Final Setup Steps – Razer/AMD 6800/Titan

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⚡ Razer Blade Stealth 13 (2020 RZ09-03102E22) + Akitio Node Titan + AMD Radeon RX 6800

Definitive Setup & Recovery Guide (2025)

⚠️ Critical Notes

  • You MUST use a Thunderbolt 3 cable — not Thunderbolt 4 or USB-C PD cables.

    • TB3 cables are rated for 40 Gbps and marked with the ⚡ + “3” logo.
    • Using TB4/PD-only cables will prevent the Node Titan or GPU from initializing.

  • Always connect to the right-side Thunderbolt 3 port on the Razer (next to USB-A), which carries 4 PCIe lanes.

  • Plug the Node Titan in after it’s powered on, and approve it in Thunderbolt Control Center.

🧩 Step 1 — BIOS Prep & Firmware Updates

1. Enter BIOS (F1 / Del at boot)

Configuration checklist:

  • Thunderbolt Support → ✅ Enabled
  • Security Level → ✅ No Security (or User Authorization)
  • Fast Boot → ❌ Disabled
  • Secure Boot → ✅ Enabled
  • SATA Mode → ✅ AHCI
  • USB Power Delivery in S5 → ✅ Enabled
  • Fan Always On → ✅ Enabled

Save and Exit (F10)

2. Update Firmware

Component Version Link
BIOS v1.04 Razer Support — BIOS Updater
Intel Management Engine (ME) Driver v2514.7.16.0 Intel ME Driver (DCH)
Intel Firmware Updater 13.0.46.1718 Razer Firmware Updater — INTEL-SA-00391

Run BIOS → ME Driver → Firmware Updater (in that order). Reboot between each step.

🧰 Step 2 — Windows Driver Installation Order

Perform these in this exact order (with reboots between installs):

# Component Purpose Source
1 Intel Chipset INF Utility Properly identify controllers Razer Support Page
2 Intel Thunderbolt Driver (DCH) Enables Thunderbolt 3 controller Intel Thunderbolt DCH Driver
3 Thunderbolt Control Center Authorize eGPU Microsoft Store link
4 Intel Graphics Driver Handles handoff to eGPU Intel Graphics Driver (10th Gen)
5 AMD Adrenalin RX 6800 Driver Enables GPU AMD Adrenalin 25.9.2

Once all are installed, reboot and verify no yellow icons in Device Manager

⚙️ Step 3 — Connecting the Node Titan

  1. Power ON the Node Titan first.

  2. Connect the Thunderbolt 3 cable to the right-side port (⚡3 marked).

  3. Wait ~10 seconds → Windows chime → GPU fans may briefly spin.

  4. Open Thunderbolt Control Center → Manage Approved Devices → Select Always Connect.

  5. Check Device Manager → Display Adapters:

    • Intel Iris Plus Graphics
    • Microsoft Basic Display Adapter (temporary RX 6800)

  6. Install AMD Adrenalin 25.9.2 → reboot.

  7. Connect your monitor to the Node Titan’s DisplayPort or HDMI. ✅

🔌 Step 4 — Safe Power Sequences

Shutdown:

  1. Shut down Windows
  2. Wait until fans stop
  3. Power off Node Titan
  4. Unplug Thunderbolt 3 last

Startup:

  1. Power ON Node Titan first

  2. Boot Razer Blade

  3. Wait for connection chime + GPU fan spin

  4. Message appears:

    “AMD XConnect Technology: External AMD graphics has been enabled.” 🎉

🧠 Step 5 — Verification Checklist

  • BIOS v1.04 confirmed
  • Intel ME Firmware v13.0.46.1718
  • Thunderbolt Control Center lists Node Titan
  • Device Manager shows AMD Radeon RX 6800
  • External monitor running via eGPU
  • No yellow icons or driver errors

🛠️ Step 6 — Optional Developer Tools

If you plan to compile or run llama.cpp or other GPU builds:

Tool Purpose Link
Visual Studio 2022 Build Tools C++ toolchain VS Build Tools
CMake (x64) Build system CMake Download
Git for Windows Source control Git Download

Use default install options, ensuring “Add to PATH for all users” is checked.

