Fractal Architect

Why Use an eGPU -- External GPU Enclosure

This allows you to use a powerful Desktop graphics card for rendering.

This feature is only supported on Mac OS.

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 (April 2018)

1. AMD Radeon Desktop graphics card (as of April 2018, Mac OS eGPU does not work with Nvidia graphic cards)
2. A Thunderbolt 3 eGPU Third Party Enclosure
3. Mac OS High Sierra version 10.13.4 (released March 2018) or a later version of Mac OS
4. Mac with Thunderbolt 3 connectors
5. 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

1. Assemble graphics card into the enclosure.
2. Connect the eGPU enclosure to your Mac with its Thunderbolt 3 cable.
3. Start Fractal Architect.
4. Using FA Preferences, choose the eGPU render device.
5. Use FA. GPU rendering is used everywhere in the app.

Disconnecting the eGPU Enclosure

1. Using FA Preferences, choose an internal render device CPU or GPU.
2. Click the eGPU Disconnect button in left hand side of top menu.
3. Disconnect the eGPU's Thunderbolt 3 cable from your Mac.