External GPU (eGPU) Resources

[padams35]

Trying to decide if I should pick up a "cheaper" 580 or 560 for the time being while I wait for Navi, or just get a 64 and be happy with it!

Consider a 570-4GB or 590-8GB. The 570 is almost twice as fast as a 560 for not much more while and the arrival of Navi for windows has pushed 590 prices down into 580 territory.

(I just upgraded from a 460 to a 570 after deciding I couldn't keep waiting for a mythical RX 5600)

 

[Diamond Dog]

Consider a 570-4GB or 590-8GB. The 570 is almost twice as fast as a 560 for not much more while and the arrival of Navi for windows has pushed 590 prices down into 580 territory.

(I just upgraded from a 460 to a 570 after deciding I couldn't keep waiting for a mythical RX 5600)

Since posting this, I’ve done more research and am going to pick up a 570 and then sometime next year upgrade to whatever beast of a Navi exists then!

 

[DeepIn2U]

VERY useful thread everyone ... learning a LOT ... heavily considering

2018 Mac mini + eGPU.

 

[fokmik]

i suggest who wants to buy an eGpu...to wait a little more...i suspect Navi gpu will be soon out since the last beta for Catalina adds supports for Navi

 

[LiE_]

i suggest who wants to buy an eGpu...to wait a little more...i suspect Navi gpu will be soon out since the last beta for Catalina adds supports for Navi

Have a read of this thread. Navi appears to be missing from the beta. Still it gives us hope !

RX 5700 (XT) on Catalina MacOS 10.15.1

Hello dear community, I am wondering if somebody has already got one of the brand-new Navi cards. It's very easy available (at least here in German...

egpu.io

 

[fokmik]

Yes but it says "Support has been added for the AMD Navi RDNA architecture. For more information see Use an external graphics processor with your Mac."

 

[LiE_]

Yes but it says "Support has been added for the AMD Navi RDNA architecture. For more information see Use an external graphics processor with your Mac."

Yep which is what got some people excited and they then tried their 5700 cards and they didn’t work. A bit more digging showed no Navi drivers. Who knows why as the release notes obviously suggest they should be there. Let’s see what happens over the next few weeks. It’s very promising.

 

[TriApple]

WHat's the best you can buy today for an eGPU setup to game in MacOS?

 

[hagjohn]

Yep which is what got some people excited and they then tried their 5700 cards and they didn’t work. A bit more digging showed no Navi drivers. Who knows why as the release notes obviously suggest they should be there. Let’s see what happens over the next few weeks. It’s very promising.

Navi works great with the new beta. Just upgraded to one today.

 

[LiE_]

zNavi works great with the new beta. Just upgraded to one today.

Yup been following it since the latest beta. With the Huawei VR cable it should be able to connect a Display port eGPU running a 5700 XT to my 24” LG Ultrafine 4K.

 

[padams35]

WHat's the best you can buy today for an eGPU setup to game in MacOS?

'Best' is subjective and budget dependent. Assuming you meant "Best gaming frame-rate at any cost, any size, and any power draw" then the answer is a Razer Core X with a Radeon VII (or alternatively an RX 5700-XT if you are willing to wait a couple weeks for 10.15.1)

On the other hand "Best Value" "Smallest 1080p capable" "Best one-cable laptop dock" and "Flashiest RGB lighting" would all give different answers.

 

[TriApple]

'Best' is subjective and budget dependent. Assuming you meant "Best gaming frame-rate at any cost, any size, and any power draw" then the answer is a Razer Core X with a Radeon VII (or alternatively an RX 5700-XT if you are willing to wait a couple weeks for 10.15.1)

On the other hand "Best Value" "Smallest 1080p capable" "Best one-cable laptop dock" and "Flashiest RGB lighting" would all give different answers.

Fair points. And you answered my question.

Budget irrelevant. Looking for highest FPS at 1440p.

looking at the 5700 + Razer core X Chroma

 

[LiE_]

Fair points. And you answered my question.

Budget irrelevant. Looking for highest FPS at 1440p.

looking at the 5700 + Razer core X Chroma

I assume you meant 5700 XT.

