MP 1,1-5,1 Can you use a Clone of ATI Radeon or any of the Listed Cards to do Metal on MP 51?

[Mycya4me]

I see some of the clone PC Video card out there and they are less $$. I was wondering if is possible to use one of them, Or does it have to be the Brand Name model.. I was thinking of one of the less $$ and used if possible?

 

[tsialex]

I see some of the clone PC Video card out there and they are less $$. I was wondering if is possible to use one of them, Or does it have to be the Brand Name model.. I was thinking of one of the less $$ and used if possible?

Very weird question, maybe something is lost in the translation.

If you are talking about Chinese cloned cards, usually very cheap from eBay/AliExpress/TaoBao, those are fake cards that misrepresent the PCIe IDs and won't work.

Even some real/legitimate GPUs made exclusively for the Chinese/South Asian market don't work with Macs, like several big brand names that have RX 550, 560 or 580 models made from binned chips with less CUs, several users here bought these less CUs models and most don't work or have major problems with macOS drivers (working fine just when you run Windows). Even Sapphire did this cheap trick for South Asian market.

If you are talking about real cards made by secondary GPU manufacturers, then it's a different question altogether. Most work fine, but several have missing outputs, usually the DVI works and HDMI not. Some don't work at all, like XFX cards. You have to use the search and find if someone reported working/non-working.

 

[Mycya4me]

"Very weird question, maybe something is lost in the translation."

Thank you for your info it was helpful. You gave some good info. I did NOT know the answer , SO I asked.

No, ] I am working with a Very limited budget.. I got this Mac Pro from a Biz that was shutting down has several MacPro towers they used as servers (got it for $70) drive wiped. I have been a WinDoze tech (Break / Fix -Corp- IT) for quite a few years..
I have in the MacPro now the ATI Radeon HD 5770 - 1GB, It is not a "Metal" card. from my research the best O/S I can do is LION?? To be able to upgrade to the Current version of the Mac O/S I need a "Metal" card. So I was looking on Ebay/ Amazon for a card .. used if possible.
I saw this "PowerColor AXRX 570 4GBD5-3DHD/OC Red Dragon Radeon Graphic card" used it was cheap. But I could Not afford to take a chance and have a card I can't use..
So there for the question can you use knock off cards .. But you gave some VERY Good info .. Watch out for the Odd Named cards and Stick with the brand name ones..
I know that Apple is pickey about what hardware/ cables you can use. If you don't get stuff that has been "Blessed" by Apple you run the risk of it not working and you are out of some $$$ for trying to watch you $$$.

In other words.. I am trying to get the Most Bang for my little buck.. One thing I hope to do on this MacPro is Photo editing. No music stuff like that.. So if you have any good suggestions would be nice.. Like I said I don't mind pre-owned.

Duane

 

[tsialex]

I have in the MacPro now the ATI Radeon HD 5770 - 1GB, It is not a "Metal" card. from my research the best O/S I can do is LION??

If your Mac Pro is really a MP5,1, the newer macOS release that you can go with a HD 5770 is 10.13.6/High Sierra.

 

[Syncretic]

I saw this "PowerColor AXRX 570 4GBD5-3DHD/OC Red Dragon Radeon Graphic card" used it was cheap.

I have been running that exact card in my MacPro 3,1 (older than your 5,1) for almost a year. It's a Metal card, and I've had no problems with it. It is not an "officially sanctioned" Apple card, so its UEFI firmware will not show you a boot screen (no non-Apple card will, unless you re-flash the firmware). Other than that, I have found no MacOS compatibility problems.

(I did have a few MacPro 3,1 compatibility issues, but those don't apply to your MacPro 5,1).

 

[Mycya4me]

Thank You all ... You have put my mind at ease.. Now I have to find the $$$ .. as I just checked the party just sold it.. FYI it was $30 + $10 shipping.. Hey you win some and you lose some.. But better to lose than to take a chance and loose it all.. Hey if anyone find a Good Pre-owned card Drop me a line...
It is Model A1289 / EMC 2314 /

Duane

 

[Mycya4me]

I would like to follow up. When I wrote the question I was only reading what was off the back and what I had found online.
I had a problem with the Mac Pro being able to read the Leopard DVD, A friend loaned me a copy of Snow Leopard, so then I was able to see what the Real specs were:

Mac Pro (Mid 2010) 5.1
2.8ghz Quad Core Xeon
8GB 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC
Boot Rom MP51.007f.B03

Not bad for the price I paid.

Thank You again All