Jachob2000

Q: External Graphics (Mac Mini)

Hey, I recently got into graphic design, and am looking for an external graphics card. I have done some research and heard it is possible to use an external graphic card running through the thunderbolt port. I have looked at some cases and adapters to do so, and came to the conclusion of them being too costly, as I am not going to be able to afford a case that works. Therefore I looked for a way around it, and found this solution. I would be grateful if someone from here who has a bit more experience than me to tell me if it'll work.

 

I worked out that I could get a USB 3.0 to mPCI_e converter, and then plug the USB 3.0 into a Thunderbolt adapter and into my mac mini.

 

I am aware that this probably won't work, and therefore would welcome any suggestions you guys have. I know that this is bit of a stupid question, but I have very little experience to work this out myself. Having only recently bought the my mac, I am not looking for a new PC, however I need some sort of solution since I am worried about the health of my mac since it runs mainly on high temperature.

 

I am using the mid-range 2.6GHz Mac Mini Late 2014.

 

Thanks in advance.

Mac mini, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on May 22, 2016 11:21 AM

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Q: External Graphics (Mac Mini)

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  • by lllaass,Helpful

    lllaass lllaass May 22, 2016 1:34 PM in response to Jachob2000
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    May 22, 2016 1:34 PM in response to Jachob2000

    What do yo mean by "my mac since it runs mainly on high temperature"?

    Currently I am not aware of any way to run an external PCLe graphics card that will display via the PCLe graphic's card output. If you could graphics card output would likely be slow since PCLe is much faster than USB3 or Thunderbolt. There might be ways to use such as card to use the PCLe graphics card for calculational purposes, not display purpose

  • by Jachob2000,

    Jachob2000 Jachob2000 May 22, 2016 1:37 PM in response to lllaass
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    May 22, 2016 1:37 PM in response to lllaass

    What I mean is that by touch it feels very hot, much hotter than when I'm gaming on it.

     

    And what classes under calculational purposes, as what I'm looking to do with it is run rendering through it, not have monitors plugged into it.

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass May 22, 2016 2:07 PM in response to Jachob2000
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    May 22, 2016 2:07 PM in response to Jachob2000

    Yes, rendering can use a GPU for calculations.

    You said "USB 3.0 to mPCI_e converter, and then plug the USB 3.0 into a Thunderbolt adapter"

    - Why not use one of the USB3 ports on the Mac vice a TB>USB adopter? You are not gaining anything.

    - Does the manufacturer of the USB 3.0 to mPCI_e converter say it can be used for that purpose on a Mac?

    Do you have a link to that converter?

     

    Regarding temps, have you installed a fan speed and temp monitoring app to better see what is happening? There is iStat, Macs Fan Contro land SMC Fan control as well as others. Also, when hot what is using CPU? Open Activity Monitor and look at the CPU tab. Make sure that under View All Possessors is checked.

  • by Jachob2000,

    Jachob2000 Jachob2000 May 22, 2016 2:17 PM in response to lllaass
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    May 22, 2016 2:17 PM in response to lllaass

    I havent really looked into any specific converters yet, as I wasnt sure if this "cheaper" way of doing it would work. Everything that people suggest on the web costs like £300-£700, and I dont have or wont have enough money for a long time.

     

    Going back to the temperature, its only when I am rendering something on Blender, which is understandable and perfectly normal, however i am worried that if I let the Mac run for consecutive number of days at a higher temperature there will be damage done.

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass May 22, 2016 2:33 PM in response to Jachob2000
    Level 10 (187,938 points)
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    May 22, 2016 2:33 PM in response to Jachob2000

    With adequate ventilation, the Mac should run fine and long. Yes when rendering the Mc is working hard and thus getting hot.

    The Mac will slow down if it gets to hot and will even shutdown to prevent damage.

     

    I do not think it would be cost effected to connect an external PCLe graphics card fro calculational purposes. Better off getting a better Mac.

    You can get a uses 2009-2012 Mac Pro silver tower at a very reasonable price. You can install one or more graphics card for calculations.

  • by Jachob2000,

    Jachob2000 Jachob2000 May 22, 2016 2:39 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (8 points)
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    May 22, 2016 2:39 PM in response to lllaass

    I shall look into this a bit further, and the bit of info you have given me has helped me a lot. Thanks again and I shall see what I can do next.

  • by John Lockwood,

    John Lockwood John Lockwood May 23, 2016 3:28 AM in response to Jachob2000
    Level 6 (9,230 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    May 23, 2016 3:28 AM in response to Jachob2000

    Hypothetically it is possible to connect an external video card via Thunderbolt, this is done via a Thunderbolt to PCIe expansion chassis in to which you fit a standard PCIe card - in this case a video card. The big problem is that drivers for cards being connected this way need to be 'Thunderbolt aware'. I am not personally aware for certain what the significance of 'Thunderbolt aware' is, I can tell you that no video cards for the Mac are 'Thunderbolt aware'. It could be something as simple as coping with the fact that being external and connected via a plug-and-play Thunderbolt cable the drivers need to cope with the fact that the card can disappear if the Thunderbolt cable is unplugged - something obviously not likely to happen with an internal PCIe card.

     

    I did recently post a reply to anther thread on this same topic here - Re: Mac Mini 2012: External GPU experiences?

     

    I suggest you read my reply, the links I provided and the rest of that thread.

     

    As a general comment the Mac mini is the cheapest lowest spec model of Mac there is and has a correspondingly low spec video chip, if you need more power than it can provide it maybe you should consider a different more powerful model Mac, this could be a secondhand classic Mac Pro which has PCIe slots in to which you can fit more powerful video cards.