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Cheapest way to install eGPU on Mac 2012 i7 quad core?

Halix

Halix

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 4, 2015
1
0
~ Italy
MAC IS NOT FOR GAMING !
People never stopped saying,and i don't think they're wrong.
I was trouble by choosing computer to start programming at school : something stable and working for everything (not EVERYTHING with the BEST),so i choose mac mini i7 quad with 4GB RAM 1333 MHz to start. I didn't hate the idea to run games on my pc,so I installed windows 7 via bootcamp on my mac,i've got Intel Graphics HD4000,i can run quite well games like Far Cry 3,Call of Duty BO2 or Dragonball XenoVerse (most part past 2013) but i hate CPU temperatures : cores reach about 90° everytime and i don't know why many games lags anyway requirements are 512/256 MB of graphics...i know,it's not dedicated graphics card so i found on the net many posts about eGPUs,AWESOME ! ,I though,but awesome are not costs...
So is there cheapest way to connect external gpu to mac (excluding gpu price if needed) via thunderbolt or via every existing way ?
thanks for interesting :)
 
The only manufacturer that's providing Yosemite support and Windows support is Matrox, via this eGPU, AFAIK the only one they offer that is dual platform: http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/gxm/th2go/digital_se/ - for DVI connections as well. I have one attached to one of the Minis in the office that's dual-platform.

Two caveats. Beware the negative reviews out there - there's lots of negative feedback from users 1, 2, 3 years ago; the resellers have often shipped the wrong product to buyers - this "SE" eGPU has been on the market for only a few months. Matrox also sells a dual-display version - but they're single platform only as there's a Mac version and a Windows version, and these new "SE" and "ME" versions of the dual-display eGPU have only been out for a few months as well.

I placed an order of the older units from an Amazon reseller a few years ago - 6 units - and we received 3 of another model, 2 of the PC version of what I ordered, and one correct version. A major PITA, and it seems as though resellers have merged/grafted the new product information onto the old product information. I ordered through a local Matrox vendor this time with my business account.

If I were you, you might wait a bit. The show in Taiwan has all kinds of new stuff coming out this week, and there might be some new product coming out soon. But, we work here, no games allowed - I can offer that AutoCAD (Win version) works pretty well on that Mini.
 
That Matrox thingy is the opposite of what he wants. The Matrox thing uses your interior GPU to run more screens, so it is going to be slower than normal.

If he wants more GPU horsepower for games, he needs to use a true eGPU.

We have started an eGPU section at the Netkas board. It will have latest and best info.

As a general rule, TB1 Macs are much easier to eGPU with then the TB2 Macs.
 
Last edited:
MacVidCards said:
That Matrox thingy is the opposite of what he wants. The Matrox thing uses your interior GPU to run more screens, so it is going to be slower than normal.

If he wants more GPU horsepower for games, he needs to use a true eGPU.

The tech inferno forums are a good place to start, they have a dedicated eGPU section. Tough part is going to be getting the details clearly translated.

As a general rule, TB1 Macs are much easier to eGPU with then the TB2 Macs.
Click to expand...
I disagree. TB2 Macs are easier since they're just plug and play on UEFI Windows 8 installs.
 
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Halix said:
MAC IS NOT FOR GAMING !
People never stopped saying,and i don't think they're wrong.
I was trouble by choosing computer to start programming at school : something stable and working for everything (not EVERYTHING with the BEST),so i choose mac mini i7 quad with 4GB RAM 1333 MHz to start. I didn't hate the idea to run games on my pc,so I installed windows 7 via bootcamp on my mac,i've got Intel Graphics HD4000,i can run quite well games like Far Cry 3,Call of Duty BO2 or Dragonball XenoVerse (most part past 2013) but i hate CPU temperatures : cores reach about 90° everytime and i don't know why many games lags anyway requirements are 512/256 MB of graphics...i know,it's not dedicated graphics card so i found on the net many posts about eGPUs,AWESOME ! ,I though,but awesome are not costs...
So is there cheapest way to connect external gpu to mac (excluding gpu price if needed) via thunderbolt or via every existing way ?
thanks for interesting :)
Click to expand...

Also, buy 16 GB RAM.
Will increase VRAM to 1GB.
 
Halix said:
MAC IS NOT FOR GAMING !
People never stopped saying,and i don't think they're wrong.
I was trouble by choosing computer to start programming at school : something stable and working for everything (not EVERYTHING with the BEST),so i choose mac mini i7 quad with 4GB RAM 1333 MHz to start. I didn't hate the idea to run games on my pc,so I installed windows 7 via bootcamp on my mac,i've got Intel Graphics HD4000,i can run quite well games like Far Cry 3,Call of Duty BO2 or Dragonball XenoVerse (most part past 2013) but i hate CPU temperatures : cores reach about 90° everytime and i don't know why many games lags anyway requirements are 512/256 MB of graphics...i know,it's not dedicated graphics card so i found on the net many posts about eGPUs,AWESOME ! ,I though,but awesome are not costs...
So is there cheapest way to connect external gpu to mac (excluding gpu price if needed) via thunderbolt or via every existing way ?
thanks for interesting :)
Click to expand...

Check this, http://www.journaldulapin.com/2014/...bolt-on-a-mac-running-yosemite/#comment-44997 that's the path I am going to follow, mine is mini late 2012 quad i7 2'3 16 Gb. For what I've checked this seems to be the cleanest, cheapest way. Ill be getting the vidock 320 long, the sonnet, and a nvidia gtx 760 probably all for about 500euros. And Lacie has a 3t d2 thunderbolt (2ports) usb 3 for about 270euros, which I think is a great way to expand thunderbolt connectivity for a great value.
 
yjchua95 said:
Wouldn't help much because no matter how much VRAM you have, integrated graphics will still suck.
Click to expand...

Of course. But who uses a 2012 Mini for gaming?
I'd say it's OK for a round of chess - but that's it.
If I wanted to play games, I'd buy a crappy gaming-PC. I bought the 2012 Mini (and an SSD) precisely because it's not a gaming-rig. Absolutely silent for my usage. My office is noisy enough.
 
MRrainer said:
Of course. But who uses a 2012 Mini for gaming?
I'd say it's OK for a round of chess - but that's it.
If I wanted to play games, I'd buy a crappy gaming-PC. I bought the 2012 Mini (and an SSD) precisely because it's not a gaming-rig. Absolutely silent for my usage. My office is noisy enough.
Click to expand...

I'm confused. This whole thread is about gaming on. Mac. Further, You stated to add 16GB of Ram when responding to a thread about Mac Gaming on an eGPU... First off you get 1GB of vRAM at anything over 8Gb of RAM and what good would increasing integrated graphics is the OP is going to an eGPU as it would bypass the integrated graphics altogether.
 
TB2 Macs easier for Windows, TB1 Macs easier for OS X. (refers to eGPU use)

Few realize how powerful these things can be. I have been playing Far Cry 4 on a base Mini...in 4K 60Hz with settings on "high" or "Ultra"

But it's the 12Gb Titan-X doing the heavy lifting.

We have started an eGPU section on Netkas boards, I will be blogging about them on our board as well. The previous place to get info has become a bit of a backwater. Much like a certain Hackintosh site, they have become a group so desperate for progress that they will "borrow" other people's stuff and slap their brand name on.

Expect some big news on eGPU front from Netkas and MVC.
 
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