Mac + eGPU

Wed Apr 22, 2015 6:41 am

I'm also curious about the Sonnet chassis.

I'm about to start a new build, and I'd really like to be able to build it into a rack mount or tower enclosure. I'd like to start with a single Titan or Titan Black, but have the option to add a second card down the road.

I'm wondering if I should find a chassis that has more than one PCIe slot, or if I should simply daisy chain some Akitio's.

Sat Jul 18, 2015 1:17 pm

Hi All,

Is it possible to create a setup like this using a old MacPro (1st Gen) box?

KJ

Sat Jul 18, 2015 3:43 pm

What do you mean by "first gen"? Can you give us a model number? There have been at least five generations of the mac pro.

Sat Jul 18, 2015 4:21 pm

dotcommer wrote:What do you mean by "first gen"? Can you give us a model number? There have been at least five generations of the mac pro.

MA356*/A MacPro1,1

Sat Jul 18, 2015 4:36 pm

KevinJ wrote:
MA356*/A MacPro1,1

Yeah, thats pretty old. While you could definitely do it, I wouldn't recommend it. You do need a decent CPU as well just for the export from your 3D package to Octane. I have a 2012 Mac Pro and made sure to get the best CPU it could get, then replaced the GPU with a Titan Black and stuffed in an external psu that fit inside one of the DVD drive bays (so its technically an internal psu now).

Sat Jul 18, 2015 5:11 pm

dotcommer wrote:
KevinJ wrote:
MA356*/A MacPro1,1
Yeah, thats pretty old. While you could definitely do it, I wouldn't recommend it. You do need a decent CPU as well just for the export from your 3D package to Octane. I have a 2012 Mac Pro and made sure to get the best CPU it could get, then replaced the GPU with a Titan Black and stuffed in an external psu that fit inside one of the DVD drive bays (so its technically an internal psu now).

I don't intend to use it as my main machine, just use the box to hold nvidia cards.

Sat Jul 18, 2015 5:22 pm

Ok, then you could probably do it. I don't think it'll hold too many cards though. Even with an external PSU, I think you'd probably only be able to fit one or two modern GPUs in it. You'd probably be better off with an eGPU at this point.

Mon Jul 20, 2015 8:30 pm

dotcommer wrote:Ok, then you could probably do it. I don't think it'll hold too many cards though. Even with an external PSU, I think you'd probably only be able to fit one or two modern GPUs in it. You'd probably be better off with an eGPU at this point.

Thanks for you input.

Will it be an issue having mixed GPUs, AMD from the stock nMP and those from the eGPU?

Mon Jul 20, 2015 10:21 pm

KevinJ wrote:Will it be an issue having mixed GPUs, AMD from the stock nMP and those from the eGPU?

Nope, shouldn't be an issue. I'm doing that right now. Its honestly the only benefit to holding on to the default AMD card that apple throws in. Allows you to render the OS on the AMD card, and then set Octane to use 100% of the NVIDIA cards. Works out real well. I can have a full render going and still browse the internet or watch streaming video content without any issues. Just be sure you plug your monitor(s) into the AMD card, so the OS knows which one to use for OS rendering.

Tue Jul 21, 2015 1:23 pm

dotcommer wrote:
KevinJ wrote:Will it be an issue having mixed GPUs, AMD from the stock nMP and those from the eGPU?

Nope, shouldn't be an issue. I'm doing that right now. Its honestly the only benefit to holding on to the default AMD card that apple throws in. Allows you to render the OS on the AMD card, and then set Octane to use 100% of the NVIDIA cards. Works out real well. I can have a full render going and still browse the internet or watch streaming video content without any issues. Just be sure you plug your monitor(s) into the AMD card, so the OS knows which one to use for OS rendering.

Thanks again. Looking at getting GTX 980s. Maybe one to start.

KJ