External Graphics Card for Mac Book Pro 13'

[Synchro3]

Because i had a spare Nvidia GTX 570 Graphics card and power supply, i built an eGPU setup for my MacBook Pro 13' 2012. The eGPU is connected to the Mac Book Pro via a Thunderbolt 2m cable.

Parts:
Thunderbolt to PCI Express: http://www.sonnettech.com/product/echoexpresscard34thunderbolt.html
PCI-Espress to PCI (important: only PE4L v2.1 supports PCI E 2.0):
http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4L V2.1.html

All parts are PCI Express 2.0 x1 (5 Gbit/s), that's what Thunderbolt 1 supports.

The case is a Cooler Master Elite 130.

Some Nvidia driver patching an KEXT editing: http://forum.techinferno.com/implem...ps-tb2-netstor-na211tb-win8-1-osx10-10-a.html and http://maxserve.blogspot.tw/2014/04/how-to-recognize-gpgpu-via-thunderbolt.html

… and it works! Got a signal at the display. OpenGL (Gaming) 561% faster than internal HD 4000 Graphics, GPGPU (OpenCL and CUDA) working. All fine, including playing HD movies from iTunes Store, DVDs etc.

 

[JamesMike]

Because i had a spare Nvidia GTX 570 Graphics card and power supply, i built an eGPU setup for my MacBook Pro 13' 2012. The eGPU is connected to the Mac Book Pro via a Thunderbolt 2m cable.

Parts:
Thunderbolt to PCI Express: http://www.sonnettech.com/product/echoexpresscard34thunderbolt.html
PCI-Espress to PCI (important: only PE4L v2.1 supports PCI E 2.0):
http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4L V2.1.html

All parts are PCI Express 2.0 x1 (5 Gbit/s), that's what Thunderbolt 1 supports.

The case is a Cooler Master Elite 130.

Some Nvidia driver patching an KEXT editing: http://forum.techinferno.com/implem...ps-tb2-netstor-na211tb-win8-1-osx10-10-a.html and http://maxserve.blogspot.tw/2014/04/how-to-recognize-gpgpu-via-thunderbolt.html

… and it works! Got a signal at the display. OpenGL (Gaming) 561% faster than internal HD 4000 Graphics, GPGPU (OpenCL and CUDA) working. All fine, including playing HD movies from iTunes Store, DVDs etc.

Interesting concept, thanks for the information.

 

[Freyqq]

I'd really like to be able to buy the whole package from NVIDIA one day with official support. Missing a potential market.

 

[Synchro3]

Just ordered a GTX-770 4 GB card. When i receive the card i will test the eGPU setup again.

If requested i can post detailed instructions how to edit Nvidia driver and KEXT's. It is the same procedure for OS X Mountain Lion, Mavericks and Yosemite (except in Yosemite you have to disable KEXT signing).

 

[ninja2000]

So you can output the 570 to the internal screen as well as a monitor?

I think this is an amazing idea and would love to also do this but I would want a tiny compact egpu that I could move with me, the itx case idea works great but you may as well just build an itx rig!

 

[e270889o]

Aprox 300$ without the card.

I think its not worth it. You can buy a Fx6300+4gb+cheapboard+case for that price and have entirely computer

 

[yjchua95]

Aprox 300$ without the card.

I think its not worth it. You can buy a Fx6300+4gb+cheapboard+case for that price and have entirely computer

Minus the Mac hardware and a properly functioning OS X experience.

Hackintosh isn't the same.

I've got a Sonnet IIID with a GTX 780 Ti, hooked up via TB2 to my Mac and it's smooth in Boot Camp. Just plug and play.