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AMD Radeon HD 7970 Compatibility in an 8 core Mac Pro Running Mountain Lion

L

lextrickett

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 1, 2012
2
0
Hi There,

Anyone out there got the AMD Radeon HD 7970 working in a 8 core Mac Pro Running Mountain Lion. Any advice? or is it even possible?

Thanks very much!

Lex
 
Cool thanks for the reply!

So you recommend getting a geforce-gtx-670 as an alternative?

what about keeping the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and adding a n additional 5870?

Thanks again!
 
lextrickett said:
Cool thanks for the reply!

So you recommend getting a geforce-gtx-670 as an alternative?

what about keeping the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and adding a n additional 5870?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

At this point, since Apple has started to go back to using Nvidia GFX cards in the laptops, most people will tell you to go for a Nvidia card for the Mac Pro.

If you want a boot screen (gray apple start up logo), ATi would be the way to go. However, if you don't mind a black screen until the login screen. The new GTX cards are performing great with the Mac Pros. I just got a 670, and it is awesome!
 
Be sure to get a 670 with 2x6pins power connectors. For 2x8 you'll have to get a external PSU and some tweaking. You're running then under the risk of frying you motherboard.
I think the 4GB version has 2x8.
I personally use a GTX570 2.5GB from MacVidCards. I have full bootscreen and full speed under Mac OS X. It has 2x6 pins, no problem there.
If you choose a stock PC one, you'll be bottlenecked with PCI 1.1 speed (2.5GB/s).

What do you use the card for?
Unless you're not a gamer or a video editor (I am both), stick with the 5870. You'll feel a decrease of speed everywhere else than in apps like After Effects or Final Cut or in Boot Camp.
Rather keep the money and go get a good SSD or more RAM.
 
El Awesome said:
Be sure to get a 670 with 2x6pins power connectors. For 2x8 you'll have to get a external PSU and some tweaking. You're running then under the risk of frying you motherboard.
I think the 4GB version has 2x8.
I personally use a GTX570 2.5GB from MacVidCards. I have full bootscreen and full speed under Mac OS X. It has 2x6 pins, no problem there.
If you choose a stock PC one, you'll be bottlenecked with PCI 1.1 speed (2.5GB/s).

What do you use the card for?
Unless you're not a gamer or a video editor (I am both), stick with the 5870. You'll feel a decrease of speed everywhere else than in apps like After Effects or Final Cut or in Boot Camp.
Rather keep the money and go get a good SSD or more RAM.
Click to expand...

I read about the 6 pin power connectors, so yeah I have to keep that in mind. In response to your question, I game (bootcamp and OS 10 native stuff, just depends) and some video editing in FCPX.

The bottom line is I'd have to see a pretty substantial performance increase versus my 5870 to purchase a new card.


EDIT: so, this one? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130687

BTW, I have a Mac Pro 4,1 with 16GB, Radeon 5870, GT-120 (for secondary screen) and 4x 1TB HDD's, so we have very similar setups that we are working with, so if you are running the GTX 570 I'd trust your input. What OS are you running? I'm on 10.7.4.
 
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chiefroastbeef said:
At this point, since Apple has started to go back to using Nvidia GFX cards in the laptops, most people will tell you to go for a Nvidia card for the Mac Pro.

If you want a boot screen (gray apple start up logo), ATi would be the way to go. However, if you don't mind a black screen until the login screen. The new GTX cards are performing great with the Mac Pros. I just got a 670, and it is awesome!
Click to expand...

A stock PC version of the 670 will work out of the box?
 
cgk.emu said:
A stock PC version of the 670 will work out of the box?
Click to expand...

Yes, but make sure it has 2 six pinned plugs for power. Some cards come with 1 six pin, 1 eight pin, and the eight pin cannot be powered internally by the Mac Pro, you'll need a separate power supply which isnt worth the effort.

There is a 670 and 680 gpu thread on here, a couple of us confirmed which 670 cards worked.

I have the Zotac GTX 670 Over Clock edition, it has 2 six pinned power plugs, so it is fine.

Remember, with the 670-680, you won't have a boot screen. I don't care about that. Though some people do.
 
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chiefroastbeef said:
Yes, but make sure it has 2 six pinned plugs for power. Some cards come with 1 six pin, 1 eight pin, and the eight pin cannot be powered internally by the Mac Pro, you'll need a separate power supply which isnt worth the effort.

There is a 670 and 680 gpu thread on here, a couple of us confirmed which 670 cards worked.

I have the Zotac GTX 670 Over Clock edition, it has 2 six pinned power plugs, so it is fine.

Remember, with the 670-680, you won't have a boot screen. I don't care about that. Though some people do.
Click to expand...

I couldn't care less about the boot screen. Thanks for the info :)

I'm probably going to go with the EVGA 02G-P4-2682-KR SuperClocked GTX 680 2GB Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130769)

I'm trying to find how much better it is than my 5870 1GB.
 
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Any Radeon 7xxx Cards Work?

Are any of the AMD Radeon 7xxx cards working for the Mac Pro?

I'm getting a Nehalem Mac Pro with a stock GT 120, and after upgrading my older, Early 2008 Mac Pro to the 6870 and eight cores before selling it, it wasn't good enough, but it was darn close, though.