 

[FilmIndustryGuy]

Yup been following it since the latest beta. With the Huawei VR cable it should be able to connect a Display port eGPU running a 5700 XT to my 24” LG Ultrafine 4K.

where did you buy the Huawei VR cable? Im using the LG Ultrafine 21.5 4k monitor. Also isn't the performance of plugging monitor and eGPU into the Mac mini better than plugging monitor into eGPU?
[automerge]1571765046[/automerge]
which card for eGPU Mac mini 2018 if one was to only use FCPX and not game at all? 5700, 5700 XT, 5500 or 570? eGPUs cost almost the same so the setup cost comes down to the card and im guessing a 5700 would stay on top for the next 2 years. Just don't know if there is any benefit going with an 5700 XT vs 5700 assuming the benefit is in gaming only for a few more frames

 

[LiE_]

where did you buy the Huawei VR cable? Im using the LG Ultrafine 21.5 4k monitor. Also isn't the performance of plugging monitor and eGPU into the Mac mini better than plugging monitor into eGPU?
[automerge]1571765046[/automerge]
which card for eGPU Mac mini 2018 if one was to only use FCPX and not game at all? 5700, 5700 XT, 5500 or 570? eGPUs cost almost the same so the setup cost comes down to the card and im guessing a 5700 would stay on top for the next 2 years. Just don't know if there is any benefit going with an 5700 XT vs 5700 assuming the benefit is in gaming only for a few more frames

cable is from here, I don’t have it yet it can take up to 2 weeks.

Huawei VR 2 Computer Connection Cable

Specially designed for Huawei VR 2. Contain 1 USB-A, 1 USB-C and 1 DisplayPort 1.2.. Transmission speed of up to 21.6Gbps. Made of TPE material, stable and safe.

www.giztop.com

eGPUs are designed too work connected directly to the monitor. They can also be used to drive internal displays but this isn’t ideal and incurs an additional performance hit.

I’m not sure which GPU is right for you, I’d suggest looking at some benchmarks. I’m getting the 5700XT as I want the faster GPU natively supported on macOS (when 10.15.1 is released).

 

[FilmIndustryGuy]

cable is from here, I don’t have it yet it can take up to 2 weeks.

Huawei VR 2 Computer Connection Cable

Specially designed for Huawei VR 2. Contain 1 USB-A, 1 USB-C and 1 DisplayPort 1.2.. Transmission speed of up to 21.6Gbps. Made of TPE material, stable and safe.

www.giztop.com

eGPUs are designed too work connected directly to the monitor. They can also be used to drive internal displays but this isn’t ideal and incurs an additional performance hit.

I’m not sure which GPU is right for you, I’d suggest looking at some benchmarks. I’m getting the 5700XT as I want the faster GPU natively supported on macOS (when 10.15.1 is released).

thanks but why this long expensive cable? why not just get some usb-c to DisplayPort shorter generic cable? I see there are even USB-C to HDMI cables

 

[LiE_]

thanks but why this long expensive cable? why not just get some usb-c to DisplayPort shorter generic cable? I see there are even USB-C to HDMI cables

Those won’t work. The Ultrafine monitors will only accept a signal that is converted to USB-C alt mode. Using a different cable doesn’t convert it even though the connectors are correct.

Someone else can explain it better

 

[FilmIndustryGuy]

Those won’t work. The Ultrafine monitors will only accept a signal that is converted to USB-C alt mode. Using a different cable doesn’t convert it even though the connectors are correct.

Someone else can explain it better

thanks so is this cable the only one on the market that works? are you getting this long one so that the eGPU can sit away from desk?

 

[LiE_]

thanks so is this cable the only one on the market that works? are you getting this long one so that the eGPU can sit away from desk?

I believe there is a cable from Moshi, but this cable from Huawei contains USB as well which allows you to still control the UltraFine natively.

The Huawei cable is designed for VR headset which is why it's so long, there isn't any alternative shorter cable.

 

[LiE_]

My Razer Core X has arrived. Waiting for my Huawei VR cable from China. I should have the funds cleared today to order a Sapphire Nitro+ 5700XT.

This thing is huge! It fits the overall colour pallet of my setup though.

 

[Diamond Dog]

My Razer Core X has arrived. Waiting for my Huawei VR cable from China. I should have the funds cleared today to order a Sapphire Nitro+ 5700XT.

This thing is huge! It fits the overall colour pallet of my setup though.

View attachment 872132

Nice setup! Is that the 21.5" or 23.7" LG?

 

[LiE_]

Nice setup! Is that the 21.5" or 23.7" LG?

Thanks, it’s the 23.7 LG.

 

[H2SO4]

Anybody have any recommendations for a box that can fit two cards?
Full length. One will be for a GPU and the other for probably a card to mount an SSD.

Thanks.

 

[LiE_]

Anybody have any recommendations for a box that can fit two cards?
Full length. One will be for a GPU and the other for probably a card to mount an SSD.

Thanks.

why do you need the ssd in the enclosure? You can directly connect via TB3.

 

[H2SO4]

why do you need the ssd in the enclosure? You can directly connect via TB3.

I have a 1TB in the new mini, (which just this second arrived), but I always run Windows on a separate drive. In the cMP this is of course not a problem, but with the mini I can pop it in here?