Mac mini 2018 - need a egpu?

[D'Animation]

Hi,

I've jumped ship to a Mac mini (2018), running Mojave. I'd like to run 3 displays (34" ultra wide + 2 x 24" FHD). Is the internal GPU ok to run this or does an egpu take some strain/heat away from the machine? This is a postproduction studio, 5.1, HD Native + PT Ultmate
Thanks

[DetroitT]

Try Setup first then decide.
1TB for GPU
HDMI +1-2TB depending on adaptor/hub (No GPU but adaptors$)

[JFreak]

Mac Mini 2018 supports up to three displays, depending on resolution. One HDMI and two TB. I guess 4K is okay for three but 5K limits for two.

[Farhoof]

It's not "needed", but people I work with are using this setup and told me the temperature dropped a lot when using an eGPU (95 C to 75 C), which also meant a lot less fan noise. Seems legit to me.

[D'Animation]

Originally Posted by Farhoof

It's not "needed", but people I work with are using this setup and told me the temperature dropped a lot when using an eGPU (95 C to 75 C), which also meant a lot less fan noise. Seems legit to me.

Yeah, was wondering if that was going to be the case. Haven't received the mini yet to try it but looking at used graphics cards in particular, the prices are pretty unreal due to the cryptocurrency mining craze

[D'Animation]

Originally Posted by JFreak

Mac Mini 2018 supports up to three displays, depending on resolution. One HDMI and two TB. I guess 4K is okay for three but 5K limits for two.

Yeah no 5k screens + have a TB3 dock with dual DP ports plus the HDMI on the machine. Waiting on the mini to be delivered so will see what happens

[boomspot]

I’m running 34” and 24” 2k resolution monitors off my 2018 mini’s tb3 ports. I have an RX 580 in a Razer X eGPU that I haven’t been using because it’s flakey with the mini. Can’t run all monitors off the eGPU because the boot/login screen only appears if the monitor is connected to the mini. I’ve wasted too much time trying to get it working. Surprisingly the TB3 ports are more reliable driving monitors than the HDMI port. Occasionally the HDMI port won’t wake from sleep ... tb3 ports have been flawless with $80 HDMI to tb3 Apple adapters. Test without eGPU but if needed, one monitor to tb3 and 2 connected to eGPU should work fine.

D

[D'Animation]

Originally Posted by boomspot

I’m running 34” and 24” 2k resolution monitors off my 2018 mini’s tb3 ports. I have an RX 580 in a Razer X eGPU that I haven’t been using because it’s flakey with the mini. Can’t run all monitors off the eGPU because the boot/login screen only appears if the monitor is connected to the mini. I’ve wasted too much time trying to get it working. Surprisingly the TB3 ports are more reliable driving monitors than the HDMI port. Occasionally the HDMI port won’t wake from sleep ... tb3 ports have been flawless with $80 HDMI to tb3 Apple adapters. Test without eGPU but if needed, one monitor to tb3 and 2 connected to eGPU should work fine.

D

Thanks Boomspot, really appreciate the info

[Mike Thornton]

I am running two 4k screens very successfully off the internal GPU of my Mac mini 2018. I too found the HDMI output flaky and stopped using it. You will get better refresh rates using the TB3 and DisplayPort. In the end, the most reliable solution was a USB-C to twin DisplayPort adaptor from OWC. I went this way because I found not all adaptors were the same and the OWC one is approved for the Mac mini. Hope that helps.

[D'Animation]

Originally Posted by Mike Thornton

I am running two 4k screens very successfully off the internal GPU of my Mac mini 2018. I too found the HDMI output flaky and stopped using it. You will get better refresh rates using the TB3 and DisplayPort. In the end, the most reliable solution was a USB-C to twin DisplayPort adaptor from OWC. I went this way because I found not all adaptors were the same and the OWC one is approved for the Mac mini. Hope that helps.

Thanks Mike, setting up the machine this evening so I'll see how I get on with the HDMI. I have a TB3 dock with dual DP's and was thinking of just using the HDMI for one of the lesser used side screens. Fingers crossed anyways!