A windows Graphics card in an old MacPro 2008?

[Akula971]

My trusty old HD4870 card has died after many years of use. I need a new graphics card. I need advice. You see I don't use this old machine for anything other than playing games on now. Games running in Windows 7 SP1. It has no OSX software on it hard drive at all. From boot it goes, after a short pause straight into windows. I now do all my work on a MacMini.

I am loathed to shell out a huge wad of cash on a new gaming rig, and wonder that since the Mac Pro has a PCI express 2.0 slot for graphics cards, can I just put any Windows graphics card in? If it is possible, I would not be bothered if I could no longer use it in OSX ever again. This really is its last gasp/chance.

 

[ActionableMango]

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...out-nvidia-pc-non-efi-graphics-cards.1440150/

 

[Inutopia]

If it's a 2008 8-Core, I have one too. You can put in a PC GTX 970 and have a really good experience gaming at up to 1440p resolution. This setup can max out all but the most demanding games. Eg. I was playing Bioshock infinite yesterday, completely maxed out at 1440p gets 80-100 fps.

You need to pick one with either 2x 6 pin power, or 1x 8pin. DO NOT USE 1x6 and 1x8 together cards! If it helps I use the ASUS STRIX 970, it has one 8 pin and works perfectly. You'll need appropriate power cable adapters which can be found cheaply.

You will still be able to boot OS X with this setup, but you'll lose the grey screen upon boot.

For much more in depth reading the above linked thread is great.

 

[Synchro3]

AFAIK you have to deinstall ATI drivers and install nvidia web drivers in Windows 7 before you can install a Nvidia GTX card.