My pre-ordered RTX 2080 was ready at a local Best Buy this afternoon. This build is a work-in-progress but the quick recap is that it works in external graphics mode the same way as older Nvidia cards. The eGPU worked plug-and-play in Windows with the 2018 Razer Blade 15.
System specs:
2018 15" Razer Blade 15 - i7-8750H/GTX 1070 Max-Q dGPU/UHD Graphics 630 iGPU/16GB RAM/512GB SSD
eGPU hardware:
ASUS XG Station Pro + Nvidia RTX 2080 FE + 1.5m Thunderbolt 3 cable
Hardware pictures:
Here are some unboxing pictures:
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Installation steps:
All I needed to do in Windows 10 was to download the latest drivers from Nvidia website. You can see in one of the pictures I tried it with macOS by connecting the 2016 15" MacBook Pro. Using @goalque's EFI solution, the RTX 2080 eGPU showed up in Graphics/Displays tree. Due to no compatible drivers, it was recognized as a Display device only. Once Nvidia releases compatible web drivers for these RTX cards, it should work in macOS. The typical wait for newly released Nvidia cards is roughly 9 months.
To test the monitor outputs I used 2x DisplayPorts cables to power the HP 5K, 1x DisplayPort cable to power the LG 4K, 1x HDMI cable to power the second LG 4K, and 1x USB-C cable to power the AOC FHD portable monitor. All monitors except the LG 4K via HDMI had output.
Benchmarks:
Here are AIDA64 GPGPU screen captures for GTX 1070 Max-Q dGPU, GTX 1080 Ti eGPU, and RTX 2080 eGPU.
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Here are synthetic benchmark results:
| GTX 1070 Max-Q dGPU Internal Display |
GTX 1080 Ti eGPU External monitor |
RTX 2080 eGPU Internal Display |
RTX 2080 eGPU External Monitor |
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Comments:
It's hard to determine whether the RTX 2080's performance is better than GTX 1080 Ti. I will be running more benchmarks and update this post.
• external graphics card builds
• best laptops for external GPU
• eGPU enclosure buyer's guide
2021 15" ASUS TUF Dash F15 [11th,4C,H] + RTX 3080 @ 32Gbps-TB4 (AORUS Gaming Box) + Win10 2004 // my 3rd RTX 3080 build [build link]
I got my 2080 today but I cannot let it work with my Mantiz Venus + MBP 15 2016. When my MacBook Pro is connected to the egpu, it is stuck in the boot. I can’t see anything even when I hold “option” key while booting. Does anyone know why this happens?
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
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I got my 2080 today but I cannot let it work with my Mantiz Venus + MBP 15 2016. When my MacBook Pro is connected to the egpu, it is stuck in the boot. I can’t see anything even when I hold “option” key while booting. Does anyone know why this happens?
I believe because the nvidia web drivers for MacOS have not been released yet for 20XX series.
iMac 2013 10.14.1, Macbook Air 2013 10.11, MBP 2016 13" 10.13.6 , HP 4530s 10.11, node lite, DA-2 PSU w/mod, PE4L 2.1b expresscard34, GTX460,1050Ti,1060,1070/Ti RX470,560,580
2016 13" MacBook Pro [6th,2C,U] + GTX 1060 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (AKiTiO Node Lite) + macOS 10.13.6 [build link]
Thank you for your reply.
This is actually my first time trying to use an NVIDIA card with my Mac. I found the latest cuda drive on NVIDIA website that was released on Sep 19. I think that is the drive I'm looking for but actually it doesn't recognize my 2080 when I hot plugin my Mantiz. The problem I'm facing now is I can't boot my Mac into neither MacOS nor Windows 10 with egpu connected. I guess there might be a compatibility issue between RTX2080 and Mantiz Venus.
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
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Usually you need to wait 6 months to a year for the mac os support from nvidia. Hope this time it will come sooner.
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
.
A mix of good and bad news! Anyone have an LG UltraFine and RTX card to check if they play nice.
If if not I’ll order a 2070 and test.
