topic Re: Suggestions for Thunderbold external GPU in ArcGIS CityEngine Questions

Suggestions for Thunderbold external GPU

ErwinVervacke — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 08:57:55 GMT

Working on a Macbook Pro (2014), my graphics capability is not what I'm looking for when working on large scenes.

Does anyone have any experience with external GPUs on OS X and running CE (or other 3D programs)?

[I know I could buy a larger laptop/desktop but prefer not to]

thx, Erwin

Re: Suggestions for Thunderbold external GPU

MatthiasBuehler — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 09:05:35 GMT

Hey,

I don't have experience with this, but I'm also interested in that topic.

Do you have a specific model in mind?

Cheers!

Matthias Buehler

Head of 3D Technologies

twitter: @MattB3D

-------------------------------------

Garsdale Design Limited

matthias.buehler@garsdaledesign.co.uk

www.garsdaledesign.co.uk

Re: Suggestions for Thunderbold external GPU

ErwinVervacke — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 10:57:12 GMT

I've been searching online and some models work although not with their official drivers ...

Too bad that OS X currently doesn't send the image to the internal screen of the MBP ... external screens are required.

I'm considering ViDock (as I currently don't know of any other brands) http://www.villageinstruments.com/tiki-index.php?page=Products but have no clue as to which GF card to select - any suggestions to what benchmarks to look for?

A Thunderbolt GPU on a Mac : How-to | Le journal du lapin

Erwn

Re: Suggestions for Thunderbold external GPU

MatthiasBuehler — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 15:53:08 GMT

Hmm.

Honestly, I don't believe (gut feeling) you will ever find a solution with a MBP that will fully satisfy you since Apple products are black box systems (e.g. graphics drivers). Trying to plug new hardware somewhere in between, I don't think it's in Apple's interest, therefore it may be tricky... But let me know if you find a solution.

Switching to a PC laptop: No option? 😉

Matthias Buehler

Head of 3D Technologies

twitter: @MattB3D

------------------------------------

Garsdale Design Limited

matthias.buehler@garsdaledesign.co.uk

www.garsdaledesign.co.uk

Re: Suggestions for Thunderbold external GPU

ErwinVervacke — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 18:33:34 GMT

The MacPro alternative is very expensive as well. I would need to keep a laptop unless I mount a handle on the Mac display for easy carrying 🙂

Benefit of the MacPro: more cores, more memory,...

Windows PC laptop with external GPU seems like a double compromise ... I don't mind working on a Win machine but hate to have to 'fix/tweak/clean' it regularly and I would still have the burden of an external device.

Not sure at this point but I share your concern. If something pops up, I'll let you know.

Re: Suggestions for Thunderbold external GPU

ErwinVervacke — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 06:29:55 GMT

CreatePro [CreatePro Page] in UK specialises in expanding MacPro's - especially the former model which holds more space.

And they resell the Cubix PCI-e Xpander [Cubix Home Page ]

I'll check with them.

Re: Suggestions for Thunderbold external GPU

MatthiasBuehler — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 08:49:45 GMT

Ok .. let me know what comes out ..

Note:

I find it really sad that macs don't offer the newest generation PC CPUs and GPUs. This is a killer, at least for me. Nice design and a 'painless' OS (except all the damn updates all the time) is cool, but I need more power for 3D and rendering, leaving Apple products sadly as no option.

Matthias Buehler

Head of 3D Technologies

twitter: @MattB3D

-----------------------------------

Garsdale Design Limited

matthias.buehler@garsdaledesign.co.uk

www.garsdaledesign.co.uk

Re: Suggestions for Thunderbold external GPU

ErwinVervacke — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 22:28:46 GMT

"We can certainly build a custom Mac Pro for you, however we do not currently offer an external GPU solution for MacBook systems"

So their MacPro offerings (old chassis plenty of goodies) look nice but I have never before delved into Mac desktop comparisons so I might be way off here ...

If I would only run CE and Max/Modo on the system, I might as well turn to Windows. That has been about 8 yrs since I last updated myself on hardware ... still a lot of research to do. Guess I'll just call Pascal 🙂