System specs
- 2012 Apple Mac Mini: Intel Core i7-3720QM 2,6Ghz , 16GB DDR3, 500GB SATA3 SSD only for Bootcamp Windows 10 (Thunderbolt 1 port) EveryMac link
- iGPU: Intel HD Graphics 4000 built into the CPU, but it is disable if i boot the build with the eGPU turned on and connected
- Benq XL2411Z gaming monitor: 24" 1920x1080p 144Hz(only on DVI-D port! ony VGA and HDMI only 60Hz by design) product link
- Windows 10 Pro 20H2 build 19042.1055 product link
- I am not using macOS with this eGPU build
eGPU hardware
- Apple Thunderbolt 2 cable 2m product link
- Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter product link
- Razer Core X Thunderbolt 3 eGPU product link
- PNY nVidia Quadro P1000 graphics card product link
- my monitor only works with 1920x1080 @ 60Hz due that i need an active miniDisplayport to DVI-D adapter that supports 144Hz, now only a miniDisplayPort to DVI-D cable is there
Hardware pictures
- I will upload some photos later about the build
Installation steps
- Installed Bootcamp on my Mac Mini (on a second internal drive to have more space for gaming)
- Downloaded the up-to-date nVidia drivers nVidia drivers link
- Plug and Play nearly -> Connected all and booted directly to Windows 10 (I am not using the eGPU with macOS)
- Windows 10 installed automatically some older nVidia drivers, but i have installed the up-to-date ones manually and rebooted -> that is it
- The connections are looking like this:
2012 Apple Mac Mini -> Apple Thunderbolt 2 cable -> Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter -> Razer Core X eGPU -> GPU -> miniDisplayport to DVI-D cable -> Benq XL2411Z monitor
Benchmarks (all tested on external LCD)
- CUDA-Z:
- Valley:
- 3DMark TimeSpy:
- World of Tanks EnCore RT benchmark
Comment
- With the eGPU setup i was able to turn some old hardware to a decent gaming PC relatively easy.
- As for the costs of the build: during the COVID19 pandemic and GPU shortage, it is quite good also