Unlike AMD eGPU which can be a lot of work to resolve error 12 in Boot Camp, Nvidia eGPU can be plug-and-play. I found the RTX 2080 eGPU works best with the 2018 13" MacBook Pro through hot-plugging once Windows fully loads. If the eGPU was connected at boot, the iGPU would be deactivated and resulted in stuck/black internal display.
System specs:
2018 13" QC MacBook Pro - i5-8259U/Iris Plus Graphics 655 iGPU/8GB RAM/512GB SSD
eGPU hardware:
Razer Core + GeForce RTX 2080 + 1.5m Thunderbolt 3 cable
Hardware pictures:
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Installation steps:
There's no special procedure with Nvidia eGPU for the 2018 13" MacBook Pro. I connected the RTX 2080 eGPU to the left Thunderbolt 3 port closest to the display hinges. You can either let Windows automatically install the drivers or perform a manual driver installation with the latest Nvidia drivers. Here are AIDA and HWiNFO screen captures.
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Benchmarks:
I ran Unigine benchmarks with the iGPU then eGPU in internal display and external monitor:
iGPU Internal Display | eGPU Internal Display | eGPU Monitor FHD | eGPU Monitor QHD | eGPU Monitor 4K |
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Comments:
eGPU in Boot Camp is easiest when you pair an iGPU-only Mac to an Nvidia card. The quad-core 8th gen CPU makes this 2018 13" MacBook Pro a nice host.
• 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 hot-plug my eGPU to my 2018 15” MacBook Pro. Mostly my eGPU is not connected to my Mac at the time of boot and I just plug it once a Windows is fully loaded.
2018 15" MacBook Pro 2018 i9 32GB 1TB-SSD
Razer Core X + GTX 1080 Ti
2018 15" MacBook Pro (RP560X) [8th,6C,H] + GTX 1080 Ti @ 32Gbps-TB3 (Razer Core X) + Win10 1803 [build link]
This is such a beautiful set up. If I were buying everything again this is exactly what I’d buy. I can’t justify upgrading from my 2017 atm, but defo getting a core v2.
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
---
LG 5K Ultrafine flickering issue fix
2018 Mac Mini [8th,6C,B] + RX 580 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (AKiTiO Node Lite) + Win10 20H2 [build link]
In Germany Razer Core v2 is often -€70 sale like now on Amazon. Though it’s still expensive compared to other enclosure, you pay here Razer tax
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]
Yeah the price has always put me off but I’m over it now. Do you have a link to the reduced listing? 470 quid here in the UK but I have pals in Germany...
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
---
LG 5K Ultrafine flickering issue fix
2018 Mac Mini [8th,6C,B] + RX 580 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (AKiTiO Node Lite) + Win10 20H2 [build link]
Hi, I have two question regarding this build:
1- why RAZER CORE and not RAZER CORE X?
2- on a MBP 13 TB 2018, are you seeing reel diff between a 1080T or Ti and the 2080 as a eGPU? I'm thinking about TB3 bottleneck...
Thank you for your work
Nico
To do: Create my signature with system and expected eGPU configuration information to give context to my posts. I have no builds.
.@Eightarmedpet, here’s the link. It’s from Amazon its self not 3rd party so for their service, it’s not bad.
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]
Cheers for that, just grabbed a cheap V1 off ebay, prob regret it, but it was sub 300 quid and I dont need it to work in macOS so the Ti82 chip isn't an issue...
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
---
LG 5K Ultrafine flickering issue fix
2018 Mac Mini [8th,6C,B] + RX 580 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (AKiTiO Node Lite) + Win10 20H2 [build link]
@eightarmedpet The Razer Core V1 is a very good option still. It's quieter than the V2 in my observation. The downside is only one Thunderbolt 3 controller so expansion ports may not be stable as V2 dual controller setup. There's also TI82 block in macOS. The good news is we got workaround for it. @mac_editor has already incorporated this TI82 patch into his latest Purge-Wrangler script.
@pracolas I like the footprint of the Razer Core more than the Core X. Can't lie I enjoy RGB on this enclosure more than most PC peripherals. Regarding performance of RTX 2080 vs GTX 1080 Ti, I'd say there's no clear difference. The GTX 1080 Ti is a great value if you can find one for ≤US$600.
I connected this setup to the HP 5K monitor last night and ran a few higher resolution benchmarks. Unigine Superposition was able to run in 5K while Valley and Heaven cap at 4028 wide. Therefore I couldn't complete 5K runs. I added 1440 and 4K results to the OP.
• 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]
@itsage, cheers for validating my purchase, I was a bit worried, I'll prob get stung loads of import duty and could have got a V2 for the same locally but missed out and now I am impatient... as said, not too fussed about macOS and I think the TB3 patches effected my 5K (story of my life, if I sold that thing I'd prob fix alllll my problems inc error 12, but I like it too much and my macOS is non GPU intensive).
Interesting to hear about the 1080ti vs 2080, I'm aiming for a 2070 to see if the VR port will drive my 5k (it claims it can do 8k but will the protocol work?).
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
---
LG 5K Ultrafine flickering issue fix
2018 Mac Mini [8th,6C,B] + RX 580 @ 32Gbps-TB3 (AKiTiO Node Lite) + Win10 20H2 [build link]