This is my first attempt with M.2 eGPU Adapter which caters to laptops without Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. Thanks to NVMe M.2 Thunderbolt 3 enclosures becoming more affordable (as low as $50) we could finally build a DIY Thunderbolt 3 solution for around $100. I bought the ADT-Link R43SG based on @nando4‘s recommendation. It was $50 from Aliexpress and took a couple of weeks to arrive. The PSU pairing would depend on power requirement of your graphics card. For this build with a reference RX 5700, the Dell DA-2 220W output was sufficient.
System specs:
2019 16″ MacBook Pro – i9-9880H/HD Graphics 630 iGPU & Radeon Pro 5500M dGPU/16GB RAM/1TB SSD
eGPU hardware:
ADT-Link R43SG + Wavlink UTE02 M.2-TB3 + Dell DA-2 + PowerColor RX 5700 + .5m Thunderbolt 3 cable
Hardware pictures:
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Installation steps:
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This was a surprisingly easy process. The Wavlink UTE02 NVMe M.2 to TB3 mainboard contains TI83 USB-C controller & Intel DSL6540 Thunderbolt 3 controller so it has native support in macOS. So was the Radeon RX 5700 graphics card. The unknown piece to me was the ADT-Link R43SG which hosts the graphics card and facilitates the PCIe connection from the slot through an M.2 connector then eventually to Thunderbolt 3 connector.
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The ADT-Link R43SG board has plenty of toggle switches and power connectors. If you’re unsure of the settings, leave everything as is or read usage instructions in this R43SG-TB3 discussion. First step was to connect the 8-pin plug from Dell DA-2 power brick to the corresponding power receptacle on R43SG board. The package comes with an 8-pin to dual 6 + 2-pin PCIe cable to power the graphics card. I used it to connect the RX 5700 GPU. Last step was to secure the M.2 connector to the UTE02 TB3 board. Once these tasks were done, a simple hot-plug got the eGPU going in macOS!
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In Windows this setup works the same way. Currently the modified Radeon drivers from Bootcampdrivers.com doesn’t work with the 2019 16-in MacBook Pro‘s RP 5500M dGPU just yet so the RX 5700 eGPU needs an external monitor for gaming use. There are more details in my previous build (XG Station 2 + RX 5700 XT).
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Benchmarks:
I ran Unigine and 3DMark in Boot Camp only. For macOS performance numbers, you can check my other build with the 2019 16-in MacBook Pro + RX 580/RX Vega 56/RX 5700 XT/Radeon VII eGPUs. Due to no gaming drivers for the Radeon Pro 5500M discrete graphics card, I used the stock Apple Boot Camp drivers for these tests. The RX 5700 external graphics card was running Radeon graphics drivers version 19.11.1 (from BCD).
| RP 5500M dGPU | RX 5700 eGPU |
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Comments:
I’m very glad we start seeing more affordable choices for external graphics. This entire eGPU solution was $120 ($50 for ADT-Link R43SG, $50 for Wavlink UTE02, and $20 for Dell DA-2). Better yet the M.2 eGPU adapter is way more versatile thanks to compatibility with many laptops. It also has better performance than Thunderbolt 3 interface. My next build using this ADT-Link R43SG is with the MSI Prestige 15 (6-core i7-10710U). An intriguing host I also have in mind is the 2015 15″ MacBook Pro by using a NGFF M.2 nVME adapter.
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This is cool as hell, kinda miss the old self build/hack days (not that I ever did anything more than copy a couple of easy builds from smart folks).
@eightarmedpet Definitely more fun piecing everything together than going with a ready-to-go eGPU enclosure. Too bad the 2018 Mac mini doesn’t have an M.2 or NVMe slot. I do have plans for putting together a Mac mini tower with eGPU inside.
But this would still work with the Mac mini simply through one of the four TB3 ports, right?
EDIT: base on the comment above I now understand that the M.2 would be faster/better performance
@sernie
You could connect a Thunderbolt 3 device that has two Thunderbolt 3 ports to the Thunderbolt 2 Mac so that you can power the Thunderbolt 3 NVMe enclosure by connecting it to the Thunderbolt 3 device. But Thunderbolt 3 devices are expensive so you might as well get a Thunderbolt 3 eGPU enclosure at that point.
