Does Dual Monitors Affect Card Performance

[iriejedi]

I've got an Early 2008 Mac Pro with 8800GT card (dual 2.8 quads) and 6 gigs of ram

On Star Craft 2 my default setting for card/system( are HIGH) but it sucks barely tolerates MEDIUM settings - but I notice it does NOT kill my second monitor it just blacks it out. So I am wondering is sucking 'bandwidth' even though it is kind of not in use?


On that line - would a new 'modern' card say a 4870 of maybe even the newly announced 5800 series (number are estimates from memory) if sold as an upgrade really help or is my system part of the problem since at 2 years old it is "ancient" hahahha

IJ

 

[peskaa]

The second screen isn't killing your card, as discussed many times in this forum, the nVIDIA driver bug is. There are two solutions - firstly to wait for a bug fix/driver update, and secondly buy a new card.

In regards to a new card, Apple should be released the 5870 sometime soon as an upgrade kit, and you may want to splash the cash (I know I will be!).

 

[iriejedi]

Splash The Card???

Thanks - as a video card 'non-specialist' - what does splash the card mean?

The second screen isn't killing your card, as discussed many times in this forum, the nVIDIA driver bug is. There are two solutions - firstly to wait for a bug fix/driver update, and secondly buy a new card.

In regards to a new card, Apple should be released the 5870 sometime soon as an upgrade kit, and you may want to splash the cash (I know I will be!).

 

[peskaa]

Thanks - as a video card 'non-specialist' - what does splash the card mean?

I said cash, not card! Basically, buy one.

 

[iriejedi]

I said cash, not card! Basically, buy one.

THAT I do understand - thanks - I'd rather buy a card that a new mac - I honestly love this one but have been underwhelmed with my video performance.

 

[Mackilroy]

10.6.4 really killed NVIDIA cards on the GPU front. If you can downgrade to 10.6.3 you'll get better performance.

Or, as suggested, go with ATI. I have a 4890 and Starcraft 2 runs wonderfully.

 

[BertyBoy]

Haven't tried it on my same model Mac Pro, but two monitors used to immediately divide the video memory in two, ie. 256MB to each monitor on a 512MB card, regardless of video mirroring or two adjoining screens.

Maybe not an issue with a big card, but for others with say a 64MB card, you only get 32MB on each screen.

 

[iriejedi]

10.6.3 solved problem for MacPro + 8800GT and StarCraft II

Found an old hard drive still had 10.5 on it updated it to 10.6 with DVD and then 10.6.3 with combo installer - worked great - game now plays at default settings (high) and higher resolution than under 10.6.4

So I'll just boot off the spare internal drive when I want to play.

I wonder how Apple could take perfectly good drivers and mess them up with an update. There are no antennas on a video card.... hmmmm.....

Still if the 5870 or 5890 is a upgrade option for the Early 2008 MacPro - I'll probably pony up the cash. Donate to the Adopt a Bumper Case charity fund.

10.6.4 really killed NVIDIA cards on the GPU front. If you can downgrade to 10.6.3 you'll get better performance.

Or, as suggested, go with ATI. I have a 4890 and Starcraft 2 runs wonderfully.