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E
erots
Participant
July 30, 2019
Answered

Configure After Effects for eGPU

  • July 30, 2019
  • 6 replies
  • 9051 views

Hi everyone,

I just received my Razer Core X eGPU with an AMD WX 9100 graphics card. I now have it connected to my MacBook Pro via TB3. I also have my LG 5K display connected directly via TB to my MacBook.

My question now is how to configure After Effects to make the most use of this setup? I have really been trying to google and browse through out several forums and blogs, but I can't find a complete guide to this.

First of all, should I enable "Prefer external GPU" in the info panel in the Finder? As I far as I understand, After Effects should call for the external GPU anyway, right?

However, when I run After Affects without this enabled, the load on the eGPU is basically zero. I alos can't find the WX 9100 card in the "GPU Information" tab under settings.

My next question is the settings within After Effects. I guess I should use the "Mercury GPU Acceleration (Open CL)" and not the "Metal" one? I read somewhere in this forum that Metal is still not fully supported.

Anything else I should do?

Best regards,

Niklas

      This topic has been closed for replies.
      Correct answer Kevin-Monahan

      Hey Niklas,

      What's up? Sorry to hear that the eGPU is not working.

      how to configure After Effects to make the most use of this setup?

      We're not quite there yet with eGPU support, as I understand it, so I have to apologize for that. Please upvote this feature request so we can provide this support as soon as possible.

      On a positive note, eGPU support is available for Premiere Pro, so please check that out if you're a Premiere Pro user.

      Kind Regards,
      Kevin

      6 replies

      J
      joebowbeer
      Participant
      December 10, 2022

      Upvote here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects-ideas/egpu-external-graphics-support/idi-p/13229555

      A
      Community Expert
      anythingwilldoCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 17, 2022

      So, almost 3 years later and After Effects still can't work with an eGPU. What's the holdup Adobe?

      I am a Community Expert for Adobe
        EALS
        EALS
        Inspiring
        August 21, 2020

        Hey Niklas,

         

        I have a MackBook Pro (2018 i9, 32M,  1TB SSD) and a BlackMagic eGPU (560 Radeon), connected through TB3, and I can tell you: After Effects ignores all of it. The AE is eGPU enabled, the RAM shared is 27GB and the sracth disk (SSD) has 600GB. However, the app doesn't care about all of these, specially when there are audiotracks or short footage clips along the timeline. 

         

        It is very disappointing. What is it happening here?

         

        My best,

        edo

         

        The mackbook setup

        The AE recognizes the eGPU

         

        There is 27GB of RAM shared and no other Adobe app open

        Both AE apps are eGPU enabled

        E
        e3dnow
        Participant
        March 6, 2020

        Dear all. I have a work around of egpu and mac, although probably not verified by adobe yet. If you goto aplications, adobe aftereffects 2020 and right click 'get info' on the application itself, there is a checkbox for 'prefer gpu'. Tick that and restart after effects. You will see that the egpu is now being used.

          iSifoo
          iSifoo
          Participant
          May 23, 2020

          Thank you so much!!!!!!!

          C
          chunkarcade
          Participant
          November 11, 2019

          Is there any update on AE supporting eGPUs? I recently purchased a Razer Core and a Sapphire RX580 hoping that I'd finally be able to work though my AE projects at a reasonable pace on my Mac Mini. Was so disappointed when I started everything up and noticed a vast improvement with PS and Illustrator but absolutely no difference for AE...where I needed hardware help the most.

            T
            Tom Dalgarno
            Participant
            January 16, 2020

            Hi - I've got the same question as to when After Effects is likely to support eGPU's? An idea of timeframe would be good. I've not bought one yet and I'll be holding off on the purchase until After Effects supports them. Also a list of supported graphics cards for After Effects would be handy. I'm thinking definitely the Razer Core but I'm still looking at graphics cards. I'm a video editor who's doing more and more motion graphics and this last project really pushed my 2019 iMac (i9, Pro vega 48 8 GB, 24 GB ram). 

             

            Many thanks

            Kevin-Monahan
            Community Manager
            Kevin-MonahanCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
            Community Manager
            July 30, 2019

            Hey Niklas,

            What's up? Sorry to hear that the eGPU is not working.

            how to configure After Effects to make the most use of this setup?

            We're not quite there yet with eGPU support, as I understand it, so I have to apologize for that. Please upvote this feature request so we can provide this support as soon as possible.

            On a positive note, eGPU support is available for Premiere Pro, so please check that out if you're a Premiere Pro user.

            Kind Regards,
            Kevin

            Kevin Monahan - Sr. Community and Engagement Strategist – Adobe Pro Video and Audio
              2
              23b.production
              Participant
              August 19, 2019

              How can I configurate my Premiere for the eGpu?

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