Thanks to Thunderbolt 3 and its high-bandwidth 40Gbps transfer rate, external enclosures can now accommodate high-end graphics cards.
There are some caveats to doing this.
You’ll need a Mac with an Intel processor and an AMD graphics card.
That said, here are the best external GPUs for a MacBook Pro.
Sonnet eGPU Breakaway Puck RX 5500 XT
Sonnet is no stranger to offering the best external GPUs for Mac.
There are additional ports for you to connect USB accessories and expand the functionality of your Mac.
You also get 60W of power to charge your MacBook Pro.
It’s easy to see why.
It’s optimized for cooling, thanks to the open vents and aluminum body for increased heat dissipation.
The Core X also runs pretty quietly, even when pushed to the max.
It can also get noisy when running graphics-intensive operations.
You’ll find four USB 3.1 ports and a Gigabit Ethernet plug on the rear of the enclosure.
The enclosure only uses the Thunderbolt 3 pipeline for graphics to ensure maximum performance.
This eGPU enclosure is AMD-approved for most of the air-cooled Radeon Pro and RX GPU versions.
It also comes with free lifetime tech support for added peace of mind.
The Thunderbolt 3 port provides 85W to your MacBook Pro for charging.There are some downsides to this eGPU enclosure.
FAQ
Q: Can You Use an External GPU With a MacBook Pro?
Any MacBook Pro with an Intel processor and Thunderbolt 3 ports can use an external GPU.
However, the latest Macs with an Apple M1 chip do not yet support external GPUs.
Q: Is an External GPU Worth It?
Q: Which Graphics Card Is My MacBook Pro Using?
The active GPU will appear next to the Graphics.
