When we first set up our Mac to work with an eGPU it was necessary to download and install a patch. So don’t move to the next step before backing up. As you will see from the next step, if everything goes wrong you may need to reinstall MacOS, losing all your data in the process. Here’s how to use a Blackmagic eGPU with an older Mac:īefore you begin we recommend that you back up your Mac. We didn’t use an external display in our test, as we’re more interested in video and photography editing app performance. With Mojave running, you also no longer require to have an external display connected for it to work – unless you want to of course. You can use High Sierra as well, but the latest OS offers a simpler way to choose which apps use the external eGPU hardware when it is connected. You also need to be running the latest macOS, which at the time of writing is MacOS Mojave 10.14.5. You’ll also need a separate Thunderbolt 2 to 2 cable in addition, but it’s likely you already have one if you have previously plugged anything into your Thunderbolt port. There are some third party adapters, but we would recommend sticking to Apple’s own one which we know works – and should continue to work after any software updates (£49/$49,īuy it here).

If like us, you want to use an eGPU with an older MacBook, with a Thunderbolt 2 or even version 1 interface, the first thing you will require is a USB-C to Thunderbolt adaptor. Before you start, make sure you buy the correct hardware and that you have a compatible Mac.

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