Macbook Pro with a GTX 980 Setup Guide & Benchmarks [eGPU setup, Windows 10]

[nando4]

@Firearm2112, would you mind adding a reference back to Tech|Inferno DIY eGPU area, that has helped you create your eGPU implementation ? Users requiring speciailst assistance will find a huge knowledgebase there to help them along.

 

Eg: there is linked summary of user submitted 2011-2014 Macbook-based DIY eGPU implementations at at:

 

>> DIY eGPU Implementations Hub: Thunderbolt (Tech|Inferno) <<

[Dschijn]

Hi,

 

hope I can hijack your thread a bit. I managed to put all my eGPU setup into a Silverstone RVZ01 Raven:

 

[mikeeginger]

Ummm really  cool 

Kinda surprised that no one has had this into a mass product yet  

[nando4]

Ummm really  cool 

Kinda surprised that no one has had this into a mass product yet  

 

A DIY approach is is necessary since Intel are roadblocking out-of-the-box eGPU enclosures, suspected because pluggable GPU acceleration would cannibalize their CPU processing market.

[Ceatra]

Thats awesome. Do you think a GTX 760 Will bottleneck with a Intel Pentium B980? (Asus X55A)

[Firearm2112]

@Firearm2112, would you mind adding a reference back to Tech|Inferno DIY eGPU area, that has helped you create your eGPU implementation ? Users requiring speciailst assistance will find a huge knowledgebase there to help them along.

 

Eg: there is linked summary of user submitted 2011-2014 Macbook-based DIY eGPU implementations at at:

 

>> DIY eGPU Implementations Hub: Thunderbolt (Tech|Inferno) <<

Sure. I have actually refered several users to you requiring information about non thunderbolt egpus. Will add the tech inferno link in the original post.

[Firearm2112]

Hi,

 

hope I can hijack your thread a bit. I managed to put all my eGPU setup into a Silverstone RVZ01 Raven:

 

-snip-

Nice! I've been looking for a case to put my setup in myself. Will keep this in mind

[suicidalfranco]

Would've been much easier and cheaper to just build a computer or buy a gaming laptop but if there wasn't people like you, we wouldn't know this could be possible!

There is this cheaper alternative though...

Now would this work with an hdmi to thunderbolt cable?

[Firearm2112]

Now would this work with an hdmi to thunderbolt cable?

Nope. Thats not an HDMI cable, thats the thing. 

[docterkiwi]

That is sooooo sick

[Firearm2112]

this would be very useful for me, but first i am going to put a ssd and a 1TB HDD in my macbook pro

Best of luck to you with that! I have also been thinking of ditching my CD drive in my mac and replacing it with a 1TB

[ctsvnino]

i have a mac mini i7 with 16gb ram ssd and hdd now im going to that egpu. plus i have my pc i just built too 

[Nickolas47]

SIMPLY AMAZING

[Gaddafi]

This is such a cool idea! Nice work man First time I've seen something like this. Hopefully you can make the housing a little nicer though

[Firearm2112]

This is such a cool idea! Nice work man First time I've seen something like this. Hopefully you can make the housing a little nicer though

I'm thinking about picking up a mini ITX case to house this.

[Dschijn]

Yeah, go ITX!

Silverstone has some nice cases:

- RVZ01

- ML07

- FT03

- FT03 Mini

 

Additionally take one of the new L-SFX PSUs. I am using the new Chieftec SFX-500GD-C.

[Firearm2112]

Yeah, go ITX!

Silverstone has some nice cases:

- RVZ01

- ML07

- FT03

- FT03 Mini

 

Additionally take one of the new L-SFX PSUs. I am using the new Chieftec SFX-500GD-C.

Will diffidently take a look at thoes.

[Decon]

 

Intro Pic.png

 

Introduction:

When I first got my Macbook Pro two years ago, I was amazed by its beautiful build quality and innovative design, but was quickly saddened by its lack to run the most basic games. I tried what I could, upgrading the RAM and what not, but it didnt get me anywhere. I installed Windows through bootcamp onto my MacBook, and it quickly became my daily driver. I tried to play games I truly loved such as battlefield 4, and modded skyrim, but could barely get 20 FPS on low, @720p. I did some research, thinking to myself, there must be something I can do to my Macbook to make it game ready, but also portable! I discovered the world of the eGPU (External Graphics Card). The guys over at the Tech Inferno Forum helped me alot, with their massive eGPU knowledge and great members like Nando4. Huge creds to them for helping me assemble my part list, and answer my questions. I was fascinated by everything I learned, how one could run a desktop GPU with a laptop! At first I was sad, since most standard plug and play eGPU setups were made for Windows machines with express card slots. This did not stop me from looking for a solution. I came across an item known as the Akitio Thunder2, which had a full length x16 slot (PCI 2.0). This adapter would allow me to plug a x16 PCIe device, into my Mac, with the power of thunderbolt! Thunderbolt is a revolutionary I/O technology that supports high-resolution displays and high-performance data devices through a single, compact port. It dramatically redefines the idea of expansion. And it’s standard on every Mac. In addition to carrying data, Thunderbolt is also capable of carrying a PCIe signal. (yea i stole it from the apple website, shhhh) I have a 2012 Macbook Pro, which meant I had Thunderbolt Gen1. Thunderbolt Gen 1 has a max speed of 10gbps. Apple and Intel later introduced Thunderbolt Gen2 which has a max speed of 16gbps. So my limitations were PCIE 2.0, and 10gbps. I didn't care. I needed to do this.

