How to Use an eGPU with a Mac: A Guide for Mac Owners, Including Older Models

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Looking to increase the graphics capabilities of your Mac beyond what is currently available? Adding an external graphics processor unit (eGPU) might be the solution you’re looking for. While Apple has traditionally made it difficult to add third-party hardware to its computers, with the release of macOS High Sierra, Mac owners gained the ability to use eGPUs. This guide explains how to use an eGPU with a Mac, including older models.

The process was initially more complicated before High Sierra, but after the update, the process has become easier. And with the release of Mojave, it got even easier.

WHICH EGPUS WORK WITH MACS?

Apple teamed up with Blackmagic Design to make eGPU units for the Apple Store. There are two models available in the Apple Store:

Blackmagic eGPU with the Radeon Pro 580 (£599 / $699)
Blackmagic eGPU Pro with the Radeon RX Vega 56 (£1,199 / $1199)

The Blackmagic eGPU is the unit we’ll talk about in this guide, since we bought one from Blackmagic Design to test out. There are other options on the market, though none may be as simple and high-quality as the Blackmagic eGPUs.

Apple officially supports AMD-based GPUs, so keep that in mind when purchasing an eGPU. Also, Apple’s official support for eGPUs is limited to newer Macs with a Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C interface, although we’ll cover how to use an eGPU with an older machine below.

WHICH MACS CAN USE AN EGPU?

Officially, a Thunderbolt 3-equipped Mac with macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 or higher is required to use an eGPU. However, it is possible to use an eGPU with an older Mac, as we’ll show below.

USING AN EGPU WITH AN OLDER MAC

If you have a Thunderbolt port in your Mac, then you should be able to use an eGPU, following our advice below. Although Apple doesn’t officially support this, we used a Blackmagic eGPU with a 13-inch MacBook Pro from late 2013, so it is possible.

Here’s how to use a Blackmagic eGPU with an older Mac:

Before you begin, we advocate backing up your Mac. As you will note within the subsequent step, if all the things goes improper, you’ll have to reinstall macOS, dropping all of your files. So don’t proceed to the following step earlier than making a backup.

When we first set up our Mac to work with an eGPU, it was crucial to download and install a patch. Installing the patch requires administrator rights, however, it’s fairly easy and doesn’t require an excessive amount of technical data. That mentioned, we did find it crucial to flip off system integrity safety and run a script to change macOS.

Keep in thoughts that the re’s a risk that you possibly can injury your Mac, which would require you to install MacOS from scratch and lose all of your data within the course of – so ensure to backup all vital files on the system earlier than persevering with.

However, you not want to attain these lengths. Instead of putting in a patch, operating a script and altering the working system, now you may simply download an automated eGPU EFI zip file, copy it to a USB stick and boot from it.

Before you begin, ensure the eGPU is disconnected.
Download the automate eGPU EFI v1.0.5 package deal right here.
Copy the EFI folder to a FAT32 formatted USB stick. You should first format the USB stick. Use MS-DOS FAT, Master Boot Record. We have a tutorial on formatting drives right here.
Boot from the exterior USB drive (maintain the Option / Alt key when booting your Mac and choose EFI Boot).
Once you’re logged in, join the eGPU.
Now run the next instructions in Terminal:
sudo pmset -a gpuswitch 2
sudo pmset -a gpuswitch 0
Shift + Cmd + Q and hit enter to log out
Log in once more

We advocate that you just seek the advice of this website for more recommendation as the strategy might change over time and with subsequent updates for macOS.