There are three things that make the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Puck Radeon the best eGPU for Mac currently available: convenience, size and Apple endorsement. Convenience because it’s an all-in-one setup. Jul 13, 2018 - And, the Blackmagic eGPU is the first to support Thunderbolt 3 displays. Now, with Adobe we tend to get a bit more of software bang for our buck. Of dedicated graphics in ANY halfway recent Mac or anyone using Final.
More and more video editors using the latest Apple laptops for video editing, seem to be tempted by the extra processing power provided by external graphics processing units. While the development of eGPUs has been around for quite some time, many folks still find it difficult to get their hand on an affordable and reliable eGPU enclosure.
Luckily, Razer had recently announced the Core X eGPU that’s available for a relatively cost-effective price point of $300, normally associated with lower-end eGPUs. However, the Razer Core X is anything but a low-end eGPU. Next video produced by Jeff Benjamin of 9to5Mac highlights some of the main features of the Razer Core X which turns out to be one of the best Thunderbolt 3 external graphics solutions you can currently get.
Specs-wise, the Razer Core X sports a 650W ATX power supply that provides 500W GPU power support and can also charge USB-C laptops with up to 100W power delivery. The unit supports the latest Thunderbolt 3 interface and is also Mac and Windows compatible.
The enclosure comes insides of a large, discretely branded box that packs the eGPU itself, an instruction manual, power cable, and a Thunderbolt 3 cable. While the box includes everything you need to get started right off the bat, you may want to consider buying a longer Thunderbolt 3 cable since the one included seems to be rather short.
To use your graphics card with the Razer Core X, all you need to do is lift the handle on the back of the eGPU, which also acts as a quick-release mechanism. This extremely convenient and well-thought-out solution allows you to quickly gain access to the inside of the Razer Core X without needing to rely on tools or screws. Next, you’ll have to simply slide out the eGPU from the enclosure and take out the handy styrofoam GPU guide which can indicate whether or not your graphics card will fit in.
Finally, you’ll need to place your graphics card into the PCIe slot and score the card in. Inside of the enclosure, there is more than enough space for your graphics card and power cables, so you’re most likely not going to have to worry about this aspect of the assembling process whatsoever.
The graphics card that Jeff Benjamin opted for is the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 since it’s currently one of the most powerful GPUs that is officially supported by Apple. But, if you’re planning on using a different model or brand, ensure that your selection is compatible with the combo before you make the purchase.
To test out the eGPU and graphics card, Jeff tethered the eGPU to a 2017 MacBook Pro 13” with no touch bar which only has Intel’s integrated graphics processor. The setup was then outputting signal to a 4K monitor via the Razer Core. For testing, Unigine Heaven, Cinebench, and Valley were used as benchmarks. The tests clearly showed that the use of the RX Vega 64 completely outperformed the much slower integrated Intel Iris Plus 650 Graphics.
This smooth performance of the suggested setup can easily translate to increased timeline performance in NLEs like Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve where many effects can take advantage of GPU-acceleration features.
Razer Core X Specifications
- Thunderbolt 3 eGPU
- Compatible with PCI-Express graphics cards
- Up to 3-Slot wide, full-length, PCI-Express x16 graphics card
- Plug and play
- 650W ATX power supply
- 500W GPU power support
- Charges USB-C laptops with up to 100W Power Delivery
- Mac and Windows compatible
- Tool-less design with quick release lever
- Includes power cable and Thunderbolt 3 cable
- Price: $299.99
So, if you’re a video editor who is currently using a lower-end Mac laptop, investing in an eGPU like the Razer Core X has the potential to drastically increase your editing performance.
This is especially true when it comes to working with GPU-accelerated effects and program tasks, not to mention the fact that for the price of just $299, the Core X provides all the processing power you’ll ever need to supercharge your video editing workflow in the studio or on the go. To learn more about the latest Razer offering, make sure to check out Jeff Benjamin’s in-depth review of the product on the 9to5mac blog.
Mac uses with multiple email addresses and email accounts configured in the Mail app will likely find themselves wanting to change the email address that a particular email is sent from. This is different from changing the default email account on a Mac, as this approach allows the Sent From address to be changed anytime on a per-email basis. Mail often thinks you want to respond from the account that a message want sent to, or from the first account you added to a machine. Fortunately, there's a way to fix this. What this is going to do is set the default email account for any new email message composition in the Mail app. That includes new mail compositions created from within Mail.app and also elsewhere in Mac OS X, like a mailto link in a web browser or another app.
Mac Mail makes it easy to send a message from a different email account. Just click in the From field of any new message and choose the email address you want for the email from the drop-down menu. To send a message from an account other than the default account, click on the account under Inbox. Any email you send will be from that account. When you are finished, click the default account under Inbox again.
[source:9to5Mac]
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Feature
By Mike Wuerthele
Thursday, August 02, 2018, 09:27 am PT (12:27 pm ET) Grading programs for teachers mac.
We've been talking about external GPUs for a while, even before Apple decided to launch official support for the technology. As a result, we've used them all, and have a few we'd like to recommend if you're getting into the technology for the first time with your new 13-inch MacBook pro or MacBook Air.Thursday, August 02, 2018, 09:27 am PT (12:27 pm ET) Grading programs for teachers mac.
Editor's note: We ran this piece first in shortly after the 2018 MacBook Pro was announced. Given the refresh of the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the slight upgrade to the MacBook Air, we've revised the piece on July 12 to reflect that, and to refine data on a few choices.
