Sonnet eGFX Radeon RX 560 Breakaway Puck hits Apple retail soon, but you don't have to wai...

AppleInsider

A less expensive external GPU option for Thunderbolt 3 Macs, the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Puck Radeon RX 560, is now available through Apple's online store and may soon hit some physical outlets, but there are options for buying now.

The Puck can handle up to four 4K monitors, thanks in part to 4 gigabytes of GDDR5 VRAM along with three DisplayPort 1.4 ports and one HDMI 2.0 connection. With this package, its bundled Thunderbolt 3 cable can supply up to 60 watts of power to an attached MacBook, versus the 45W that it supplied in the first version of the hardware.

Another selling point may be size. The Puck is no more than 6 inches long, 2 inches high, and 5.12 inches wide, while weighing about 3.3 pounds. That makes it relatively easy to stash away on a desk, or even in some backpacks and messenger bags. There is also an optional VESA mount, to attach it to the back of some monitors.

Apple is selling the hardware for $399.95. Some deliveries and pickups are expected to happen as soon as Monday, possibly a sign that outlets will have units on shelves the same day. Buyers must be running macOS 10.14.1 or later.

macOS only recently gained support for the RX 560. Check out AppleInsider's roundup of some of the other Mac-ready eGPU enclosures on the market.

Where to buy

In addition to buying from Apple directly, Sonnet's eGFX Breakaway Puck with the Radeon RX 560 can be ordered from Apple authorized resellers, such as B&H Photo. Those looking for a beefier GPU option can also pick up the Breakaway Puck with a Radeon RX 570 for $499 at B&H Photo and Amazon.

22july2013

I assume its name implies it's made in Canada.

lorin schultz

The device may be small, but isn’t the external power supply almost as big as the unit itself?

bsbeamer

How can you not even cite your own article?
https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/02/21/apples-macos-adds-official-support-for-amd-radeon-rx-560-egpus

"It appears that Mac users looking to boost their workflow with an RX 560 will have to deal with a few limitations. Apple notes playback of HDCP-protected content from iTunes and certain unnamed streaming services is not supported on displays directly connected to an RX 560-based eGPU, including Sonnet's device. Said content can, however, be viewed on the built-in display of a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and iMac, the document reads."

Get yourself an RX580 or Vega if you're investing in an eGPU solution.  The extra money is worth it.  Or wait for VII support to come out of beta.  

lorin schultz

bsbeamer said:

How can you not even cite your own article?
https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/02/21/apples-macos-adds-official-support-for-amd-radeon-rx-560-egpus

"It appears that Mac users looking to boost their workflow with an RX 560 will have to deal with a few limitations. Apple notes playback of HDCP-protected content from iTunes and certain unnamed streaming services is not supported on displays directly connected to an RX 560-based eGPU, including Sonnet's device. Said content can, however, be viewed on the built-in display of a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and iMac, the document reads."

Get yourself an RX580 or Vega if you're investing in an eGPU solution.  The extra money is worth it.  Or wait for VII support to come out of beta.  

EDIT: evidence of writing before understanding removed. 

OutdoorAppDeveloper

Sad this has to even exist. Here is this beautiful expensive Mac computer and here is this ugly puck you have to put next to it that will barely bring the performance up to the level of a cheap mid-level PC laptop. Seriously Apple, what are we doing here?

fastasleep

OutdoorAppDeveloper said:

Sad this has to even exist. Here is this beautiful expensive Mac computer and here is this ugly puck you have to put next to it that will barely bring the performance up to the level of a cheap mid-level PC laptop. Seriously Apple, what are we doing here?

This isn't an Apple product, is it?

Mike Wuerthele

fastasleep said:

OutdoorAppDeveloper said:

Sad this has to even exist. Here is this beautiful expensive Mac computer and here is this ugly puck you have to put next to it that will barely bring the performance up to the level of a cheap mid-level PC laptop. Seriously Apple, what are we doing here?

This isn't an Apple product, is it?

It is not.

entropys

That’s not what he meant and you know it.

ryanarr

So the Thunderbolt chip is <$10, this is a $100 GPU, a PSU is generously $50, so sure, $400 for an unupgradable piece of hardware containing an entry level GPU from 2017 seems perfectly reasonable /s.

If you’re going to spend this much, unless you must have the form factor, you’re almost certainly better off getting a TB3 enclosure and adding a standard PCIe GPU.

k2kw

bsbeamer said:

How can you not even cite your own article?
https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/02/21/apples-macos-adds-official-support-for-amd-radeon-rx-560-egpus

"It appears that Mac users looking to boost their workflow with an RX 560 will have to deal with a few limitations. Apple notes playback of HDCP-protected content from iTunes and certain unnamed streaming services is not supported on displays directly connected to an RX 560-based eGPU, including Sonnet's device. Said content can, however, be viewed on the built-in display of a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and iMac, the document reads."

Get yourself an RX580 or Vega if you're investing in an eGPU solution.  The extra money is worth it.  Or wait for VII support to come out of beta.  

Are the Vega GPUs more powerful than the RX560, RX570, and RX580?   Does the HDCP content work on an eGPU with the Vega?

Mike Wuerthele

k2kw said:

bsbeamer said:

How can you not even cite your own article?
https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/02/21/apples-macos-adds-official-support-for-amd-radeon-rx-560-egpus

"It appears that Mac users looking to boost their workflow with an RX 560 will have to deal with a few limitations. Apple notes playback of HDCP-protected content from iTunes and certain unnamed streaming services is not supported on displays directly connected to an RX 560-based eGPU, including Sonnet's device. Said content can, however, be viewed on the built-in display of a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and iMac, the document reads."

Get yourself an RX580 or Vega if you're investing in an eGPU solution.  The extra money is worth it.  Or wait for VII support to come out of beta.  

Are the Vega GPUs more powerful than the RX560, RX570, and RX580?   Does the HDCP content work on an eGPU with the Vega?

In order, lowest to highest for PCI-E: 560, 570, 580, Vega 56, Vega 64. 

HDCP seems to work fine on my Vega 64 and Razer enclosure.

StrangeDays

OutdoorAppDeveloper said:

Sad this has to even exist. Here is this beautiful expensive Mac computer and here is this ugly puck you have to put next to it that will barely bring the performance up to the level of a cheap mid-level PC laptop. Seriously Apple, what are we doing here?

I don’t need this and prefer my portable to be thin and light. Go buy an Alienware and listen to the hairdryers if that’s what you need.

StrangeDays

entropys said:

That’s not what he meant and you know it.

Yes, what he meant was “But I have niche needs and want Apple to make everyone pay for them!” Or “But I want Apple to build PC clones rather than what they actually build!”