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

Firearm2112
By Firearm2112
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@Firearm2112 I have the new 2015 Dell XPS 13 (3K version) Core i5-5200u, 8gb Ram,128gb SSD and wanted to know if I could do this setup except use the new GTX 960? -Chris

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@Firearm2112 I have the new 2015 Dell XPS 13 (3K version) Core i5-5200u, 8gb Ram,128gb SSD and wanted to know if I could do this setup except use the new GTX 960? -Chris

It doesn't have thunderbolt, so... not without opening it up every time you want to set it up

Specs: 4790k | Asus Z-97 Pro Wifi | MX100 512GB SSD | NZXT H440 Plastidipped Black | Dark Rock 3 CPU Cooler | MSI 290x Lightning | EVGA 850 G2 | 3x Noctua Industrial NF-F12's

Bought a powermac G5, expect a mod log sometime in 2015

Corsair is overrated, and Anime is ruined by the people who watch it

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@Firearm2112 I have the new 2015 Dell XPS 13 (3K version) Core i5-5200u, 8gb Ram,128gb SSD and wanted to know if I could do this setup except use the new GTX 960? -Chris

You could not do my exact setup, since mine is specifically for Macs, but you could do a similar setup with another adapter if the laptop has a mini PCI slot

 eGPU Setup: Macbook Pro 13" 16GB DDR3 RAM, 512GB SSD, i5 3210M, GTX 980 eGPU

New PC: i7-4790k, Corsair H100iGTX, ASrock Fatal1ty Z97 Killer, 24GB Ram, 850 EVO 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD, GTX 1080 Fractal Design R4, EVGA Supernova G2 650W

 

 

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It doesn't have thunderbolt, so... not without opening it up every time you want to set it up

 

it does have a newer display port tho? what adapter could i use @Firearm2112

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it does have a newer display port tho? what adapter could i use @Firearm2112

Display port cannot carry PCIe signal. Does the laptop have a mini pci slot? 

 eGPU Setup: Macbook Pro 13" 16GB DDR3 RAM, 512GB SSD, i5 3210M, GTX 980 eGPU

New PC: i7-4790k, Corsair H100iGTX, ASrock Fatal1ty Z97 Killer, 24GB Ram, 850 EVO 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD, GTX 1080 Fractal Design R4, EVGA Supernova G2 650W

 

 

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Display port cannot carry PCIe signal. Does the laptop have a mini pci slot? 

 

No. I don't know any other way on how to do a eGPU.

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@Firearm2112  OH WAIT. I found this. http://www.hwtools.net/ExtenderBoard/P34SF-USB.htmlCould it work through usb 3.0?

no, that dosent have a PCIe x16 slot

 eGPU Setup: Macbook Pro 13" 16GB DDR3 RAM, 512GB SSD, i5 3210M, GTX 980 eGPU

New PC: i7-4790k, Corsair H100iGTX, ASrock Fatal1ty Z97 Killer, 24GB Ram, 850 EVO 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD, GTX 1080 Fractal Design R4, EVGA Supernova G2 650W

 

 

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I'm thinking about going for an eGPU GTX 960 on my 2014  model 13" retina MacBook Pro, but I don't want to spend the ridiculous amounts of extra money on a ViDock, or Sonnet, or AkiTio, etc....

 

Any suggestions?

| 2014 Retina MacBook Pro 13" |

My gaming desktop -- |Intel Core i7-3820 | ASUS P9X79 Deluxe | 16gb 2133mhz G.Skill Ripjawz X | ASUS DUAL GeForce GTX 1060 6GB | Fractal Design Define R5 | Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200rpm HDD | SeaSonic 760XP2 | Xigmatek Gaia CPU Cooler | LG22MC57HQ 1080p Monitor | Azio MGK1 Keyboard | Logitech G300s Mouse | HyperX Cloud Headset | Windows 10 Pro Insider |

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I'm thinking about going for an eGPU GTX 960 on my 2014  model 13" retina MacBook Pro, but I don't want to spend the ridiculous amounts of extra money on a ViDock, or Sonnet, or AkiTio, etc....

 

Any suggestions?

The Akitio is the cheapest, best way to go eGPU on the Macbook.

 eGPU Setup: Macbook Pro 13" 16GB DDR3 RAM, 512GB SSD, i5 3210M, GTX 980 eGPU

New PC: i7-4790k, Corsair H100iGTX, ASrock Fatal1ty Z97 Killer, 24GB Ram, 850 EVO 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD, GTX 1080 Fractal Design R4, EVGA Supernova G2 650W

 

 

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I'm confused. I thought eGPUs were severely bottlenecked by the Thunderbolt speed cap? This seems to get pretty comparable framerates to a normal desktop rig.

