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Fastest Mac GPUs with full EFI boot screens, etc, GTX570 & GTX580

Have a look at the free app called BootChamp from http://www.kainjow.com/

It just sits on your menu bar as a discreet icon, you click and select "Reboot Into Windows" and that's it. The machine restarts into Windows automatically. No holding keys, no waiting for a boot screen you can't see, nothing. I am using it under Lion 10.7.4.

And it is free. Throw the guy a five-spot for a beer or two if you like it.
 
You can also just select the Windows partition from System Preferences -> Startup Disk.
 
phiphika said:
I have the 570 card from nvidia. It has not been flashed and is functioning correctly. My question is: Can I still boot into Bootcamp to access Windows since it has not been flashed for the classic mac bootup screen?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

yes, download windows driver & install, volar.
you can use Startup Disk under MacOS System Preference,
choose whatever OS you need.

however, not for hardware raid OS guys (dont know if software raid works, possibly not), for me, only GUID partition table OS will be able to choose from the list (could be Lion, snowleopard, leopard any OS under GUID partition), both apple partition table nor master boot partition table will not be recognized at all (windows always use Master Boot partition)

with a non-flashed GPU means no EFI boot, so you are not able to choose ur OS pressing the Alt key, Mac Pro will enter whatever startup OS you have chosen. in my case, the only way to boot to windows is, unplug the power or the sata cable from one of the raid set, by doing that, Mac Pro no longer find ur Lion raid set, and it will go directly to the available OS. (make sure you don't insert more than one OS in ur MP.
 
With the new MacBook Pro came a gtx650 this could mean we can use a gtx670 on our MacPros? is this feasible?
 
Has anyone installed the FSP BoosterX 5 PSU to run a GTX 580 in their Mac Pro? If I put it in the upper optical drive bay, is there enough cable length on the FSP to reach the 580?
 
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Hmmm.... just realised there is no cable access from the optical bay to the motherboard area. Would need to hack the case up with a drill.
 
Good lord... so much stuff to dig through.
I'm having a hard time with this.... Maybe you can help???

What is my best option for the following tasks:

EFI Boot Screen

3 Displays (1 Large TV, say 42"+ 1080P, and dual 22or24"s)
or
Dual 27" to 32" 1080P TV's

Final Cut Pro X
Adobe (Photoshop, Illustrator, Etc)
Pro Tools 10HD (Not that this part matters here)


On this:

MP 1,1 with 2.1 Firmware
2x X5355 (8x 2.66GHz)
16GB RAM
SSD for OS
SSD for Working Files
Lion (And maybe ML after final release)
(I also have a SL install going, basically the same as the Lion install)

I want the EFI screen since depending on what I am doing at the moment,
I will load one OS or the other.... eventually that will change, but for now...
So I'd like to keep the boot screen

Thanx!
 
TableSyrup said:
Good lord... so much stuff to dig through.
I'm having a hard time with this.... Maybe you can help???

What is my best option for the following tasks:

EFI Boot Screen

3 Displays (1 Large TV, say 42"+ 1080P, and dual 22or24"s)
or
Dual 27" to 32" 1080P TV's

Final Cut Pro X
Adobe (Photoshop, Illustrator, Etc)
Pro Tools 10HD (Not that this part matters here)


On this:

MP 1,1 with 2.1 Firmware
2x X5355 (8x 2.66GHz)
16GB RAM
SSD for OS
SSD for Working Files
Lion (And maybe ML after final release)
(I also have a SL install going, basically the same as the Lion install)

I want the EFI screen since depending on what I am doing at the moment,
I will load one OS or the other.... eventually that will change, but for now...
So I'd like to keep the boot screen

Thanx!
Click to expand...

Find an Apple 5870, best bet for all of that from one card.

(Not a flashed one, an actual Apple one)
 
powervideo said:
Has anyone installed the FSP BoosterX 5 PSU to run a GTX 580 in their Mac Pro? If I put it in the upper optical drive bay, is there enough cable length on the FSP to reach the 580?
Click to expand...

A guy on this very forum has a thread titled "precise instructions for putting 2 5870s in a Mac Pro" or something along those lines. (I just remember specifically that title had "precise" in it.
 
@MacVidCards

I live in Europe but know somebody in LA who could pick up a card in person and send it to me.
(for the newest Mac Pro)

as i see the best option for GPU render would be a 580 3gb with the draw back of having to use an external PSU.
as stated the 570 2.5gb would be a bit nicer to handle, avoiding this problem.

do you have experiences about the speed difference of these models?
and... do your mods influence the use of the cards in windows/bootcamp?

the thoughts that make me hesitate to buy one of these cards are:
a) the mods are quite expensive, almost doubling the price of the cards
b) unsure how the driver situation will be for further 10.7 updates (or even the 10.8 release)
you might agree, that there is a risk that you cant update your os because of the gfx card.
c) about you, there is only this ebay site but no real company, or at least some contact details, email
(no offense, but it would give a lot more trust)
 
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You sound like an excellent candidate for trusting in Nvidia.

Download the drivers I linked in the other thread and use any GTX5xx card you want.

You won't have boot screens and it will run at PCIE 1.0 bus speeds, but you won't pay a nickel extra.

Considering that Apple just switched BACK to Nvidia cards in MBP, I think we can pretty much count on the drivers getting regularly updated. If you don't like it at any point, you can just sell it back to whoever you want.

They are great cards, with or without the re-chip and EFI.
 
MacVidCards said:
You sound like an excellent candidate for trusting in Nvidia.

Download the drivers I linked in the other thread and use any GTX5xx card you want.

You won't have boot screens and it will run at PCIE 1.0 bus speeds, but you won't pay a nickel extra.

