MacBook Pro 13” 2018 is incredible and an eGPU perfect match

[ikir]

I’m super happy with my new MacBook Pro 13” 2018, i’m an eGPU addicted and I run eGPU.it for Italian users.

I’m doing some tests and the performances are much higher with the same GPU thanks to better Thunderbolt connection, quad-core CPU (and Mojave beta).

For example:
Rise of the Tomb Raider jumped from 76 to 92fps in high 1080p
Deus EX Mankind Divided 4K max settings from 35 to 40fps


MacBook Pro 2016+ has been my favorite computer ever and I’ve tried so many machines in my life since I change it often for work and I work in IT so I use a lot of PC too. The P3 retina screen is awesome, incredible SSD speed, super slim and light a bless since I take it with me everyday, and super fast Thunderbolt and eGPU makes me able to do heavy work and gaming when at desk... but 2016-2017 had only dual-core CPU, sometime really bringing down the experience is processor intensive tasks.

If you are curious of my setup I have a thread on eGPU.io
https://egpu.io/forums/builds/2018-...re-nitro-rx-vega-64-macos-high-sierra-mojave/

I’m not experiencing slow downs on heavy load and naturally CPU only apps/tasks really fly compared to 2017 model.
The new keyboard is more silent and nicer to tap on it, you can feel the soft silicon under it.
Setup:
MacBook Pro 13" 2018 i7 2.7Ghz quad-core / 16GB RAM / 512GB SSD PCIe / Mantiz Venus eGPU with Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX Vega 64

 

[waziazi]

So you have the i5 or i7 and what is the battery life like? I am trying to decide between the two but am worried that the i7 might shave off an hour in battery life... thoughts ?

 

[ikir]

So you have the i5 or i7 and what is the battery life like? I am trying to decide between the two but am worried that the i7 might shave off an hour in battery life... thoughts ?

Hi! I've ordered i7 model! Still can't answer this because I have it since yesterday and I've used it only plugged to my eGPU setup (which has power delivery). I will start using it in mobility from Monday for work. For sure if you do heavy tasks without power i7 will suck more battery. I usually do heavy stuff on my desk, it depends.

 

[waziazi]

For simple web browsing and watching videos and text editing would the i7 and i5 consume same amount of power? I don’t plan on doing any video encoding or anything while unplugged.

 

[JohnnyGo]

For simple web browsing and watching videos and text editing would the i7 and i5 consume same amount of power? I don’t plan on doing any video encoding or anything while unplugged.

New utility software can limit the power draw of these new intel chips. If you need the power of the i7 occasionally you can order it and, if unplugged, limit the power draw (eg disable turbo mode, limit wattage to 35W) when you need additional battery life.

 

[frou]

Nice. I'm thinking about getting the MBP13 and already own that exact same Vega 64 in my Ryzen PC tower. It's a shame I can't somehow share the card, because swapping it between an eGPU box and the PC tower regularly would be a major hassle.

 

[AdamA9]

Nice setup. I, too, am going to get the RX Vega 64 but I really cannot find an enclosure I'm happy with. I want one with USB on the back so I can use it as a dongle as I don't want to plug anything else into my laptop.

I had the Blackmagic eGPU but sent it back because the Radeon 580 was pretty average. If I could upgrade the 580 to a card of my choice the Blackmagic would be perfect.

Unfortunately, the Sonnet, the Core X and the AKiTiO Node don't have the inputs like the Blackmagic so I'm holding out for something to come to market that is both an eGPU and a dock for all my other connections.

 

[M.Rizk]

I just wish Mac supported 1080 Ti. I already have one and I really can’t justify buying a new Vega 64 when I already have a 1080 Ti :/

(I know eGPU.io has mods for this but it requires disabling the SIP which is something I really do not like doing. Also has some bugs sometimes and could cause KP and the 2018 models are already notorious for KP and Bridge OS issues without doing anything).

 

[ikir]

I just wish Mac supported 1080 Ti. I already have one and I really can’t justify buying a new Vega 64 when I already have a 1080 Ti :/

(I know eGPU.io has mods for this but it requires disabling the SIP which is something I really do not like doing. Also has some bugs sometimes and could cause KP and the 2018 models are already notorious for KP and Bridge OS issues without doing anything).

Radeon this year dominated mid range with RX 580 and Vega cards finally battle with Nvidia. Vega 64 beats 1080 in most apps and games, in some art is a tie with 1080ti. 1080ti is a great card but AMD has much stable drivers on Windows, it is native supported on macOS and runs much better on our os in deed Vega 64 beats 1080ti in most Metal games. Nvidia drivers are really bad. If you need Cuda you must go Nvidia, but for everything else AMD is the way. Also Nvidia don't have a clue about eGPU, they are very late.
PS: i have an user on eGPU.it with sold his 1080ti and bough a Vega 64 and it is much happier now.