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I'm confused. I thought eGPUs were severely bottlenecked by the Thunderbolt speed cap? This seems to get pretty comparable framerates to a normal desktop rig.

Thunderbolt speeds are actually very good. 

 eGPU Setup: Macbook Pro 13" 16GB DDR3 RAM, 512GB SSD, i5 3210M, GTX 980 eGPU

New PC: i7-4790k, Corsair H100iGTX, ASrock Fatal1ty Z97 Killer, 24GB Ram, 850 EVO 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD, GTX 1080 Fractal Design R4, EVGA Supernova G2 650W

 

 

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I'm confused. I thought eGPUs were severely bottlenecked by the Thunderbolt speed cap? This seems to get pretty comparable framerates to a normal desktop rig.

It's 4x PCIE 3.0

Specs: 4790k | Asus Z-97 Pro Wifi | MX100 512GB SSD | NZXT H440 Plastidipped Black | Dark Rock 3 CPU Cooler | MSI 290x Lightning | EVGA 850 G2 | 3x Noctua Industrial NF-F12's

Bought a powermac G5, expect a mod log sometime in 2015

Corsair is overrated, and Anime is ruined by the people who watch it

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It's 4x PCIE 3.0

Don't forget about 16gb/s speeds

 eGPU Setup: Macbook Pro 13" 16GB DDR3 RAM, 512GB SSD, i5 3210M, GTX 980 eGPU

New PC: i7-4790k, Corsair H100iGTX, ASrock Fatal1ty Z97 Killer, 24GB Ram, 850 EVO 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD, GTX 1080 Fractal Design R4, EVGA Supernova G2 650W

 

 

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The Akitio is the cheapest, best way to go eGPU on the Macbook.

OMG Firearm2112 actually responded. Eeekk!!

 

Anywho.  

 

I was thinking pe4l v2.1 with a Sonnet Echo Expresscard Pro (I think thats what it's called....it converts  EC to TB) but I'll look into the Akitio.  Which AkiTio specifically do you recommend?

 

Also, would the GTX 960 be overkill/highly bottlenecked on my system, cuz I'm on an extremely strict budget (as low as possible, but I do want Maxwell and decent graphics)

 

Yet another question,  are there any Half Length 960 cards available, cuz that's what I see the AKT Thunder2 supporting....

 

Thanks for your help!

| 2014 Retina MacBook Pro 13" |

My gaming desktop -- |Intel Core i7-3820 | ASUS P9X79 Deluxe | 16gb 2133mhz G.Skill Ripjawz X | ASUS DUAL GeForce GTX 1060 6GB | Fractal Design Define R5 | Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200rpm HDD | SeaSonic 760XP2 | Xigmatek Gaia CPU Cooler | LG22MC57HQ 1080p Monitor | Azio MGK1 Keyboard | Logitech G300s Mouse | HyperX Cloud Headset | Windows 10 Pro Insider |

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B>) Bet you're the cool kid on the block with that setup

Main PC |CPU - i7-6700k|GPU - R9 290x tri-x 4gb|RAM - 16gb ddr4|MOBO - MSI z170 - A PRO|HDD - WD 1TB/240gb Sandisk |PSU - 700w Raidmax

Laptop |CPU - i7 4720hq|GPU - 960m 2gb|Ram - 8gb 2x4|Model - y50-70 Touch|SSD - 240gb Patriot drive|Display - 1920x1080 IPS touch

 

 

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OMG Firearm2112 actually responded. Eeekk!!

 

Anywho.  

 

I was thinking pe4l v2.1 with a Sonnet Echo Expresscard Pro (I think thats what it's called....it converts  EC to TB) but I'll look into the Akitio.  Which AkiTio specifically do you recommend?

 

Also, would the GTX 960 be overkill/highly bottlenecked on my system, cuz I'm on an extremely strict budget (as low as possible, but I do want Maxwell and decent graphics)

 

Yet another question,  are there any Half Length 960 cards available, cuz that's what I see the AKT Thunder2 supporting....

 

Thanks for your help!

 

The Sonnnet Express Card cuts speeds in half, the Akitio gives you the full performance.

 

I recommend the Akitio. This one: http://www.amazon.com/Akitio-AK-T2PC-TIA-AKTU-Thunder2-PCIe-Box/dp/B00LTAUTHE

 

As you noticed with my setup, I do not use the Akitio's metal shroud. 

 eGPU Setup: Macbook Pro 13" 16GB DDR3 RAM, 512GB SSD, i5 3210M, GTX 980 eGPU

New PC: i7-4790k, Corsair H100iGTX, ASrock Fatal1ty Z97 Killer, 24GB Ram, 850 EVO 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD, GTX 1080 Fractal Design R4, EVGA Supernova G2 650W

 

 

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The Sonnnet Express Card cuts speeds in half, the Akitio gives you the full performance.