 

The Setup Process & Early Problems:

(All the parts I used in my setup will be linked at the end of this post. Remember to do research, as your millage WILL vary depending on your hardware) To be honest, I was very nervous at first. I dropped almost 500 bucks on parts I had no idea what to do with. I did buy everything on eBay, to save some money. I went with the Akitio Thunder 2, a GTX 760 for testing purposes. I now own a 980. A Corsair CX430 PSU to power just the GPU, and a little PSU jumper. Everything arrived and I was quite happy. I made myself a little test bench on my night stand, so I could easily connect everything to my computer.

 

IMG_2339.JPG

Sorry for the potato pics. Its from my phone. I will try to explain everything. You put the GPU into the Akitio PCIE slot, then the PSU cables into the PSU, the Akitio power adapter into the wall, Thunderbolt cable from computer to adapter and a connection to an external display, which is optional. From what I read prior to setting up, the boot order varies from system to system, card to card. At first I tried turning on the eGPU, then my Macbook. That failed. After numerous attempts I reached out to the forum to see if anyone knew anything about eGPUs and this issue. User @steffen_anywhere knew quite abit about them, and explained to me the mac simulates a BIOS upon boot, which could mess with the boot. He told me a quick fix was to turn on the eGPU PSU as soon as the Windows logo popped up. I tried that and it worked! I installed the Nvidia drivers and was on my way. Things were great, I was quite happy, until more problems arose. I was getting multiple "Display driver has crashed" errors a day, some leading to a complete hard reset. I was very annoyed. I couldn't think of the issue. I did a fresh install of Windows and everything, nothing worked. Since installing my 980, all those problems are gone. Defective card maybe? I couldn't bare leaving my setup out on my night stand, so I garbed an old plastic box I found, and started dremeling away, making cut outs for the PSU, GPU, and a little intake fan I added to keep the Akitio board cool. Keep in mind the stock Akitio box is not large enough to fit a GPU, so I took it out of the metal box, and... Well you'll see. 

 

The Box:

After a day of cutting with my dremel I put everything in the box I made. Its under my night stand next to my desk, so I dont see it at all. Its also far enough away from me I can't really hear the fans. First, the verbal explanation. The GTX 980 sits in the Akitio Thunder 2 x16 slot, which is attached to a Thunderbolt controller. I then use a thunderbolt cable, to connect the board with my Macbook. The PSU is also supplying power to the GPU. But what about that 75W that the PCIe slot is supposed to provide? The Akitio's included power adapter has you covered. You can use this setup, just as I described with something called Nvidia Optimus. But you see, gaming on a 13" screen really isnt my thing. I attached an HDMI cable from the GPU to my monitor, and configured it in windows to display on my montior. It works flawlessly. Quick recommendation, there is a cable that lays flush against the back of the GPU. It is recommended you buy a GPU with a backplate to prevent this cable from melting. Now for the pictures! If you have any questions, please do ask.

 

That sexy GTX 980. Its the reference, so it has a backplate.

IMG_2400.JPG

 

A top view. Here you can see the GPU power connections

IMG_2401.JPG

 

The Akitio board attached to the Thunderbolt controller. The x16 slot is below that, but currently its being used by the GTX 980

IMG_2404.JPG

 

A top view. Here you can see everything

IMG_2405.JPG

 

The GPU outputting to my external display, and me writing this post!

IMG_2418.JPG

 

At the end of the day, this box is ment to hold everything, not to make it look pretty. Options are avalible such as using a PCI riser, and putting this say in a mini ITX case.

 

Benchmarks & What to Consider:

Before I show you the benchmarks, there are a few things you must take into account. The card is running at PCI 2.0 speeds, and is limited by my processor, the i5 3210M, which maxes on the turbo at 2.85GHZ. I am running 16GB of ram, if you wanted to know that. All "game" benchmarks, not synthetic, were obtained by just playing the game for 30 minutes, and reporting the average framerate observed. All games were played at 1080p on max settings. Here is a HWMonitor screenshot of everything

Setup.PNG

 

 

Modded Skryim. This is the only game benchmark I will discuss a bit. I am running on max settings with the Seasons of Skyrim ENB, max preset with DOF. I also have the Skyrim 2K textures, and SMIM, as well as climates of tamriel and realistic lighting overhaul, as well as grass mods and town/city overhauls. I get 35-40 FPS in say, whiterun, which is the most demanding part of my game. Outside in an open field, frame rates are anywhere from 45-50. These numbers were obtained by playing for around 30 minutes and recording my numbers in thoes areas. 