2017 13" MacBook Pro Touch Bar
GTX1060 + AKiTiO Thunder3 + Win10
GTX1070 + Sonnet Breakaway Box + Win10
GTX1070 + Razer Core V1 + Win10
Vega 56 + Razer Core V1 + macOS + Win10
Vega 56 + Mantiz Venus + macOS + W10
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LG 5K Ultrafine flickering issue fix
2018 Mac Mini [8th,6C,B] + RX 580 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (AKiTiO Node Lite) + Win10 20H2 [build link]
@jimmy_chj There's something in the RTX card's firmware that doesn't play well with 2016 15" MacBook Pro. I observed the same behavior you did. If the card was connected at any stage of boot or pre-boot, the system would hang. It can be hot-plugged once macOS full loads. Hot-plugging in Windows cause an immediate BSOD.
I tried it with the 2018 15" MacBook Pro and everything played well together. I was able to get the RTX 2080 going in Boot Camp. The RTX 2080 eGPU performs better with the 15" MacBook Pro vs Blade 15 due to a direct Thunderbolt 3 connection to the processor. Cooling is a major concern on the MBP though. Here are AIDA64, HWiNFO, and Unigine benchmarks [through external monitor].
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• external graphics card builds
• best laptops for external GPU
• eGPU enclosure buyer's guide
2021 15" ASUS TUF Dash F15 [11th,4C,H] + RTX 3080 @ 32Gbps-TB4 (AORUS Gaming Box) + Win10 2004 // my 3rd RTX 3080 build [build link]
@jimmy_chj There's something in the RTX card's firmware that doesn't play well with 2016 15" MacBook Pro. I observed the same behavior you did. If the card was connected at any stage of boot or pre-boot, the system would hang. It can be hot-plugged once macOS full loads. Hot-plugging in Windows cause an immediate BSOD.
I tried it with the 2018 15" MacBook Pro and everything played well together. I was able to get the RTX 2080 going in Boot Camp. The RTX 2080 eGPU performs better with the 15" MacBook Pro vs Blade 15 due to a direct Thunderbolt 3 connection to the processor. Cooling is a major concern on the MBP though. Here are AIDA64, HWiNFO, and Unigine benchmarks [through external monitor].
What happened when you hot plug it under mac os?
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
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@itsage Did you use gaming mode? Blade 15 cpu performance is locked on balanced mode to throttle to 35 watt, so you won’t gain good cpu boost which bring low physical score. Here’s my results, I’m OC my setting though (210/700 for 1070 maxq) and (175/650 for 2080).
Blade 15 1070
https://www.3dmark.com/fs/16153079
https://www.3dmark.com/3dm/27184677
Blade 15 2080 Core v2 external monitor
https://www.3dmark.com/3dm/28718266
https://www.3dmark.com/spy/4453253
Razer Blade 15 2018, i7 8750H 16gb ddr4 2666mhz 1tb 970Evo
Razer Blade Stealth 12,5 2016 i7 7500U 8gb ddr3 1866mhz 500gb 970Evo
MacBook Pro 13 mid 2012 i5 3210M 12gb ddr3 1600mhz 500GB HDD
Razer Core V2 rtx 2070 Black 2040mhz Boost clock
Previous setting: rtx 2080ti Asus Turbo, rtx 2080 xc gaming, rtx 2080 Fe, Zotac Mini 1080ti, Evga 1080 FTW2 gaming.
Dual Monitor Predator XB241YU 165Hz 1440p, LG l24UD58 60Hz 4K
Portable Monitor Magedok 1440p HDR 60Hz usbA/C monitor
2016 12" Razer Blade Stealth [7th,2C,U] + RTX 2080 Ti @ 32Gbps-TB3 (Razer Core V2) + Win10 1803 [build link]
@joi_kansai Yes I made sure Gaming mode was on. The two cooling fans are running much faster and louder in this mode. I did not OC the graphics cards though.
@quetzacoatl macOS could detect the Thunderbolt 3 enclosure only. The RTX 2080 eGPU can be detected as "Display" device when used with @goalque's EFI solution. We will have to wait for compatible web drivers from Nvidia.
• external graphics card builds
• best laptops for external GPU
• eGPU enclosure buyer's guide
2021 15" ASUS TUF Dash F15 [11th,4C,H] + RTX 3080 @ 32Gbps-TB4 (AORUS Gaming Box) + Win10 2004 // my 3rd RTX 3080 build [build link]