The implementation of eGPUs in macOS allows users who require a lot of graphics to work with the MacBook Pro without any problem. It is intended for video editors, photography, developers, but also to make a real team for video games.
In the last hours we know the test of playing Fortnite on an LG Ultrafine 5k screen, running on a MacBook Pro from 2018, with a 13-inch screen and the help of the Blackmagic eGPU. The new Intel i5 quad-core processor is a guarantee of performance. In contrast, the graphics capabilities of the new MacBook Pro have barely progressed.
The test used a 5120 × 2880 resolution, with high graphics settings. The first impression is a very high quality of graphics, as well as a correct fluidity. With this resolution, we can get between 30 and 32 frames per second. This 5k figure provides great realism. The reason is obvious, as the 5k has practically twice the megapixels of the 4k resolution.
With this maximum resolution, the only negative part is the excessive consumption of resources, which causes the fans of the MacBook Pro to work continuously. Therefore, one solution is to reduce the quality of the graphics. With medium setting and 5k, the appearance is practically the same, instead, the fans stop working. Right now the frame rate is 40 per second, more than enough at this resolution.
Instead, other tests have been done by lowering the resolution to 4k, both on the LG monitor and other 4k monitors. The result is somewhat poorer, even though it is possible to run the game at 50 or even 60 frames per second. The image is somewhat blurry, more than optimal for most gamers, but it is not the same extreme quality that we see on the 5k monitor. Maybe the most representative of the test is the ability of the Blackmagic eGPU to work without the fans having to turn on constantly, a sign of its high quality.