In short, an eGPU enclosure allows you to connect a powerful PCI-E graphics card to your Thunderbolt 3-equipped Mac in macOS High Sierra through macOS Mojave. Some contain just a PCI-E graphics card, and some have additional connectivity.
Of the enclosures we've tested over the last three years, we have a few favorites. And, if you're like us, you can use the eGPU on your Mac to work during the day, and connect it to a Thunderbolt 3-equipped Windows PC for other purposes.
But before we get going, be advised that the 18-inch cable that comes with the enclosures is useless. They work, but they are universally just too short to be useful. Plan on spending $60 or so for a longer, high-speed cable.
Best for high power video cards
Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650
Sonnet wasn't first to market with an eGPU case, but they were the first one anointed by Apple —and remain so. Sonnet's enclosure was used to demonstrate the technology at the 2017 WWDC, and was included in Apple's bundle that was sold to developers to get them on-board with the technology.
There are a number of Sonnet eGPU enclosures now, but the best one is the Sonnet 650 with the beefier power supply. That enclosure, like the Razer, can take the cards that demand the most power like the Vega 64, and if you're adventurous, workstation cards or the Nvidia 1080ti.
The Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650 retails for $399, but is on sale for$365 at B&H.
Other units with lighter power supplies suitable for the Vega 56 and RX580, and possibly less charging support for the connected MacBook Pro sell for $259.
Razer Core X
Razer is a big name in PC gaming, and has recently decided to explicitly support Apple with some of its products, the Razer Core X being the most notable one.
Core X is the first of Razer's Core eGPU lineup to explicitly feature Mac support, and sits below the Core V2 on the company's product totem pole. The enclosure sports a beefy 650-watt ATX power supply, up from the custom 500-watt slim form factor PSU found in the Core V2.
To install a GPU, users simply slide the component drawer out from the aluminum chassis, pop a compatible card into the PCIe slot and lock it down with a thumb screw. No tools are required for installation.
The Sonnet is a bit quieter than the Razer high-power eGPU is, but the Razer Core X is easier to get in and out of. It's really up to you which is more important.
The Core X retails for $299.
Best eGPU for connectivity
Mantiz Venus MZ-02
The $379 Mantiz MZ-02 eGPU enclosure has five USB 3.0 type A ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a 2.5-inch mounting plate for a SATA drive. It can accommodate PCI-E cards needing up to 375W, and provides a full 87W of charging power back to the connecting computer, assuming it hasn't been adapted to an older version of Thunderbolt.
Putting in a card is relatively easy, with a tool-less panel that pops off. The unit can accommodate cards up to 310mm long, 140mm high, and 50mm deep meaning that it will fit most of the larger cards on the market.
It is the most stylish of all of the enclosures we've reviewed, and fits right in to a professional environment. The aluminum enclosure is constructed well, and finished precisely.
The Mantiz Venus MZ-02 eGPU enclosure retails for $379, but is generally offered from Amazon for $299. If you're looking at a dock, you can get the Mantiz eGPU instead for not much more money.
A solid second choice here is Razer's Core X Chroma. They've added Gigabit Ethernet and USB-A to the enclosure, but our initial testing we're not that happy about how the USB ports sometimes don't reconnect after the host Mac goes to sleep and the non-configurable illumination in macOS. Depending on your workflow, this may or may not be a problem for you, and we'll keep looking at that going forward.
The Core X Chroma retails for $399.
A choice of just two eGPUs for USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 displays
Blackmagic eGPU
Accompanying the refreshed MacBook Pros in 2017, Blackmagic worked with Apple to develop a pair of all-in-one units. The first model sports an AMD Radeon Pro 580 GPU with 8 gigabytes of memory, plus four USB-A ports.
Either model is all-in-one design, which means that it is non-upgradable. The tradeoff, however, is that the unit is built to be quiet and have a smaller footprint than general-purpose eGPU enclosures. It is by far, the quietest eGPU that we have tested yet.
This first version costs $699 but if you have a Thunderbolt display, like the LG UltraFine 5K, or the USB 3.1 type C LG UltraFine 4K, it's one of relatively few options.
Blackmagic eGPU Pro
To go with a batch of Thunderbolt 3-equipped Macs during its October special event, Apple launched an updated 'Pro' model of its existing BlackMagic eGPU. The biggest change is the inclusion of a more powerful GPU, this time the Radeon RX Vega 56 with 8 gigabytes of HBM2 memory.
Externally, it is extremely similar in appearance and construction to the non-Pro version, consisting of an all-in-one aluminum enclosure. The connectivity options are also familiar, including two Thunderbolt 3 ports, four USB 3 ports, and a HDMI 2.0 port, but this model adds in a DisplayPort 1.4 connection.
The Blackmagic eGPU Pro isa priced at $1,199. This is $500 more than the non-Pro version, but the performance increase in return is likely to offset the extra outlay for users who need that much graphical power.
Set and Forget
Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Puck RX 570
To make the Puck so small in size, Sonnet used an external power supply that is nearly as big as the Puck itself. The Mac-compatible model contains a Radeon RX570, which cannot be upgraded or removed from the enclosure.
When looking at the size, the Puck box measures roughly 6 inches-by-5.12 inches, standing 2 inches tall. Even incorporating the external power supply, the unit is much smaller than any other eGPU we've tried, minus the next entry in this list.
And, an optional VESA bracket will allow you to bolt it to the back of your monitor, if you want it out of the way.
The Sonnet Radeon RX570 eGFX Breakaway Puck is available at Adorama for $499.