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Xenobius

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 10, 2019
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475
Is it possible to install 4-5 'standard' graphic cards in a MP 2019 (Radeon VII or Radeon RX5700XT)? I mean, is it possible to connect the appropriate power cables?
 

bsbeamer

macrumors 601
Sep 19, 2012
4,313
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I'm sure it's possible if you're willing to use an expansion box and/or external PSU. Have not personally seen reports of people using more than 3 GPUs inside MP7,1 yet. Some of the 2 GPU setup users are reporting issues when used in combination with MPX.
 

Xenobius

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 10, 2019
193
475
Internal power supply is 1400W rated. It should be able to drive 4x Radeon VII easily. I am just not sure how to get this power.

Could you provide links to these issues?
 

bsbeamer

macrumors 601
Sep 19, 2012
4,313
2,713
Several reports in this forum.

Just because the internal PSU is rated at 1400W does not mean it can actually drive 4+ GPUs that spec sheet "require" 600W/650W per GPU with overhead. The MPX modules are meant to solve that, in theory.

Most RX 5700 XT's require 600W minimum (650W recommended) and most are 8+6 pin configs. They'll run around 250W under average load. Personally would not run more than three of these on a single PSU, regardless.
 

Xenobius

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 10, 2019
193
475
Radeon VII and Radeon 5700XT does not require 600W power supply. It is requirement for entire platform and not for graphic card.
MPX modules solves power cables mess.
 
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bsbeamer

macrumors 601
Sep 19, 2012
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RX 5700 XT:
Screen Shot 2020-01-08 at 10.17.15 AM.png
 

Xenobius

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 10, 2019
193
475
Yes: System Requirement – CPU (overclocked), GPU, motherboard, memory, disk drives, external ports, additional PCIe cards, etc...
 
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Xenobius

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 10, 2019
193
475
Thanks. Yes, I've seen these tests. The point is that Apple graphics cards are powered directly from motherboard additional sockets. Nevertheless, it is proof that Mac Pro can handle such a massive multi-GPU setup.
 

Z28McCrory

macrumors regular
Jan 20, 2014
117
54
Indiana
If you want to run 4 GPUs with four separate cards, things would get a little complicated. You’d have to split the 8 pin connectors to power 2 cards each, and I don’t know if it could handle the power draw.

It would also get a little cramped in the case. You’d have cards sitting right next to each other that ideally need some space to help draw in air.

This is what my two VIIs with the factory 580 MPX module looks like.
9CEDA8AD-196B-49CF-A2EC-263E67E5595A.jpeg
 

Z28McCrory

macrumors regular
Jan 20, 2014
117
54
Indiana
The slot you edited it into is a PCIe x8. Not sure the real world hit in performance you'd get.

If you wanted 4 of them in PCIx 16 they'd need to be stacked side by side.
 

chadiwack

macrumors newbie
Jan 13, 2020
2
0
Does this work? I just installed ONE Radeon VII into my new MP last night. I'm also running the base 580. I just got off the phone with apple support and they told me that the base 580 only lets you run one module and not another GPU in tandem. So he explained that I could either use the 580 OR the Radeon VII but not both. How are you running TWO Radeon VII as well as the base 580?? Would love to know.

If you want to run 4 GPUs with four separate cards, things would get a little complicated. You’d have to split the 8 pin connectors to power 2 cards each, and I don’t know if it could handle the power draw.

It would also get a little cramped in the case. You’d have cards sitting right next to each other that ideally need some space to help draw in air.

This is what my two VIIs with the factory 580 MPX module looks like.
View attachment 887516
 
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Z28McCrory

macrumors regular
Jan 20, 2014
117
54
Indiana
Does this work? I just stalled ONE Radeon VII into my new MP last night. I'm also running the base 580. I just got off the phone with apple support and they told me that the base 580 only lets you run one module and not another GPU in tandem. So he explained that I could either use the 580 OR the Radeon VII but not both. How are you running TWO Radeon VII as well as the base 580?? Would love to know.

It works fine. You can have the 580X plugged into either one of the MPX slots, and still draw power from both of them via the Belkin power cable kit.

I’ve been running it like this for a couple weeks now.
5005A42D-9CEA-48AE-810F-3108D8F9939B.jpeg
 
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chadiwack

macrumors newbie
Jan 13, 2020
2
0
Hey mate, really appreciate the reply. The reason I rang Apple support was to figure out how I know that my MP is using BOTH my base 580 as well as my Radeon VII. I jumped into FCPX last night and think it was only using the 580X and ignoring the Radeon VII. Forgive me, I'm fairly new to the multiple GPU game. I just saw a video on YouTube where a girl is using her base 580X to run her 4K screens but is using her DUAL Radeon VII (like yours) to run all her programs, editing, Adobe, After Effects, Premiere etc. Can you please help out the uneducated and tell me how I do this? Do I need to go into the settings and tell the Mac to USE the Radeon VII or do I assume it's automatically already using it. My base 580 is in the original module slot above the power and my Radeon VII is in the 16PCI slot where your image shows you have your top Radeon VII. any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

It works fine. You can have the 580X plugged into either one of the MPX slots, and still draw power from both of them via the Belkin power cable kit.

