Nvidia Debuts New High-End Titan Xp Graphics Card With Mac Support

[JordanNZ]

Depends on how you define "being based on". Metal in so far based on OpenGL ES 3.0 as they took the latter as a blueprint to decide what the former should be able to do. As a result, the feature set of the first version of Metal (on iOS) was pretty much identical to OpenGL ES's. (And yes, this feature set was (and still is) limited when compared to Vulkan, DirectX or even full OpenGL.)

On the other hand, Metal is in fact not based on OpenGL ES 3.0 in the strictest meaning of the word, as they share no code base and are technically quite different.

(I just wrote the same over at the IMG forums – so if this sounds familiar to you…)

An API, and the feature set of an API are two very different things.

The original poster was claiming that the actual Metal API was based on GL ES (in terms of actual API design). Which it very much isn't in the grand scheme of things.

For instance, Vulkan has multiple feature sets. Including one at it's base level that's similar to GL ES in terms of features (it excludes tessellation, and various other things). But the actual API wasn't based on OpenGL. The same is true for Metal.

 

[Appleaker]

I don't think Apple revealing they are working on a new Mac Pro then nvidia announcing Mac Support is coincidence. Hopefully this is a sign that the new Mac Pro is not just modular, but that it can use off the shelf parts for the RAM, CPU, GPU, and storage.

They didn't decide they were going to support the Mac when Apple announced the modular Mac Pro, but it's possible they started work on it because they knew about the possibility of a modular Mac Pro, of it may have been because of eGPU support on Macs. Driver development started over 6 months ago.

 

[JDW]

It's happening:
https://bizon-tech.com

More specifically:

https://bizon-tech.com/us/bizonbox2s-egpu.html/

They've not yet posted the new GPU on their site, but it will only be a matter of time. I wrote the company asking questions with regard to performance benefits when coupled to a 15" MBP with TB2. They said there would be noticeable improvements to FCP and other major "pro" apps. So this isn't just about gaming.

But even if money is no object, I still am not sure I will be satisfied with the NOISE and SPACE REQUIREMENTS. The bad boy GPUs require their larger 400W PSU which has its own fan on top of the GPU fan. And that PSU is external to the BixonBox so it will eat up space.

 

[prowlmedia]

Seeing all these price, it make me feel like only millionaires can use Mac Pro.

Do only millionaire gardeners pay 20k for their truck and tools? Heck an uber driver will spend 30k on their main tool.

 

[lowendlinux]

Now lets see if we get Vega drivers too. I'd be nice for Mac users to be able to pick their cards based on their needs not based on Apples needs.

If Apple lets you use a the eGPU box natively and there are drivers for both teams it'll be a great time to be a Mac user again.

 

[Janichsan]

An API, and the feature set of an API are two very different things.

The original poster was claiming that the actual Metal API was based on GL ES (in terms of actual API design). Which it very much isn't in the grand scheme of things.

For instance, Vulkan has multiple feature sets. Including one at it's base level that's similar to GL ES in terms of features (it excludes tessellation, and various other things). But the actual API wasn't based on OpenGL. The same is true for Metal.

That's pretty much what I meant.

 

[MacBH928]

eGPU?
So... can I hookup one to my MBP 2015 via TB2 port?

 

[borgusio]

Cool Stuff, finally a really powerful rig for the Mac Pro!

Wait, the nMP has no slots for a Video Card.

Whoops, no problem, let's use eGPU with Thunderbolt3/USB-C, the updated Mac Pro has certainly one of those ports.

...Nope, it doesn't.

 

[MysteryMii215]

And it still makes no sense to buy this one unless you are dying for every last bit of performance.

They need something to make the $500 difference worth it.

 

[cube]

They need something to make the $500 difference worth it.

I think Titans are never cost effective for non-extreme use.

 

[Kr15]

Yey, I'll buy new MacPro and stick Titan in!!!
Hmm... Seems to be Apple is out of stock with the new MacPro's, I can only see some 4year old machines there... Ohh... This is the latest... Ok I'll get that then...
Oh wait, MacPro's doesn't have a PCI-X... Ohh...
Ok, I'll eBay 2012 one which has PCI-X at least... Wait... Titan in 5year old machine with pretty rubbish spec is kind of a useless...
Hmm... I have an idea! I'll get a decent PC and do Hackintosh!!!
Now dilemma - shall I spend a night trying to get hackintosh running properly and then stress every time the new update is out or just leave Windows 10 on which simply just works!!!