@erik_holmstrom
Yes, the Mac Mini can power a Thunderbolt 3 NVMe enclosure. It’s limited by the Thunderbolt 3 connection just like any Thunderbolt 3 eGPU enclosure.
https://egpu.io/forums/which-gear-should-i-buy/thunderbolt-3-external-drive-slot-m-2-ngff-adapter/
M.2 is faster only… Read more »
@itsage
I’d be interested to see if the same setup could be done to an old iMac 27′ Late 2015 or those that are still in Thunderbolt 2 below.
@sernie It’s likely not going to work through Thunderbolt 2 interface because the UTE02 main board needs bus-power from the Thunderbolt 3 port. Using the Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt adapter would not provide bus power. If your 2015 27″ iMac has the Fusion drive, it’s actually the best Mac to use this ADT-Link R43SG M.2 eGPU adapter. You can swap the spinning drive out for SATA 2.5″ SSD, then pop the … Read more »
@itsage
This is so sick lol – respect.
@itsage
First off, this is really cool! Second, you say this setup will work for computers without TB3, so would this in theory be able to work with a surface laptop 3 that has usb-c but no TB3? Excuse me for being such a noob lol.
@charbarhoo GPUs connect to the computer using PCIe. A USB controller cannot do PCIe unless it’s USB4 (doesn’t exist yet) or Thunderbolt 3. You need a connection on your computer that does PCIe. Possible connections are Thunderbolt, PCIe, mPCIe, M.2, ExpressCard. Check the eGPU.io’s Buyer’s Guide.
@itsage
Hello there itsage, I’m a new forum member here on egpu.io. I had discovered your post while searching around to find cheap alternatives to egpu boxes. I was wondering if you could answer something though about this setup for me. I know with other cheap solution for external gpus setups, like the exp gdc beast for example, that when everything is hooked up to a laptop, the gpu doesn’t power up until the laptop is powered on, and vice versa. So… Read more »
@andrew_keller The ADT-Link R43SG can function both ways. By default it’s set to sense power signal from the host machine and will turn on/off accordingly. You can also put the toggle switch to have it power on all the time regardless of host computer power state.
And it does so even connected to a M.2 to TB3 enclosure?
@andrew_keller Yes it worked perfectly when connected through the M.2 Thunderbolt 3 board in this setup. Here’s the discussion on ADT-Link R43SG with additional information on the toggle switches and different settings.
@itsage
I’ll have to take a look at it then. I’ve ordered both the R43SG and a equivalent M.2 to TB3 enclosure online both for a good price, lowest I could find. If anyone is interested in the site I purchased them, PM me
@itsage
a mini case to house this egpu setup plus mac mini internals (logic board and its psu) and a custom cpu cooler for the mac mini would be the ultimate nearly customizable mac non-pro.
@ondert Definitely! When I have more time, I will take apart my Phanteks Evolv Shift X and use the components in this eGPU setup for the 2018 Mac mini. The nice thing about this case as well as many ITX cases is that the GPU connection typically goes through a PCIe riser which provides a lot of flexibility. The Mac mini will occupy motherboard + CPU cooler area. I can use the same arrangement of SFX PSU, cooling fans, GPU mount, and cable management.… Read more »
That would be terrific! I have a Dan A4 SFX case at home, if only I know CAD programs so I could have design some 3D parts to put all of them together in it.
Hero @itsage strikes again! Nice work!!!
You really are an inspiration to the eGPU community. While I’ve been going the other route and just going with SFF builds and Windows 10, you’re still plugging away with the eGPU’s and Macs (and other computers as well)!! I’m interested to see how your Mac mini Evolv Shift X tower comes out. While I would never need that much power coming out of a Mac, it’s a pretty cool concept.
@itsage
I’m looking to do something very similar with an ITX case. My Red Devil 5700 xt just arrived but I can’t decide on a power supply. What would you consider to be the sweet spot in terms of wattage?
