Kudos: This build would not have been possible without @itsage.
System Specifications
- MacBook Pro 15" (Mid-2014)
- CPU: 2.5 GHz Intel Core i7 (i7-4870HQ)
- GPU(s): Intel Iris Pro 5200, NVIDIA GeForce GT750M
- macOS 10.14
eGPU Specifications
- Sonnet Breakaway eGFX 350W
- GTX 780 SC
- Apple TB3->TB2 adapter
Installation
The installation process is usually straightforward if you use one of the solutions on this forum.
For macOS (10.13.4+)
- Use purge-wrangler.sh (Option #2).
v4.2.2 or later required.
When asked, choose not to install web drivers.
- Reboot with eGPU plugged in.
Few things to keep in mind:
- Hot-plugging may not work.
- Hot-unplugging not supported.
Not all applications take advantage of external GPUs. For that, one can use set-eGPU.sh for High Sierra (10.13.4+) or use the Prefer External GPU option in Mojave.
For Windows
Installation is simple:
- Download a copy of the latest NVIDIA Drivers.
- Disable internet connectivity.
- DDU all drivers.
- Boot with eGPU plugged in.
- Install NVIDIA Drivers.
- Reboot.
- Reconnect to the internet.
Benchmarks
Don't have much time - these are benches running on the internal display using Mojave:
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GeForce GT 750M LuxMark
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GeForce GT 750M Heaven |
GTX 780 Heaven Internal Display |
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GeForce GT 750M Valley |
GTX 780 Valley Internal Display |
Comments
I only use the eGPU for testing purposes at this time, but my experience and benchmarks make the following clear:
- Compute performance over 750M: ~7x.
- Saying that Thunderbolt 1/2 are significant bottlenecks is not necessarily true.
purge-wrangler ✧ tbt-flash ✧ purge-nvda ✧ set-eGPU
Insights Into macOS Video Editing Performance
Master Threads:
2014 15-inch MacBook Pro 750M
2018 15-inch MacBook Pro
2019 13" MacBook Pro [8th,4C,U] + RX Vega 64 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (Mantiz Venus) + macOS 10.14.6 & Win10 [build link]
purge-wrangler ✧ tbt-flash ✧ purge-nvda ✧ set-eGPU
Insights Into macOS Video Editing Performance
Master Threads:
2014 15-inch MacBook Pro 750M
2018 15-inch MacBook Pro
2019 13" MacBook Pro [8th,4C,U] + RX Vega 64 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (Mantiz Venus) + macOS 10.14.6 & Win10 [build link]
When you have a chance, please run Unigine Valley and Heaven with internal display mode.
• external graphics card builds
• best laptops for external GPU
• eGPU enclosure buyer's guide
2020 13" MacBook Pro [10th,4C,G] + RTX 2080 Ti @ 32Gbps-TB3 (AORUS Gaming Box) + Win10 2004 [build link]
@itsage Benches added to OP.
purge-wrangler ✧ tbt-flash ✧ purge-nvda ✧ set-eGPU
Insights Into macOS Video Editing Performance
Master Threads:
2014 15-inch MacBook Pro 750M
2018 15-inch MacBook Pro
2019 13" MacBook Pro [8th,4C,U] + RX Vega 64 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (Mantiz Venus) + macOS 10.14.6 & Win10 [build link]
Nice results! The web drivers haven't improved much so the performance gain in newer Nvidia cards are not very significant in macOS.
• external graphics card builds
• best laptops for external GPU
• eGPU enclosure buyer's guide
2020 13" MacBook Pro [10th,4C,G] + RTX 2080 Ti @ 32Gbps-TB3 (AORUS Gaming Box) + Win10 2004 [build link]
@mac_editor I have a MBP 15" late 2013 with basically the same specs as yours. I am running a Sonnet 550 with a 1080ti with no luck on windows 10. macOS works fine though. Did you have issues with detecting your Sonnet? I've tried to connect at the windows loading symbol during boot up but Win10 doesn't detect any new hardware. I read there could be conflict with the dgpu and egpu being both nvidia. I've disabled/uninstalled the 750M while in EFI mode. Any ideas what I should try next?
Macbook Pro 15" (Late 2013) > Sonnet 350 Developer > TB2-TB3 > > RX580 > MacOS 10.13.6 + Win10 (Plug and Play)
Macbook Pro 15" (Late 2013) > Sonnet 550 > TB2-TB3 > MacOS 10.13.6 (Need help with Win10)
Testing Soon: Macbook Pro 15" (Late 2013) > Akito Node T3 > TB2-TB3 > ?
@jin486 Windows won't work with a 9xx or later NVIDIA GPU on that model.
purge-wrangler ✧ tbt-flash ✧ purge-nvda ✧ set-eGPU
Insights Into macOS Video Editing Performance
Master Threads:
2014 15-inch MacBook Pro 750M
2018 15-inch MacBook Pro
2019 13" MacBook Pro [8th,4C,U] + RX Vega 64 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (Mantiz Venus) + macOS 10.14.6 & Win10 [build link]
I'm thinking of trading in my 1050ti for a 750ti, so I can have audio over HDMI/DisplayPort and also use the Mac native drivers (and avoid having to wait for Nvidia's web drivers. Do you get audio over HDMI and DisplayPort with your 780? I'm not so much a gamer as I want to more smoothly edit 4k video. I have the same Macbook as you @mac_editor.
Macbook Pro 15" 2013 with NVIDIA 750m and Akito Thunder2 and MSI AMD 560 OC, Mojave 10.14
@noah_leon I don't have this Mac anymore so I cannot test. I don't recall if I had audio output or not, nor do I have the time to test this on my new machine. I'll let you know once I get the chance to test.
purge-wrangler ✧ tbt-flash ✧ purge-nvda ✧ set-eGPU
Insights Into macOS Video Editing Performance
Master Threads:
2014 15-inch MacBook Pro 750M
2018 15-inch MacBook Pro
2019 13" MacBook Pro [8th,4C,U] + RX Vega 64 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (Mantiz Venus) + macOS 10.14.6 & Win10 [build link]
Hi @mac_editor
I followed the instructions above and my iMac 4k seems to recognize eGPU, which is not working. Can you please suggest what I can try? I will greatly appreciate it.
Mac OS 10.14.1: I ran pure-wrangler again after the update. also disabled SIP.
Aorus gaming box with GTX1080
iMac Retina 4K, 21", Late 2015, Mojave, iGPU 6200
MBP Retina, 13", Early 2015, Mojave, iGPU 6100
Aorus Gaming Box GTX1080