raw detected the eGPU, no problems at work.

- MacOS Big Sur + PS 2020 - everything works perfectly. PS and Camera Raw have detected the eGPU, no problems at work.

- MacOS Big Sur + PS 2021 - Camera Raw detects the eGPU and works perfectly. PS 2021 opens images/files only as gray area.

I was able to isolate the problem, but the problem remains:

MacOS preference for PS 2021 > prefer external GPU > enable.

PS 2021 preferences > performance - the eGPU is detected correctly, but...
1. use GPU > enable > PS 2021 opens images as gray area
1a. use GPU > disable > PS 2021 opens images normally (because not the eGPU is used, but the MacBook GPU).

Camera Raw preferences > performance - the eGPU is detected correctly and works reliably.

Just to be sure that the problem is with PS 2021 and not Big Sur, I disabled the macOS setting for PS 2021 > prefer external GPU. Of course, now everything works normally because only the MacBook GPU is used.

I don't understand why PS 2020 worked correctly under Big Sur. And I don't understand why the current Camera Raw works correctly but PS 2021 doesn't.

I need the eGPU to work. Does anyone know the problem and have a solution? That would be great because otherwise PS is useless to me and I need to switch to a different working environment.

Thanks in advance and stay healthy.

[Barry KOOTCHIN]

Similar problem:

Running Big Sur with current version of Photoshop 2021, Macbook Pro 2018,  Radeon RX5700XT

Settings are "Prefer External GPU" is selected in "Get Info" when right clicking on app icon.

Preferences/ Performance/ "Graphics Processor Settings" select "Use Graphics Processor".

Open image file then screen goes grey, image is not visible.

I spoke with Adobe support about this problem and they said that multiple GPU's were not supported, and therefore the eGPU was not supported. Well when using Catalina Photoshop would allow the selection of the eGPU and worked fine.

Lightroom works fine in Big Sur with the eGPU selected.

The 2018 Macbook Pro has two built-in GPU's: the Intel UHD Graphics 630 and the Radeon Pro 560X.

Photoshop allows the Radeon Pro 560X to be selected and opens and shows the image.

Apple or Photoshop have a bug in their system and they're not assuming responsibility.

Come on guys. We earn livings by your software and we pay you enough that you should correct these problems.

[Barry KOOTCHIN]

Well talking to Apple Support last Sunday, no answer to the problem, pointed back to Adobe to find the answer, except...

I plugged in a DVI-D monitor to the displayport plug on the AMD Radeon 5700XT eGPU and vola! Photoshop now recognizes the eGPU and the file opens and is viewable in Photoshop 2021 while running in Big Sur.

All is good.

Strange no one at Adobe or Apple new the answer to this problem.