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This enclosure is actually pretty incredible because it looks like they've routed some DisplayPort lines to the Thunderbolt 3 ports on the hub, meaning that, for the first time, users can easily accelerate 5k USB-C displays like the LG Ultrafine via eGPU. This is huge.
 
I have a 2017 thunderbolt 3 MBP, but a thunderbolt 2 LG34UM95. I use the thunderbolt 3>2 adapter to connect it.

Can I go laptop to EGPU on thunderbolt 3 then shove a thunderbolt 3>2 adapter on the EGPU to output to the monitor...

The FAQ on the site doesn’t say. Same with display port compatibility.
 
This enclosure is actually pretty incredible because it looks like they've routed some DisplayPort lines to the Thunderbolt 3 ports on the hub, meaning that, for the first time, users can easily accelerate 5k USB-C displays like the LG Ultrafine via eGPU. This is huge.

No monitor (that I'm aware of) does FreeSync over Tb3. No monitor does 120hz or higher refresh rates over Tb3, either.

This enclosure is useless.

And no computer, PC or Mac, is going to run anything at 60fps minimum at 5k.
 
Not according to Blackmagics website. Look there first, it answers all of the 19830 billion questions you had in this thread
That's really too bad. Hopefully this is able to be supported in the future.
 
No monitor (that I'm aware of) does FreeSync over Tb3. No monitor does 120hz or higher refresh rates over Tb3, either.

This enclosure is useless.

And no computer, PC or Mac, is going to run anything at 60fps minimum at 5k.

I have never seen anyone put such a dependency on FreeSync that they would call something useless. If you can't get 60 fps then why would you care if 75 Hz is the max for FreeSync? I think you're missing something - if you want 120 fps gaming you're not going to get it from this card, so what would FreeSync matter?

Up until just a couple of years ago, FreeSync couldn't even hit 90 Hz period.
 
Ok, now make one with nVidia so I can use cuda like a normal modern person uses.

You will never see one with nVidia until Apple makes fundamental updates to the OS. They are deliberately and specifically blocking nVidia cards from working over eGPU.
 
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I have never seen anyone put such a dependency on FreeSync that they would call something useless. If you can't get 60 fps then why would you care if 75 Hz is the max for FreeSync? I think you're missing something.

Right now, I'm regularly over 100fps, usually pegged at 120fps in most of my games, using a 144hz 2K monitor connected via Display Port. So with my intent of moving to macOS, I expect the same results now that I can run a desktop GPU. Apple went with AMD, so G-Sync is out.

Hence the need for full support of FreeSync.

As for my next comment, I don't intend for this to be insulting or talking down to you; some may not understand why there is a need for such high frame rates.

It's not that one needs to be running at 120fps. It's that you need a system capable of delivering at least 30fps, if not 60fps at the most intense times. The horsepower involved in hitting that mark thus results in hitting such high framerates when things are easier to render for the GPU. Think of it as a cushion, headroom, or a reserve if you will. FreeSync and G-Sync tie the monitor's refresh rate to the outputted frame rate from the GPU, thereby removing tearing where the the monitor can't keep up with the GPU.

So yes, if I can't cant connect a proper display with the proper cable, the enclosure is useless. There are other enclosures that you can pop a 580 into and have access to all of the ports that the card actually supports. Like Display Port.
 
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This is actually...kind of a terrible deal.

Only one HDMI port? That's seriously cheaping out- stock Radeon 580s ship with 3-5 display outputs.

$699?? You can buy a premium brand eGPU (Razer) for $299. You can buy a budget but still quality brand (Sonnet) for $199. Then a Radeon 580 for $200.

Apple is $200 more than a premium brand with the same card and can only hook up to one display. That's absurd.
 
Right now, I'm regularly over 100fps, usually pegged at 120fps in most of my games, using a 144hz 2K monitor connected via Display Port. So with my intent of moving to macOS, I expect the same results now that I can run a desktop GPU. Apple went with AMD, so G-Sync is out.

Hence the need for full support of FreeSync.

As for my next comment, I don't intend for this to be insulting or talking down to you; some may not understand why there is a need for such high frame rates.

It's not that one needs to be running at 120fps. It's that you need a system capable of delivering at least 30fps, if not 60fps at the most intense times. The horsepower involved in hitting that mark thus results in hitting such high framerates when things are easier to render for the GPU. Think of it as a cushion, headroom, or a reserve if you will. FreeSync and G-Sync tie the monitor's refresh rate to the outputted frame rate from the GPU, thereby removing tearing where the the monitor can't keep up with the GPU.

So yes, if I can't cant connect a proper display with the proper cable, the enclosure is useless. There are other enclosures that you can pop a 580 into and have access to all of the ports that the card actually supports. Like Display Port.

DisplayPort is part of the TB3 cable. So there should be support for it if MacOS and drivers support it. Hardwarewise no issues whatsoever.
 
This is actually...kind of a terrible deal.

Only one HDMI port? That's seriously cheaping out- stock Radeon 580s ship with 3-5 display outputs.

$699?? You can buy a premium brand eGPU (Razer) for $299. You can buy a budget but still quality brand (Sonnet) for $199. Then a Radeon 580 for $200.

Apple is $200 more than a premium brand with the same card and can only hook up to one display. That's absurd.

According to egpu.io, the Sonnet Breakaway with the RX580 costs $549. It only gives you 60 watts of USB PD (not the 85 I need for a MacBook Pro) and only one TB3 port. It also offers no USB type A ports.

The Blackmagic Design box offer 4 USB 3.1 type A ports, 85 watt USB PD and a second TB3 port.
 
No Display Port which means FreeSync would potentially be capped at 75hz on a 1080p monitor (from AMD's site).

This enclosure is useless.

At least as of right now, eGPU technology on macOS is not geared toward gaming. It is geared toward using GPUs for compute power, for example when rendering video in Final Cut Pro. It is certainly useless for you but not for everyone.
 
Anyone else find it odd that Apple worked with a company that produces a video editing program that rivals FCPx to create this while their in house program still does not support eGPU’s??
 
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You will never see one with nVidia until Apple makes fundamental updates to the OS. They are deliberately and specifically blocking nVidia cards from working over eGPU.

As long as they do this I will deliberately and specifically keep using my hackintosh. I need to be able to dual boot into windows for gaming and nvidia is just flat out better for gaming. If Apple won’t give me a machine capable of that I’ll make my own.
 
Anyone else find it odd that Apple worked with a company that produces a video editing program that rivals FCPx to create this while their in house program still does not support eGPU’s??

Blackmagic Design is mostly a hardware manufacturer (like Apple), so no, it is not odd at all. While FinalCut Pro X does not yet support eGPU, Compressor does quite nicely. I would expect that there will be eGPU support in FCPx and Motion X in the next release. Resolve is still probably the best color correction software, and with the latest version, it is a pretty reasonable NLE and audio editor.
 
one thing that always bugged me... can these egpu use the macbook display, or they require an external monitor? if the latter... meh.

I've watched a couple of reviews on YouTube for other eGPUs that say it is best to use external monitor as you get much better performance.

Here's one:
 
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This is the first purpose-built thunderbolt GPU, correct? (meaning it isn't just an external PCI case and a card). I'm honestly a little surprised by the size. It looks as big as the nMac Pro.
 
You will never see one with nVidia until Apple makes fundamental updates to the OS. They are deliberately and specifically blocking nVidia cards from working over eGPU.

nVidia could release drivers for MacOS (including for Metal), but they do not think it is a priority for them. Apple does not sell nVidia cards (and is unlikely to do so for a long time as they are still quite angry over nVidia's response to their failing MBP chip).
 
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