Lunar Lake Thunderbolt 4 compatibility workaround do not work

[James0G]

This is a follow up to Lunar Lake thunderbolt 4 compatibility issues - Intel Community.

So I tried the solution you provided, I shutdown the system, connected the eGPU device, and then booted the system. But the external GPU is still not recognized.

I mean, after using the workaround, the system performs better than before when the eGPU dock is plugged in after booting. The laptop no longer loses trackpad, wifi and audio, the Intel PCI Express upstream port is also started normally, and windows can even recognize the USB Hub on the eGPU dock, but the eGPU is still not recognized.

Any Idea?

[VonM_Intel]

Hi, James0G.

Thank you for posting in our Community and for providing an update on the troubleshooting steps. I'm glad to hear that the workaround has improved the system’s behavior by restoring functionality to the trackpad, Wi-Fi, audio, and PCI Express upstream port. However, I understand that the eGPU is still not being recognized, and I’m here to help you move forward. 

In the meantime, I see your concerns and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Have a nice day!

Best regards,

Von M.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[VonM_Intel]

Hello, James0G.

Thank you for your patience as we continue troubleshooting your Thunderbolt connection and GPU detection issue. After reviewing the case, I determined that while the Thunderbolt connection is partially functional, the GPU is not being properly initialized.

To further diagnose the issue, please try the following additional troubleshooting steps:

1. Check Device Manager

• Open Device Manager and look under Display adapters and Other devices to see if the GPU appears (even with a yellow warning sign).
• If it shows up with an error, what is the error code?

2. Update Thunderbolt & GPU Drivers

• Thunderbolt: Make sure you have the latest Thunderbolt drivers and firmware from ASUS.
• GPU: Update both the internal GPU (Intel Arc or Iris Xe) and the external GPU (NVIDIA/AMD).
• Chipset drivers: Update Intel chipset drivers and Management Engine Interface (MEI).

3. Enable eGPU in Thunderbolt Control Center

• Open Thunderbolt Control Center and see if the eGPU is detected.
• If it's listed, manually approve it (if security settings require approval).
• If it's not detected, check BIOS settings (see step 6).

4. Check Power & Cables

• Ensure the eGPU dock is receiving enough power.
• Try a different Thunderbolt 4 cable (some cables only support USB4 speeds, not full PCIe bandwidth).

5. Try Hot-Plugging the eGPU

• Since the system no longer crashes, try plugging in the eGPU after booting into Windows and see if it gets detected.

6. BIOS Settings

• Check if there’s a BIOS update available for your laptop.
  • Some BIOS settings might affect eGPU functionality:Thunderbolt Boot Support → Enable
  • PCIe Resource Allocation → Try different modes (if available)
  • Security settings → Ensure Thunderbolt security is not blocking PCIe devices

7. Check Windows & Power Settings

• In Power Options, set PCI Express Link State Power Management to Off.
• Disable Fast Startup in Windows (Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do).

8. Try an Older Thunderbolt Driver

• Some users have reported that older Thunderbolt drivers work better than the latest ones on Lunar Lake systems. Try rolling back to an earlier version if updates don’t help.

9. Test eGPU on Another System

• If possible, test the eGPU dock on another Thunderbolt 3/4-compatible laptop to see if it gets recognized.

Kindly let me know the results. 

Best regards,

Von M.

Intel Customer Support Technician