Fractal Architect 5 Help Index
eGPU FAQ
Applies to: FA 4, FA 5, FA X
Using an External Thunderbolt 3 eGPU Box
Mac OS High Sierra version 10.13.4 added support for Thunderbolt 3 eGPU use.
eGPU is the name for an external desktop graphics card hosted in an external Thunderbolt 3 eGPU enclosure. There are many third party eGPU enclosures available.
See: eGPU.io website
eGPU is a very cost effective way to use a Desktop GPU graphics card with a MacBook Pro laptop or iMac.
Mac OS 10.13.4 allows you to connect up to 2 eGPU enclosures to your Mac.
You get outstanding KickAss! performance using a eGPU.
As of April 2018, there are specific hardware & software requirements to use eGPU with Mac OS (see below).
Performance Comparison
Tested on Late 2016 MacBook Pro using FA 5, Worlds.fa, a FA Gallery fractal, Pseudo 3D)
Sonnet Breakaway Box 650 + Graphics Card
These speed comparisons were measured using 1 eGPU enclosure. The 2 eGPU enclosures test case was not tested.
OpenCL
| Device | Speed Comparison |
|---|---|
| CPU | 1.0 X |
| Internal Intel HD 530 GPU | 4.9 X |
| Internal AMD Radeon 460 Pro | 8.1 X |
| eGPU AMD Radeon RX 480 | 19.0 X |
| eGPU AMD Radeon Vega 64 | 45.5 X |
Metal
| Device | Speed Comparison |
|---|---|
| Internal Intel HD 530 GPU | 4.4 X |
| Internal AMD Radeon 460 Pro | 8.0 X |
| eGPU AMD Radeon RX 480 | 25.0 X |
| eGPU AMD Radeon Vega 64 | 54.0 X |
Note: Metal with any AMD GPU does not render fractals using final transforms correctly as of Mac OS 10.13.4
Requirements
- AMD Radeon Desktop graphics card (as of April 2018, Mac OS eGPU does not work with Nvidia graphic cards)
- A Thunderbolt 3 eGPU Third Party Enclosure
- Mac OS High Sierra version 10.13.4 (released March 2018) or a later version of Mac OS
- Mac with Thunderbolt 3 connectors
- Fractal Architect GPU rendering subscription (or for FA 4, GPU rendering in-app purchase)
As of April 2018, these are the Macs that have Thunderbolt 3 connectors:
- iMac Pro
- iMac (2017 and later)
- MacBook Pro (2016 and later)
How to Use an eGPU Enclosure
- Assemble graphics card into the enclosure.
- Connect the eGPU enclosure to your Mac with its Thunderbolt 3 cable.
- Start Fractal Architect.
- Using FA Preferences, choose the eGPU render device.
- Use FA. GPU rendering is used everywhere in the app.
Disconnecting the eGPU Enclosure
- Using FA Preferences, choose an internal render device CPU or GPU.
- Click the eGPU Disconnect button in left hand side of top menu.
- Disconnect the eGPU’s Thunderbolt 3 cable from your Mac.