Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1058642
1. Requires a monitor and AMD Radeon™ graphics, both with FreeSync support. See www.amd.com/freesync for complete details. Confirm capability with your system manufacturer before purchase. GD-127 2.In independent testing performed by Mike Griggs, founder of Creative Bloke, using the Radeon Pro WX 9100 eGPU with a Thunderbolt 3-equipped MacBook Pro running Maxon Cinema 4D. 3. External graphics processors (eGPUs) are supported on any Thunderbolt 3-equipped Mac running macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 or later (support.apple.com/en-us/HT208544). 4. Testing conducted by AMD Performance Labs as of June 18th, 2018, on a 2017 15" Mac Book Pro test system comprising of Intel Core i7 quad-core processor@ 3.1GHz, 16GB DDR3 system memory, MacOS 10.13.2 (High Sierra), Radeon Pro 560 integrated graphics, and Sonnet eGPU Breakaway box with AMD Radeon™ Pro WX 9100 graphics. Benchmark Applications: Maxon® Cinema4D® and Radeon™ ProRender, Autodesk® Maya® and Radeon™ ProRender. Performance measured using the internal "AMD_motorcycle" model for Cinema4D, "helmet_demo.mb" for Maya. Results of benchmark with "AMD_motorcycle" model: Onboard graphics = 939 seconds, Onboard + eGPU = 269 seconds. 939/269 = 3.49x improvement. Results of benchmark with "helmet_demo.mb" model on Maya: Onboard graphics = 1644 secs, Onboard + eGPU = 408 seconds, 1644/408 = 4x improvement. PC manufacturers may vary configurations, yielding different results. Performance may vary based on use of latest drivers. RPW-210 ©2018 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. All rights reserved. AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, Radeon, Radeon Pro, and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Apple, Final Cut Pro, iMac Pro, Mac, MacBook Pro, and macOS are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Thunderbolt is trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries. Adobe, Adobe Premiere, and After Effects are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Maxon and Cinema 4D are either registered or unregistered trademarks of MAXON Computer GmbH and its subsidiaries, MAXON Computer, Inc. and MAXON Computer, Ltd. Other product names used in this publication are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies. AMD + EGPU CASE STUDY In his own tests, Griggs said the speed improvements when using the Radeon Pro WX 9100 eGPU with a MacBook Pro for Maxon Cinema 4D are also dramatic. For a Radeon ProRender scene he created, the Radeon Pro WX 9100 eGPU took 10 minutes and 8 seconds to render the scene compared to more than 42 minutes for the laptop's internal Radeon Pro 560 integrated graphics. This is a benefit when working under tight deadlines. "With everything delivered digitally, if you're on a one- or two- day turnaround and someone's screaming at you, a half hour can make a difference," he said. With a performance increase of up to 4x 4 , the Radeon Pro WX 9100 eGPU in tandem with the MacBook Pro also has a creative impact, according to Griggs. "Quicker render times means quicker iteration which makes better images," he said. "You are starting to explore things with your creativity you would not have before because it would take 45 minutes to render. Now what you see is what you get, you can tweak and update while maintaining a continuous workflow." RADEON PRO WX 9100 EGPU CREATES FLEXIBILITY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES All these workflows can become even more efficient, as a single MacBook Pro or iMac Pro can support multiple Radeon Pro WX 9100 powered eGPUs through multiple Thunderbolt 3 connections. "You could create a scalable, modular workstation with multiple eGPUs combined with the powerful internal Radeon graphics cards the iMac Pro ships with," Griggs said. Griggs said this flexibility creates an upgrade path for the current generations of Macs for the first time, extending the performance of the hardware, critical for artists making a substantial capital investment in Apple hardware. He also enjoys the flexibility of hot-swapping eGPUs: when he needs optimal performance across all his video and graphics applications, Griggs can use the Radeon Pro WX 9100 eGPU to keep his MacBook Pro charged while essentially turning it into a desktop workstation. He can then simply disconnect the eGPU when the laptop's onboard GPU is sufficient. "The way this functionality has been implemented by Apple and AMD fixes a complex task," he said, noting that typically it is extremely difficult to hot swap an internal graphics card. "You plug the eGPU into the back of your computer and you're done—and your machine is three times more powerful." In addition to helping to protect investment in Apple hardware, the eGPU opens new competitive opportunities for independent digital content creators, he said. "With my AMD Radeon Pro eGPU box, I can compete with larger studios for certain tasks because I can deliver a high-quality product just as quickly as they can." He noted the different performance and price points of Radeon Pro graphics cards should make them accessible to most graphics content creators. Coupled with an eGPU enclosure, all will enhance the desktop experience when using a MacBook Pro, he said. Griggs added: "It is worth the investment, as when the eGPU setup is working with the Radeon Pro WX 9100 eGPU, it is truly awesome. ABOUT CREATIVE BLOKE Polishing Pixels since 1995 - Mike Griggs is the very definitive of a creative generalist. Mike can work as a solo practitioner or as an integrated VFX, motion graphic animator, 3D/VR artist or editor as part of your team. Alternatively Mike works with a range of other creative specialists to provide a wide range of video and installation work, and is a regular contributor to 3D World magazine. Mike has helped clients such as the BBC, the Natural History Museum, BP, The National Trust, the Science Museum, Castrol, Volvo, JC Decaux, Invensys, the British Library, Dynamic Earth, The Royal Museum of Scotland, the National Maritime Museum, UAE Expo 2010 and a wide range of other clients in Europe, the US, the Middle East. ABOUT AMD For more than 45 years AMD has driven innovation in high performance computing, graphics, and visualization technologies — the building blocks for gaming, immersive platforms, and the datacenter. Hundreds of millions of consumers, leading Fortune 500 businesses, and cutting-edge scientific research facilities around the world rely on AMD technology daily to improve how they live, work, and play. AMD employees around the world are focused on building great products that push the boundaries of what is possible. For more information about how AMD is enabling today and inspiring tomorrow, visit www.amd.com "The AMD Radeon Pro WX 9100 throws graphics and UI elements around the screen smoother than a hot knife through butter." Mike Griggs, Founder, Creative Bloke