The idea of an external graphics card has long been a dream for those who have used any sort of mobile editing machine or gaming rig. Due to their nature laptop parts, especially graphics cards, are usually non-upgradable. With the introduction of the Thunderbolt 3, it almost seemed like a godsend for those waiting for such a solution.
External GPUs are nothing new with Razer, Alienware, and Sonnet already bringing their own models to the market, but recently Blackmagic Design has decided to throw their proverbial hat in the ring with their Apple Store exclusive Blackmagic eGPU.
Announced alongside the new MacBook Pros, Blackmagic’s eGPU offers users desktop-class graphics performance on your MacBook Pro with a built-in, non-upgradable Radeon Pro 580 graphics processor with 8GB of video memory.
[REWIND: Apple MacBook Pro Refresh | True Tone Display, Intel Core i9, & Finally 32 GB RAM]
The Blackmagic eGPU features an HDMI 2.0 port, four USB 3 ports, and two Thunderbolt 3 ports, capable of running Thunderbolt 3 displays like the 5K LG monitor, which is embossed all over the marketing material.
Blackmagic eGPU Features
- All-in-one design
- Ultra-quiet
- Built-in Radeon Pro 580 with 8GB of GDDR5 memory
- Two Thunderbolt 3 ports
- Four USB 3 ports
- One HDMI 2.0 port
- 85W of Power Delivery for full speed MacBook Pro charging
- Built-in PSU
- Official support for LG UltraFine 5K Display
Unlike other eGPU chassis, Blackmagic’s offering doesn’t require you to bring your own card and unlike others still, it is meant to be displayed like some sort of editing monolith on your desk. The all-in-one, uni-body-like design of the Blackmagic eGPU grants the user quieter and cooler hardware at the tradeoff of a higher cost of $699.
While mostly geared for video editing, Mac-wielding photographers will see a benefit in applications like Photoshop, Lightroom, Capture One and Affinity. The overall increase of system performance depends on the model of MacBook – the 13-inch MacBook Pro 8x boost and 15-inch model a 2.8x increase.
The Blackmagic eGPU leads with a controversial design and an even more controversial price. It is not meant for everyone, only those creatives who demand form and function in their products. The Blackmagic eGPU can be ordered directly from Apple here.
