Using Thunderbolt Port for External GPU upgrade on rMBP

Discussion in 'MacBook Pro' started by renosausage, Jun 7, 2013.

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  1. renosausage, Jun 7, 2013

    renosausage macrumors regular

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    #1
    I currently have my rMBP connected to a beautiful 32inch 1080p Samsung display.

    It plays games via Bootcamp really well, but considering it has two thunderbolt ports capable of sending 20gb/s, I was wondering if I could actually plug in an external graphics card.

    I know the MacOS would totally not support this, but I'm sure Windows would we be able to detect and use the external GPU.

    This would be totally awesome, because you could have the portability of the rMBP and also have the power to play the most intensive games at home.

    Does anyone know anything about this idea??

    Does it exists?

    Is it even capable?
     
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  2. B..., Jun 7, 2013

    B... macrumors 68000

    B...

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    #2
    It is called an eGPU. Your TB ports are only capable of 10Gbps. The external enclosure costs hundreds of dollars and the GPU costs more, and there are only a couple out now.
     
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  3. Mr MM, Jun 7, 2013

    Mr MM macrumors 65816

    Mr MM

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    #3
    depends on the rmbp, if its the 15, forget about it
     
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  4. renosausage, Jun 7, 2013

    renosausage thread starter macrumors regular

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    #4
    Why is that?
     
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  5. Mr MM, Jun 7, 2013

    Mr MM macrumors 65816

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    #5
    because it cant use the intel igpu
     
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  6. B..., Jun 7, 2013

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    What does an iGPU hve to do with an eGPU?
     
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  7. Mr MM, Jun 7, 2013

    Mr MM macrumors 65816

    Mr MM

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    #7
    to engage a gpu you need certain things, the igpu is one of those, you install optimus based drivers on the egpu so that it can switch to the external one, it doesnt switch when you have already another gpu installed
     
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