![sonnet external gpu enclosure sonnet external gpu enclosure](https://static.techspot.com/images/products/2018/graphics-cards/org/2018-08-02-product-2.jpg)
- #Sonnet external gpu enclosure full#
- #Sonnet external gpu enclosure software#
- #Sonnet external gpu enclosure Pc#
Perhaps even more important in the case of macOS is the software support, or lack thereof. First and foremost, a Thunderbolt 3-enabled eGPU doesn’t have the wealth of bandwidth that’s normally available to a native PCIe connection. That being said, there are a few variables at play. The eGFX Breakaway Box 650W provides top-tier power specs that allow it to fully drive any supported AMD GPU on macOS. For more details on the ins-and-outs of eGPU connectivity and performance, be sure to read our previous State of eGPU post. It literally just works shortly after you connect the eGPU. MacOS 10.13.4 is smart enough to automatically negotiate the connection, so much so that it doesn’t require any sort of reboot, logout, etc. Once the card is installed inside the enclosure, it’s just a matter of connecting the Thunderbolt 3 cable from the eGPU to the Mac. Now that support is official in macOS, it’s extremely simple and straightforward to connect an eGPU to a Thunderbolt-3 enabled Mac. Other external GPU boxes that I’ve tried in the past, such as the Mantiz Venus, can’t accommodate larger cards like the ASUS ROG RX 580 at all. This particular RX 580 is noticeably larger than the RX Vega 64, and required me to shimmy the card inside the case in order to make it fit. Installing the RX Vega 64 was a relatively painless affair, though installing larger cards, like the ASUS ROG RX 580, takes a little more work.
![sonnet external gpu enclosure sonnet external gpu enclosure](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rs_Ky4yCz0k/maxresdefault.jpg)
#Sonnet external gpu enclosure full#
What the Akitio Node Pro lacks, however, is a nod from Apple and full speed power delivery for the 15-inch MacBook Pro. The Node Pro features more polish, such as easy-to-use thumb screws to secure the GPU, along with a handy recessed handle for carrying the unit. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that the Sonnet unit feels pretty bare bones when compared to something like the Akitio Node Pro.
#Sonnet external gpu enclosure Pc#
It’s a very PC-esque case, and installing a GPU inside it feels similar to installing a GPU inside an inexpensive aftermarket PC case. If you’ve ever built a PC, then you’ll largely know what to expect when it comes to the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650W. If you’re looking for an eGPU chassis that will have the widest compatibility and the most longevity of any currently available external enclosure, then I think this is the unit to go for. You’re not going to find a lot of extra bells and whistles on the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650W, but what you will find is solid performance, a beefy power supply, and a coveted Apple recommendation for macOS.
![sonnet external gpu enclosure sonnet external gpu enclosure](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mUVnSTWdMc3EMwYCUPa6HL-1200-80.jpg)
Subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more videos
![sonnet external gpu enclosure sonnet external gpu enclosure](https://cdn.windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Gigabyte-AORUS-Gaming-Box-GTX-1070-USB-C-external-GPUs-719x480.jpg)
Accommodates one full-length, full-height, double-width PCIe card.One PCIe slot x16 Mechanical/x4 Electrical (Thunderbolt 3 Spec).Provides laptop charging up to 87W (full speed charging for 15-inch MacBook Pro).Supports up to 375W cards that also require up to an additional 100W of peak power.Equivalent to 750W recommended system power.Sonnet’s eGFX Breakaway Box is an eGPU enclosure that can power the most powerful Mac-compatible GPU - the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 - while providing enough power to charge a 15-inch MacBook Pro at full speed. Watch our video walkthrough for more hands-on details and benchmarks. If you’re looking for the best overall Apple-recommended external GPU chassis for your Thunderbolt 3-enabled MacBook Pro or iMac, then look no further. With this in mind, we recently got our hands on the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box 650W to unbox and document some first impressions. As I outlined in a recent state of eGPU post, all currently released Thunderbolt 3-enabled Macs are eGPU compatible, including the 4K and 5K iMac, the iMac Pro, and the 2016/2017 MacBook Pro. Now that macOS 10.13.4 is out, Apple is now officially supporting certain eGPU configurations for eligible Macs.