GPU for Mac Pro 6.1 (2013) - advise

[TobiasT]

One friend is going to buy a Mac Pro 6.1 (second-hand). He is going to mainly use it for software development, and a few times for Final Cut.

He is looking for advise about the GPU. Geekbenchwise both D300 and D500 get almost the same scores (70k vs 71K), and D700 gets 90K.

My advise is to forget scores, he is not going to notice a significant different, but to look for a 2016-now model because of the graphics problems of 2013-2015 models.

Do you have other advise?

 

[bsbeamer]

There is no 2016 Mac Pro. The 2013 MP6,1 is the same "trashcan" MP sold in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019..

Take caution unless you can get a fantastic price on a MP6,1 with D700. Even those do have GPU issues. At retail prices, money would likely be better spent on a mini or iMac.

 

[TobiasT]

There is no 2016 Mac Pro. The 2013 MP6,1 is the same "trashcan" MP sold in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019..

Take caution unless you can get a fantastic price on a MP6,1 with D700. Even those do have GPU issues. At retail prices, money would likely be better spent on a mini or iMac.

Mac Pro 6.1 was sold from 2013 to nowadays. It is obvious that is the same model (6.1, Late 2013). However, Apple installed a slightly faster SSD in 2016 models and the GPUs were fixed.

 

[pl1984]

There is no 2016 Mac Pro. The 2013 MP6,1 is the same "trashcan" MP sold in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019..

Take caution unless you can get a fantastic price on a MP6,1 with D700. Even those do have GPU issues. At retail prices, money would likely be better spent on a mini or iMac.

It sounds as if he's recommending a 6,1 with a manufacture date of 2016 or later.

 

[Spacedust]

The only upgrade on the market is MacVidCards GTX1080Ti as eGPU: http://www.macvidcards.com/store/p110/1080Ti_EFI_eGPU_card_for_Mac_Pro_6,1.html

 

[tpivette89]

The only upgrade on the market is MacVidCards GTX1080Ti as eGPU: http://www.macvidcards.com/store/p110/1080Ti_EFI_eGPU_card_for_Mac_Pro_6,1.html

You could use any AMD GPU (RX480 and newer) in an eGPU enclosure as well. Just some light modifying in Terminal and you're good to go.

 

[XNorth]

The GPU in the 2013 Mac Pro Trashintosh can't be replaced with more modern GPUs, only with another stock GPU - the D300, D500, or D700. You could attach an eGPU to it, but I wouldn't, since TB 2 doesn't support eGPUs, there is really not much gain.

I wouldn't buy the 2013 Mac Pro Trashcan at this point, even used.

If you need a Mac now for video, a used 27" iMac i7 Radeon Pro 580 is a good alternative. It's a better all around FCPX 4K video editor than the Trashcan. Go for an iMac Pro if you need more for pro codecs or intensive stuff like 3D/VR.

 

[iGobbleoff]

since TB 2 doesn't support eGPUs

My 2014 Mac mini has an eGPU on it via TB2

 

[XNorth]

My 2014 Mac mini has an eGPU on it via TB2

Sure, with a hack. I have my MBP 2015 w TB 2 hooked up to a razor core with RX 580 eGPU.

 

[Flint Ironstag]

You could attach an eGPU to it, but I wouldn't, since TB 2 doesn't support eGPUs, there is really not much gain.

Complete and utter rubbish. Unsupported is not the same as useless. If you're GPU bound, eGPU is probably going to help. How much depends on your applications. Is it worth it? Another question altogether.

How would you rate the performance of your own eGPU rig?

 

[XNorth]

How much depends on your applications. Is it worth it? Another question altogether.

How would you rate the performance of your own eGPU rig?

Exactly! It's all subjective. My subjective opinion is that the Trashintosh is not worth BUYING now just to attach it to an eGPU. Any of the newer Macs would be a much better buy for that purpose.

 

[th0masp]

Question is what is the motivation to go with the Mac Pro over other models specifically? If it's to be able to upgrade RAM and drives yourself and use your own screen setup on a Mac and not be stuck with e.g. a glossy monitor of a particular format like the iMac then that might be good reasons.
Going for a newer revision sounds like the best idea, question is how honest will the sellers be about it?

I have one btw and am happy with it. My advice would be to upgrade the internal drive to an NVMe of the preferred size and not to sweat the GPU choice too much. A 'few times' of using Final Cut does not sound like it warrants too much attention for a software developer.