When do we get new supported GPUs?

[Anaru]

Hi all,

I'm new to the whole eGPU thing and I'm wondering where in the product cycle Apple usually adds to the list of supported GPUs?

Is it linked to major MacOS releases? Or are new GPUs added with "out of band" OS releases?

Don't want to buy if we're on the cusp of having some new options.

 

[MisterAndrew]

What GPU do you want to run? Apple adds support for GPUs periodically with software updates. There's no regular schedule. They usually add support for a new GPU one or two software updates before it's available in a Mac from Apple. They add support for 3rd party GPUs that are not sold in a Mac every now and then, but not always. Quite often the GPU device IDs included in the driver match up with the Linux driver from AMD. I maintain a pretty current list of supported GPUs in this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/amd-polaris-vega-navi-gpu-macos-support.2083168/ Note that I will not be adding supported GPUs for Big Sur until the final release because it is prohibited to disclose details of Apple confidential beta software.

 

[Ritsuka]

When AMD actually releases some new GPU.

 

[Anaru]

So it more or less corresponds to the GPU being available in a mac? Thanks!

 

[MisterAndrew]

So it more or less corresponds to the GPU being available in a mac? Thanks!

Quite often, yes, but not always. Most of the current AMD GPUs are supported.

 

[Superhai]

Don't want to buy if we're on the cusp of having some new options.

First ask yourself why and what you need the GPU for. Essentially what do you use your Mac for. Quite often it will be fine with an inexpensive GPU, unless you have some special use case that needs the top of the line.

What Apple consider officially supported is rather conservative to what you will be able to run in most cases as long as it is AMD. The drivers are for the architecture and with slight tweaks for each model line, and so far it is rare to find that new AMD cards are not added, even if the model never make it to an actual Mac.

RDNA2 (Big Navi) is right around the corner, and I am sure Apple will have GPU with that architecture. But a problem with jumping on the newest new is the maturity of the drivers. So while the specs will be amazing it may take time before drivers will be able to take advantage of the features. But new models will also lower prices for last generation. Also custom features of third party GPUs will typically not work, but for the last few years the GPUs are essentially the same as what AMD dictates.