External GPU (eGPU) Resources

[nampramos]

Prices have been going all over the place here. Sometimes dropping 30% one day and going back up the next.

I'll be getting the Asus most likely. All the other ones are just way too big.

Still split between getting an even cheaper RX580 or the 56. But if prices keep going down, then it will be hard to resist the 56.

The RX 580 seem to be now selling at exactly the launch price back in 2017.

 

[F-Train]

Still split between getting an even cheaper RX580 or the 56. But if prices keep going down, then it will be hard to resist the 56.

I think that the Vega 56 only makes sense if you are gaming. Otherwise, the RX 580 should be more than fine.*

For me, the problem, having purchased an RX 590, was that I figured that I'd give gaming a whirl, which led, of course, to the Vega.

The lesson? Beware the slippery slope. Alternatively, recognise that you have the kind of personality that will wind up gaming, in which case you might as well buy the Vega in the first place.

Of course, if you start toying with gaming, the video card isn't the end of it. Good luck using your keyboard and mouse/trackpad; I now also own a joystick and rudder pedals.

* I do realise that there are circumstances in which a Vega 56 may make sense for photography or video (see post #302), but I suspect that the people who need a Vega for that kind of work probably know it already.

 

[KennethS]

Deleted - posted in error

 

[nampramos]

I’m not a gamer at all and won’t be for sure.

But I do work with photography almost on a daily basis and would really like to get my hands on CAD in the future, although I’ve been saying that for years.

If I can get a 56 for less than double of a 580, I might do it. Otherwise the 580 will be just fine to start with.

 

[SecuritySteve]

The eGPU case manufacturers may be correct because you are talking about two full on desktop cards that have not been underclocked or hampered in any way to avoid thermal issues as you suspect.

As for an eGPU on an iMac, I do not believe they can accelerate the internal screen. I might be wrong on that, but I recall reading it in several places. I do not know if it is the same on the iMac Pro, but I would suspect it is. One of the guys in here will surely give a more definitive answer and correct me if I am wrong.

Bumping this as it seems to have lost attention. To my understanding, eGPUs can accelerate applications on the internal monitor (such as games, and editing software) with just a few clicks in Finder for the application. eGPUs accelerating the internal monitors of laptops are commonplace, why should an iMac be any different?

 

[Cashmonee]

Bumping this as it seems to have lost attention. To my understanding, eGPUs can accelerate applications on the internal monitor (such as games, and editing software) with just a few clicks in Finder for the application. eGPUs accelerating the internal monitors of laptops are commonplace, why should an iMac be any different?

I know you are looking for others to chime in, but I did some digging and it seems it is not possible for gaming.

https://egpu.io/forums/mac-setup/benchmark-internal-display-w-vega-64-on-mojave/

The issue, best I can tell, is that looping from the iMac to the eGPU and back takes too much bandwidth and therefore limits the performance. So even though they were able to get it to work, the performance was no better than the built in GPU on the iMac for gaming. The person did not test other things.

Here is another though that had good results with a MBP but not so good with iMac:
https://www.macworld.com/article/3294696/macs/article.html

At this point I really do not know. It sounds like maybe it works? I don't know if the app has to have support for eGPU (I think it might) and that could be the problem?

 

[F-Train]

Bumping this as it seems to have lost attention. To my understanding, eGPUs can accelerate applications on the internal monitor (such as games, and editing software) with just a few clicks in Finder for the application. eGPUs accelerating the internal monitors of laptops are commonplace, why should an iMac be any different?

I'm not sure that I fully understand your question, which is set out in post #287.

However, this info from the Blackmagic Design pages for the Blackmagic eGPU and Blackmagic eGPU Pro may help: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagicegpu/

This quote is from the Tech Specs FAQ at https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagicegpu/techspecs/W-DRE-11(boldface added):

Do Blackmagic eGPUs work with all macOS computers?
The Blackmagic eGPU will work with all Thunderbolt 3 based Apple computers that are running macOS 10.13.6 or later. The Blackmagic eGPU Pro will will work with all Thunderbolt 3 based Apple computers that are running macOS 10.14 or later. This includes MacBook Pro computers from the 2016 model year and later, 2017 iMac and iMac Pro.
​

Also, see the photos below from the main Blackmagic eGPU page.