Obviously this is a joke but let's be real, If you need a hi end/high spec machine - PC is the way to go...
I've been apple fanboy since my 1st PowerBook Duo 2300c, for 2016 christmas I've bought myself my 1st ever PC and I love it... Quite sad actually...

 

[mpta]

.. to get hackintosh running properly and then stress every time the new update is out or just leave Windows 10 on which simply just works!!!

Then I still prefer to go with hackintosh instead of going to windows Thats the thing.

 

[jblagden]

Just wondering, would this somehow work with Macbook Pro-s, via the Razer-like system to connect a GPU? Is this what eGPU is or eGPU is something completely different?

The simple answer is: Yes, it can be used as an eGPU.

The more detailed answer is: Yes, but not on it’s own. It doesn’t have a Thunderbolt port on it, and it also doesn’t have its own power supply/adapter. I also don’t think any future GPU will have Thunderbolt on it, especially since it’s pretty much only us (Mac users) who care about eGPUs. However, you can use the Nvidia GTX Titan XP externally with the assistance of a Thunderbolt-PCIe adapter/box like the Akitio Thunder 2.

As you can tell from my signature, I have an Akitio Thunder2 connecting a GT 740 to my MacBook Pro. It’s not nearly as good as the Titan XP, but it does the job, and it’s significantly better than my MacBook’s integrated Intel graphics.

 

[TechZeke]

They didn't decide they were going to support the Mac when Apple announced the modular Mac Pro, but it's possible they started work on it because they knew about the possibility of a modular Mac Pro, of it may have been because of eGPU support on Macs. Driver development started over 6 months ago.

Obviously you can't develop new driver support in a matter of days; I'm more so saying to remember that Apple works with hardware manufacturers in the background. I'm willing to bet(especially since Apple decided to publicly annouce this new Mac Pro) that Apple has already been in talks with Intel, AMD, and nvidia about future Xeons, Radeon Pro, Quadro, and thunderbolt products that could be in the new Mac Pro.

 

[bladerunner2000]

Does the graphics card have thunderbolt interface, or how do you hook it up?

LOL. You don't really think that card would be taken advantage of with something like Thunderbolt? This is where PCs, despite running on Windows (most of the time) thrive.
[doublepost=1491582372][/doublepost]

I also don’t think any future GPU will have Thunderbolt on it, especially since it’s pretty much only us (Mac users) who care about eGPUs.

If GPU options weren't absolute trash on Macs, you wouldn't care about eGPUs.

 

[Appleaker]

Obviously you can't develop new driver support in a matter of days; I'm more so saying to remember that Apple works with hardware manufacturers in the background. I'm willing to bet(especially since Apple decided to publicly annouce this new Mac Pro) that Apple has already been in talks with Intel, AMD, and nvidia about future Xeons, Radeon Pro, Quadro, and thunderbolt products that could be in the new Mac Pro.

It could be related to eGPU popularity as well although I do agree with you that they would have been told. It would also explain why they changed the job listing after it was reported in by press.

 

[Roobun]

Did someone over through Tim Cook over at the Apple HQ or something?


I'm speechless, but also deeply satisfied.

 

[AxoNeuron]

OH MY GOD

OH MY GOD

FREE AT LAST

I have been waiting for the @^$#%$& pascal OS X drivers for nearly a FREAKING YEAR NOW!!!!!!!!!! I can finally actually utilize my pascal titan in my hackintosh. It feels like I've been stuck on Maxwell forever.

FREE AT LAST!!!!!!!

Alright, I haven't been released from my shackles or anything, but this is still incredibly good news.

 

[jblagden]

LOL. You don't really think that card would be taken advantage of with something like Thunderbolt? This is where PCs, despite running on Windows (most of the time) thrive.
[doublepost=1491582372][/doublepost]

If GPU options weren't absolute trash on Macs, you wouldn't care about eGPUs.

