[ad_1]
The new Mac M1s have taken the Web by storm with news of their amazing performance, an admirable feat for Apple’s first stab at an ARM-based desktop chip. Apple Silicon ran in circles around its Intel counterparts and even outperformed older desktop GPUs from NVIDIA and AMD. Despite that, MacBooks could probably perform even better if paired with an external graphics card or eGPU. Sadly, that wasn’t officially the case, but it might actually only be a matter of time before eGPU support for macOS Big Sur on M1 Macs returns.
To be fair, the exclusion of eGPU support was expected, but it was also disappointing. The move to an ARM architecture meant that older device drivers would not work directly on newer Macs, even and especially with emulation. Apple had to prioritize which peripherals it wanted to work with the Mac M1s from day one and eGPUs may not be that critical for most of its users anyway. Furthermore, Apple wanted to flaunt the superior graphics capabilities of the M1 Silicon, without any outside help.
But even though eGPU support was officially off the list, it seems the basics are still there in Big Sur anyway. AppleInsider reports that the OS is capable of detecting eGPUs like Blackmagic and Razer Core X connected to Macs. Displays connected via Thunderbolt 3 ports on eGPUs also work normally, but act more like a pass-through. They stop working if connected directly to the cards.
The site theorizes that the lack of drivers is the main reason for retaining eGPU support, which wouldn’t be surprising. There’s also the factor that Apple’s implementation is a bit more mysterious and takes longer to get working again. EGPU support is not exactly standardized yet, even on Intel-based computers.
When that support finally arrives, it’s still up in the air and Apple might not be in a rush if the number of Mac eGPU users is pretty small in the first place. Most likely, it will focus more on boosting the M1’s graphical prowess to the point where most users won’t feel the need for anything other than Apple’s GPUs anyway.
