So that rules out an easy upgrade using off-the-shelf supported solutions. In researching this answer, I learned that Apple does not provide external GPU support over Thunderbolt in OS X. I wasn’t considering these systems for this article.
NOTE: Older Mac Pros can easily change one GPU card for another.
For example, can an externally-housed GPU be accessed by the OS on an iMac or MacBook Pro and, if so, whether this would be a worthwhile interim step for an audio or video editor to consider while they are saving their pennies to buy the latest system? Then, I started thinking about upgrading older systems.
In addition, for video editors working with RED, the latest version of FCP X includes GPU-accelerated RED RAW processing plus support for the external, Thunderbolt-connected RED ROCKET card. For video customers interested in better performance, a new Mac offers not just faster CPUs, faster GPUs, and more VRAM, but additional enhancements like better battery life, advanced trackpads on laptops, and Retina displays. “How about an article on how much graphic card power is enough? Is there any way to use a more powerful graphics card with an iMac (or MacBook Pro) using a Thunderbolt external PCIe expansion chassis? …I have wondered how the newer iMacs and MacBook Pro machines are handling effects and 4K video with the graphics cards Apple offers.”įirst, in thinking about new systems I realized that current Mac hardware has significant improvements in a number of areas in addition to GPU speed. It supports up to six 4K displays, three 5K displays, or three Pro Display XDRs.Lee Walkup started me thinking about graphics cards when he wrote: This graphics option features AMD’s RDNA2 architecture, delivering up to 22.2 teraflops of single-precision or 44.4 teraflops of half-precision computing. AMD Radeon Pro W6900Xįor the maximum workstation-class graphics and demanding pro applications, choose the AMD Radeon Pro W6900X with 32GB of GDDR6 memory delivering up to 512GB/s memory bandwidth. The two GPUs are connected onboard with Infinity Fabric Link, and two W6800X Duo modules can be bridged to allow four W6800X GPUs to communicate. The module has two W6800X GPUs, each with 32GB of GDDR6 memory delivering up to 512GB/s memory bandwidth.
To push your graphics performance even further, choose the Radeon Pro W6800X Duo MPX Module, which is ideal for even the most demanding multi-GPU pro applications. It supports up to six 4K displays, three 5K displays, or three Pro Display XDRs. This graphics option features AMD’s RDNA2 architecture, delivering up to 16.0 teraflops of single-precision or 32.0 teraflops of half-precision computing. AMD Radeon Pro W6800Xįor workstation-class graphics and demanding pro applications, choose the AMD Radeon Pro W6800X with 32GB of GDDR6 memory delivering up to 512GB/s memory bandwidth. You can build your new Mac Pro on the Apple Online Store. The modules will be available for individual purchase via Apple’s Online Store (pricing TBD), so existing Mac Pro users can upgrade their machines as well. Radeon Pro W6900X MPX Module with 32GB of GDDR6 memory: $5,600.Radeon Pro W6800X Duo MPX Module with 64GB of GDDR6 memory: $4,600.Radeon Pro W6800X MPX Module with 32GB of GDDR6 memory: $2,400.Pricing information for the new modules in build-to-order Mac Pro configurations: The new graphics card modules include the Radeon Pro W6800X MPX Module, the Radeon Pro W6800X Duo MPX Module, and the Radeon Pro W6900X MPX Module.Īs first reported by Jake Krol of CNN on Twitter, Apple says that these new graphics modules can offer up to 23% faster performance in DaVinci Resolve and 84% faster in Octane X. Apple has rolled out three new graphics card modules for the Intel-powered Mac Pro today.