Yeah, I know that even Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gbps) will never be as fast as PCIe - even with compression. But how well it does greatly depends on the GPU - more importantly, how much data the card is sending and receiving. I went with with GT 740, which does fine over Thunderbolt v1 because it’s not handling as much data. Besides, pretty much any dedicated GPU is better than integrated graphics.

You’re absolutely right about GPU options for Macs being crappy right now. This along with upgradeability, repairability and expandability (since 2012) are why I’m thinking about using Linux instead of MacOS when I get my next computer. That way, I’ll have most of the hardware flexibility of Windows, while having the Unix-y goodness of MacOS - and not having to use Windows. I’m just tossed up between the Alienware 15 and the System76 Oryx Pro - trying to figure out which one is the best value, though I think it might be the Alienware 15. And yes, you actually can control the lighting on the Alienware 15 in Linux (PyAlienFX). I was considering turning one of those laptops into a Hackintosh, but decided it’s probably not worth the work, Linux has more hardware drivers (i.e. GPUs & Intel chipsets) and also because I worry that one day, Apple might decide to prosecute Hackintosh owners.

 

[JMacHack]

because I worry that one day, Apple might decide to prosecute Hackintosh owners.

Spending millions on fighting a relatively small subset of macOS users and hobbyists while pissing off a large amount of people doesn't sound like it's in Apple's best interest, nor would they benefit from it.

 

[jblagden]

Spending millions on fighting a relatively small subset of macOS users and hobbyists while pissing off a large amount of people doesn't sound like it's in Apple's best interest, nor would they benefit from it.

I realize that very few Mac users use eGPUs, but we wanted to be able to use more powerful GPUs without having to leave the Mac. Though, I’ve recently discovered that the grass is pretty green on the Linux side.

And yeah, more Mac users care about upgradability than Apple originally thought.
[doublepost=1491586224][/doublepost]

It could be related to eGPU popularity as well although I do agree with you that they would have been told. It would also explain why they changed the job listing after it was reported in by press.

What job listing? Did they really have a job listing for an eGPU specialist or something like that?

 

[JMacHack]

I realize that very few Mac users use eGPUs, but we wanted to be able to use more powerful GPUs without having to leave the Mac. Though, I’ve recently discovered that the grass is pretty green on the Linux side.

I was talking about the Hackintosh community, Apple wouldn't benefit from fighting hackintoshers in any way, therefore they're pretty safe.

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

Don't know why the hoopla though.

Over 2 years ago Nvidia released Mac drivers with Maxwell compatibility. Performance was poor compared to Windows (macOS has nothing better than OpenGL 4.1 and an immature Metal API) and OpenCL bugs kept on being introduced. The Maxwell cards still throw up errors in Luxmark and Geekbench OpenCL tests. Nvidia also dropped driver support for Mavericks, Yosemite and El Capitan in a heart beat and they will probably do the same to Sierra next year.

 

[NY Guitarist]

No information from Nvidia that this will work installed in a cMP?

 

[Dozer_Zaibatsu]

More specifically:

https://bizon-tech.com/us/bizonbox2s-egpu.html/

They've not yet posted the new GPU on their site, but it will only be a matter of time. I wrote the company asking questions with regard to performance benefits when coupled to a 15" MBP with TB2. They said there would be noticeable improvements to FCP and other major "pro" apps. So this isn't just about gaming.

But even if money is no object, I still am not sure I will be satisfied with the NOISE and SPACE REQUIREMENTS. The bad boy GPUs require their larger 400W PSU which has its own fan on top of the GPU fan. And that PSU is external to the BixonBox so it will eat up space.

I'm excited by this prospective tech. How is it that Apple isn't trumpeting this more if this is workable? Surely they'd find a way to make their own buck on it.

Mrs. Zaibatsu edits some video at home for her LLC. She is using a 2011 MacBook Air for portability and has a passable PC for editing with Premiere Elements.

If you forced me to upgrade this very minute, I'd have to go PC, because the Windows 10 functionality and hardware options are just much more reasonable.

If things like this come online, and are mature enough and are supported by Macs, that could make a difference to stay with the Mac platform.

And actually, if it works with for Windows laptops, too, that's another plum.