Late 2016 MacBook Pro 13" + Thunderbolt 3 eGPU

[theitsage]

1/12/2017 Update: AKiTiO Node eGPU works with all 3 generation of Thunderbolt Macs in macOS. Late 2016 MacBook Pro works in both macOS and Windows 10. More details here.

These are benchmarks on a Late 2016 MacBook Pro 13" non-touchbar (2 Thunderbolt 3 ports, 2 GHz/8GB/256GB). I'm also in the process of testing it with a Thunderbolt 2 eGPU using Apple TB3<->TB2 adapter.



CPU: Geekbench 4 - https://browser.geekbench.com/v4/cpu/887792

SSD: PCIe stick flash drive is removable and very fast.

Battery: After a week of using this MacBook Pro (7 cycles), I have a better estimate of battery life. Casual users can expect 12 hours on a full charge.

GPU: eGPU communicates to the Late 2016 MBP, but atm it's not possible to enable Metal Support/Acceleration.
11/9 Update: 10.12.2 Beta 2 allows eGPU to work better.
11/21 Update: Tested with AKiTiO Thunder3 on Page 6, post #134.

 

[tylerwatt12]

How do the speakers sound?

 

[Zackmd1]

I would be interested to see if the new MacBook can do a thunderbolt 3 eGPU... Nice to see some benchmarks!

 

[theitsage]

I would be interested to see if the new MacBook can do a thunderbolt 3 eGPU... Nice to see some benchmarks!

Thunderbolt 3 to Thunberbolt 2 adapter will arrive soon. I'll check whether eGPU is possible and how much boost it provides the new MBP. This is the same eGPU I'll be using.

 

[hululu]

I dont get it, they say the macbook pro non touchbar is the new macbook air replacement.

Yet it looks like the cpu is much better on the mbpr non touch bar vs macbook air?

 

[tylerwatt12]

I dont get it, they say the macbook pro non touchbar is the new macbook air replacement.

Yet it looks like the cpu is much better on the mbpr non touch bar vs macbook air?

It's better, but still in the same class (U class ultrabook CPUs)

 

[hululu]

I see.
So the cpu on the non touch barcis really not comparable with the touchbar version, 2.0 vs 2.9ghz? On everyday use

 

[Zackmd1]

Thunderbolt 3 to Thunberbolt 2 adapter will arrive soon. I'll check whether eGPU is possible and how much boost it provides the new MBP. This is the same eGPU I'll be using.

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Very nice setup! How as stability been with the eGPU and MBA? I have heard horror stories of unstable graphics with frequent hiccups and stutters. That is of course if the thing can even boot with the eGPU which as been an issue as well but obviously doesn't appear to be here.

 

[theitsage]

Very nice setup! How as stability been with the eGPU and MBA? I have heard horror stories of unstable graphics with frequent hiccups and stutters. That is of course if the thing can even boot with the eGPU which as been an issue as well but obviously doesn't appear to be here.

I have not encountered any hiccups with this setup. Boot with the eGPU attached works fine.

Issues are most likely caused by poor matching of GPU and PSU. I've found GPUs with a TDP rating of 120W or less is the most stable choice. 150W+ GPU is possible but may not be as stable when ran hard.

 

[Zackmd1]

I have not encountered any hiccups with this setup. Boot with the eGPU attached works fine.

Issues are most likely caused by poor matching of GPU and PSU. I've found GPUs with a TDP rating of 120W or less is the most stable choice. 150W+ GPU is possible but may not be as stable when ran hard.

That makes sense! Glad it works well for you! I have always wanted to have a laptop and eGPU setup. To me it is the perfect setup between portability and gaming performance at home. I would stick a Gtx 1060 or 1050Ti in a thunderbolt 3 expansion box. Just if the new MBP wasn't as expensive as it is and they didn't charge you $200 to upgrade to 16gb ram....

 

[kmac007]

cancanyone bench a 2015 MacBook Pro vs the 2016 base non touch bar edition.

 

[JTToft]

cancanyone bench a 2015 MacBook Pro vs the 2016 base non touch bar edition.

3:29.

 

[kmac007]

3:29.

Thanks for the link but he doesn't give any stats that benchmark processing power, only read and write speed.