Considering that Apple just switched BACK to Nvidia cards in MBP, I think we can pretty much count on the drivers getting regularly updated. If you don't like it at any point, you can just sell it back to whoever you want.

They are great cards, with or without the re-chip and EFI.
Click to expand...
if it works like you say, it is a great thing. and i think it does, else you wouldnt have positive reviews in ebay. i just wanna know why you keep this business under the hood in a way. $800 for a gfx card its not nothing, so it would be nice to know who i m doing business with, and if i get any warranty etc. is macvidcards.com your site, and why are there not all the cards that are on ebay? btw no contact details there neither. dunno, i m just trying to get a secure feeling about this. ;)
maybe you could pm me, i cant pm you as it seems.
 
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another question to those who experimented with gtx5xx cards?
if you use a non-modded standard card...

1) you get no boot screen. does this mean you cant see anything when booting into superuser mode?

2) can you leave your original ati 5770/5870 in, next to a gtx570/580?
so you will have a boot screen?

3) does it work to use the ati for display and the gtx for cuda/opencl rendering

4) what difference makes this 2.5/5.0 pcie speed issue in real world tests?
would luxmark tests show a significant difference?
 
zzzachi said:
another question to those who experimented with gtx5xx cards?
if you use a non-modded standard card...

1) you get no boot screen. does this mean you cant see anything when booting into superuser mode?

2) can you leave your original ati 5770/5870 in, next to a gtx570/580?
so you will have a boot screen?

3) does it work to use the ati for display and the gtx for cuda/opencl rendering

4) what difference makes this 2.5/5.0 pcie speed issue in real world tests?
would luxmark tests show a significant difference?
Click to expand...


1. Not sure what you mean
2. not enough power for that. 2600xt or GT120 better choice for boot screens
3. see #2. CS6 may allow this, but CS5 did not
4. less than 10% difference for most things. Using multiple cards in a chassis, or using cards in upper slots makes bigger difference

I honestly believe that you should just source a card locally and see if it fits your needs

I have found frequently that people who enter business deals already convinced that there is an issue/something to worry about, will find one

Be brave, order a 570 locally and post your results here to help others
 
MacVidCards said:
1. Not sure what you mean
Click to expand...
i mean if you boot holding cmd-s you get into superuser mode (commandline root)

i would use it for renderings with octane/vray/indigo render, so i need a strong gpu for open gl display too.
so to use the 5870 together w a gtx i'd need a psu anyway, which makes the 580 the better option.

on the other hand if SU mode works, i think its ok to use the gtx alone.
the only annoying thing would be not to see the selection for macos or bootcamp when i hold alt on booting.
there is not enough power to use the 580 alone, as i understand, so the choice would be the 570

would be nice if you clarify if SU mode works.
 
Last edited:
zzzachi said:
would be nice if you clarify if SU mode works.
Click to expand...

Single-user mode won't display anything, just like the boot screen won't display. If you need to use single-user mode for something, you'll need to swap in an EFI card. The non-EFI cards only initialize when the full desktop comes up.

As discussed several times before, you can switch between Windows and Mac by using the Boot Camp control panel on the Windows side, or the Startup Disk in System Preferences on Mac.
 
Hi All- I just joined, read the thread in 2 sittings...

Hey MVC, do I understand correctly:

1. I can send you a 570 2.5GB, you will flash for $100, is it?
2. EVGA is fine?
3. Only 2 ports are enabled- it's not a user choice of which ports as you go?
4. You disable the HDMI?
5. You can't enable dual DVI and HDMI at the same time?
6. Any way for this setup (570) to connect a 21" Dell and a 32" 1080 plasma, or 2 Dells and a 1080?
7. No use for the 5770?

Thanks in advance!
 
hey macvids, can i ask you...

the 680 (4g) definitely doesnt work in a mac pro right now, correct?
(i suppose due to the driver?)

which 580 3gb would you recommend in a mac pro? evga $475, gainward $350!!, zotac, ... ?
(airflow and or other reasons)
(i know... external PSU)

same question for 570 2.5gb evga or point of view?
 
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I confirmed that GTX580 classy ultra can be boot internally,

1. drop it in first slot,
2. convert the 2 x mini 6 pins to PCI-E 8 pins
3. convert the 2 x SATAs in DVD bay to molex, and molex to PCI-E 6 pins & PCI-E 8 pins.

it is absolutely working, no booting issue, but i will not trust this much.
since all these power DRAW from the motherboard not from the power supply,
regular usage browsing, chatting, using parallel no problem, but dont think you can use it for game, 3D rendering or long term use; it will probably cause damage to the motherboard.
 
for all you europeans..

.. i just ordered a gtx 570 from MacVidCards on ebay to austria. will let you know how the whole tax thing goes.. had bad experiences in the past (can take quite a while till the package gets released)..

after a tech guy (working in a computer company both selling apple and pcs) told me, that putting a pc version of a 570 in my mac pro would most likely kill it within 3 month due to the missing thermal management, i decided not to take that risk ;)
i also like having a boot screen ;)

i have an early 2008 (3.1) mac pro and am replacing my 8800GT.
anyway - thanks to MacVidCards for doing (apparently doing ;) ) such a great job.
 
freeflywing said:
I confirmed that GTX580 classy ultra can be boot internally,

1. drop it in first slot,
2. convert the 2 x mini 6 pins to PCI-E 8 pins
3. convert the 2 x SATAs in DVD bay to molex, and molex to PCI-E 6 pins & PCI-E 8 pins.
Click to expand...

So let me get this straight:

The GTX 580 has two 8 pin plugs, you put the 2 motherboard 6 pins in parallel and plugged and used them for one of the 8 pin plugs, and the other 8 pin plug you drew from the Optical drive bay molex?
 
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