[Success] AMD RX6000 Series working in macOS

[Gigamaxx]

Octane render are saying that Big Sur 11.3 should support 6800/6900 XT cards, can anyone confirm?

View topic - NEW: Octane X - is finally here! [MEGA FAQ THREAD]

View topic - NEW: Octane X - is finally here! [MEGA FAQ THREAD]

render.otoy.com

The 11.3 beta does not have support yet. It still needs the AMDRadeonx6000.kext support. The Framebuffer kext loads and the audio is recognized but no acceleration.

 

[Gigamaxx]

It still partially loads the FB, and Audio engine.

 

[TexTokyo]

C'mon Apple, just one last card before you go full M1! My 6800 is sitting in a box ready to go.

 

[reimertz]

C'mon Apple, just one last card before you go full M1! My 6800 is sitting in a box ready to go.

My card has been in my computer running unaccelerated for the past 2.5 months. I have honestly gotten used to it at this point.

 

[thedocbwarren]

C'mon Apple, just one last card before you go full M1! My 6800 is sitting in a box ready to go.

I'm thinking unless they really are going to do anything more with the Intel Macs they might but I really doubt it. It's possible though as they are discontinuing the iMac Pro, so perhaps they bump one more time with the Mac Pro.

 

[sladej]

I'm thinking unless they really are going to do anything more with the Intel Macs they might but I really doubt it. It's possible though as they are discontinuing the iMac Pro, so perhaps they bump one more time with the Mac Pro.

They are still going to need a discrete GPU solution for their high end Arm machines that replace the Mac Pro. Currently, the highest end configuration of the Mac Pro comes with the equivalent of 4x Radeon VII's. So the big question is whether Apple will design its own discrete GPUs or partner with AMD for their high end Arm machines.

 

[dehjomz]

With samsung considering embedding radeon tech into its ARM-based exynos chipset, makes you wonder if Apple couldn't do the same with its M-series chips.

 

[pastrychef]

The GPU in the M1 SoC is already a custom Apple design.

Apple used to use Imagination Technologies GPUs in their iPhones and moved to GPUs of their own design years ago.

 

[sladej]

The GPU in the M1 SoC is already a custom Apple design.

Apple used to use Imagination Technologies GPUs in their iPhones and moved to GPUs of their own design years ago.

Right, Apple has been designing their own integrated mobile GPUs for a while now using Imagination IP, and they are great for their laptops/tablets and low to mid end desktops. But going from an integrated mobile GPU to a full blown discrete GPU is not a trivial task. They could choose to scale up their mobile GPU designs to something that performs at the level of a high end discrete GPU. Or, because good high end discrete GPUs that they are already using are available, and this only affects one or two machines at the high end that they sell at low volume, they might just stick with AMD.

 

[pastrychef]

Right, Apple has been designing their own integrated mobile GPUs for a while now using Imagination IP, and they are great for their laptops/tablets and low to mid end desktops. But going from an integrated mobile GPU to a full blown discrete GPU is not a trivial task. They could choose to scale up their mobile GPU designs to something that performs at the level of a high end discrete GPU. Or, because good high end discrete GPUs that they are already using are available, and this only affects one or two machines at the high end that they sell at low volume, they might just stick with AMD.

From the reviews I've read, the GPU in the Apple Silicon SoC is already outperforming RX 560. On desktop systems where heat and power consumption are less of a concern, they can scale it up.

Apple signed a new licensing deal with Imagination Technologies in 2020 to bring Ray Tracing to their GPUs. I doubt they would go through the trouble of doing that if they were just going to use someone else's graphics chips...

Apple’s Imagination Technologies deal is all about ray tracing and AR

Apple and GPU designer Imagination Technologies forged a mysterious new multi-year agreement, almost certainly to bring ray tracing to Apple devices.

venturebeat.com

Lastly, Apple released the MacPro6,1 in 2013 and it wasn't until December 2019 that they released the MacPro7,1. So, there's no guarantee that there will be another Intel based Mac Pro release before the entire lineup goes Apple Silicon.