 

[JTToft]

Thanks for the link but he doesn't give any stats that benchmark processing power, only read and write speed.

- Here you go.

 

[kmac007]

- Here you go.

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Ahhh thanks didn't catch it the first time. Appreciate your help.

 

[theitsage]

I got the TB3-TB2 adapter this morning and can confirm eGPU is possible. It's not plug-n-play but automate-eGPU should work.

 

[hiohokaybye]

I got the TB3-TB2 adapter this morning and can confirm eGPU is possible. It's not plug-n-play but automate-eGPU should work.

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May I ask what you use for the eGPU? I'm coming from the original retina. I didn't even know eGPU solutions existed over TB2 or 3!

And what's the set up process like on Mac and bootcamp side, if there is one?

 

[wegster]

- Here you go.

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That's great, thanks! Some bump but definitely incremental as was expected.
Now for the 15"s once they arrive. (and storage benchmarks)
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I got the TB3-TB2 adapter this morning and can confirm eGPU is possible. It's not plug-n-play but automate-eGPU should work.

View attachment 669198

Have you documented your eGPU experiences w/MBs anywhere start to end? I think that would be a great read for many.

 

[thedommer2000]

Very intrigued by that egpu case. So simple looking. Where did you get it? I would love to be able to throw a titan x in a box and turn a laptop into a vr beast at some point.

 

[JTToft]

That's great, thanks! Some bump but definitely incremental as was expected.
Now for the 15"s once they arrive. (and storage benchmarks)

- Keep in mind this is the base 2016 model in a synthetic benchmark. The Touch Bar version will be significantly more powerful especially for sustained loads. The 2015 must also be expected to be more powerful than the new base model for sustained loads.

 

[Zackmd1]

I got the TB3-TB2 adapter this morning and can confirm eGPU is possible. It's not plug-n-play but automate-eGPU should work.

View attachment 669198

Can you explain a bit more about what you had to do to get it to work? Have you tried it with windows yet?

 

[theitsage]

Very intrigued by that egpu case. So simple looking. Where did you get it? I would love to be able to throw a titan x in a box and turn a laptop into a vr beast at some point.

It's an AKiTiO Thunder2. I only use the inside housing so that full-size GPU can be installed. IMO it's cooler this way.

I'm not sure if it's the TB3-TB2 adapter or changes in the latest 10.12.1 but Acceleration/Metal Support is not working yet for my eGPU setup.

 

[cube]

Here's a tougher bench also with the Akitio and a 150W charger, replacing the fan for a thicker one:

2011 17" MBP 4x 2.2GHz RX460:

Maximum settings, 4K@60Hz

Heaven: 3.9fps
Valley: 5fps

 

[dmelgar]

- Keep in mind this is the base 2016 model in a synthetic benchmark. The Touch Bar version will be significantly more powerful especially for sustained loads. The 2015 must also be expected to be more powerful than the new base model for sustained loads.

Why to all statements?
I have a base 2015 MBP and a base 2016 MBP non-touchbar.

I am struggling to explain how the 2.0GHz i5 in the 2016 seems to consistently beat the 2015 2.7GHz i5.
Perhaps its more based on its boost speed of 3.1GHz each. I have not been able to get the 2016 to slow down to the speed of the 2015 despite getting the entire laptop pretty hot from maxing out CPU for an extended period of time.

It makes me question if the 2016 touch bar 2.9GHz i5 will be significantly faster since its boost speed is 3.3GHz vs 3.1GHz for the non-touchbar. Not much of a difference.

 

[JTToft]

Why to all statements?
I have a base 2015 MBP and a base 2016 MBP non-touchbar.

I am struggling to explain how the 2.0GHz i5 in the 2016 seems to consistently beat the 2015 2.7GHz i5.
Perhaps its more based on its boost speed of 3.1GHz each. I have not been able to get the 2016 to slow down to the speed of the 2015 despite getting the entire laptop pretty hot from maxing out CPU for an extended period of time.

- That's good to hear. The 2.0 i5 has a 15 W TDP, while last year's 2.7 i5 and this year's 2.9 i5 are 28 W. The 2.0 should throttle before the others to keep it from overheating.