6970 + 3.1 Mac Pro = Questions

[BakeJohnson]

Hello,

I am currently entertaining/seriously thinking of the idea of getting a Powercolor 6970 for my 3.1 mac pro; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131394

Have a couple questions. My primary use for this card is boot camp. I was curious if you guys think I could fit it in my case along with my 3870. I know the 6970 has limited functionality in mac osx right now so I'd like to keep 3870 for osx booting. So questions are...

Will I have enough power for both these cards to be hooked up simultaneously in my system?

Will there be enough room for both these cards in the mac pro tower?

Would running the 6970 with my 2600xt be a better option?

The HDMI out for the 6970 would definitely work in boot camp right?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts and/or help with this issue. Also how likely is it that the 6990 apple release is right around the corner? Then again if its a 700$, it's a no go.

 

[deanjohnson7]

I have been looking all over forums trying to find this same answer for me and my 4,1 mac pro. I am going to be driving 3 1920 x 1200 monitors in bootcamp, but in OS X I can leave the stock GT 120 card for video since I will not need all three monitors.

Anyone out there using a 6970 in windows only and the stock video card for OS X?

 

[ActionableMango]

By default there are not enough power connectors for 6970 + 3870 at the same time, so you will need an additional power supply or take some risk and use creative cabling.

Both of you are asking about stuff that people are just now experimenting with, so there aren't a lot of solid answers out there yet.

 

[deanjohnson7]

By default there are not enough power connectors for 6970 + 3870 at the same time, so you will need an additional power supply or take some risk and use creative cabling.

Both of you are asking about stuff that people are just now experimenting with, so there aren't a lot of solid answers out there yet.

Power shouldn't be an issue with my machine, since the GT 120 doesn't use either of the six pin power connectors on the board (at least when I opened it up and looked, there were two six pin connectors labeled "PCIE AUX A" and "PCIE AUX B"). So assuming that power shouldn't be an issue if I'm using the stock GT 120 as the OS X video card, and the 6970 for the Windows card, anyone tried this, or know of any issues doing this?

 

[ActionableMango]

There may not be enough power even if 6970 is the only card. You still need a secondary power supply or take your chances with weird adapters and pulling more amps than MP is designed for. 6970 uses two 8-pin power connectors meant for supplies with more wattage. MP provides two 6-pin power connectors.