Framework Desktop eGPU boot issue

Community Support
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Hello everyone!!

I am having issues with booting my Framework Desktop, and I was hoping that someone could try and help a little.

So, to start, here’s my setup;
Framework Desktop with Ryzen AI Max 385 + Radeon 8050S graphics
Minisforum DEG-1 eGPU dock with a 3080, hooked up to one of my M.2 slots in my desktop via OCuLink

This setup works flawlessly on Linux (specifically CachyOS), and I didn’t have to do any configuration to get it to work besides just installing Nvidia drivers plugging it in.

On Windows 11, I am having some really odd issues related to how it’s trying to init. I’m too much of a Windows newb to understand how to even go about fixing it, but I think I understand what’s going on for the most part.

So, here’s the rundown of how it tries to boot;

  • I press the power button, the Framework firmware splash appears on my screen (though, at a funky resolution and is slightly stretched out, which also happens on Linux when using this eGPU setup)
  • Windows does boot. I hear the Windows boot chime in my Bluetooth headphones, and even this morning I actually saw a cursor appear for a few moments, so it’s absolutely able to display an image through the 3080 during the boot sequence. However, past this, it’s just a black screen. Yesterday, when I tried to boot it, it would just boot loop indefinitely, continuously going back to the framework splash logo and trying to boot Windows properly.
  • If I try and unplug and replug my 3080 DP cable at this point, it doesn’t fix it. I have to restart.
  • I can get into Windows and use my 3080, but I have to either have the DP cable unplugged and plug it in after Windows boots headless, or have it plugged into my iGPU and then swap it to the 3080 after it boots. The 3080 works perfectly fine after this point. It’s just booting into Windows without needing to manually plug and unplug stuff that is the issue here.

Here’s what I have tried!

  • I have already installed both the Framework drivers from their website, as well as Nvidia’s graphics drivers.
  • I have tried disabling the iGPU in Windows, which did nothing.
  • I added a couple reg keys from this forum post; [Solved] - PC crashes on wake from sleep & won't boot while eGPU connected . This post seemed tangentially related, so I was hoping it would help- no dice.
  • I have disabled Windows Fast Startup.
  • I have curled up into a ball and cried, which also didn’t help.

Any assistance would be appreciated!