Razer Core X eGPU

Zeebedy · 26 Jun 2020 at 23:47

Hey guys,

Moving back over to the Mac eco-system and so far loving it. Cannot wait for Big Sur!

Has anyone had any experience with a Razer eGPU? Its going on a Mac mini. I already have the GPU received today from, as always great service, OCUK!

Just waiting on ordering the eGPU along with a nice bump up from, not the best amount at base level 8GB RAM!

Cheers guys!

silvagti · 27 Jun 2020 at 08:27

Everyone I've spoken to said the EGPU is more hassle than it's worth and for the cost you'd be as well building a Windows gaming pc instead unless you really need a GPU you can use with MacOS!

Those enclosures really need to come down in price before they're a viable option IMO. If it was £100-200 I could see the appeal but when it's nearer £400 you could build a PC for that and just add your GPU

Zeebedy · 27 Jun 2020 at 14:26

silvagti said:
Everyone I've spoken to said the EGPU is more hassle than it's worth and for the cost you'd be as well building a Windows gaming pc instead unless you really need a GPU you can use with MacOS!

Those enclosures really need to come down in price before they're a viable option IMO. If it was £100-200 I could see the appeal but when it's nearer £400 you could build a PC for that and just add your GPU

There is a website, that comes with 2 year warranty and is £220 so will be going down that route I think. As apposed to brand new.

Combat squirrel · 27 Jun 2020 at 17:11

I use this the Razer with my Mac mini and works great, of course way faster with the Vega 56 I have in it......also works fine in windows when I boot camp to play games, you just have to use a specific version number of windows So it works ok.

Zeebedy · 27 Jun 2020 at 19:37

Combat squirrel said:
I use this the Razer with my Mac mini and works great, of course way faster with the Vega 56 I have in it......also works fine in windows when I boot camp to play games, you just have to use a specific version number of windows So it works ok.

Great to hear!

I just ordered one there, so cannot wait to get it! Its only a RX 580 as I'm still testing the water but should hopefully be a little bit quicker than the integrated GPU

LiE · 27 Jun 2020 at 20:00

It can work well, obviously you take a hit on performance going via eGPU. My main issue was noise, but I’m quiet sensitive.

Zeebedy · 27 Jun 2020 at 20:10

LiE said:
It can work well, obviously you take a hit on performance going via eGPU. My main issue was noise, but I’m quiet sensitive.

Did you find the hit on it major?

LiE · 27 Jun 2020 at 20:36

Zeebedy said:
Did you find the hit on it major?

Yes it was certainly felt in games. Depending on resolution I wouldn’t bother. Cheaper to buy a PS5 or Xbox Series X for gaming (assuming a price point of around £400).

silvagti · 27 Jun 2020 at 20:56

LiE said:
Yes it was certainly felt in games. Depending on resolution I wouldn’t bother. Cheaper to buy a PS5 or Xbox Series X for gaming (assuming a price point of around £400).

That's where I am. Unless you want to specifically play something which is only out on PC I just don't see the point in buying kit for PC gaming when you can grab a PS5 for what'll likely be around £400.

Zeebedy · 28 Jun 2020 at 00:28

@LiE @silvagti

Were you guys on a Mac mini? With thunderbolt 3 support?

Just I have heard good results from this setup on MacRumors..

LiE · 28 Jun 2020 at 08:17

Zeebedy said:
@LiE @silvagti

Were you guys on a Mac mini? With thunderbolt 3 support?

Just I have heard good results from this setup on MacRumors..

Yea I had the Razer and then the Blackmagic eGPU hooked up to a Mac mini. What monitor are you pairing it with?

Zeebedy · 28 Jun 2020 at 11:54

LiE said:
Yea I had the Razer and then the Blackmagic eGPU hooked up to a Mac mini. What monitor are you pairing it with?

The monitor I'm using :

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asus...-widescreen-led-gaming-monitor-mo-0a8-as.html

LiE · 28 Jun 2020 at 11:59

Zeebedy said:
The monitor I'm using :

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asus...-widescreen-led-gaming-monitor-mo-0a8-as.html

Yea that’s going to need a beefy GPU to take full advantage of.

