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BARE FEATS LAB - real world Mac speed tests

REVIEW: Blackmagic eGPU Pro connected to the iMac Pro

October 23rd, 2019 by rob-ART morgan, mad scientist

The Blackmagic eGPU Pro comes with the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 GPU. We connected it to an iMac Pro to see what advantages it provides.


GRAPH LEGEND

Blackmagic eGPU Pro = Blackmagic eGPU Pro with pre-installed Radeon RX Vega 56 (8GB HBM2 memory)
Pro Vega 64 = iMac Pro's built-in Radeon Pro Vega 64 (16GB HBM2 memory)

TEST DETAILS: The 2017 iMac Pro 3.2GHz 8-core Xeon, 32GB of memory, 1TB flash storage, running macOS Mojave 10.14.6.

DaVinci Resolve Single Node of Noise Reduction
Using the 1080p Candle Project, we applied the "1NR" preset and started playback. (HIGHER Frames per Second = FASTER)

Blackmatic eGPU Pro and DaVinci Resolve Noise Reduction during Playback

DaVinci Resolve Triple Nodes of Noise Reduction
(HIGHER Frames per Second = FASTER)

Blackmatic eGPU Pro and DaVinci Resolve Noise Reduction during Playback

Final Cut Pro X 10.4.7
Exported the BruceX sample 5K project to ProRes 4444 XQ. (LOWER Time in Seconds = FASTER)

Blackmatic eGPU Pro and Final Cut Pro X BruceX Benchmark

Motion 5.4.4
Performed a Render RAM Preview on the 600 frame Atmospheric-Open sample project. (LOWER Time in Seconds = FASTER)

Blackmatic eGPU Pro and Motion render of RAM Preview

TW: Three Kingdoms
Used the built-in Battle benchmark. (HIGHER Frames per Second = FASTER)

Blackmatic eGPU Pro and Three Kingdoms Battle benchmark

TW: Warhammer II
Used the built-in Skaven benchmark. (HIGHER Frames per Second = FASTER)

Blackmatic eGPU Pro and Warhammer II Skaven Benchmark

WHAT DID WE LEARN?

The Blackmagic eGPU Pro (with pre-installed Radeon RX Vega 56) improved the performance of DaVinci Resolve's noise reduction rendering during looping playback whether specified as the only GPU or specified in concert with the iMac Pro's built-in Radeon Pro Vega 64.

On the other hand, the iMac Pro's internal Radeon Pro Vega 64 handled the Final Cut Pro X and Motion tasks faster than the external Blackmagic eGPU Pro with Radeon RX Vega 56. (Using both GPUs simultaneously is NOT an option with the Apple apps running on the iMac Pro.)

In case gamers are curious, we tested to see if the eGPU Pro improved game performance. The two Metal based games we benchmarked 'liked' the iMac Pro's internal Radeon Pro Vega 64 better.

The Blackmagic eGPU Pro is best targeted for Macs with 'lesser' GPUs -- such as iMacs, MacBook Pros, and Mac minis with 'lesser' GPUs.

It runs very quiet. The enclosure design reminds us of the 2013 Mac Pro cylinder with a large, quiet, low RPM upper exhaust fan which provides efficient convection cooling. The eGPU Pro is a sealed unit so upgrading the GPU is not an option. The dual DisplayPorts support 5K displays.

CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW THE BLACKMAGIC EGPU PRO CAN BOOST THE GRAPHICS PERFORMANCE OF A 13-INCH MACBOOK PRO.

Comments? Suggestions? Feel free to email me, Follow me on Twitter @barefeats.

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OTHER GOOD SOURCES
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Funding of 2019 Mac Pro test unit for BareFeats Mad Scientist on his 75th Birthday

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copyright 2019 Rob Art Morgan
"BARE facts on Macintosh speed FEATS"
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