🧩 Step 7 — Maintenance & Tips

  • Use 100W PD charger or higher for best stability.
  • Keep Fast Boot off during firmware or GPU driver updates.
  • Ensure Node Titan firmware and PSU fan are working properly.
  • Keep a backup of this file and drivers on USB for rebuilds.

✅ Summary

Once all steps are completed:

  • The Razer Blade Stealth 13 (2020) recognizes the Akitio Node Titan eGPU.
  • AMD Adrenalin confirms connection with “AMD XConnect enabled.”
  • The RX 6800 runs external displays via DisplayPort/HDMI.
  • BIOS/firmware sequence and TB3 configuration ensure reliable power and PCIe x4 bandwidth.

Further Steps

Here’s your complete, cleaned-up summary of everything you did to get your Razer + RX 6800 eGPU fully functional and ready for AI workloads.

Review

🧠 RAZER BLADE STEALTH 13 + AKiTiO TITAN eGPU SETUP (RX 6800 & Ollama-ready)

💻 Hardware

  • Laptop: Razer Blade Stealth 13 (2020) – RZ09-03102E22
  • GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6800
  • Enclosure: AKiTiO Node Titan (Thunderbolt 3)
  • Cable: Certified Thunderbolt 3 cable (⚠️ not TB4 or USB-C only)
  • OS: Windows 10 Pro

🧩 Step-by-step Setup

1️⃣ BIOS and Firmware Prep

  • Verified BIOS v1.04, EC v1.01 (latest for RZ09-03102).

  • Confirmed Thunderbolt Support = Enabled and Security Level = No Security.

  • Installed:

    • Intel ME Driver + Firmware (v14.0.48.1605)
    • Razer BIOS Update v1.04
    • AMD Chipset Driver (from Razer support)

2️⃣ Thunderbolt and GPU Recognition

  • Installed Intel Thunderbolt Control Center (hidden Microsoft Store link).
  • Verified TB3 controller active on right-side port (the true TB3 port).
  • Connected Node Titan → recognized automatically.
  • Installed latest Adrenalin Edition (25.9.2) → RX 6800 detected, drivers loaded.
  • Confirmed GPU visible in Device Manager under “Display Adapters.”

3️⃣ ROCm / HIP AI Runtime for AMD

  • Installed AMD Software: PRO Edition 25.Q3 for Windows 10/11 (Full Install).
  • This installed the ROCm 6.4 / HIP SDK Core 6.4.0 runtime.
  • Verified via:
& "C:\Program Files\AMD HIP SDK\bin\hipinfo.exe"
  • → listed Radeon RX 6800 ✅

4️⃣ Ollama Installation

  • Installed Ollama using Winget:
winget install Ollama.Ollama --accept-package-agreements --accept-source-agreements
  • First run (admin) initialized caches and GPU kernels:
ollama run llama3
  • Second run (regular PowerShell) confirmed working user-space install.

5️⃣ Verification

  • hipinfo.exe → shows GPU info.
  • ollama run llama3 → starts local AI model.
  • ollama list → shows installed models.
  • Optional Python GPU test:
import torchprint(torch.cuda.is_available())print(torch.cuda.get_device_name(0))
  • → True, Radeon RX 6800

🧰 Optional Tools

  • Plugable / CalDigit TS3 Plus Dock for extra ports (100 W charging).
  • UGREEN USB-C to DisplayPort 1.4 cable for connecting portable monitors.

🏁 Current Status

✅ Razer BIOS up-to-date

✅ Thunderbolt 3 active and stable

✅ RX 6800 recognized & benchmarked

✅ ROCm runtime installed

✅ Ollama running locally

✅ System ready for AI model workloads

Enjoy stable desktop-class GPU performance on your compact Razer setup!

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