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'09 Mac Pro -Video card update needed!

W

whyrichard

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Aug 15, 2002
1,710
6
Hello Wonderful mac community!

I have an aging '09 mac pro, which I would like to keep using for a few more years...

My workflow is currently using parallels to use rhino 6. The video seems very problematic, which is unsurprising as my video card in my 9 year old mac pro is quite old!

Can someone please recommend a video card which I could easily install on my '09 mac pro quad, which is much more up to date and relatively affordable?


Thank you so much!
Richard
 
GTX680 4GB or HD7950 (AKA R9 280), then flash it by yourself.

If you want to know more about the “flash”, the search function can help.
 
You need to research for your software choices. I’m not familiar with either. I know what they are, but don’t know the performance characteristics of either.
 
whyrichard said:
My use case: 3D Modeling using windows Rhino 6 through a Parallels Desktop VM on a 27" Apple Display...

thank you super helpful!

r.
Click to expand...

Parallel can’t quite “transfer” the GPU power to the virtual machine anyway. But you can still give the virtual GPU more VRAM if you upgrade to a 3GB graphic card.
 
h9826790 said:
Parallel can’t quite “transfer” the GPU power to the virtual machine anyway. But you can still give the virtual GPU more VRAM if you upgrade to a 3GB graphic card.
Click to expand...

I'll try the video card you recommended, thank you!
For the record, it seems that Rhino 6 requires a newer open gl version than my video card has, as well as parallels can simulate.

hope this works!
How to flash so it can work in osx??? and how to install the correct bootcamp driver so I can use it correctly in windows 7 bootcamp?

thank you all!

Richard
 
whyrichard said:
I'll try the video card you recommended, thank you!
For the record, it seems that Rhino 6 requires a newer open gl version than my video card has, as well as parallels can simulate.

hope this works!
How to flash so it can work in osx??? and how to install the correct bootcamp driver so I can use it correctly in windows 7 bootcamp?

thank you all!

Richard
Click to expand...

Which card will mean? 680 / 7950 has different flash process.

Just go to the AMD / Nvidia web page, download and install the latest driver. Windows is just Windows, bootcamp has nothing to do about your self installed GPU.
 
What is an XFX card? why a high chance of trouble?

thanks,
r.


h9826790 said:
Better avoid XFX card, high chance having trouble.

It's much cheaper and better to get a reference 7970, and then flash it by yourself. The reference card come with dual ROM, basically flash failed proof. As long as you leave one of the ROM untouched, you won't brick the card.
Click to expand...
 
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