Apple Doesn't Allow External GPUs with M1/M2 Macs(support.apple.com)
support.apple.com
Apple Doesn't Allow External GPUs with M1/M2 Macs
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208544
3 comments
https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/457125/do-any-exte...
The top answer there is pretty handwavey:
> Since no eGPU is built on the same architecture as Apple silicon, there are no drivers for it.
While it might stop eGPU manufacturers from achieving the same level of system integration as Apple, there's no reason an integrated GPU can't coexist on a system with a dGPU. Multiple major GPU manufacturers ship ARM drivers, and presumably you can still run modern MacOS just fine with external graphics hardware.
The more likely answer seems to be that Apple is deliberately not focusing on this feature so they can sunset support for non-Apple GPU hardware.
> Since no eGPU is built on the same architecture as Apple silicon, there are no drivers for it.
While it might stop eGPU manufacturers from achieving the same level of system integration as Apple, there's no reason an integrated GPU can't coexist on a system with a dGPU. Multiple major GPU manufacturers ship ARM drivers, and presumably you can still run modern MacOS just fine with external graphics hardware.
The more likely answer seems to be that Apple is deliberately not focusing on this feature so they can sunset support for non-Apple GPU hardware.
I think it's mostly because Apple wants to sell M2 Ultra/Max series at absurd premiums.