GTX560/570/580 Mod Service in Hollywood
If the GTX 285 handles it well, I'll be all set, but if it chokes on it, then I'll be looking for a GTX 470/480/570/580, or perhaps even biting the bullet and getting the Quadro 4000 if I have to... whatever the best bang-for-buck factor yields.
The Quadro 4000 is a GTX480 core...cut in HALF.
The one and only place these cards shine is with Double Precision Float math. I don't know of ANY Mac apps that use Double Precision so currently you pay $800 for a $200 GTX460. A rather extreme example of "Mac Tax"
The GTX570 is the new "Sweet Spot" in that it offers the performance e of the GTX480, while using power that is available in Mac Pro. The 580 variants offer another step up into "Holy Christ" GPU power but require some additional power from outside the Mac to pull this off.
We will start selling these soon but it is taking time to get some inventory in and processed. We only have 3 or 4 cards now and quite a lot of demand.
If anyone in LA would like to find out for themselves, we will offer a drop off GTX 560/570/580 modding service. You drop off your card along with $ and we will :
1. Remove 14-17 screws to remove HSF
2. Read EEPROM and replace with larger chip
3. Reapply Thermal paste, replace 14-17 screws
4. Custom write an EFI ROM for your card and test in a 4,1/5,1.
5. Card will be available for pickup in 12-36 hours.
Obviously if it is a card we have already done, this will go faster.
Keep in mind that Dual DVI & HDMI cards will be Dual DVI afterward. The GTX560/570 "HD" cards with 4 outputs will be DVI and Displayport afterward. (Will be tested for full EFI boot screen function on an Apple 27")
Keep in mind that :
1. You must be running 10.7.3 or 10.8 to use these cards well. (Can be made to work in 10.7.0 onwards but easier in 10.7.3 and later)
2. These cards will KP if you boot into 10.6. Same holds true of trying to use ATY_Init with PC BIOS version. They aren't in the drivers and trying to add them leads to trouble. NOT USEABLE IN 10.6 !!! (or 10.5 or 10.4, etc)
3. In 10.7.3 you will need to remove AGPM kext, just like you have to do anyway with non-efi versions. 10.8 seems OK.
4. For local post production offices, a "loaner" GTX470 will be available whilst we work on your card, if you need it.
5. You must have a Mac Pro 3,1 or later to benefit from EFI ROM. Using these on a 1,1 or 2,1 or a Hackintosh is like speaking Elvish to the barrista when placing your order at Starbucks. Nice touch, but Completely Useless.
We are in Hollywood, near Runyon Canyon & Kodak Theatre. (The Oscars place, whatever it is called now)
Anyone and everyone with a Mac Pro can use these cards without EFI just by using the "Magic Drivers" that I posted about in another thread. The cards will be functional and run at PCIE 1.0 speeds and show video once computer boots to desktop. For those who want additional functionality, we offer this service.