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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

External GPU for MBP

For some reason, Apple has disabled any current TB3 devices with 1st-generation USB-C chipsets from Texas Instruments from working in their latest OS revision, as found on the new MB models. Only devices with the 2nd-generation chipset that is newly available and soon to be replacing the 1st-gen model, will be functional unless Apple rolls back the lockout. Because the chipset is still at the end of it's first-run development and certification testing, don't expect any replacement products for anything that is a paperweight until next year.
 
L. Langer said:
For some reason, Apple has disabled any current TB3 devices with 1st-generation USB-C chipsets from Texas Instruments from working in their latest OS revision, as found on the new MB models. Only devices with the 2nd-generation chipset that is newly available and soon to be replacing the 1st-gen model, will be functional unless Apple rolls back the lockout. Because the chipset is still at the end of it's first-run development and certification testing, don't expect any replacement products for anything that is a paperweight until next year.
Click to expand...

This story is a bunch of bullshit. This is not something Apple has done specifically. The latest Sierra release does lock out this hardware because of a problem, it's a problem with the TI encoders used by a number of early TB3 devices on the market. It's a known issue and has already caused compatibility problems with other systems, like the Dell XPS 15. Texas Instruments failed to adhere to all necessary aspects of the TB3 specification. I'm not exactly sure what's up with the guys at Plugable and I think this is more an issue of them feeling all butt hurt that their Chinese OEM for their two TB3 devices screwed them over. They're sensationalizing it at Apple's expense, probably more so for exposure/ advertising purposes. Not only that, but the guys at Plugable can't even seem to get their excuses or story straight. They reported to AppleInsider and MacRumors that the TI controllers were not compatible the the new MBP and it was Apple locking them out by not properly enumerating devices connected to these controllers. WTF? There are no TB3 controllers from TI. Intel is the only one that makes TB3 controllers. Oh, wait, someone from Plugable confirmed that later in their own on-site comments section. The real problem is the TI encoders in *DEVICES* and this problem existed before the MBP, it just wasn't widely known. Apple is using all Intel hardware that fully adheres to spec. So is Dell, HP and a number of others. They all have the same compatibility issues with the current USB/TB3 encoder package from TI. A new revision is in testing and due soon that will fix this, but doesn't address devices already on the market.

In the end, I bet Apple and Intel will come up with a software or firmware band-aid of a fix to address the problem. Because even though this isn't Apple's mess, they will probably be hit with a class action law suit if they don't fix it somehow... Because they're Apple. And the other PC vendors with the same "incompatible" hardware will stand silently in the corner. I take it that the lockout is actually a sign that they are trying to solve the problem. Better to lock-out the devices for now than to have users encounter intermittent connection problems, data loss or corruption.
 
Jeff Kilgroe said:
The Apple TB3 to TB2 adapter is bi-directional and at $49 (USA) is the cheapest of any such adapter on the market. It's also the most compact one out there and will allow connecting TB3 devices to older systems with TB2 ports. So confusing that Apple can hit a home run with an adapter like this one and then still charge $30 for a standard USB-C cable that Monoprice or Anker charge $8 for...
Click to expand...

So....in theory to save myself buying two different enclosures. I can get a TB3 Bizon and just use a that Apple adaptor for machines that don't have TB3. I use machines with both TB2 and Tb3 so this would be the best option for me if possible. I will be pulling the trigger on an external GPU as soon as NVIDIA releases OSX drivers for Pascal cards. Do I loose any functionality, performance? Apart from the obvious TB2 v TB3 speed etc.
 
Some points to add:

TB3 only increased pcie bandwidth by 4Gbps or 25%, but offers two of them, so in theory you may be able to daisychain two eGPUs off a single port.
eGPU benchmarks show a 3-5% improvement for TB3 over TB2 - and YES, this is with a 0.5m cable (all non-active full "40Gbps" speed cables must be 1.5 feet or less)

Bizon recommends: do not use TB3 to TB2 adapters

Bizon has a new enclosure, that fully encloses the card, offers better cooling, and is quieter:
https://bizon-tech.com/us/bizonbox2s-egpu.html

The best GPU offered for the new 2016 MBP 15" is less powerful then an nVidia 960 card.


Jonathan:
I don't recommend laptops in general; however,
If you plan to add an ext RRX and/or an eGPU titan X (maxwell for mac, pascal for windows), then you can get any laptop you want - even an old MBAir!
 
Last edited:
Jeff Kilgroe said:
The Apple TB3 to TB2 adapter is bi-directional and at $49 (USA) is the cheapest of any such adapter on the market. It's also the most compact one out there and will allow connecting TB3 devices to older systems with TB2 ports. So confusing that Apple can hit a home run with an adapter like this one and then still charge $30 for a standard USB-C cable that Monoprice or Anker charge $8 for...
Click to expand...

Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
$29.00
http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMEL2AM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt-2-adapter

**Special pricing on this item for a limited time. Discount reflected in price. Subject to availability and quantity limits apply. Pricing effective October 27 - December 31, 2016.**
 
I tested a Maxwell Titan X w/ the new bizonbox 2s over thunderbolt ONE via a 2011 iMac and got 12-17fps in resolve w/ FF 6K Dragon full debayer.

See: http://www.reduser.net/forum/showth...cbook-Pro-Thunderbolt-3&p=1689470#post1689470



Also, Bizon specifically does not recommend TB3 to TB2 adapters of any kind at this point in time for eGPU.
They are testing and may change their recommendations in the future.

Bizon will soon sell a user serviceable kit to switch/change their new enclosure back and forth between TB2 and TB3.
 
12-17 FPS playback or render? Also what was the Clips compression and FPS? I may have missed those details in original post.
 
I'm still looking into this.

Any advice with the new TB3 enclosures?

And, would one of the new RX480's be a good choice for a card? Considering it looks unlikely we'll get OSX drivers for the 10xx series.
 
Daniel Reed said:
Some points to add:

TB3 only increased pcie bandwidth by 4Gbps or 25%, but offers two of them, so in theory you may be able to daisychain two eGPUs off a single port.
eGPU benchmarks show a 3-5% improvement for TB3 over TB2 - and YES, this is with a 0.5m cable (all non-active full "40Gbps" speed cables must be 1.5 feet or less)

Bizon recommends: do not use TB3 to TB2 adapters

Bizon has a new enclosure, that fully encloses the card, offers better cooling, and is quieter:
https://bizon-tech.com/us/bizonbox2s-egpu.html

The best GPU offered for the new 2016 MBP 15" is less powerful then an nVidia 960 card.


Jonathan:
I don't recommend laptops in general; however,
If you plan to add an ext RRX and/or an eGPU titan X (maxwell for mac, pascal for windows), then you can get any laptop you want - even an old MBAir!
Click to expand...

Hey Daniel,


Do you know if the Titan X Maxwell can fit/work inside a Sonnet Echo Express III-D along side the Red Rocket-X ? Or would I have to get a Bison Box 3 as well?


My Best,

Danny Finneran
 
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