- #Least expensive external video card for macbook pro driver
- #Least expensive external video card for macbook pro pro
I ran benchmarks using both Unigine and Cinebench with the settings cranked to Ultra, and as you can see above, Unigine saw a massive improvement with the OpenGL API.
#Least expensive external video card for macbook pro pro
Leif Johnson/IDGīenchmarks from a 15-inch 2017 MacBook Pro using Unigine’s Benchmark Valley on Ultra (fullscreen), both with the eGPU and without. It suggests you may still have trouble with certain made-for-Mac applications even though Apple appears to have designed eGPU support in such a way that official support shouldn’t matter. I’ve asked for further clarification, but Feral’s statement must refer to optimized support as the benchmark tests and general gameplay showed clear improvements when using the eGPU. Eventually Feral will make an announcement regarding official support. Shortly after this article went live, Feral Interactive contacted me to let me know it doesn’t support eGPUs in any of its games at the moment, although the studio is currently testing combinations of cards and GPUs. I’m almost certain I’d be blown away with the results on a $950 Radeon RX Vega 64, but we currently don’t have one. And this was only with the Radeon RX 580, a $401 card we had on hand here. Perhaps a different chassis would have helped.īut watching Lara Croft jump from snowy ledges and sneak through desert passages felt natural and fluid with the better graphics card (and better framerates). The Nvidia toolbar icon showed up, but the card itself never worked. I also tried using Nvidia’s web driver that’s partially designed with macOS in mind, thinking I’d hit on a way to make it work. The little processor icon didn’t show up. I plopped an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 into the eGPU chassis, connected it, booted, and nada.
#Least expensive external video card for macbook pro driver
If you’re wondering, I tried using Nvidia cards, but there’s no built-in driver support.
Here you’ll find your gaming ambitions further thwarted by Apple’s lack of direct support for Nvidia cards. It makes some sense considering that AMD makes most of the graphics cards found in contemporary Macs, but it’s another low blow in a gaming environment where Nvidia cards win mountains of accolades. For those of you who can play with that kind of power, though, let’s move on to the supported cards. Unfortunately, that limitation likely knocks a lot of users out of the game right there. This is a bit of a bummer, but Thunderbolt 3 supports data transfers of up to 40Gbps, while Thunderbolt 2 supports 20Gbps. You can only pull this off without any technical trickery so long as you’re using a MacBook or iMac with Thunderbolt 3 support, which means you’re limited to using laptops dating from 2016 and iMacs dating from mid-2017. It works, that is, so long as you have the right materials. It’s really no different from disconnecting a drive. Apple prides itself on elegant simplicity, and in this case Steve Jobs’ favorite old saying remains true: It just works. (Getting it to work with games takes a few more steps, but more on that later.) Even better, I didn’t even have to restart. Within seconds, an icon resembling a processor popped up on the Mac’s top menu bar, showing that the Radeon RX 580 was, in fact, working. Once I slipped my Radeon RX 580 into an Akitio Node Pro chassis and tightened the screws, all I really needed to do was plug the Thunderbolt 3 cable into my MacBook Pro. Check out our favorite MacBook accessories below, and change the way you enjoy your laptop.Let’s focus on the best part first. We picked over 20 gadgets to help you make the most of your computer, ranging from legit impulse buys to luxury items that will stand the test of time (and MacBook upgrades). From a USB-C hub for entry-level MacBook models with only a pair of USB-C ports to external storage that's as fast as the latest MacBook Pro with an M1 Max chip, there are products in this list that will instantly improve your workflow both at home and on the move. The ecosystem is constantly expanding, so we're always combing through new products to find the best worth buying. Like the iPhone and the iPad, Apple's laptops boast the best selection of original and third-party accessories in the business. Whether you use it for work, play, or both, the right MacBook accessories can help it charge faster at home or away from a power outlet, hold more data, stay intact on the go, or look tidy when not in use. If you're a regular MacBook user, you probably know that just having the computer and a laptop stand might not be enough.