Blackmagic Releases New eGPU Firmware With Pro Display XDR Support

[MacRumors]

Blackmagic eGPU and Blackmagic eGPU Pro users who also own a Pro Display XDR can today download a new version 1.2 firmware update that's designed to introduce support for the Apple Pro Display XDR.

The update is available via the Latest Downloads section of the Blackmagic website, and it allows the Pro Display XDR to be used as a display when connected to a Mac with TB3 or with a Blackmagic eGPU.

Apple support documents for the Blackmagic eGPU and reports from Pro Display XDR owners have suggested that the devices were already compatible with one another prior to this firmware update, but it should still be installed as it may further improve compatibility.

The Blackmagic eGPU and eGPU Pro can allow the Pro Display XDR to work with Thunderbolt 3 Macs that do not officially support Apple's new 6K display.

Apple has been offering the Blackmagic eGPU since mid-2018, when it launched alongside the 2018 MacBook Pro models. The base eGPU features a Radeon Pro 580, while the Pro model is equipped with a Radeon RX Vega 56.

Article Link: Blackmagic Releases New eGPU Firmware With Pro Display XDR Support

 

[icrude]

So is the scenario behind this that someone has an XDR connected to a Mac mini and needs more juice?

 

[poematik13]

This thing is so overpriced. I mean yes it's also a TB3 hub and is nicely engineered but it's non-upgradeable so you're stuck with last-gen AMD graphics. The Pro should be $799 and the 580 model should be $499.

For ~$500 you can get a Sonnet chassis and 5700 that will smoke this thing AND you can swap the GPU out over time.

 

[jgrove]

These units are super quiet, I replaced my Gigabyte EGPU with a Blackmagic one, largely because it had TB3 daisy chain capability and it was quiet. Yes not cheap, but they are superbly engineered.

Alas I have no idea if the firmware update worked, I was just asked to reboot my MBP twice and no confirmation was displayed, but the firmware via System Report now shows 50.3

Can anyone else confirm, as the update had zero instructions?

Regards

 

[radus]

For ~$500 you can get a Sonnet chassis and 5700 that will smoke this thing AND you can swap the GPU out over time.

As far as I know only the blackmagic uses a titan-ridge controller?
You get what you pay for.

 

[mellofello]

Can it push the full 6k?

 

[zedsdead]

Seriously want to get the Pro eGU and the XDR display to hook up to my MacBook Pro 13” at home and just forgo the iMac....decisions.

 

[JLOAKS]

For ~$500 you can get a Sonnet chassis and 5700 that will smoke this thing AND you can swap the GPU out over time.

But doesn’t come with ultra-quiet performance, or daisy-chaining capabilities to LG Ultrafine displays, or the ability to be used as a hub.

You can power a 5k display, have eGPU support, charge your laptop, get 4 USB ports & 3 USB-C ports, with quiet performance all through one USB-C connection on your MacBook.

 

[CWallace]

Can it push the full 6k?

It can now with the new 1.2 firmware update per user reports.

 

[jgrove]

As far as I know only the blackmagic uses a titan-ridge controller?
You get what you pay for.

Yup, the tear down confirmed it. While being able to change the card is nice, I don't have any need to do that unless something changes drastically in video processing. A bigger card just buys better speed, unless of course you're a gamer, but I have a PS4 for that ;-)

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

But why?

It's not like the PDXDR can go higher than 60hz.
[automerge]1577730573[/automerge]

...unless of course you're a gamer, but I have a PS4 for that ;-)

 

[Brian Y]

They are nice but damn pricey. I picked up a HP box, which is bloody ugly, but has an ATX PSU and can take any card for £200!

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

So is the scenario behind this that someone has an XDR connected to a Mac mini and needs more juice?

Agree...That is EXACTLY the plan!

 

[frou]

This thing is so overpriced. I mean yes it's also a TB3 hub and is nicely engineered but it's non-upgradeable so you're stuck with last-gen AMD graphics. The Pro should be $799 and the 580 model should be $499.

For ~$500 you can get a Sonnet chassis and 5700 that will smoke this thing AND you can swap the GPU out over time.

I did buy the Sonnet box and ended up spending extra to replace both the PSU and the Fan because the stock parts were woefully noisy.

The added complexity of the eGPU world is just a money sink in general, compared to sliding a card into a free slot in a traditional PC tower.

 

[LiE_]

I recently bought the 580 Blackmagic used for £400, still with 3 months warranty with Apple. It’s about the right price for what it delivers for me. It’s very well made and super quiet. Drives my UltraFine really well.

 

[giggles]

Can it push the full 6k?

Yes but the usb-c ports on the back of the XDR will run at usb 2.0 speed (probably fine for keyboards mice speakers mics webcam etc.).

