# External GPU to speed up slicer running on an Imac

**URL:** <https://discourse.slicer.org/t/external-gpu-to-speed-up-slicer-running-on-an-imac/28381>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [March 14, 2023, 4:39pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/external-gpu-to-speed-up-slicer-running-on-an-imac/28381 "2023-03-14T16:39:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![philippepellerin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/philippepellerin/32/16062_2.png) [@philippepellerin](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/philippepellerin)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2023, 4:39pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/external-gpu-to-speed-up-slicer-running-on-an-imac/28381/1 "2023-03-14T16:39:08Z")

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I wonder whether I can use an external GPU to speed up my Imac when running Slicer. If so, is there some setting to do in Slicer or in my IMac?

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**Author:** ![hherhold](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/hherhold/32/12199_2.png) [@hherhold](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/hherhold)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2023, 5:54pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/external-gpu-to-speed-up-slicer-running-on-an-imac/28381/2 "2023-03-14T17:54:11Z")

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A more powerful GPU will help with volume rendering, and maybe viewing of polygonal models and such (depending on how low-grade or high-grade your current CPU is). But it won’t speed up general slicer operations. The best bang-for-the-buck for performance is more RAM (CPU, not GPU).

Unless you’re doing GPU-based machine learning and such, then it’s a different story. But my guess is you’re likely not doing that on a Mac. (Saying that sitting in front of my Mac.)

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**Author:** ![hherhold](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/hherhold/32/12199_2.png) [@hherhold](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/hherhold)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2023, 5:58pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/external-gpu-to-speed-up-slicer-running-on-an-imac/28381/3 "2023-03-14T17:58:06Z")

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make that low-grade or high-grade GPU, not CPU.

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**Author:** ![philippepellerin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/philippepellerin/32/16062_2.png) [@philippepellerin](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/philippepellerin)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2023, 6:14pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/external-gpu-to-speed-up-slicer-running-on-an-imac/28381/4 "2023-03-14T18:14:09Z")

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Thanks a lot for your answer, I got it.  
Best regards

Envoyé de mon iPhone