Apple Silicon Macs gain eGPU support for AI workloads as Apple approves TinyGPU driver

Apple approves drivers that let AMD and Nvidia eGPUs run on Mac -- software designed for AI, though, and not built for gaming

Apple has just reportedly signed drivers for Nvidia eGPUs, allowing them to finally work on Apple silicon devices. Tiny Corp said in its X post that the company has finally approved the software, letting users pair the GPUs with Macs for AI LLM processing. In fact, the company claims that installing the drivers is now so easy that "a Qwen could do it." The company first tested an eGPU on Apple Silicon in May 2025, but now that it's supported by Apple, it means that users no longer have to use workarounds for supported hardware, like disabling System Integrity Protection, to get the system working. Tiny Corp is the company behind the tinybox, an AI accelerator built around four high-end GPUs. It was famously known for butting heads with AMD due to driver issues, with AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su stepping in just to get things right. At the moment, the company is selling the red v2, which is powered by four AMD 9070XTs and costs $12,000, and the green v2 Blackwell, which costs $65,000 and has four RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell GPUs. It's also planning to launch the exabox in 2027, which will come with 720 RDNA5 AT0 XL GPUs to deliver around 1 exaflop of computing power for around $10 million. High-end Apple computers recently became popular with the rise of AI agents like OpenClaw. In fact, this frenzy has driven a shortage of Macs that came with massive amounts of Unified Memory, with the delivery window pushed from six days to six weeks. It has even gotten to the point that Cupertino no longer offers the 512GB Unified Memory option for the Mac Studio, while the 256GB model received a $400 price bump. This custom driver seemingly did not come from the GPU maker, though, with Tiny Corp seemingly working on it on its own. Subsequently, this means that the driver is designed for running AI LLMs and not for gaming, surely disappointing people who don't want to own two different PCs for work and entertainment. Nevertheless, this is still a game-changer for people working with artificial intelligence, as they could now potentially do training or inference (with some limitations) without needing a dedicated AI supercomputer like Tiny Box. Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News, or add us as a preferred source, to get our latest news, analysis, & reviews in your feeds.

Your OpenClaw Mac Mini can now run larger local AI models, thanks to this officially approved eGPU driver

* Apple approved TinyGPU drivers for AMD and NVIDIA on macOS. * Mac Mini can use eGPUs via Thunderbolt/USB4 to run larger local AI models. * TinyGPU's GitHub page includes installation steps; it's easy to set up and boosts model capabilities. Did you know that some Apple Store employees are jokingly referring to the Mac Mini as the "OpenClaw machine"? While the computer made a decent splash when it was first released, people quickly learned that it was excellent at hosting their OpenClaw agents. It's mighty, it's cheap to run, and its small size means you can tuck it away and forget about it. Well, the tiny corp has been hard at work getting their TinyGPU drivers working properly with the Mac Mini, which would allow people to run larger models locally. If that sounds good to you, you'll be pleased to hear that Apple has officially approved TinyGPU's drivers for both AMD and Nvidia. Not only will your AI models love it, but you'll have the confidence that your drivers have the official backing from the Mac Mini's creator. 4 reasons the Mac Mini can be the perfect home server for the right person The Mac Mini won't be perfect for everyone, but it's a surprisingly good piece of kit for home lab enthusiasts. Posts By Adam Conway Apple accepts the tiny corp's drivers for TinyGPU Now we're cooking with gas As spotted by TechRadar, the tiny corp announced on its X feed that its GPU driver, TinyGPU, has now been accepted by Apple. If you've not heard of it before, TinyGPU allows you to hook up an AMD or Nvidia GPU to macOS, and while the Mac Mini is a little on the small side to fit a 5090 in it, you can use an external dock instead. Given how people have been picking up Mac Minis to help power their AI agents, this is huge news for people who want to squeeze more power out of their miniature computer. The drivers should let the Mac Mini tap into the power of a GPU, enabling better, larger AI models to run on it. All the instructions to get it working are linked in the GitHub page above, so be sure to check it out if you're interested. 5 reasons the Mac Mini is the best prebuilt PC for most people I'd recommend it to almost anyone Posts 8 By João Carrasqueira

