Nov 14, 2017  Graphics Card Upgrade for Mac Pro 1,1. Discussion in 'Mac Pro. I'm using Yosemite already and I'm not concerned about the lack of boot screen – I'm just curious which cards actually work with the 1,1 since there's conflicting evidence in some of the threads here. Tried all ports. Had been using Snow Leopard. I just upgraded to El.

I'm looking for advice. Vray 3.6 for 3ds max. I recently acquired an older 30-inch apple Cinema Display.

And I would like to use it as a 3rd monitor with my 13-inch Mid-2012 MBP running El Capitan 10.11.6. Currently, I have a 27-inch Thunderbolt display connected to my MacBook via a Thunderbolt port and it works great.

However, I find my self needing more visual real-estate when using ProTools (For those unfamiliar, ProTools it's a Digital Audio Workstation for home studio/professional recording. I use it in a home studio environment.) At any rate, I'm stuck in El Capitan due to licensing restrictions so I'm un-able to update to a newer OS.

(If I update my OS, I loose too many licenses previous installed) In addition, I don't need an eGPU for gaming. I simply want to use 2 large monitors for ProTools. One monitor for the mix window and the other monitor for the edit window.

And, the laptop screen to view pop-up plug-in windows. I'm thinking that I might be able to connect the 30-inch Cinema Display to an eGPU card housed in an external box of some kind like an Akito Node or Bizon Box of some sort that would connect to the back of the 27-inch Thunderbolt display that I'm currently running, via a Thunderbolt port. Or, as a 2nd option, perhaps I could run both my monitors off the eGPU. I can only imagine that graphic demands of ProTools is a mere fraction of what Gamers command of their systems.

So, I don't believe I would need a high end graphics card. I only need something that would support the 30-inch Cinema Display or both the Thunderbolt display and the Cinema Display. However, after searching this site and web, I have not been able to definitely conclude if my older MBP would be capable of hosting an eGPU at all. Is my system too old & lame for an eGPU? Does anyone have any knowledge to share or guidance to point me toward?

If so, I would be much appreciated. I see your point. I'll have to explore that option. I've been reading and researching. I've estimated that the cost it would take to implement a eGPU with my current system just to get the 30-inch ACD working would be at least the same cost if not more than it would to buy a 2nd 27-inch Thunderbolt monitor. On a more positive note, if I upgrade the OS, I now see that it has more advantages or conviences to say the least. To take it a step further, upgrading the hardware/computer would be more cost effective solution (not considering the licenses-but that's a different situation all together).

I just thought that when I scored a 30-inch monitor for next to nothing, I would be able to use it in the same vain. So, I suppose an eGPU & a 3rd monitor for this particular application/situation is not the best option. I guess I'll have to figure out in a different thread how to find a work-around for the software license issues when I upgrade (Some ideas come to mind already). Thanks for the insight/guidance.

There are multiple constraints in your proposed setup that make it not cost effective after all said and done. Let's start with the iGPU of the mid 2012 13' MacBook Pro. It can support the internal display and up to 2560 x 1600 pixels on an external display.