External GPU for Macbook pro

[rdpozo]

Hi forum,

Do any one of you have experience with running Resolume on a macbook pro with a external GPU? I have a macbook pro retina 2013 running Sierra and resolume 6. But im considering getting an external GPU to get more omph. Any advice, thoughts, experience?

Thanks

[tajnost]

+1

want to upgrade, but first, need to know other users experience on this.

[vj8k3]

I dont know I'm a noob. But I read a lot of the forms here to try and get in the know and someone was saying that those external GPUs arnt good for Resolume. Idk where it was but if I find it Ill link it here

[Arvol]

Personally, I wouldn't. eGPU's are asking for trouble. They're great for at home rendering, but I would never recommend one for live use and travel dates.

Once you find a working driver, I wouldn't upgrade, driver issues and loose cables seem to be the biggest problems.

I feel that getting a eGPU for a MBP is just putting a band-aid over the issue. Why not save up a little more and get an actual powerhouse machine? A eGPU runs about-$400-$600, A good GPU is about $300-$1,000.
So for $700-1,600 you're putting on a band-aid. For $1,600-$2,400 your actually fixing the problem by getting a good PC

just my 2cents

[Grimm90]

"So for $700-1,600 you're putting on a band-aid. For $1,600-$2,400 your actually fixing the problem by getting a good PC "

Thats a lot of money for a lot of people man ..
If you want to have mac os and good specs & gpu in a macbook pro , it's gonna be really expensive in the switch store.
Spending 800$ on a good macbook pro with thunderbolt port , which you might already have for work or studies , to make it possibly in a great vj machine is not bad. Surely beats the intel iris chip

[Arvol]

"So for $700-1,600 you're putting on a band-aid. For $1,600-$2,400 your actually fixing the problem by getting a good PC "

Thats a lot of money for a lot of people man ..
If you want to have mac os and good specs & gpu in a macbook pro , it's gonna be really expensive in the switch store.
Spending 800$ on a good macbook pro with thunderbolt port , which you might already have for work or studies , to make it possibly in a great vj machine is not bad. Surely beats the intel iris chip

It beats the Intel chips, but stability is the issue. I know Oaktown has had good success with eGPU's but besides him and maybe 2 others, I have heard nothing but horror stories for live use. It also might have something to do with the environment it's in as well? Oaktown does a Ton of high end corporate shows, where as a buddy of mine was doing some ghetto rap fest where my LED modules where falling out of the LED wall that was rented.
My personal mantra is to do it right the first time. So If I can't afford something, I'll save and wait until I can. If you think having quality gear is expensive, wait until you buy cheap gear and it fails on you on-site and you loose an account or job... That get's real expensive.