TinyGPU driver transforms Apple Silicon Macs into AI beasts

* TinyGPU enables external GPUs to run AI models directly on Macs * Users can now leverage AMD and Nvidia cards without bypassing protections * TinyGPU supports macOS 12.1 and later with Thunderbolt or USB4 Apple Silicon Macs have long been praised for their efficiency and tight hardware-software integration, but they have not been ideal for external GPU use. That changed when Apple officially approved TinyGPU, a driver enabling eGPUs to function as AI accelerators on Apple Silicon machines. The approval means that users can now leverage high-performance AMD and Nvidia cards for AI tasks without needing to bypass system protections like SIP. Official Approval Unlocks AI Potential for Mac Users "If you have a Thunderbolt or USB4 eGPU and a Mac, today is the day you've been waiting for! Apple finally approved our driver for both AMD and NVIDIA," TinyCorp said on X. TinyGPU's functionality focuses exclusively on AI workloads rather than traditional graphics output, allowing complex models to run directly on a Mac Mini or other supported Apple Silicon devices. The TinyGPU driver supports macOS 12.1 or later, along with devices equipped with USB4 or Thunderbolt 3 and 4 ports. AMD GPUs from the RDNA3 generation onward and Nvidia cards from the Ampere series are compatible. Users can run AMD workloads natively, while Nvidia GPUs require a Docker Desktop setup to execute AI computations through NVCC. Once the driver is installed and approved in the system, even demanding AI models such as Qwen 2.5 27B can run effectively. TinyGPU's framework, tinygrad, provides the necessary computational interface, offering a streamlined approach for AI acceleration that had previously been impossible. The timing of this development coincides with the permanent discontinuation of the Mac Pro. Apple has removed the Mac Pro from its website, redirecting the flagship model's page to the general Mac homepage. Reports indicate that no new Mac Pro hardware is planned, effectively ending a line that had only seen three updates over the past fourteen years. Rumors of an M4 Ultra variant never materialized, suggesting limited sales and a perceived lack of demand for high-end desktop configurations. For many, this shift leaves Apple Silicon Macs without a modular workstation alternative -- until now, eGPUs provide a viable route for users who require substantial AI performance. The combination of TinyGPU with a Mac Mini or other Apple Silicon systems opens new possibilities for professionals and enthusiasts alike. The ability to connect external GPUs and run AI tools directly on macOS introduces a level of flexibility. As TinyCorp noted, "It's so easy to install now a Qwen could do it, then it can run that Qwen," reflecting the driver's accessibility and impact. While Apple has moved away from traditional workstation hardware, eGPU support now lets users turn modest devices into AI-capable systems. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button! And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

Your Apple Silicon-Powered Mac Now Supports eGPU, Tiny Corp Claims

* Apple's new M-powered devices do not support eGPUs * Intel-powered Mac devices did support eGPUs * Apple has yet to confirm this development officially Apple introduced its first proprietary M1 processor for Mac desktop computers and laptops more than half a decade ago, in November 2020. Until then, Apple computers were equipped with Intel processors. However, with the introduction of Apple Silicon for Mac devices, the Cupertino-based tech giant silently removed the support for external Nvidia and AMD eGPUs, which come in handy when a user requires additional graphics processing ability. Now, the functionality is returning to Apple desktop computers, as a software firm has announced that Apple has approved its drivers for AMD and Nvidia eGPUs for use on Apple Silicon-powered devices. Mac Devices With M-Series Processors Can Now Support AMD, Nvidia eGPUs In a post on X, tech firm Tiny Corp has announced that Apple's desktop computers, which are powered by Apple Silicon M-series processors. The company highlighted that its drivers have been approved by the Cupertino-based tech giant, which can now be used to support eGPUs on Apple Silicon-powered Mac devices. The company further added that Mac computers will now support both AMD and Nvidia eGPUs via its drivers. Users who have a "Thunderbolt or USB 4 eGPU" from either of the US-based GPU makers, AMD and Nvidia, can now connect the externally-connected GPUs with their M-series processor-powered Mac devices. However, the eGPU support is not for graphic acceleration or gaming; rather, the eGPUs on a Mac will help in executive AI-based tasks and data processing, which also require high GPU power. "It's so easy to install now, a Qwen could do it, then it can run that Qwen," the company highlighted. Typically, eGPUs provide extra on-demand graphics processing when a user requires it. In recent years, AI researchers and other developers who run AI models locally also need the enhanced capabilities of eGPUs. While integrated GPUs on Apple Silicon M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5 processors, and their Ultra and Max variants, are also powerful, they might not meet everyone's demands. Hence, eGPUs become an essential component for advanced AI tasks. Mac devices powered by Intel processors came with support for eGPUs. However, with the introduction of the Apple Silicon M1 processor in November 2020 during the 'One More Thing' virtual event, the Cupertino-based tech giant silently removed support for the same.