External GPU for managing extra screen

[Marcello Mari]

Hi guys,

I'm currently connecting a screen to my MacBook pro 2015 through the HDMI port, but since I do that, it got extremely slow, especially when handling many chrome tabs (20/30...not event THAT many).

So I was wondering if I need to buy an external graphic card of GPU. I don't need to play videogames, just need the basics to functions.

What would you recommend?

 

[GumaRodak]

Maybe try safari instead? I dont think an egpu will help with open browser tabs...

 

[Marcello Mari]

Mmm thanks - however switching to a new browser right now is a less-than-desirable option for a number of reasons...

 

[jerryk]

Hi guys,

I'm currently connecting a screen to my MacBook pro 2015 through the HDMI port, but since I do that, it got extremely slow, especially when handling many chrome tabs (20/30...not event THAT many).

So I was wondering if I need to buy an external graphic card of GPU. I don't need to play videogames, just need the basics to functions.

What would you recommend?

You should first run Activity Monitor to see what process is eating up the cycles on your system. If it is the browser consider the advice below.

One thing I have noticed is Pi-hole has increased the speed I have on many websites. So many sites these days do online bids for your screens in real-time. That is, as you go to a page a bid is made using your information to determine whose ads show up. Using Pi-hole (a raspberry pi running a free app) has blocked most of these ads and the associated internet traffic.

 

[Marcello Mari]

Yeah Activity monitor shows a number of Chrome helpers eating a lot of CPU. When I restart the computer, it goes back to be as smooth as new...

so to run Pi-hole, do I need a Raspberry Pi? or is there a solution to block these bids in another way?

Thanks a lot for your tips guys!

 

[thedocbwarren]

Yeah Activity monitor shows a number of Chrome helpers eating a lot of CPU. When I restart the computer, it goes back to be as smooth as new...

so to run Pi-hole, do I need a Raspberry Pi? or is there a solution to block these bids in another way?

Thanks a lot for your tips guys!

Privacy Badger, AdBlocker, etc. Block the domain and stop the calls from returning. Also Chrome is a pig, remove some extensions or try another browser.

 

[Marcello Mari]

I have ad blocker already... I need something stronger to kill those beasts!

 

[ght56]

It sounds very unlikely that an eGPU will benefit you very much in this instance and I think the fix is probably much easier and cheaper, but we need to know a bit more.

1. What MBP are you using (actual specs not just year), and what display resolution and refresh rate?
2. Are you using the monitor when in clamshell mode or are you using it with the built in display and monitor simultaneously?
3. What does your memory usage look like when the system slows down? What does your CPU usage look like? (Activity Monitor will show you this)
4. What ad blocker are you currently using? Ad blockers can use a lot of CPU and memory. For Chrome try UBlock Origin + UBlock Origin Extra (do NOT use UBlock, as it is different from UBlock Origin) or for Safari try Wipr. UBlock Origin is extremely light on resources.
5. How many extensions are you currently running? A lot of extensions on Chrome can consume a ton of system resources, and the impact of extensions in Chrome appears to have a much greater impact on Macs than extensions do in Safari.
6. Finally, what in Chrome is using the most resources? You can see what web pages and extensions in Chrome are occupying the most CPU and RAM by opening the Chrome Task Manager.

 

[Marcello Mari]

Hi thanks so much for looking into this:

1) RES: 2560 x 1080 - 75HZ
2) I'm using it most of the time with the built in display
3) I need to check when it gets busy, for now seems fine
4) I use the free version of AdBlocker
5) I have 4 extensions including AdBlocker
6) Normally is the Chrome Helper

Many thanks again for your support!

 

[Marcello Mari]

Now for example is slow a f

 

[Marcello Mari]

And this is the task manager on chrome..

 

[ght56]

It looks like Chrome Task Manager is not sorted by CPU. Could you do another shot sorted by CPU from highest to lowest when it slows again? Specifically continue whatever activity you were doing while making this screen shot. I think this should help us narrow in on the culprit.

What does your memory look like when it gets slow like this? (also in Activity Monitor - this looks like a CPU thing but figure we should check this too)

 

[Marcello Mari]

This gives some really interesting insights actually... of course it keeps changing, but it looks like some tabs are sucking more CPU than others...

 

[ght56]

Some of your extensions are using a decent bit of CPU in addition to individual tabs. I would recommend to try uninstalling Adblock and trying Ublock Origin, and potentially disabling the other extensions using high CPU and only enabling them only when needed...or if you dont use them uninstall them outright. This may help some.

Binance's exchange pages simply occupy a good bit of CPU and GPU, and I do not think there is much you can do about that other than opening them selectively, trying to manually control the tab refresh settings, or trying to use those specific pages in Safari.

Something else you can try is in regard to sandboxed plugins. Go to settings--advanced---site settings---in permissions select additional permissions--unsandboxed plugin access-- and unselect 'ask when a site wants to use a plugin'. This sometimes can help reduce high CPU usage without major impacts on usability. If it does cause issues or does not help, you can revert.

If you give these a try, do you see any difference?

 

[pshufd]

I'd suggest Firefox or Edge. I have run into a number of memory leak issues with Chromium-based browsers. I have more thermal issues rather than performance issues on my 2015 MacBook Pro 15 (2.5/AMD Graphics).

 

[thedocbwarren]

I'd suggest Firefox or Edge. I have run into a number of memory leak issues with Chromium-based browsers. I have more thermal issues rather than performance issues on my 2015 MacBook Pro 15 (2.5/AMD Graphics).

Same suggestion. I use FireFox on macOS vs Chrome. Too much memory and bloat and spying.

 

[Marcello Mari]

Thanks for all the great suggestion guys. I'll first try ght56 tips and if nothing works, I'll sadly have to switch browser.... some of the main reason I keep using chrome and chromium-based browsers are: 1) Password memorization: When I used to use firefox, there was nothing similar and any other password manager will come with a cost. 2) Smooth integration across Android. 3) Integration with all google services...

I know that Firefox is also good at 2 and 3, but 1 is a major concern for me.

I've never used Edge though...

 

[Marcello Mari]

I think unchecking the sandbox for plugins might actually help. I'm now suspecting that Holpa VPN extension is draining my CPU...

Other than that I have:
Metamask
Grammarly
Hubspot
AdBlock (I will try Ublock soon)
Google docs editor offline
and a Paywall Bypasser

 

[pshufd]

Thanks for all the great suggestion guys. I'll first try ght56 tips and if nothing works, I'll sadly have to switch browser.... some of the main reason I keep using chrome and chromium-based browsers are: 1) Password memorization: When I used to use firefox, there was nothing similar and any other password manager will come with a cost. 2) Smooth integration across Android. 3) Integration with all google services...

I know that Firefox is also good at 2 and 3, but 1 is a major concern for me.

I've never used Edge though...

I use Brave on iOS because the Ad Blocking is built into the browser rather than as an extension.

My first choice is Firefox but my second choice is Brave.

My third choice is Microsoft Edge. It is the smoothest Chromium browser out there in terms of bugfixes. Performance on macOS though, is not the best. It performs well on Windows though.