I’ve been running it like this for a couple weeks now.
View attachment 888345
 

Z28McCrory

macrumors regular
Jan 20, 2014
117
54
Indiana
Hey mate, really appreciate the reply. The reason I rang Apple support was to figure out how I know that my MP is using BOTH my base 580 as well as my Radeon VII. I jumped into FCPX last night and think it was only using the 580X and ignoring the Radeon VII. Forgive me, I'm fairly new to the multiple GPU game. I just saw a video on YouTube where a girl is using her base 580X to run her 4K screens but is using her DUAL Radeon VII (like yours) to run all her programs, editing, Adobe, After Effects, Premiere etc. Can you please help out the uneducated and tell me how I do this? Do I need to go into the settings and tell the Mac to USE the Radeon VII or do I assume it's automatically already using it. My base 580 is in the original module slot above the power and my Radeon VII is in the 16PCI slot where your image shows you have your top Radeon VII. any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

Adobe seems to use whichever GPU your monitor is plugged into as the primary GPU. So for example won’t use all 3 for playback/timeline performance, it’ll only use the one. Premiere only uses multiple GPUs for some export rendering

I use iStat menus to monitor which GPUs are being used.

All 3 of my monitors are plugged into the bottom VII, so it’s the only one active in Premiere, Photoshop, etc (Adobe applications are pretty terrible at using the extra resources like multiple GPUs)

Capture One Pro is an example of a program that uses all 3 though. It uses all 3, regardless of what is plugged in where. DaVinci Resolve Studio also uses multiple GPUs.
 

AlexMaximus

macrumors 65816
Aug 15, 2006
1,239
583
A400M Base
Adobe seems to use whichever GPU your monitor is plugged into as the primary GPU. So for example won’t use all 3 for playback/timeline performance, it’ll only use the one. Premiere only uses multiple GPUs for some export rendering

I use iStat menus to monitor which GPUs are being used.

All 3 of my monitors are plugged into the bottom VII, so it’s the only one active in Premiere, Photoshop, etc (Adobe applications are pretty terrible at using the extra resources like multiple GPUs)

Capture One Pro is an example of a program that uses all 3 though. It uses all 3, regardless of what is plugged in where. DaVinci Resolve Studio also uses multiple GPUs.


Thanks so much, this is exactly the setup I am looking for. ( 1x 580X + 1x Vega VII) It seems to me, it very much depends where your monitor is plugged into. Since I am using a Monitor with a standard DigitalDisplay Port, there would not be any other choice anyway. I don't really see the HDMI port on the 580X as a legit display port. HDMI is a TV-world adapter style plug in my book. I still think it has little justification to be on there as the main Display port on the 580X. My experience with HDMI in the past was always somehow a little off. With Vega VII this obstacle is solved very elegantly in my opinion if you use a monitor with a Digital Display port(s).
 

Z28McCrory

macrumors regular
Jan 20, 2014
117
54
Indiana
Yeah I use the VII because my monitors are DP.

The 580X isn’t doing a whole lot. The compute power of each VII is about 4x what the 580X is capable of, but I left it in place since I already owned it. I doubt I’d even notice the difference if I removed it.
 

chfilm

macrumors 68040
Nov 15, 2012
3,430
2,118
Berlin
Adobe seems to use whichever GPU your monitor is plugged into as the primary GPU. So for example won’t use all 3 for playback/timeline performance, it’ll only use the one. Premiere only uses multiple GPUs for some export rendering

I use iStat menus to monitor which GPUs are being used.

All 3 of my monitors are plugged into the bottom VII, so it’s the only one active in Premiere, Photoshop, etc (Adobe applications are pretty terrible at using the extra resources like multiple GPUs)

Capture One Pro is an example of a program that uses all 3 though. It uses all 3, regardless of what is plugged in where. DaVinci Resolve Studio also uses multiple GPUs.
And what happens in Premiere GPU usage if you plug Display A into one card and display B into the other?
 

bsbeamer

macrumors 601
Sep 19, 2012
4,313
2,713
or use headless adapters? I’ve noticed a HUGE increase in performance with RX 5700 XT in eGPU when driving multiple monitors.
 

mattspace

macrumors 68040
Jun 5, 2013
3,346
2,977
Australia
It works fine. You can have the 580X plugged into either one of the MPX slots, and still draw power from both of them via the Belkin power cable kit.

that's a really interesting tidbit - If I'm reading you correctly, when an MPX module is plugged into an MPX bay, that bay's auxiliary power connectors are still active, and able to power a card installed in a different bay?
 
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