Dynamically configuring a computing system to operate with an external GPU connected via USB-C
A computing system can be dynamically configured to operate with an eGPU that is connected to the computing system via a USB-C port. An eGPU manager, which may be a BIOS service, can be provided on a computing system and configured to detect when an eGPU has been connected to a USB-C port. When the eGPU manager detects an eGPU, it can employ an identifier of the eGPU and possibly characteristics of the eGPU and/or the computing system to query a lookup table for values for configuration settings that are optimal for the particular eGPU. The eGPU manager can then set the configuration settings to the obtained values so that the computing system will boot and/or operate properly while the eGPU is connected.
1. A method, performed by an external graphics processing unit (eGPU) manager, for dynamically configuring a computing system to operate with an eGPU that is connected to the computing system via a USB-C port, the method comprising:
detecting that an eGPU is connected to a USB-C port of the computing system;
in response to the detection, obtaining an identifier of the eGPU;
employing the identifier of the eGPU to query a lookup table to thereby obtain one or more optimal values for one or more configuration settings of the computing system that are mapped to the identifier of the eGPU; and
configuring the computing system to operate with the eGPU that is connected to the computing system via a USB-C port by setting the one or more configuration settings of the computing system to the one or more optimal values, the one or more configuration settings of the computing system comprising one or more of:
a maximum IO speed of the USB-C port; or
a maximum power draw of the USB-C port.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving the lookup table from a repository; and
storing the lookup table on the computing system;
wherein employing the identifier of the eGPU to query the lookup table comprises accessing the lookup table that is stored on the computing system.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein employing the identifier of the eGPU to query the lookup table comprises sending the identifier of the eGPU to a repository that stores the lookup table.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more configuration settings include one or more maximum power levels of a CPU of the computing system.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more configuration settings include each of:
the maximum IO speed of the USB-C port;
the maximum power draw of the USB-C port; and
one or more maximum power levels of a CPU of the computing system.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in conjunction with obtaining the identifier of the eGPU, detecting one or more characteristics of the eGPU or the computing system;
wherein employing the identifier of the eGPU to query the lookup table comprises employing the identifier of the eGPU and the one or more characteristics to query the lookup table.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more characteristics include whether the computing system is being powered by an AC or a DC source.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more characteristics also include one or more of whether the eGPU includes a power supply unit or whether the eGPU is being powered by an AC or DC source.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting that the eGPU is connected to the USB-C port of the computing system comprises interfacing with one of:
a USB-C controller; or
an embedded controller service for an embedded controller that manages a USB-C controller.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein configuring the computing system to operate with the eGPU by setting the one or more configuration settings to the one or more optimal values comprises interfacing with one or more of:
a USB-C controller;
an embedded controller service for an embedded controller that manages a USB-C controller; or
a driver for the eGPU.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the eGPU is detected during booting of the computing system.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the eGPU is detected after the computing system has booted.
13. One or more computer storage media storing computer executable instructions which when executed on a computing system implement a method for dynamically configuring the computing system to operate with an eGPU that is connected to the computing system via a USB-C port, the method comprising:
detecting that an eGPU is connected to a USB-C port of the computing system;
detecting one or more characteristics of the eGPU or of the computing system, the one or more characteristics including one or more of:
whether the eGPU includes a power supply unit; or
whether the eGPU is being powered by an AC or DC source;
in response to the detection, generating a query to obtain one or more values for one or more configuration settings of the computing system from a lookup table, the query including an identifier of the eGPU and the one or more characteristics; and
configuring the computing system to operate with the eGPU that is connected to the USB-C port of the computing system by setting the one or more configuration settings of the computing system to the one or more obtained values, the one or more configuration settings of the computing system comprising one or more of:
a maximum IO speed of the USB-C port; or
a maximum power draw of the USB-C port.
14. The computer storage media of claim 13 , wherein the lookup table is stored on the computing system.
15. The computer storage media of claim 14 , wherein the lookup table is retrieved and stored on the computing system while the computing system boots.
16. The computer storage media of claim 13 , wherein the one or more configuration settings include each of:
the maximum IO speed of the USB-C port;
the maximum power draw of the USB-C port; and
one or more maximum power levels of a CPU of the computing system.
17. A computing system comprising:
a CPU;
a USB-C port; and
an eGPU manager that, when executed, performs the following:
detects that an eGPU is connected to the USB-C port;
in response to the detection, obtains an identifier of the eGPU;
employs the identifier of the eGPU to query a lookup table to thereby obtain optimal values for configuration settings of the computing system that are mapped to the identifier of the eGPU; and
configures the computing system to operate with the eGPU that is connected to the USB-C port by setting the configuration settings of the computing system to the optimal values, the configuration settings of the computing system comprising one or more of:
a maximum IO speed of the USB-C port; or
a maximum power draw of the USB-C port.
18. The computing system of claim 17 , wherein the configuration settings include each of:
the maximum IO speed of the USB-C port;
the maximum power draw of the USB-C port; and
one or more maximum power levels of the CPU.
19. The computing system of claim 17 , wherein the eGPU manager also detects a type of power source that is currently powering the computing system and employs the type of power source and the identifier of the eGPU to query the lookup table such that the optimal values for the configuration settings that the query obtains are mapped to the identifier of the eGPU and to the type of power source.
20. The computing system of claim 17 , wherein the eGPU manager receives the lookup table from a repository and stores the lookup table on the computing system.