Blackmagic Design has announced the Blackmagic eGPU, a high performance graphics processor aimed at giving MacBook Pros high end desktop GPU power. It’s aimed at those using pro creative software like DaVinci Resolve, 3D games and VR on the move.
Designed in collaboration with Apple, the Blackmagic eGPU features a built-in Radeon Pro 580, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, HDMI 2.0, 85W of charging power and four USB 3.1 connections.
Blackmagic says the product has been designed to address the needs of professional video editors, colourists and visual effects artists who need to remain mobile and want the power of a desktop class GPU added to their MacBook Pro. The Blackmagic eGPU plugs in via Thunderbolt 3 and is built to speed up workflows including editing, colour correction and visual effects with DaVinci Resolve. It’s also being aimed at 3D games and VR giving higher resolution images, higher frame rate gameplay, better lighting and more detailed textures on a laptop computer.
The unit features a “unique” thermal cooling system that gives quiet operation as low as 18dB.
The Blackmagic eGPU features a Radeon Pro 580 graphics processor. You get 8GB of GDDR5 RAM, 256-bit memory bandwidth and 36 discreet compute units for up to 5.5 teraflops of processing power. The Radeon Pro 580 can fill 38.4 billion textured pixels per second. In addition, the Blackmagic eGPU supports Metal graphics technology from Apple, which provides near-direct access to the GPU for maximising graphics and compute performance with games and applications.
Alongside its graphics and computational acceleration, Blackmagic says the eGPU is also the perfect docking hub for connecting devices such as keyboards, mice, Thunderbolt monitors, big screen HDMI televisions, high speed storage and more. It features two 40Gb/s Thunderbolt 3 connections, a built-in 4 port USB hub and HDMI which supports 4K output.
The Blackmagic eGPU has a built-in power supply that powers the GPU while also providing 85W of downstream power via Thunderbolt 3 for charging laptop computers and powering peripherals. The power supply works from 100V to 240V and features a standard IEC power connector so it can be used anywhere in the world.
“The Blackmagic eGPU is the world’s first eGPU designed specifically for accelerating professional video workflows with DaVinci Resolve,” said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design. “It also adds the performance customers need for truly immersive, more realistic looking 3D game and VR experiences. Best of all, the Blackmagic eGPU gives you desktop class graphics performance on a laptop computer!”
It’s available now for US$699 on Apple.com and in ‘select’ Apple Retail stores worldwide.
Staff Reporter
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