TVAI benchmarks: Mac mini Intel + eGPU vs. M2 MacBook Air

Topaz Video AI General
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Just FYI - I’m thinking about getting a new system to run TVAI and other image processing apps faster. Top level decision is whether to buy the top compatible eGPU for my Intel Mac Mini or buy a different computer altogether.

I have a maxed-out Intel Mac Mini with an RX 5700 XT eGPU. I also have a maxed-out MacBook Air M2. I’ve benchmarked both in TVAI 3.3.8. The attached table shows results and the text file shows test configurations.

Summary is that the M2 MacBook Air ran the benchmark anywhere from ~150% to ~700% faster than the Mini. The M2 drew 41 Watts maximum. The Mini + eGPU drew ~700 Watts maximum. The M2 cost $2400. The Mini + eGPU cost ~$4000.

The M2 cost half as much, used 5% of the energy, and delivered twice as much throughput. My choice is clear. Next machine will be a maxed-out Mac Studio Ultra, not a top-end eGPU. I may wait until an M3 version is released. I’ll keep the Mini because of Apple silicon software compatibility issues, but it’ll be the last Intel system I own.

Benchmark configs
Benchmark configs1950×1841 324 KB

TVAI benchmarks
TVAI benchmarks2266×1604 306 KB

1 Like
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FYI, I will post my systems hare below with their benchmarks, this tested with the latest 3,4,0,0 TVEAI posted yesterday 15/08/23, I was also thinking about purchasing a more powerful system like the Mac Studio Ultra but in the end (if time waiting is critical…) I purchased a new PC.

So if TIME is a constraint you can (in my country) buy a complete top PC for 40% of the MAC Ultra price AND you can always add/change parts in the system…

I hope this helps you out :slight_smile:

Topaz Video AI v3.4.0
System Information
OS: Mac v13.05
CPU: Apple M1 16 GB
GPU: Apple M1 10.667 GB
Processing Settings
device: 0 vram: 1 instances: 1
Input Resolution: 1920x1080
Benchmark Results
Artemis 1X: 03.64 fps 2X: 02.49 fps 4X: 01.02 fps
Iris 1X: 03.06 fps 2X: 00.35 fps 4X: ERR fps
Proteus 1X: 03.73 fps 2X: 02.48 fps 4X: 00.98 fps
Gaia 1X: 01.22 fps 2X: 00.90 fps 4X: 00.70 fps
4X Slowmo Apollo: 03.83 fps APFast: 16.05 fps Chronos: 01.30 fps CHFast: 01.97 fps

Topaz Video AI v3.4.0
System Information
OS: Mac v13.05
CPU: Apple M1 Pro 32 GB
GPU: Apple M1 Pro 21.333 GB
Processing Settings
device: 0 vram: 1 instances: 1
Input Resolution: 1920x1080
Benchmark Results
Artemis 1X: 06.15 fps 2X: 03.90 fps 4X: 01.52 fps
Iris 1X: 07.52 fps 2X: 00.73 fps 4X: ERR fps
Proteus 1X: 05.64 fps 2X: 04.11 fps 4X: 01.50 fps
Gaia 1X: 01.89 fps 2X: 01.44 fps 4X: 01.11 fps
4X Slowmo Apollo: 06.31 fps APFast: 26.81 fps Chronos: 01.94 fps CHFast: 03.33 fps

Topaz Video AI  v3.4.0
System Information
OS: Windows v11.22
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-10900K CPU @ 3.70GHz  31.813 GB
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080  9.8311 GB
Processing Settings
device: 0 vram: 1 instances: 0
Input Resolution: 1920x1080
Benchmark Results
Artemis		1X: 	18.55 fps 	2X: 	09.74 fps 	4X: 	02.80 fps 	
Iris		1X: 	13.53 fps 	2X: 	07.31 fps 	4X: 	02.34 fps 	
Proteus		1X: 	15.44 fps 	2X: 	08.37 fps 	4X: 	02.74 fps 	
Gaia		1X: 	06.25 fps 	2X: 	04.35 fps 	4X: 	02.81 fps 	
4X Slowmo		Apollo: 	20.28 fps 	APFast: 	54.25 fps 	Chronos: 	14.13 fps 	CHFast: 	21.18 fps

Topaz Video AI v3.4.0
System Information
OS: Windows v11.22
CPU: 13th Gen Intel(R) Core™ i9-13900KF 127.79 GB
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 23.59 GB
Processing Settings
device: 0 vram: 1 instances: 0
Input Resolution: 1920x1080
Benchmark Results
Artemis 1X: 40.76 fps 2X: 16.92 fps 4X: 04.88 fps
Iris 1X: 28.47 fps 2X: 13.76 fps 4X: 04.34 fps
Proteus 1X: 33.65 fps 2X: 15.83 fps 4X: 05.28 fps
Gaia 1X: 15.42 fps 2X: 10.54 fps 4X: 04.83 fps
4X Slowmo Apollo: 42.61 fps APFast: 82.39 fps Chronos: 33.91 fps CHFast: 35.58 fps

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Wow, thanks for the input! Wish I seen this before! Last week I bought a RX 6800 XT with ChromeX enclosure, but my Topaz keeps crashing every 20 minutes and seems like my iMac can’t handle the thunderbolt power or speed…

So you’re saying having an M2 GPU is much better? I was looking at the Mac Studio as well.