Buying a new video card for G5 need advice

[supersize]

Hi all, I need to get a new video card for my G5 to replace the stock nvidia 5200 64mb. I what to get an ATI Radeon but I'm a bit confrused as to what i realy need. I do alot of Photoshop work, Video editing and dvd authoring work. Mostly with FCE and Imovie. (would like to get aperture soon but can't until I upgrade the video card). I really don't play games at all. My question is what is the difference in all the Radeon card. ie the 9800 Pro, the 9800 Special edition and the 9600 Mac/PC cards. All have 256mb of VRAM but beyond that I can't see much difference. I really don't want to break the bank and get the x800 xt. I have seen all of the other 3 online for between $200 - $250. I just don't know which one would be best for my needs. I read some where that the 9800 Pro needs an additional power source and I really don't want to rewire my computer to put the card in. So to get down to it, Is the 9600 enough for what I want or should I try to find a 9800 SE.

Thanks
Jason

 

[bigbossbmb]

I'm in a similar situation...however I'm looking to drop my 9600XT and get the x800 for aperature, maya, etc....i've found the x800 for $370

hey supersize...want my 9600XT (128mb)?

 

[yippy]

You want a variant of the 9800. The extra $50 that it costs to get a 9800 over a 9600 is well worth it.

As for which specific card it doesn't really matter. They should all perform roughly the same. One difference I do know is that one or two models have the old Apple ADC connector plus a DVI where as the others have two DVI connectors. If you plan on going multi screen or have an older Apple monitor that is something to watch for. The biggest things are to make sure it says Mac compatible on the box and has 256Mb vram.

 

[FireArse]

best graphics card

So I have a Rev. B Dual 2GHz G5. Is the 6800Ultra the best card I can get? Also, with USB support on older cards through the ADC - is this USB 1 or 2.0?

Thanks

 

[bigbossbmb]

AFAIK the x800 and the 6800 Ultra are the two best AGP cards for the Mac...this is sad but true. After looking into it a little, the x800 looks like a far better deal the 6800. The only real advantage for the 6800, that I can see, is that it will power 2 30" monitors. Since I will not have 2 of those monsters on my desk anytime soon, I'm gonna get the x800 once I save up some cash.

 

[risc]

I read some where that the 9800 Pro needs an additional power source and I really don't want to rewire my computer to put the card in.

The 9800, 6800, X800 all require extra power to run, but this is all handled by the ADC power on these cards, so you plug them in like normal and they grab the extra power they need without having to wire anything up.

I have a 6800 Ultra DDL in my AGP Power Mac it's a great card, the X800 XT is also fantastic and much better value imho.

If you just need the card for 2D work get a 9600 XT or a 9800 XT, the only real difference between these cards and the more high end ones is how fast they move stuff around at much higher resolutions, and the ability to run the 30" ACDs of course.

 

[risc]

So I have a Rev. B Dual 2GHz G5. Is the 6800Ultra the best card I can get?

It really depends on what you want to do for pro apps the 6800 Ultra always comes out ahead in benchmarks, with games it is a toss up between the 6800 Ultra and the X800 XT it varies from game to game. I have the 6800 Ultra and it runs great, but like I said above the X800 XT is much better value. If you live in the US, I actually got my 6800 Ultra DDL for $400 less than the X800 XT costs in Australia.

 

[supersize]

I forget where I saw it but somewhere I read that there is an additional cable with the 9800 that you have to connect somewhere and that you had to remove the optical drive to hook it up. Is this correct or was this for another Mac model, or am I nuts?

 

[risc]

I forget where I saw it but somewhere I read that there is an additional cable with the 9800 that you have to connect somewhere and that you had to remove the optical drive to hook it up. Is this correct or was this for another Mac model, or am I nuts?

The 9800 XT I originally got with my Power Mac G5 like my 6800 Ultra DDL gets its extra power from the ADC bus, you don't plug anything else in to the card.

Are you sure you aren't talking about taking a PC card and hacking it to work with a Mac?

 

[MRU]

The X800XT doesnt require extra either..

 

[RGunner]

regarding extra power...

the poster is correct, the ATI 9800 Pro card (compatible with both the PowerMac G4 and G5, both the earlier and current generation) requires a splitter from the optical drive on the G5 installation. Basically its another molex plug.

The ATI 9800XT and of course the X800/X850 both have support for the AGP Pro socket, thus they do not require the extra power cable. The ATI 256MB 9800 Special Edition also has support for the 8x AGP Pro socket and does not require extra power being fed (this card is discontinued now).

 

[jamesi]

if you are doing video editing get at least the 9800 pro. the 256 MB version is actually about as fast as the 128 one, benchmarks show. anything lower is really going to slow down production.

 

[jamesi]

the X800 and its variants are all stellar but thats only for playing games. unless you have an urge to spend the extra money without question, then go with the 9800 pro or higher