If Blackmagic's eGPUs work with an iMac, others should as well.

I can think of a couple of reasons why someone would want to use an external GPU with an iMac. DaVinci Resolve can draw on both the iMac's or iMac Pro's GPU plus one in an enclosure. Also, one might want to use an external GPU, such as Blackmagic's own eGPU Pro, that is more powerful than the one in a standard iMac.

 

[SecuritySteve]

I know you are looking for others to chime in, but I did some digging and it seems it is not possible for gaming.

https://egpu.io/forums/mac-setup/benchmark-internal-display-w-vega-64-on-mojave/

The issue, best I can tell, is that looping from the iMac to the eGPU and back takes too much bandwidth and therefore limits the performance. So even though they were able to get it to work, the performance was no better than the built in GPU on the iMac for gaming. The person did not test other things.

Damn. Guess I will need to also get a gaming monitor when I want to upgrade my GPU then. If you hear a faint whine right now, that's the sound of my wallet crying.

 

[Cashmonee]

Damn. Guess I will need to also get a gaming monitor when I want to upgrade my GPU then. If you hear a faint whine right now, that's the sound of my wallet crying.

I mean try it out if you can? It appears that Macworld got it to work with Tomb Raider even if the results were less than great. Perhaps talk to Apple and see what they say. I am sure they would try it out in the store if they have the hardware.

 

[SecuritySteve]

I mean try it out if you can? It appears that Macworld got it to work with Tomb Raider even if the results were less than great. Perhaps talk to Apple and see what they say. I am sure they would try it out in the store if they have the hardware.

Yeah what I will probably end up doing is waiting ~2-3 years from now until GPU technology has evolved much further from my current GPU, then get one of those to make my iMac Pro last longer.

Or, maybe the modular Mac Pro will actually surprise me and be worth reselling my machine. We'll see. Either way I have options I need to consider.

Thank you all for your input.

 

[F-Train]

It looks like AMD will be making an announcement about its graphics card roadmap at the upcoming CES show. The show press conferences are on 6-7 January and the show itself is 8-11 January. AMD head Lisa Su is presenting a keynote speech on the 9th.

AMD has confirmed that it will be making an announcement, but has provided no details. The rumour mill says that the announcement is likely to cover Navi (the replacement for the Polaris line of cards) and perhaps Vega.

 

[riggieri]

I bought a Akitio Node 3 and put a RX 480 in it. Worked perfectly and is very silent. My only issue is it has at least3-4x the volumetric size of the MacMini.

 

[tpivette89]

I bought a Akitio Node 3 and put a RX 480 in it. Worked perfectly and is very silent. My only issue is it has at least3-4x the volumetric size of the MacMini.

I had the same eGPU box, but had to return it due to faulty power supply issues. Interestingly enough, I had the same card populating it (what are the odds). Opting for the Razer Core X instead.

 

[Flabasha]

I had the same eGPU box, but had to return it due to faulty power supply issues. Interestingly enough, I had the same card populating it (what are the odds). Opting for the Razer Core X instead.

I don't have a Mac Mini, I have a 2015 Macbook Pro, but I can heartily recommend the Vega 56 Strix (got it on a 30-minute sale for $400) in an ASUS XG Station Pro. Very small footprint, completely silent unless maxed out.

You DEFINITELY want to put a camelcamelcamel price watch notification for the card you want, and then buy it immediately when it hits that price. Prices for the Strix vary $250 within a day or so. It's nuts.

 

[tpivette89]

I don't have a Mac Mini, I have a 2015 Macbook Pro, but I can heartily recommend the Vega 56 Strix (got it on a 30-minute sale for $400) in an ASUS XG Station Pro. Very small footprint, completely silent unless maxed out.

You DEFINITELY want to put a camelcamelcamel price watch notification for the card you want, and then buy it immediately when it hits that price. Prices for the Strix vary $250 within a day or so. It's nuts.

I already purchased the Core X... they say it should arrive on Dec 24th, fingers crossed.

I actually found a deal on a Sapphire Vega 64 for $410, so I will probably be leaning more in that direction.

 

[F-Train]

I can heartily recommend the Vega 56 Strix (got it on a 30-minute sale for $400) in an ASUS XG Station Pro. Very small footprint, completely silent unless maxed out.