 

I recommend the Akitio. This one: http://www.amazon.com/Akitio-AK-T2PC-TIA-AKTU-Thunder2-PCIe-Box/dp/B00LTAUTHE

 

As you noticed with my setup, I do not use the Akitio's metal shroud. 

Ok thanks.  Is there any software/other things I will need beside the AKT and the GPU (Setup 1.x, right?)

| 2014 Retina MacBook Pro 13" |

My gaming desktop -- |Intel Core i7-3820 | ASUS P9X79 Deluxe | 16gb 2133mhz G.Skill Ripjawz X | ASUS DUAL GeForce GTX 1060 6GB | Fractal Design Define R5 | Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200rpm HDD | SeaSonic 760XP2 | Xigmatek Gaia CPU Cooler | LG22MC57HQ 1080p Monitor | Azio MGK1 Keyboard | Logitech G300s Mouse | HyperX Cloud Headset | Windows 10 Pro Insider |

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Ok thanks.  Is there any software/other things I will need beside the AKT and the GPU (Setup 1.x, right?)

Akitio, GPU, Power supply for the GPU, and a jumper. You will also need a Macbook with a thunderbolt port running Windows 8.1

 

Windows 7 has compatibility issues.

 eGPU Setup: Macbook Pro 13" 16GB DDR3 RAM, 512GB SSD, i5 3210M, GTX 980 eGPU

New PC: i7-4790k, Corsair H100iGTX, ASrock Fatal1ty Z97 Killer, 24GB Ram, 850 EVO 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD, GTX 1080 Fractal Design R4, EVGA Supernova G2 650W

 

 

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Akitio, GPU, Power supply for the GPU, and a jumper. You will also need a Macbook with a thunderbolt port running Windows 8.1

 

Windows 7 has compatibility issues.

Suggestions on the Power Supply and jumper?

And I have the Macbook.

Does BootCamp work fine?

| 2014 Retina MacBook Pro 13" |

My gaming desktop -- |Intel Core i7-3820 | ASUS P9X79 Deluxe | 16gb 2133mhz G.Skill Ripjawz X | ASUS DUAL GeForce GTX 1060 6GB | Fractal Design Define R5 | Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200rpm HDD | SeaSonic 760XP2 | Xigmatek Gaia CPU Cooler | LG22MC57HQ 1080p Monitor | Azio MGK1 Keyboard | Logitech G300s Mouse | HyperX Cloud Headset | Windows 10 Pro Insider |

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Akitio, GPU, Power supply for the GPU, and a jumper. You will also need a Macbook with a thunderbolt port running Windows 8.1

 

Windows 7 has compatibility issues.

Not nescessarily a macbook, any lightning enabled device...right?

Specs: 4790k | Asus Z-97 Pro Wifi | MX100 512GB SSD | NZXT H440 Plastidipped Black | Dark Rock 3 CPU Cooler | MSI 290x Lightning | EVGA 850 G2 | 3x Noctua Industrial NF-F12's

Bought a powermac G5, expect a mod log sometime in 2015

Corsair is overrated, and Anime is ruined by the people who watch it

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Not nescessarily a macbook, any lightning enabled device...right?

I can't speak for other lightning devices, as I can only speak for Macs. I don't want to give false info, but can do some research.

 eGPU Setup: Macbook Pro 13" 16GB DDR3 RAM, 512GB SSD, i5 3210M, GTX 980 eGPU

New PC: i7-4790k, Corsair H100iGTX, ASrock Fatal1ty Z97 Killer, 24GB Ram, 850 EVO 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD, GTX 1080 Fractal Design R4, EVGA Supernova G2 650W

 

 

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Not nescessarily a macbook, any lightning enabled device...right?

I've heard of people doing it on Windows based TB devices

| 2014 Retina MacBook Pro 13" |

My gaming desktop -- |Intel Core i7-3820 | ASUS P9X79 Deluxe | 16gb 2133mhz G.Skill Ripjawz X | ASUS DUAL GeForce GTX 1060 6GB | Fractal Design Define R5 | Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200rpm HDD | SeaSonic 760XP2 | Xigmatek Gaia CPU Cooler | LG22MC57HQ 1080p Monitor | Azio MGK1 Keyboard | Logitech G300s Mouse | HyperX Cloud Headset | Windows 10 Pro Insider |

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  • 1 month later...
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So why didn't you put the gpu in the atiko housing it comes with?

Too big

Specs: 4790k | Asus Z-97 Pro Wifi | MX100 512GB SSD | NZXT H440 Plastidipped Black | Dark Rock 3 CPU Cooler | MSI 290x Lightning | EVGA 850 G2 | 3x Noctua Industrial NF-F12's

Bought a powermac G5, expect a mod log sometime in 2015

Corsair is overrated, and Anime is ruined by the people who watch it

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