I was really considering a 6970, but it consumes far too much power compared to similar performing cards. GTX 670s are way over my budget, and I'm looking for something no more than $200 that performs significantly better than the 6870; Maybe something like a 7850, if it works. AMD is my preference.

Suggestions? Thanks.
 
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cgk.emu said:
I read about the 6 pin power connectors, so yeah I have to keep that in mind. In response to your question, I game (bootcamp and OS 10 native stuff, just depends) and some video editing in FCPX.

The bottom line is I'd have to see a pretty substantial performance increase versus my 5870 to purchase a new card.


EDIT: so, this one? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130687

BTW, I have a Mac Pro 4,1 with 16GB, Radeon 5870, GT-120 (for secondary screen) and 4x 1TB HDD's, so we have very similar setups that we are working with, so if you are running the GTX 570 I'd trust your input. What OS are you running? I'm on 10.7.4.
Click to expand...

Yep, this one. Only that I use a flashed one from MVC (http://www.ebay.ch/itm/330771925657?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649)

I use 10.8, but I'm not sure whether it will work out of the box (if you buy a PC one, with a MVC one 10.7.4 is just fine) in 10.7.4. I know it does with 10.8.

Do you need the GT120? I also have a secondary screen and plugged it directly into the GTX570. That saves me a PCIe slot and the GPU runs with a bit lower temperature.
To be honest, in every day excercise the GT120 did even better than the GTX570. Photoshop did slightley better for example. But as soon as you go into heavy GPU stuff such as gaming or editing, the GTX570 will blow away everything! The GTX570 from is the fastest card you can get full working under Mac OS X (GTX6xx are running PCIe 1.1 speed, so do the stock GTX5xx).
If you can afford the almost 600 bucks, go for it. You will have lots of fun with it.
I would sell the 5870 and stick with a GT120 or even a 8800GT just in case the GTX570 gives up.

Sawtooth811 said:
Are any of the AMD Radeon 7xxx cards working for the Mac Pro?
Click to expand...

No, missing driver support. No chance there. Apple decided to Nvidia, all the new MBPs have Nvidias. This makes it possible to install certain PC GPUs in the MP.
 
El Awesome said:
Yep, this one. Only that I use a flashed one from MVC (http://www.ebay.ch/itm/330771925657?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649)

I use 10.8, but I'm not sure whether it will work out of the box (if you buy a PC one, with a MVC one 10.7.4 is just fine) in 10.7.4. I know it does with 10.8.

Do you need the GT120? I also have a secondary screen and plugged it directly into the GTX570. That saves me a PCIe slot and the GPU runs with a bit lower temperature.
To be honest, in every day excercise the GT120 did even better than the GTX570. Photoshop did slightley better for example. But as soon as you go into heavy GPU stuff such as gaming or editing, the GTX570 will blow away everything! The GTX570 from is the fastest card you can get full working under Mac OS X (GTX6xx are running PCIe 1.1 speed, so do the stock GTX5xx).
If you can afford the almost 600 bucks, go for it. You will have lots of fun with it.
I would sell the 5870 and stick with a GT120 or even a 8800GT just in case the GTX570 gives up.



No, missing driver support. No chance there. Apple decided to Nvidia, all the new MBPs have Nvidias. This makes it possible to install certain PC GPUs in the MP.
Click to expand...

No, I don't really *need* the GT120. I use it so my second screen doesn't blank when I'm playing games. It's useful for some things, like temp monitoring apps (not that my Pro runs hot really, I just like to see that sort of thing, also FPS numbers, etc).
 
cgk.emu said:
No, I don't really *need* the GT120. I use it so my second screen doesn't blank when I'm playing games. It's useful for some things, like temp monitoring apps (not that my Pro runs hot really, I just like to see that sort of thing, also FPS numbers, etc).
Click to expand...

Playing BF3 on Ultra 1920x1080
Having a sceondary screen on with some gadgets (GPU/CPU temp and use and some more stuff)
 

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El Awesome said:
No, missing driver support. No chance there. Apple decided to Nvidia, all the new MBPs have Nvidias. This makes it possible to install certain PC GPUs in the MP.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I figured, seeing that Apple ceased the Radeon MPB in the 6000 series, and when I play Arkham Asylum in OS X, it runs well, yet very jumpy with the 6870 because of the MPB drivers, perhaps? (Underclocked in OS X?)

I might have to settle with an Nvidia GTX 570, despite not being the Nvidia-type; It's borderline affordable. It outperforms the 6970 AND consumes less power.

OR, what I can do is get the 7850, anyways, keep the GT120, and acquire a display with multiple inputs. I know the 7000 series will work in Bootcamp, and here's proof:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apIZOIOKyng
 
Of course they work in Bootcamp. Any card does.
But as soon as you boot under OS X, the fans will fire up and make a hell lot of noise. And still they wouldn't display anything.
 
Works great.

I can confirm it does work in the Mac Pro, I have one in my 2008 8 Core and it runs beautifully.

lextrickett said:
Hi There,

Anyone out there got the AMD Radeon HD 7970 working in a 8 core Mac Pro Running Mountain Lion. Any advice? or is it even possible?

Thanks very much!

Lex
Click to expand...
 
The 7970 works great.

I have a 2008 3,1 8core and a 2012 hex. Works in both in Mtn Lion and Mavericks.
 
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