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2009 Mac Pro Graphics card

Washac

Washac

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Jul 2, 2006
2,531
134
Well just had a great few hours, my graphics card AMD Radeon HD 7950 decided enough was enough and stopped working, it just went black screen and that was its lot.

I dug out my old ATI Radeon 4870 to get things back working.

I would like some recommendations for a replacement card or better for the blown one, It must be plug in and go, I do not want to do any DIY electrics to my Mac, EFI boot if possible.

I am in the UK.

Thanks.
 
MacVidCards has an online store in the UK where many options are available, with Mac EFI: http://www.macstoreuk.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=155_156

On eBay you can find also find old Mac cards, the GTX 680 for example, for a reasonable price.

I get the feeling you're not interested in flashing your own card, so I won't go in to further details on that.

If you want a really powerful new card there are quite a lot of options out there. You can get around the whole EFI thing by looking for a second hand GT 120 (or something similar that is relatively inexpensive) and dropping it in when you need it.
 
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h9826790 said:
How powerful the card you need?
Click to expand...

Well I was happy with the AMD Radeon HD 7950 so the same power to that would be OK but a bit bigger would
be OK also.
[doublepost=1493059324][/doublepost]
BillyBobBongo said:
MacVidCards has an online store in the UK where many options are available, with Mac EFI: http://www.macstoreuk.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=155_156

On eBay you can find also find old Mac cards, the GTX 680 for example, for a reasonable price.

I get the feeling you're not interested in flashing your own card, so I won't go in to further details on that.

If you want a really powerful new card there are quite a lot of options out there. You can get around the whole EFI thing by looking for a second hand GT 120 (or something similar that is relatively inexpensive) and dropping it in when you need it.
Click to expand...

Think I would like to buy from MacVidCards, what card there would be the equivalent of my old card and which ones would be better, sorry but not well up on graphics cards and their numbers etc.
 
Depends on your usage, The MVC GTX680 is around the same power as the 7950. It's better on OpenGL, but a bit weaker on OpenCL.

No extra driver required. 100% plug and play.

If there is any other reliable source, you may also consider a flashed 7950, 7970, R9 280, R9 280X.

If boot screen not required. The new RX460 is also a low cost alternative. It's plug and play. Weaker than the 7950, but use much much less power. (macOS Sierra required)

Some other card e.g.R9 285, R9 380, R9 380X should also plug and play without boot screen on latest OS. (Non flashed GTX680, HD7950, HD7970, R9 280, R8 280X of course also work)

However, there is no guarantee on these non flashed card. Any non reference design may cause no boot (or boot to black screen).

If money is not a big issue. To fulfil all your requirement. The MVC GTX680 should be a good option for you.
 
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h9826790 said:
Depends on your usage, The MVC GTX680 is around the same power as the 7950. It's better on OpenGL, but a bit weaker on OpenCL.

No extra driver required. 100% plug and play.

If there is any other reliable source, you may also consider a flashed 7950, 7970, R9 280, R9 280X.

If boot screen not required. The new RX460 is also a low cost alternative. It's plug and play. Weaker than the 7950, but use much much less power. (macOS Sierra required)

Some other card e.g.R9 285, R9 380, R9 380X should also plug and play without boot screen on latest OS. (Non flashed GTX680, HD7950, HD7970, R9 280, R8 280X of course also work)

However, there is no guarantee on these non flashed card. Any non reference design may cause no boot (or boot to black screen).

If money is not a big issue. To fulfil all your requirement. The MVC GTX680 should be a good option for you.
Click to expand...

Think I will go for the nVidia GTX 680 2GB card.

Seems this card requires a Displayport to Mini Displayport adapter, are they easy to find ?
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Washac said:
Think I will go for the nVidia GTX 680 2GB card.

Seems this card requires a Displayport to Mini Displayport adapter, are they easy to find ?
Click to expand...

My display is the Apple ACD with a fitted mini display plug.

I assume this is what I need ?

https://www.startech.com/uk/Cables/...ideo-Cable-Adapter-Male-to-Female~DP2MDPMF6IN
 
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Thank you for the assistance and advice on this, appreciated :)

Looks like I will be spending some money tomorrow :)
 
Ended up getting a Mac ready GTX 680 2GB card from an E Bay seller who deals in computer equipment.

It arrived within two days and all works great.

Just popped in to say thank you to h9826790 and BillyBobBongo for helping me out with this.
 
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Washac said:
I did say that it came Mac ready sol it was already flashed on purchse.
Click to expand...
Thats cool as well but keep in mind for future reference flashed cards cost 100 to 150 dollars more then one you can flash yourself and its not hard to do!
 
h9826790 said:
If boot screen not required. The new RX460 is also a low cost alternative. It's plug and play. Weaker than the 7950, but use much much less power. (macOS Sierra required)
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat and was looking for a low-wattage GPU. So any way to flash this thing to use Bootcamp and get the EFI startup screen?

And I'm a n00b about GPUs - does the brand matter, if the model number is the same?


This one for example, fanless!
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150786
I'd love to not have a hurricane in my Mac.
 
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Bollockser said:
I'm in the same boat and was looking for a low-wattage GPU. So any way to flash this thing to use Bootcamp and get the EFI startup screen?

And I'm a n00b about GPUs - does the brand matter, if the model number is the same?


This one for example, fanless!
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150786
I'd love to not have a hurricane in my Mac.
Click to expand...

Bootcamp is totally independent to Mac EFI. You can install Windows with almost any PC graphic card.

No, flash the RX460 is not possible at this moment. Unless you can be the first one on the world to create the Mac EFI parts for RX460 without any help from Apple.

In any case, DO NOT go for any XFX card. They often has custom design PCB (Non standard, or more accurate, non reference card) which cause the card cannot work properly under MacOS.

For boot screen, a member suggested that install Cover may be the ultimate solution. That was a new idea in this circle. And no one really get it done yet. I tried a few different options, but not success yet. Another member will join the test later. Hopefully he can bring us some good new.
 
I want a modest GPU with MDP thats better than the Radeon 5870, doesnt sound like a jet engine, and doesnt draw obscene amounts of power, I dont do gaming, I just want a new, competent card for graphic design and video production, that will allow boot screen. Any recommendations?
 
CapnDavey said:
Thats cool as well but keep in mind for future reference flashed cards cost 100 to 150 dollars more then one you can flash yourself and its not hard to do!
Click to expand...

That's strange as you can pick up a GTX680 flashed for around £195 to little over £200.
 
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