You DEFINITELY want to put a camelcamelcamel price watch notification for the card you want, and then buy it immediately when it hits that price. Prices for the Strix vary $250 within a day or so. It's nuts.

Just want to add that I agree with your comment on footprint and noise for the Asus (aka Strix) Vega 56 + Asus XG Station Pro. I'd say the same about the Sapphire Nitro+ RX 590, which I've also owned, with that enclosure.

I think that you got a good deal on the card and I like your suggestion of a price watch.

 

[iAssimilated]

I have a weird question, does you ASUS XG Station Pro + video card run the fans all the time? I only ask because both the station's fans as well as the video card's start but then stop on my setup. I have yet to put any load on them, but in my PC days the fans always ran in my systems.

EDIT
Let me state I am currently using that display connection and the system lists the proper components.

 

[F-Train]

I have a weird question, does you ASUS XG Station Pro + video card run the fans all the time? I only ask because both the station's fans as well as the video card's start but then stop on my setup. I have yet to put any load on them, but in my PC days the fans always ran in my systems.

The fans only run if the card is busy. That was true of my RX 590 and is also true of the Vega 56.

To me, all the talk about fan noise and heat is mystifying.

 

[iAssimilated]

Okay, just checking. I ran a couple of GFX Bench Metal tests and the video card's fans started to run, but I have yet to see the station's fan start. Hopefully my tests with Star Trek Online will make it sweat a bit.

I do admit the ASUS PRO is a sexy enclosure and it has erased any doubts I had about purchasing it!!!

 

[F-Train]

Update: Also see post #349.

Jeff Benjamin of 9 to 5 Mac says that the Mac mini and an external GPU can be used with a Boot Camp Windows installation, e.g. for gaming, and that setting this up is straightforward: https://9to5mac.com/2018/12/20/how-...-into-a-capable-windows-gaming-machine-video/

In other words, he's saying that Apple advice to the contrary is wrong.

Has anyone tried this?

Here's Benjamin's accompanying video, using a Mac mini and a Vega 64 in a Razer Core X enclosure to play a variety of Windows games:

 

[F-Train]

If anyone is interested, Newegg is selling the Asus AREZ Strix Vega 56 video card for US$400: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814126180

This was the notional selling price of the Vega 56 reference card in August 2017, and I believe that it is $50-$60 lower than Asus's launch price for its custom version of the card (then called the ROG Strix) in December 2017/January 2018.

This card is the subject of posts #339, 341, 343 and 344. There are also benchmarks for it in posts #290, 291, 298 and 317.

See post #293 on the free games, and the post immediately above (#345) suggesting that the Mac mini and an eGPU can indeed run Bootcamp/Windows games.

For the differences between reference and custom cards, with specific reference to this card, see post #307.

 

[stillcrazyman]

Good news. Maybe I'll order from them instead of Amazon. Hope the price doesn't change much in the next few days......

 

[Flabasha]

Good news. Maybe I'll order from them instead of Amazon. Hope the price doesn't change much in the next few days......

For those looking to ride the crazy train of GPU prices, up to the minute...
https://www.nowinstock.net/computers/videocards/amd/rxvega56/

 

[F-Train]

Further to post #345, I came across this exchange from a couple of weeks ago in which Jeff Benjamin responded to a question about using Windows/Boot Camp with an external GPU.

If installing Windows 10, Benjamin also recommends the April 2018 ISO rather than the October 2018 ISO. Apparently there are issues with the latter, or at least there were as of a couple of weeks ago.

 

[davethorp]

Further to post #345, I came across this exchange from a couple of weeks ago in which Jeff Benjamin responded to a question about using Windows/Boot Camp with an external GPU.

If installing Windows 10, Benjamin also recommends the April 2018 ISO rather than the October 2018 ISO. Apparently there are issues with the latter, or at least there were as of a couple of weeks ago.



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I have bootcamp working with eGPU (Razer Core X and AMD Vega 56) using the October 2018 release. My mini is connected to the monitor by USB-C and the eGPU uses DisplayPort on the same monitor

Only issues I've noticed are you have to be using one of the embedded graphics or the eGPU each time you boot. I can't hot swap between them like you can in MacOS. Though since my windows partition is used purely for gaming that's not too much of an issue for me

No boot logo if you boot with the eGPU connected and the monitor on the eGPU output but that's common with MacOS too