If they made a version of this based on the W5700X gpu, they would run at usb3 speeds, like they do with the MBP 16”.

 

[jgrove]

Can anyone else confirm the firmware version? I can only assume it has worked? Thanks

 

[Simmias]

Just returned my Blackmagic eGPU today. In a fit of insanity and seduction by Apple's 6% cash back offer, I ordered the Blackmagic eGPU and Pro Display XDR to pair with my Mac mini. I'm not a graphics pro but dreamed of replacing my plastic-y LG 23.7" Ultrafine with Apple's 32" super high res work of art. But then reality set in and I gave up on my dream:

-Disliked the large bulk and weight of the eGPU. It dwarfs the mini itself.
-Not a fan of legacy USB A ports on the Blackmagic. If I'm building a dream set up, USB A is not part of the picture.
-Lack of built in speakers on Pro Display meant yet more bulky equipment and wires would need to sit on my desk.
-LG has extra thunderbolt port to daisy chain my Thunderbolt 3 UA Arrow audio interface. Not possible with the USB ports on the BlackMagic/XDR.
-eGPU seemed pretty seamless but would see some weird graphics glitches on start up. Not encouraging.
-I don't do intensive graphics work or gaming that would remotely justify the extra graphics output.
-And of course, the $$$$.

Returned the eGPU and cancelled my order for the XDR. Sigh. Hopefully one day Apple will release a more practical update to the classic Apple Cinema Displays.

 

[poematik13]

As far as I know only the blackmagic uses a titan-ridge controller?
You get what you pay for.

Still not worth $1200. A TB3 hub + Sonnet + Vega 56 or newer 5700 is well under that

You're paying for the integration (all in one nice quiet and slick box)

 

[esatamacmodular]

I want to like this product , but it is twice as much as others that do the same thing (but are a little louder for the other brands). Also. its annoying that they do not showcase these in any of the apple stores in chicagoland area. And they only have a 0.5 m TB3 cable to sell.

 

[otisblack]

Just a note: If you want to use the XDR with Mac mini, you need a Blackmagic eGPU. They come with 2 TB3 ports on the back, whereas all other external eGPUs only have one. Even though the Blackmagic is overpriced for what it is, there are no alternatives for a mini + XDR setup.

 

[SgtPepper12]

Just returned my Blackmagic eGPU today. In a fit of insanity and seduction by Apple's 6% cash back offer, I ordered the Blackmagic eGPU and Pro Display XDR to pair with my Mac mini. I'm not a graphics pro but dreamed of replacing my plastic-y LG 23.7" Ultrafine with Apple's 32" super high res work of art. But then reality set in and I gave up on my dream:

-Disliked the large bulk and weight of the eGPU. It dwarfs the mini itself.
-Not a fan of legacy USB A ports on the Blackmagic. If I'm building a dream set up, USB A is not part of the picture.
-Lack of built in speakers on Pro Display meant yet more bulky equipment and wires would need to sit on my desk.
-LG has extra thunderbolt port to daisy chain my Thunderbolt 3 UA Arrow audio interface. Not possible with the USB ports on the BlackMagic/XDR.
-eGPU seemed pretty seamless but would see some weird graphics glitches on start up. Not encouraging.
-I don't do intensive graphics work or gaming that would remotely justify the extra graphics output.
-And of course, the $$$$.

Returned the eGPU and cancelled my order for the XDR. Sigh. Hopefully one day Apple will release a more practical update to the classic Apple Cinema Displays.

So basically, you ordered a product you never needed in the first place?

 

[konqerror]

The added complexity of the eGPU world is just a money sink in general, compared to sliding a card into a free slot in a traditional PC tower.

Ever tried that on a modern non-gaming, non-homebuilt, or non-workstation PC? It's near impossible. You'll run into problems with the power supply (not enough power, no PCIe power with no device connectors, and you can't upgrade them because most are proprietary 12V only now), problems with getting the card to fit (Dell has a quick release tab that hits the card, many slots are too short, and several vendors have put things like SATA ports right under the card), and cooling (what you expect with a chassis that came with a 200 W PSU).

 

[Darth Tulhu]

So my question is, who buys a $6k display but uses a <$1k computer to try to feed it?

I mean, I'm glad that you can, but why?

I thought a display like this was aimed at people with Mac Pro (or equivalent) money.

 

[Chaos215bar2]

As far as I know only the blackmagic uses a titan-ridge controller?
You get what you pay for.

More like this is a sufficiently niche product that no one’s bothered making something with similar capabilities for less money. The hardware itself is absolutely not worth the price of entry here, but there’s literally no other option right now if you want to drive certain displays from an eGPU.