Zeebedy · 28 Jun 2020 at 12:30

LiE said:
Yea that’s going to need a beefy GPU to take full advantage of.

Would a RX 580 suffice for 1080p detail in-game on the Mac mini?

I prefer performance over visuals in any aspect.

LiE · 28 Jun 2020 at 12:59

Zeebedy said:
Would a RX 580 suffice for 1080p detail in-game on the Mac mini?

I prefer performance over visuals in any aspect.

Why spend so much on a gaming monitor and do it a disservice with a sub par gaming experience?

Combat squirrel · 28 Jun 2020 at 13:47

Zeebedy said:
Great to hear!

I just ordered one there, so cannot wait to get it! Its only a RX 580 as I'm still testing the water but should hopefully be a little bit quicker than the integrated GPU

Yeah its loads faster, even just in menus or launchpad etc, it can lag abit on the built in gpu but on egpu its lightning fast, last when you watch 4k / 8k footage etc, I run 2x 4k 32" monitors 100% A-RGB and it works great.

Combat squirrel · 28 Jun 2020 at 13:52

LiE said:
Yes it was certainly felt in games. Depending on resolution I wouldn’t bother. Cheaper to buy a PS5 or Xbox Series X for gaming (assuming a price point of around £400).

Sounds strange the performance hit isn't THAT bad so not sure what your talking about, unless your splitting hairs on fps - I don't look at benches, I just play the game and everything iv tried is smooth - what GPU were you using? - don't bother with gaming in Mac OS of Course - well saying that with latest Mac OS its pretty good - I can even game in parallels in DX11 games on emulation and works fine, although im not a FPS person, more strategy etc for me.

Boot camping into windows when the EGPU is setup works fine - although as I previously mentioned you need to get a specific version of windows so it works ok - follow the guide on egpu io website.

But windows gaming is great, just as it would be on a normal pc with an i7 and a Vega 56 - granted there is a perf hit via TB3 - but all the games I run on there work great and smoothly - sure im not benching but the games I run are great, again mostly strategy, if your a FPS player, maybe its a different story, although I ran the new doom and it was just fine.

The GPU I'm using is Vega 56

LiE · 28 Jun 2020 at 14:04

It was a 5700XT and playing Destiny 2 on a 4K UltraFine via bootcamp. It was struggling to maintain 60fps. For comparison I’ve played Destiny 2 4K on a Windows machine with a 5700 XT and that maintained 60fps fine.

kitkat9933 · 28 Jun 2020 at 14:20

I’ve been using it for months (spec in signature).

I could get a separate dedicated gaming machine, but for a little better performance is it worth the £3k investment ? In my opinion, no..

Work pays for my laptop and the Razor Core, so all I had to do was spend £300 for the GPU.

Between this rig and PS4 Pro (then soon PS5), it covers all my gaming needs.

Combat squirrel · 28 Jun 2020 at 14:43

LiE said:
It was a 5700XT and playing Destiny 2 on a 4K UltraFine via bootcamp. It was struggling to maintain 60fps. For comparison I’ve played Destiny 2 4K on a Windows machine with a 5700 XT and that maintained 60fps fine.

Fair enough, that is one of the hardest games to run so makes sense, I'm more of a Xcom 2, SCFA, and C&C Player! lol

kitkat9933 said:
I’ve been using it for months (spec in signature).

I could get a separate dedicated gaming machine, but for a little better performance is it worth the £3k investment ? In my opinion, no..

Work pays for my laptop and the Razor Core, so all I had to do was spend £300 for the GPU.

Between this rig and PS4 Pro (then soon PS5), it covers all my gaming needs.

Exactly this, I game to wind down after a day of work, I'm not a hardcore gamer, so its not worth me spending thousands on something when it runs just fine, I know we live in a 'it must be the best' society - but if you think about it - it plays games perfectly well, so, enjoy, don't stress it