AMD will release newer GPU at the end of 2018 or beginning 2019, they will consume less power (Vega is very hungry) and will be faster so the 1080ti gap will vanish.

@AdamA9
Blackmagic eGPU with RX580 is not that bad, if you compared to integrated is very powerful and a capable card with Metal and OpenCL. Sure Vega 56/64 is much faster.

 

[AdamA9]

Radeon this year dominated mid range with RX 580 and Vega cards finally battle with Nvidia. Vega 64 beats 1080 in most apps and games, in some art is a tie with 1080ti. 1080ti is a great card but AMD has much stable drivers on Windows, it is native supported on macOS and runs much better on our os in deed Vega 64 beats 1080ti in most Metal games. Nvidia drivers are really bad. If you need Cuda you must go Nvidia, but for everything else AMD is the way. Also Nvidia don't have a clue about eGPU, they are very late.
PS: i have an user on eGPU.it with sold his 1080ti and bough a Vega 64 and it is much happier now.

AMD will release newer GPU at the end of 2018 or beginning 2019, they will consume less power (Vega is very hungry) and will be faster so the 1080ti gap will vanish.

@AdamA9
Blackmagic eGPU with RX580 is not that bad, if you compared to integrated is very powerful and a capable card with Metal and OpenCL. Sure Vega 56/64 is much faster.

Sure, I know it's not that bad but for £600 I want something that is capable of playing games. On the box it has one dude playing VR and another gaming. In my experience, it cannot even support the simplest of games, so it was mis-sold to me a solution to allow me to game on my mac.

This is why I now want a Vega 64, however, I cannot find an enclosure here (in the UK), that has all the ports on the back that I need. I need at least 3 USB ports and ideally 2 USB-C (although that's not as important).

So far the options I've seen so not have everything I need in an enclosure:

• Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box
• Razer Core X
• AKiTiO Node
• OWC Mercury Helios
• Mantiz Venis

I guess I'll hold out a little longer for an enclosure that has what I need and doesn't cost a fortune. The good thing about the Blackmagic was the cost and the ports. Unfortunately, the enclosures that do fit my requirements are either not available in the UK, or are extremely overpriced. The Sonnet, for example, is £460 here, and $400 in the US.

 

[richinaus]

Radeon this year dominated mid range with RX 580 and Vega cards finally battle with Nvidia. Vega 64 beats 1080 in most apps and games, in some art is a tie with 1080ti. 1080ti is a great card but AMD has much stable drivers on Windows, it is native supported on macOS and runs much better on our os in deed Vega 64 beats 1080ti in most Metal games. Nvidia drivers are really bad. If you need Cuda you must go Nvidia, but for everything else AMD is the way. Also Nvidia don't have a clue about eGPU, they are very late.
PS: i have an user on eGPU.it with sold his 1080ti and bough a Vega 64 and it is much happier now.

AMD will release newer GPU at the end of 2018 or beginning 2019, they will consume less power (Vega is very hungry) and will be faster so the 1080ti gap will vanish.

@AdamA9
Blackmagic eGPU with RX580 is not that bad, if you compared to integrated is very powerful and a capable card with Metal and OpenCL. Sure Vega 56/64 is much faster.

Thanks for all the info on this Ikir, much appreciated. Even though I said I will never get a 13” again, the speed increases on the cpu and speed gains on the tb3 port make it very tempting. I would have the same as you with the i7 and Vega 64 (which I currently have in the iMac pro and have no complaints).

 

[hajime]

When plugging the MBP 2018 to eGPU, does the laptop get hot and have noisy fan? I read that some Thinkpads have this issue.

Also, when plugged to the eGPU, does the GPU inside the eGPU take over the internal one in the laptop automatically under Mac, Windows and Linux?

 

[AdamA9]

When plugging the MBP 2018 to eGPU, does the laptop get hot and have noisy fan? I read that some Thinkpads have this issue.

Also, when plugged to the eGPU, does the GPU inside the eGPU take over the internal one in the laptop automatically under Mac, Windows and Linux?

I found it the opposite. When plugged into an eGPU the laptop is cooler and the fans never kicked in.

The eGPU will take over as and when required, as long as the application supports it.

 

[ikir]

When plugging the MBP 2018 to eGPU, does the laptop get hot and have noisy fan? I read that some Thinkpads have this issue.

Also, when plugged to the eGPU, does the GPU inside the eGPU take over the internal one in the laptop automatically under Mac, Windows and Linux?

The computer is more cool and fans never start. it is important to set external display connected to eGPU as primary from preferences. Everything will run there will be driven by eGPU. Also with Mojave ne preferences you can tell a single app to prefer eGPU even if it is running on internal display (which by default run on integrated GPU)