FCPX eGPU solution for mid-2015 rMBP?

[Z400Racer37]

Hey all,

Looking for a bit of advice on an eGPU.

I'm starting a position that's going to require a lot of 4k video editing, and I think I'm gonna need an eGPU to help move things along. I've don't quite a bit of poking around, but there's so much material, I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction here...

I have a mid-2015 rMBP with the AMD GPU. I'm looking for a thunderbolt 2 (or ideally, if it exists, a TB3 with a converter to TB2 so I can future proof) solution to aid in the FCPX rendering process.. After looking around a while, it looked like the Nvidia 1080 was going to be the best bang for the buck, but then I heard someone on YouTube say something about OpenCL and it performed not that well with that, and that they use that on FCPX, so it wouldn't really work for me or something.... Idk lol. Kind of just hoping someone can point me in the direction of a reasonably priced, yet powerful solution for video editing in FCPX on a TB2 connection, and a future proofed solution if that's possible.

Gaming is a non-issue btw..

Thanks in advance guys!

 

[Richdmoore]

I can't help too much, but I believe you need thunderbolt 3 for official external gpu support. I believe there has been some hacks to allow unofficial thunderbolt 2 support as well (but could break with updated macOS versions.)

There is a web site that specializes on this topic: https://egpu.io

 

[Anarchy99]

I can't help too much, but I believe you need thunderbolt 3 for official external gpu support. I believe there has been some hacks to allow unofficial thunderbolt 2 support as well (but could break with updated macOS versions.)

There is a web site that specializes on this topic: https://egpu.io

Great website

I personally went with the gigabyte Aorus gaming box with an Nvidia card (it comes with a 1070 or a 1080 depending on the model you choose )
The now also make a gigabyte makes a AMD Radeon 580 option literally the same box just that card

If you already had a GPU what recommend the Akito node as it's the Best value but the reason I went with the gaming box was it comes with a GPU and was less affected by the price increases that have happened due to crypto mining with GPUs

I choose and nvidia because I also needed Cuda support for some projects and didn't believe the AMD optimizations and official support were worth it.
As The EGPU.io forums offered to better support than Apple including but not limited to support on earlier versions of the MacOS

You will need the Apple thunderbolt three to thunderbolt two adapter

 

[Z400Racer37]

Thanks for the input guys!

Question: Can I purchase the TB3 to TB2 adapter, plug it into a TB3 GOU enclosure, and then plug that into my 2015 rMBP using the TB2 wire/port? Also, what do you think would be the best bang for the buck for FCPX? I know you mentioned the 1070 you have, and I was looking at a 1080, but I heard that it’s not very fast with OpenCL, which apparently is what FCPX needs.... rather of you guys know if that’s true or not?

I’ll definitely check out that other site though, thanks for pointing it out!

Thanks!

 

[Anarchy99]

Thanks for the input guys!

You're Welcome

Question: Can I purchase the TB3 to TB2 adapter, plug it into a TB3 GOU enclosure, and then plug that into my 2015 rMBP using the TB2 wire/port?

Yes that is the point of the adapter
It will allow any Thunderbolt 1 or Thunderbolt 2 mac to use the Thunderbolt 3 enclosures.
currently im talking to you on a 2015 rMBP with a GTX1070 and a few months ago I used the same setup for a 2012 rMBP

using https://www.apple.com/ca/shop/product/MMEL2AM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt-2-adapter

and

https://www.apple.com/ca/shop/product/MD861LL/A/apple-thunderbolt-cable-20-m

if I were you I'd stick with Apple adapters and cables, I tried going the chaeaper route with amazon and found 0 adapters other than apple's and probably 70% of the cables I tried would not work, but ive had zero issues with Apple's

Also, what do you think would be the best bang for the buck for FCPX? I know you mentioned the 1070 you have, and I was looking at a 1080, but I heard that it’s not very fast with OpenCL, which apparently is what FCPX needs.... rather of you guys know if that’s true or not?
Thanks!

when i was doing my reviews/testing The Akitio Node was the cheapest enclosure. B&H photo was the cheapest retailer.

downsides you need to provide your own GPU (with how GPU prices have been inflated it may not be the cheapest option)

the cheapest with GPU option i found was the GIGABYTE AORUS GeForce GTX 1080 Gaming Box (or 1070 depending on budget) or GIGABYTE Radeon RX 580 Gaming Box eGPU newegg or amazon seem to be the cheapest retailers

the 1080 would win in some FCPX tasks but the 580 would be better in with FCPX for most of it.
(both are great performing cards though regardless of the optimizations)

the 1080 would be better at baically everything else as its the more powerfull card and few dev's outside of apple did Radeon specific optimization.

I chose the 1080 because I needed CUDA for some things and in my off time I wanted to game and Nvidia is just better for that.

 

[Fishrrman]

If you're starting in a paid "position" that is going to require 4k editing, what you really need is an i7 iMac...

 

[Anarchy99]

If you're starting in a paid "position" that is going to require 4k editing, what you really need is an i7 iMac...

His mbp has a i7 which is perfectly capable of editing 4K

iMac wouldn't provide A big enough performance delta to justify the IMac cost over just a GPU

Plus for all we know the OP needs portability the iMac is not the same category.
It's the same reason I didn't recommend a hackintosh, he could undoubtably get more performance per dollar but not every professional needs the same things

 

[campyguy]

I have a mid-2015 rMBP with the AMD GPU. I'm looking for a thunderbolt 2 (or ideally, if it exists, a TB3 with a converter to TB2 so I can future proof) solution to aid in the FCPX rendering process.

On-topic, related to the quoted bit - FCPX is not optimized (yet?) for eGPUs. FYI.

 

[Anarchy99]

On-topic, related to the quoted bit - FCPX is not optimized (yet?) for eGPUs. FYI.

Final Cut Pro X 10.4.1 or later *should* work its when apple officially added support for tasks to be eGPU capable.


some people on egpu.io report it making no difference where others say it does help so take it with a grain of salt.

personally when i tested Final Cut Pro X 10.4 it didnt seem to offer a difference on my eGPU so i rolled back to 10.3.4 and it works fine with the eGPU (many other people on egpu.io also mention rolling back to FCPX 10.3 is the best option till apple works out this bug)

personally I think this is just another example of apple's eGPU solution being rubish compared to the unofficial support community is offered for years