“Apple announced external GPU support at last year’s WWDC, finally rolling out support for the feature back in March,” Brian Heater reports for TechCrunch.
“Alongside the release of new MacBook Pros, the company has taken an extra step toward embracing the tech by giving its seal of approval to a new system from Blackmagic — the simply named Blackmagic eGPU,” Heater reports. “The $699 accessory features an AMD Radeon Pro 580 graphics card and 8GB of DDR5 RAM in a fairly small footprint. There’s an HDMI port, four USB 3.1s, and three Thunderbolt 3s, the latter of which makes it unique among these peripherals.”
Heater reports, “The eGPU is available now through Apple’s retail channels.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple says the Blackmagic eGPU should offer 2.8x faster graphics performance on the 15-inch MacBook Pro and a whopping 8x faster on the 13-inch model.
Check it out via Apple.com here.
SEE ALSO:
Apple’s new 2018 MacBook Pro models now available with revised butterfly keyboards, much faster performance possible – July 12, 2018
MacBook Pro (2018): First look, listen, and feel! – July 12, 2018
What power users say about Apple’s new 2018 MacBook Pros – July 12, 2018
Apple unveils new MacBook Pro models with faster performance and new features for pros – July 12, 2018
great price point..
too bad about it being an AMD bottleneck.
Apple figured out how to make the MacBookPro thinner; by offering something else that is thick. Slicker than Slick Willie. This simply highlights the idea that MacBookPro is not fully capable on purpose to keep the main module thin for PR reasons.
I don’t understand where you’re going with this? I’m curious if a single sentence has any other meaning than you being upset about something?
Dingler, the MBP is perfectly fine, as-is. The new 2018 MBP models are even more awesome. Most of us happen to believe that the MBP offers the best available compromise between portability, battery life, weight, and performance on the market.
I, for one, do not want an inch-thick monster of a laptop with a desktop GPU, a high volume fan, and 45 minutes of
battery life. Just as I do not want a laptop with a 27″ display. I plug my laptop into a larger display at my desk. If I need greater graphics performance, I can not plug my MBP into an eGPU device, as well. Not only that, but it acts as a bus hub for Thunderbolt. And the price, especially for a new device in a new field of peripherals, seems pretty reasonable.
You can’t have everything, Dingler. Compromise is a fact of life. The laptop that you want is five to ten years down the road (and always will be, based on your apparent personality). You can wait, or you can compromise. Your choice.
I read the article but it doesn’t mention if the GPU Cards are user upgradable? Could a user pull the AMD one and put an nVidia card in? Love this move but the price is so good I’m worried that it has limited upgradability.
I would guarantee it’s a one trick pony, There is other hardware in there hard wired into the setup.