Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Puck vs. Black Magic eGPU

[N9JIG]

I am considering either of these eGPU's for my tricked out 2018 Mac Mini. I have 4 Asus VA32AQ with DP and HDMI ports. These are 2560x1440 and I do not intend to use this for gaming, mostly WFH stuff during the day and streaming and web browsing at night. Right now I have 2 of these connected via TB3 ports and a third via the HDMI. (I occasionally use one or two of these on my PC via the input selector.) I would like to use all 4 on the Mac so I can eliminate the PC and just use Parallels instead.

The $300 Sonnet offers 3 DP and one HDMI so I can connect 4 monitors to it. It does not however have any USB ports save for the Thunderbolt port that would be connected to the computer.

The $700 Black Magic offers only 1 HDMI port and 2 TB3 (one of which must be connected to the computer) so I assume I would connect 2 monitors to this and 2 to the Mini itself. It does offer 4 USB-A ports so I can eliminate my USB hub.

Is there any real reason I would want the Black Magic over the Sonnet? It looks like to me the Sonnet is fine for what I want and offers better connectivity except for the USB ports. I am not going to spend $400 more for that when I can just use my existing hub. I don't see getting any new monitors any time soon but I am trying to con the wife into letting me get a new MBP this year.

Is there a better alternative to these?

 

[Stephen.R]

Those are both somewhat 'specialised' eGPUs - the BlackMagic because of it's TB3 output, and the Sonnet Puck because of it's very small size.

Both are incapable of after-market upgrade.


Most "normal" eGPUs are essentially a box with 1 (or occasionally 2) PCIe slots, a Power input, and a TB3 input. Some may come with a graphics card pre-installed but they're just standard cards that slot in, and can be changed (if it includes one at all).

A few have other USB ports, but not many by my research.

 

[N9JIG]

Since I don't need gaming, just a 4th monitor, the Puck seems to be what I am leaning towards. I figure I can use it for the MBP once I get that. The MBP might end up replacing the Mini down the road as well, at least with either of these I can use all 4 of my mid-level monitors and maybe eventually go to 4K as well.

I will start looking at other eGPU enclosures but I want to be certian they will work with the Mac Mini and MBP.