How to Use a Blackmagic eGPU with an Older Mac

Before attempting to set up your Blackmagic eGPU with an older Mac, it is crucial to ensure that you disconnect the eGPU first. In the past, setting up an eGPU required installing a patch and altering the OS, which can be time-consuming and potentially risky. Fortunately, things have changed, and now you can simply download an automate-eGPU EFI zip file, copy it to a USB thumb drive, and boot from it.

However, it is essential to note that there is still a risk of damaging your Mac if something goes wrong during the process. This could result in losing all your files and requiring you to reinstall MacOS from scratch. Therefore, make sure to back up any important data on your device before proceeding.

To set up your Blackmagic eGPU with an older Mac, you will need to disable system integrity protection and run a script to alter macOS. Installing the patch requires Admin privileges, but it is a relatively straightforward process that does not require extensive technical knowledge.

When setting up our Mac to work with an eGPU for the first time, we found it necessary to download and install a patch. Therefore, do not proceed without backing up your device, as you may need to reinstall MacOS if something goes wrong.

Using a Blackmagic eGPU with an Older Mac: What You Need

Before beginning, we recommend that you back up your Mac. For our test, we did not use an external display, as we were more interested in the performance of video and photography editing apps. With Mojave running, you no longer need to have an external display connected for it to work – unless you want to, of course.

You will also need to be running the latest macOS, which at the time of writing is MacOS Mojave 10.14.5. Additionally, you will require a separate Thunderbolt 2 to USB-C cable. If you have previously plugged anything into your Thunderbolt port, you likely already have one.

We recommend using Apple's own Thunderbolt 2 to USB-C cable, which we know works and should continue to work after any software updates ($49). If you want to use an eGPU with an older MacBook with a Thunderbolt 1 interface, you will require a USB-C to Thunderbolt adaptor. Before starting, ensure that you buy the correct hardware and have a compatible Mac.

By following these steps and precautions, you should be able to successfully set up your Blackmagic eGPU with an older Mac and enjoy improved performance in video and photography editing apps.

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