Need to power my gpu and R43SG-TB3. I know the razer core holds a 700w psu but i’ve also read that too much power can have a negative effect.
@fiesta5ever The RX 5700 XT should work fine with a 400W+ PSU. I don’t think a higher Wattage power supply would be a bad idea except for cost.
I think Corsair SF600 should be enough, if not, there is also 750w version of it.
Great post/thread 💡
@itsage
Could you elaborate on the M.2 Connector (link between the ADT and Wavlink boards)? Was this included with the ADT or a separate purchase/you already had it? If not included, a product link would be awesome. Am not very familiar with these technologies.
Edit: looking at the ADT product page, it allows for cable length selection, so I am guessing it’s a part of that.
@mac_editor Yes the cable is included. Standard is 25cm and there’s an option for 50cm. I should have taken pictures of the unboxing but was too excited to get it running. @nando4 did a great detailing post on the different uses of this ADT-Link R43SG adapter.
@itsage
Going through the Wavlink will deliver the usual TB3 performance correct? Only hooking up to a laptops m.2 slot will deliver more performance?
Also does an active 2 meter TB3 cable work with this setup?
Thanks!
@ritterbutzke Yes direct M.2 slot connection would be faster. Routing through the Thunderbolt 3 connection results in performance similar to a Thunderbolt 3 eGPU enclosure. It should work the same way regarding Thunderbolt 3 cables. As long as the Thunderbolt 3 port from the host computer provides sufficient bus power to run the UTe02 TB3 board, this setup will work.
@sernie The PCIe SSD slot inside Mac computers are not standard keys. Therefore you’d need an adapter to connect the M.2 to the PCIe SSD slot. This NGFF NVMe M.2 adapter is one I’d recommend.… Read more »
@omardesu Here are some early steps of my Mac mini ITX tower build. I was going to use the ADT-Link R43SG M.2 eGPU adapter but I realized using the Mantiz Venus Thunderbolt 3 board and its expansion I/O daughterboard would give me even more flexibility. First of all is the nice integration of two externally mounted USB 3.0 ports. The Evolv Shift X includes a USB 3.0 cable that can go right into the expansion daughterboard. The Mantiz mainboard is smaller… Read more »
Thank you for such an amazing build guide. I’m wondering about one thing though, why did you go for ADT-Link pcie x16 to M.2 with Wavlink UTE02 M.2-TB3 adapter. Why didn’t you just get ADT-Link R43SG-TB3 which is a pcie x16 to thunderbolt 3 adapter?
I’m thinking to buy ADT-Link R43SG-TB3 for my MacBook Pro 2017. Haven’t… Read more »
@dramikei
The less fancy ADT-Link cables also work. Or buy an M.2 to PCIe x4 adapter (no cable):
https://egpu.io/forums/which-gear-should-i-buy/thunderbolt-3-external-drive-slot-m-2-ngff-adapter/
@dramikei Welcome aboard! They are essentially the same kit, combing the ADT-Link R43SG M.2 eGPU adapter with a M.2-TB3 board. I went with the Wavlink UTE02 because of its flexibility, an NVMe Thunderbolt 3 enclosure for external SSD. It was also on sale for a great price, $50.
@itsage
Oh, I got it! I went through the ADT-Link discussion page as well!
Thank you for clearing this to me 🙂
If I understand well, this is a way to build our own egpu … tb3 -> nvme -> Pcie
Then how you can have better performances ? The TB3 limit the bandwidth no?
Thanx in advance
Gérard
@igerard
Thunderbolt 3 NVMe adapter is just a way to make a Thunderbolt 3 egpu.
For best performance, you need to eliminate Thunderbolt altogether and connect directly to an M.2 slot of your computer.
Yes, At the end I understand well 🙂 Nvme is in case we have direct access.
Interesting stuff! Divide by two+ the price to connect e CG to a laptop…
Thanx
This is impressive first of all..
I have some question. Can I use this setup on my ImacPro with Nvidia RTX card? 2080Ti maybe..