Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

2006 Mac Pro with 2011 Apple Cinema Display?

R

rr212

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 10, 2015
8
2
Hi,

I recently got a Mac Pro its a 2006 model, and I want it to work with my 27" Apple Cinema Display.
It requires a Mini Displayport, which my 2006 Mac Pro doesn't have, and I'm looking to upgrade the graphic card, please anyone can guide me to which graphic cards are compatible? I want something with 2GB and up, or even a 1GB.

Sorry I'm entirely new to graphic cards.

Thanks!
 
I suggest ATI HD 5770 which has 1GB GDDR5 or an HD 7950 with 3GB GDDR5 memory.

The first option is officially supported card by Apple, the second was released for Macs by Sapphire but it's hard to find and very expensive. There are options for PC Cards that you can Flash for Mac to have boot screens and full hardware recognition by the system.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rr212
The HD 7xxx series only works on 10.8+, so if he is using an officially supported OS, a HD 5xxx card is the best choice.
The problem is, that most PC HD 5xxx cards are not able to drive a Apple Cinema Display (because of hardware incompatibility if I recall correctly what MVC said), so you'd have to got for a expensive official one.

If you don't need bootscreens, you could also install any supported PC card, given you're using a modern version of OS X.
 
Option 1:

So I have GeForce 7300GT 256MB (2006 MacBook) it had dual DIV, if I get Mini Displayport female to female coupler
and Mini displayport to DIV cable - Will this work on my Cinema Display?


Option 2:
Just buy Apple NVIDIA GT 120 - Will this work on my Cinema Display?

-- Im trying to avoide speding a lot of money, and the suggested ATI HD 5770 over my budget unfortunately.
 
DVI -> DisplayPort doesn't work (at least not without active converters, which would be expensive if they even exist).
GT 120 has EFI64, so no-go for a MP1,1.

What OS do you plan to run? There are more options when going 10.8+.
If you don't need a bootscreen, you'll get even more options.
 
Fl0r!an said:
DVI -> DisplayPort doesn't work (at least not without active converters, which would be expensive if they even exist).
GT 120 has EFI64, so no-go for a MP1,1.

What OS do you plan to run? There are more options when going 10.8+.
If you don't need a bootscreen, you'll get even more options.
Click to expand...
Fl0r!an said:
DVI -> DisplayPort doesn't work (at least not without active converters, which would be expensive if they even exist).
GT 120 has EFI64, so no-go for a MP1,1.

What OS do you plan to run? There are more options when going 10.8+.
If you don't need a bootscreen, you'll get even more options.
Click to expand...


Well my Mp1.1 have no OSX installed at all, its ruining windows 10 64 bit, do you think I can install 64-bit GT 120?
 
rr212 said:
Well my Mp1.1 have no OSX installed at all, its ruining windows 10 64 bit, do you think I can install 64-bit GT 120?
Click to expand...

There is this topic about a Nvidia 120GT that booted on a 2006 Mac Pro HERE. Though I am not sure if the mini-display port connection would work on a 2011 ACD. It was not specified in that discussion what connection was used. Another graphic card that works on your Mac Pro is the Radeon 4870 which has a mini-display port connection. I am not sure how much it will cost in UK or Europe. The Radeon 5870 is another choice but may not fit your budget.
 
Your MacPro has a 32bit EFI, so it will never be able to leverage a EFI64 card, so buying a GT120 Mac card would be wasted money.

In Windows every card you can think of will work (obviously without bootscreens). If you'll never want to use OS X in this machine, just buy anything. The R9 270X will work in OS X 10.8.4 and above.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rr212
rr212 said:
Hi, I dont really need the bootscreen, I mean I can always use BootChamp... do you think I can than use any Graphic Card? What you think of: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/xfx-rad...1002.p?id=1219068840893&skuId=2091002&cmp=RMX
Click to expand...

Just to share, if you can stretch your budget with the GPU, in this video a guy successfully installed an unflashed Nvidia 980GTX 4G graphic card into his 2006 1,1 Mac Pro. At the end of the video the card booted fine without a boot screen in Yosemite. He only use two 6 pin power cables. Would be a cool upgrade for you.

 
  • Like
Reactions: rr212
Although your old card might be a bit long in the tooth, I've got my ACD connected via a mdp to dual link dvi adapter. Works like a champ. No need for a new video card if you don't want. Been running great for over a year.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    760.2 KB · Views: 146
  • Like
Reactions: rr212
Hi everyone here's some update.

Earlier today, I want to BestBuy and bought the Radeon R9 270X 2GB ($159.99), installed it on my Mac Pro 1.1, and it works just fine. Since I have removed OSX entirely from my HD, I had little control over the screen-brightness... but I came a cross a tool called Brightness Control, and that solved my issue. So far so good. Thanks to each of you for your advice. Enjoying my ACD with (to me new) Mac Pro with no bootscreen :)

rawweb said:
Although your old card might be a bit long in the tooth, I've got my ACD connected via a mdp to dual link dvi adapter. Works like a champ. No need for a new video card if you don't want. Been running great for over a year.
Click to expand...

Maybe you can give us a link to where we can buy that? just curious if it over $100? please tell us the model number and manufacture. And thanks!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fl0r!an
rawweb said:
Although your old card might be a bit long in the tooth, I've got my ACD connected via a mdp to dual link dvi adapter. Works like a champ. No need for a new video card if you don't want. Been running great for over a year.
Click to expand...

This is a Dual Link DVI to MDP adapter, mdp to dual link dvi is the other way.

Not the same brand, but I found this, and it's the cheapest: https://www.macfixit.com.au/kanex-dual-link-dvi-to-minidisplayport-adapter.html

I myself I'm happy with the Atlona AT-DP400. Supports resolutions up to 2560×1600:
Atlona 1.png Atlona 2.png
 
Last edited:
rr212 said:
Hi everyone here's some update.

Earlier today, I want to BestBuy and bought the Radeon R9 270X 2GB ($159.99), installed it on my Mac Pro 1.1, and it works just fine. Since I have removed OSX entirely from my HD, I had little control over the screen-brightness... but I came a cross a tool called Brightness Control, and that solved my issue. So far so good. Thanks to each of you for your advice. Enjoying my ACD with (to me new) Mac Pro with no bootscreen :)



Maybe you can give us a link to where we can buy that? just curious if it over $100? please tell us the model number and manufacture. And thanks!
Click to expand...

Congrats on your new GPU. Hope you are able to find an adapter to connect your 2011 ACD to your GPU. Kanex is a good brand as suggested.
 
He doesn't need any adapters, the R9 270X always comes with DisplayPort :)

As I said there's little reason to go for an active adapter solution as they'll easily be more expensive than a new (= also more powerful) GPU.
 
Yes, I realize now the Radeon R9 270X has already DP, only a little adapter for mDP of the Apple DP2MDPMF6IN.main.jpg Cinema Display is needed.
 
Fl0r!an said:
He doesn't need any adapters, the R9 270X always comes with DisplayPort :)

As I said there's little reason to go for an active adapter solution as they'll easily be more expensive than a new (= also more powerful) GPU.
Click to expand...

Thanks for heads up. Probably the adapter Synchro3 mentioned is the one the OP needs. :) I have that adapter too.
 
R9 270X comes with mini DisplayPorts, it comes with two actually. My ACD looks amazing!

2091002cv3a.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Synchro3
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back