 

Battlefield 4:

 

Ultra Preset @ 1080p multiplayer server: 65 FPS

 

Ultra Preset @ 1080p test range: 79 FPS

 

 

Metro Last Light Redux:

 

Very High+4x SSAO+16x AA+Tessellation Normal+PhysX: 40FPS avg

 

The benchmark didn't work for me, so we will skip it for now.

 

 

Just Cause 2 Multiplayer

 

Max Settings+PhysX: 54FPS avg

 

 

Bioshock Infinite

 

Max settings+PhysX @ 1080p: 113FPS avg

 

 

Borderlands 2

 

Max settings+PhysX @ 1080p: 124FPS avg

 

 

The synthetic benchmarks:

 

Unigine Valley: Not done yet, check back later

 

Unigine Heaven: Custom max settings @ 1080p:

unigine.PNG

 

 

 

Conclusion:

Some people might think this is a huge waste of money, while others may think its pure genius. To me, I really love having the portability of a laptop with a high end gaming setup waiting for me at home. Sure, the boot process is a bit strange. The GTX 980 eGPU boot process is different from the 760s. I have to turn on my mac then quickly turn on the power strip powering my eGPU and the Akitio PCIE slot. If you plan to do this, i strongly recommend getting a Mac Mini with an i7. an i7 will give you the best scores, and get frame rates closer to desktop performance. Is this for everyone? No. Some may argue there are cheaper options, but I disagree. Your paying for quality. A setup that you know isn't going to fry your GPU, or your Mac. As I mentioned before, parts and availability will be listed below this. In total, not including the Mac, or peripherals, the "eGPU" setup alone costed close to 800 dollars. An eGPU setup not including a 980, would run you about 250 bucks. I have no idea if AMD cards will work with something like this. It is recommended you go Nvidia, reference or EVGA, due to power distribution, or something like that. I am using Windows 8.1 right now. Others and I have had alot of problems getting eGPUs to work under Windows 7. Some people have gotten their eGPUs to work on OSX, but that is a story for another day. I am not an expert, but will certainly try my best to answer any questions you may have. I will also try to post more benchmarks when I can. Thank you so much for reading.

 

Parts and Availability:

 

Akitio Thunder2: http://www.amazon.com/Akitio-Thunder2-PCIe-Box/dp/B00LTAUTHE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1419567963&sr=8-2&keywords=Akitio+thunder+2

 

Corsair CX 430WM PSU: http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Series-Modular-Bronze-ATX12V/dp/B00ALYORA4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1419567991&sr=8-2&keywords=corsair+cx430

 

PSU jumper (I recommend investing in one of these over the "paper clip" method): http://www.amazon.com/AntMiner-Supply-Jumper-Switch-Bitcoin/dp/B00OJNBWKG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1419568040&sr=8-4&keywords=psu+jumper

 

And your choice of a GPU. 

 

Thanks again for reading. Please do post you thoughts, ideas and questions. Happy holidays!

can i get a feature on the WAN show. please. pretty please.  @LinusTech @Slick

 

I though thunderbolt 2 was 20gbs... Apple online store says so at least...

[Firearm2112]

I though thunderbolt 2 was 20gbs... Apple online store says so at least...

I have thunderbolt 1 which is 10 gb

[Decon]

I have thunderbolt 1 which is 10 gb

of you really think it affects performance?

[Firearm2112]

of you really think it affects performance?

its not noticable, probably 5%

[Gilbert]

I uh, Don't know what to think of this, is it unique? Yes. Is it what you should really do? Not really, but breaking the mold is always nice. Did you say you installed Windows 8.1 onto a Macbook Pro? 

[-ism]

I think this is pretty cool. Do I think it's a necessarily smart idea? No, not particularly. Do I think it's worth the price? No, not really. But hey, if you build a desktop down the line you have a 980 sitting around and for now you have a damn good gaming experience. Glad it turned out alright! 

[Firearm2112]

I uh, Don't know what to think of this, is it unique? Yes. Is it what you should really do? Not really, but breaking the mold is always nice. Did you say you installed Windows 8.1 onto a Macbook Pro?

thanks for your feedback. I do have windows 8.1 installed on my MacBook.

[Firearm2112]

I think this is pretty cool. Do I think it's a necessarily smart idea? No, not particularly. Do I think it's worth the price? No, not really. But hey, if you build a desktop down the line you have a 980 sitting around and for now you have a damn good gaming experience. Glad it turned out alright!

thanks!