3,1 GPU Questions

[trickartt]

Hello MacRumormongers,

I'm happily still running a 3,1 Mac Pro. I've recently updated the OS from Yosemite to High Sierra by way of Dosdude1's patch (I'm not ambitious enough for Mojave), and things are working OK, but I feel like the system has a new bottleneck at the GPU. Particularly when using Photoshop or some heavier websites (new Twitter?!), things hesitate or stutter for a moment, and I can hear the fan on my GPU spin up. Further to this theory, I also recently updated my MacBook Air to High Sierra, and while much wimpier, the machine has a Mojave-compatible GPU and doesn't stutter or hesitate like the Mac Pro.

I currently have a 1GB 4870 in my Mac Pro - I think it's made by XFX, it has a picture of some ridiculous CGI hockey mask on it. I reflashed it at a time when that was a relevant thing to do with that card, but I haven't thought about GPUs at all since then as it has worked fine prior to High Sierra.

Naturally, I have tried searching this forum for relevant threads, but '3,1' seems to get excluded as a search term, and 'GPU' brings up just about everything on this forum.

SO: If there is anybody on this forum interested in such a thing, I'd like recommendations for a replacement GPU for my 3,1 Mac Pro.

If someone can point me in the direction of a list for cards compatible with a 3,1, that would be an appreciated start. Otherwise, my list of priorities are as follows:

1. Works with a 3,1 Mac Pro
2. Is more than likely to solve my performance bottleneck
3. Has two video outputs
4. Would strongly favour power efficiency over high-end gaming performance (prior to this update the 4870 has been fine for me?)
5. The cheaper, the better (it doesn't have to be cutting-edge and I'd rather not sink loads of money into what is really an obsolete machine!)
6. Two DVI-outs would be preferable to save introducing dongles
7. Quiet would be nice but not important?

If anyone has anything helpful to share, I would appreciate it.

 

[Pentaxer]

Look at the end of the first post here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/gpu-zoo-for-cmp.2174600/

GTX 680 is your choice.

 

[trickartt]

I was just marvelling at how the forum search was no good to me, but it took me posting this to bring up the 'similar threads' at the bottom, which were much more helpful than the search.

Thank you for your reply! The similar threads were also leading me to the conclusion that I am looking for a GTX 6xx card. Is there a reason you (and the zoo thread) only mention the 680, rather than something a bit lower-end like a 660/670? The TDP of a 680 seems to be even higher than the 4870 I am looking to replace

Also - if it has to be a 680, does it matter which particular model from a manufacturer I pick?

Thanks!

 

[Pentaxer]

Only GTX 680 can provide the performance jump over 4870.

Why do you bother on power consumption? +\- 70W is not the problem in standard MacPro 225W limit.

 

[tsialex]

I was just marvelling at how the forum search was no good to me, but it took me posting this to bring up the 'similar threads' at the bottom, which were much more helpful than the search.

Thank you for your reply! The similar threads were also leading me to the conclusion that I am looking for a GTX 6xx card. Is there a reason you (and the zoo thread) only mention the 680, rather than something a bit lower-end like a 660/670? The TDP of a 680 seems to be even higher than the 4870 I am looking to replace

Also - if it has to be a 680, does it matter which particular model from a manufacturer I pick?

Thanks!

Only NVIDIA GTX 680 can be flashed with a Mac EFI. No other card has a public Mac EFI.

eVGA makes the real Mac Edition GTX 680, it’s the best brand for flashing. Read these threads:

Step-by-Step Instructions for Flashing GTX680
Confirmed and Possible Flashable GTX680 Models
GTX680 4GB - ROM Image - Full Boot Screens, Full Clock Rates & PCI-E 2.0 - 5GT/s

 

[trickartt]

Why do you bother on power consumption? +\- 70W is not the problem in standard MacPro 225W limit.

I'm obviously not worried about cutting-edge performance, so if I was given the choice, I'd prefer to choose one that doesn't burn excess energy on a need that I don't have ‍¯\_(ツ)_/¯. I was kind of hoping that there would be a much more modern and efficient low-end card with similar performance to something from a few years prior, but thanks to you guys in this forum, I understand there's a ceiling on what the 3,1 can handle.

I appreciate that it's kind of futile to worry about power in an old cheesegrater Mac Pro, but 70W is still the equivalent of a pair of MacBook Airs running pretty close to full tilt.

Thank you both for your replies anyway - you have been very helpful! I shall give a 680 a go. Presumably there won't be a better bet than eBay for such an old piece of kit?

And one more question if anybody is willing to indulge me - will the power cables from my 4870 fit into the 680, or will I need new ones of those too?

Thanks!

 

[tsialex]

Thank you both for your replies anyway - you have been very helpful! I shall give a 680 a go. Presumably there won't be a better bet than eBay for such an old piece of kit?

I first try locally, then eBay. Check Craigslist or the equivalent on your country.

And one more question if anybody is willing to indulge me - will the power cables from my 4870 fit into the 680, or will I need new ones of those too?

Usually yes, but some high end GTX 680 like my eVGA FTW+ 4GB are 6+8, still work with 2 miniPCIe 6-pin tho.

Another thing, GTX 680 probably use half the power of HD 4870 when in 2D mode and a lot less if you have two displays, it's a dual DVI card btw.

 

[Pentaxer]

Only you know what performance level do you need.

In the link in my first answer there are information on relative performance and power consumption.