Sorry as I'm new to this but are M1/M2 chips not compatible with eGPU such as Razer Core X equipped with AMD 6900XT? I can use all the other functionalities such as USB ports, Thunderbolt laptop charging, etc., but nothing on the graphics card side. Thank you.
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Is Apple Silicon M1/M2 chips not compatible with eGPU?
- Thread starter LEOMODE
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yes you can, the egpu just becomes a external dock, i still use my egpu on occasions since i have some old sata drives that i need access to on my 14inch pro.
Got it so I can't use the eGPU, so just becomes a thunderbolt dock pretty much. Still sucks that they're still not adopting either AMD or Nvidia cards.
yeah ditching egpu entirely was the fastest planned obsolesce i ever seen. overnight egpu market crashed, my 450 usd mantiz lost 80% of its value overnight lol.
Yep, I sold my 2 sonnet eGPUs for almost less than the cost of 1 of them to a really nice Macrumors member. Those things made dealing with Intel MBPs tolerable and quiet. 
And yep, it'll supply power but that's it. I don't miss them but I do miss the quiet power when I wanted it (for games).
And yep, it'll supply power but that's it. I don't miss them but I do miss the quiet power when I wanted it (for games).
I wish we can still use AMD eGPU for more additional power in addition to M chips ;(
The architecture to date has processing for video and computing working in concert and sharing unified memory this present form will not work with eGPU. I do believe however, it is absolutely possible it can be done if certain processes
were dedicated (or cores) to arbitrating certain external hardware. Apple simply doesn't at present see a need which I do believe is a pity.
were dedicated (or cores) to arbitrating certain external hardware. Apple simply doesn't at present see a need which I do believe is a pity.
I am guessing the issue is driver support. Sufficient processing power (M2+) means there should not be any physical reason that an eGPU cannot be used to furnish a second or third display. Apple will have little interest in supporting external hardware if that could eat into M family sales - tight integration of graphics, memory, and processing means in order to get better graphics means an M processor upgrade. Whether TP expertise exists to write a driver (sufficient financial return)?? This coupled, with a failure by Apple to allow Intel virtualization, is a big F*** you to people with significant Apple investment.
My far-flug hope is that when the Apple Silicon Mac Pro launches, it'll use AMD (or NVIDIA??) GPUs. If so, at that time, perhaps Apple Silicon support for eGPU support will launch in the macOS kernel. I actually quite doubt it. But, I dare to dream ever so slightly. All I actually want is a modest eGPU to use with a M2 MacBook Air when at my desk to drive 3 decent monitors. If I can get there, then the M2 MBA will become the optimal computer for me.
I don't see that happening. Apple has spent the last three years touting how fast their GPUs are and touting their superior technology. If they suddenly embraced AMD/Nvidia for a true pro machine, what sort of message does that send? It sort of complicates and undoes their marketing
A few years from now Nvidia/AMD will go the same way as Apple. It's already happening through Nvidia Sheild, Steam Deck, etc...
Intel and AMD will have to switch from x86/64 because they're clock limited. You can't just keep upping the Ghz, or clock cycles without producing more heat.
Therein lies the problem.
As to the laptop market, we're at 2008 levels with PCs if that. To get M1/M2/M3 beating performance requires using desktop components and supposing that the average user will still tolerate a battery life of less than 4 hours.
Apple beat the battery life issue in 2008 but Intel and AMD are 15 years behind the curve now with that, and suppose people don't care about battery life or form factor.
Henceforth, the rise of Surface Books, and Chrome Books. Some people do care, but can't or won't spend for a Mac.... My question is whether you should blame them when a new MacBook Pro is now $2600 in Australia.
Intel and AMD will have to switch from x86/64 because they're clock limited. You can't just keep upping the Ghz, or clock cycles without producing more heat.
Therein lies the problem.
As to the laptop market, we're at 2008 levels with PCs if that. To get M1/M2/M3 beating performance requires using desktop components and supposing that the average user will still tolerate a battery life of less than 4 hours.
Apple beat the battery life issue in 2008 but Intel and AMD are 15 years behind the curve now with that, and suppose people don't care about battery life or form factor.
Henceforth, the rise of Surface Books, and Chrome Books. Some people do care, but can't or won't spend for a Mac.... My question is whether you should blame them when a new MacBook Pro is now $2600 in Australia.