Thunderbolt solutions summary

Hi everyone,

First time writing here.. I'm looking for a Thunderbolt eGPU since I bought my Mac Mini in 2011.
Sadly the GUS II is still not in production. I'm googling every week hoping to find a new product on the market but it's just not happening. I figured I might as well join the DYI train so I started a comparison of what's available.

If it can help anyone looking for information or if anybody would like to complete, I made a spreadsheet of several enclosures money can buy:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ap81q1JRM547dE5HqamVJa2RGWjlkMFpmVVA0b1E#gid=0
The forum is breaking the URL because it contains W T F
Here's the tinyurl: http://tinyurl.com/q6ownju

Cheers,
A

 

Hey Musyne,

Welcome to the forums! The link you posted didn't work for me, but it is true that thunderbolt enclosures haven't exactly been growing lately.

Also, which Mac Mini do you have? I own a 2012 quad core mac mini with intel 4000 (no d-gpu) and I have it connected to a Vidock using the sonnet echo thunderbolt/expresscard adapter. But since my setup doesn't have a discrete card, pairing it is much simpler.

 

I have the 2011 with AMD 6630M.
I'd like to avoid to go trough expresscard because it seems an additional unnecessary conversion but perhaps it's the best option right now...

Also, can I ask you why do you have a Vidock since you have the Sonnet Echo Pro?

 

well its not going to be such a simple feat... with a dgpu inside you are going to have to alter the way bootcamp is held and so forth

but here is the list of the ones i remember

owc helios
mlogic mlink
CUBE
sonnet echo express

I know Im forgetting some

 

I use the vidock because the Vidock itself is an expresscard solution. The Sonnet echo is an adapter between the vidock and mac mini that transfers the expresscard to the vidock port (mac mini doesn't have an expresscard slot, just TB port).

 

Hi, I'm new to this forum and I am wondering why the mlogic mlink is not a viable option? If it can be opened up like http://www.frostythis place.com/index.php?story_id=12549
Apparently it comes with a universal power adapter. All you would need to do is add a power supply for the other two pin slots of the gfx card. Would that work?

 

Here is another example of running a pcie card off of an open logic mlink. mLogic mLink - Lynx Support Forum Maybe a smaller card gfx like a zotac 660ti AMP would fit?