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Frequently Asked Questions About NVIDIA PC (non-EFI) Graphics Cards

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Well, this new Nvidia web driver has cost me a number of hours of waisted time. Both the Nvidia Link driver, and the update window that appears and then with a click installs the driver installed a corrupt driver in my system.

I had to erase and restore my boot drive three times before I could get it through my thick skull that this driver was corrupting my boot process and to leave it the heck alone. Nothing this bad has ever happened to my system before, and I have been a Macintosh user since 1986.

Lou
 
Can't say I had those issues * touch wood*. It installed and worked brilliantly.

Even got the tiniest of boosts in Unigine benchmarks, Heaven, and Valley.
 
flowrider said:
Well, this new Nvidia web driver has cost me a number of hours of waisted time. Both the Nvidia Link driver, and the update window that appears and then with a click installs the driver installed a corrupt driver in my system.

I had to erase and restore my boot drive three times before I could get it through my thick skull that this driver was corrupting my boot process and to leave it the heck alone. Nothing this bad has ever happened to my system before, and I have been a Macintosh user since 1986.

Lou
Click to expand...

I've installed the driver on several systems using the auto-updater, and haven't seen anything like this. No idea what's going wrong on your side.
 
Did the 10.8.5 nVidia Web update with my 780 GTX. On reboots, system sits at the Apple screen, beachballing. It boots if I do a hard shutdown.

Ran benchmarks with it, and saw zero increase in performance from the native Apple drivers. Reverted. Hoping for something better with Mavericks. :)
 
I did the autoupdate of the NVIDIA webdriver on my MacPro3,1/GTX680 combi, and it works just fine. Slight performance increase in various benchmarks, and no issues whatsoever...
 
CUDA Application Support:
In order to run Mac OS X Applications that leverage the CUDA architecture of certain NVIDIA graphics cards, users will need to download and install the CUDA 5.5.24 driver for Mac located here.

New in Release 313.01.03f01:

Contains performance improvements and bug fixes for a wide range of applications.
Includes new NVIDIA Driver Manager preference pane.

Release Notes Archive:

This driver update is for Mac Pro 5,1 (2010), Mac Pro 4,1 (2009) and Mac Pro 3,1 (2008) users only.
Click to expand...

Strangly the redirect to the CUDA is still the previous version of the CUDA. The latest version is 5.5.25 :confused:
 
flowrider said:
Well, this new Nvidia web driver has cost me a number of hours of waisted time. Both the Nvidia Link driver, and the update window that appears and then with a click installs the driver installed a corrupt driver in my system.

I had to erase and restore my boot drive three times before I could get it through my thick skull that this driver was corrupting my boot process and to leave it the heck alone. Nothing this bad has ever happened to my system before, and I have been a Macintosh user since 1986.

Lou
Click to expand...

Well, It wasn't the Nvidia Driver after all:eek: After reinitializing my SSD Boot Drive a number of times, the problems reappeared with the Apple supplied drivers. So, a couple of hours later I traced it down to an issue with Temperature Monitor and a failing HDD that was overheating. Once I removed the Application and the bad HDD. I then checked the integrity of the SSD and it checked out well. I then reinstalled the new Nvidia Driver at midnight last night, and all has been well since;) I'm not sure if I should install Temperature Monitor again:confused:

Lou
 
I don't know whether anyone has noticed this using non-Apple GPU's but for me VNC apps have stopped working altogether.

I used to have my GTX 780 Superclocked and ATI Apple 5870 in my case together. iTeleport and Screens always worked perfectly for connecting my phone or iPad to my computer.

I've removed the 5870 and screen's no longer works. Authentication always fails.
 
Asgorath said:
Web driver for 10.8.5 was just released:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/macosx-313.01.03f01-driver.html

Edit: I think I'll remove the "which cards work" section because it's quite clear that all NVIDIA cards, especially those based on the Fermi generation or newer, just work. I'll also update the recommended card section to be a little more up to date.
Click to expand...

I think it's still helpful to have the User-confirmed list Asgorath. In fact, you can add the 650ti SC to that list. Worked perfect OoTB with Apple's stock drivers, but I'm using the NVidia ones anyway.

Edit: Especially with commentary on which cards *NOT* to use, e.g. anything in the x10 - x30 range

I have updated to 10.8.5 with the latest Driver/CUDA with no issues.
 
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I'm having troubles using the iPad LogMeIn now that I've updated my MP to the latest NV driver.

I haven't had a lot of time to experiment with it, but it seems if I log in remotely it works the first time. When the connection is ended and I try to reconnect, the screen will simply be gray (on the iPad or the local machine).

The only way I've been able to regain control is to power cycle.
 
iPad LogMeIn works fine for me witht the newd drivers, both the first, second, and third time.
 
Redneck1089 said:
I don't know whether anyone has noticed this using non-Apple GPU's but for me VNC apps have stopped working altogether.

I used to have my GTX 780 Superclocked and ATI Apple 5870 in my case together. iTeleport and Screens always worked perfectly for connecting my phone or iPad to my computer.

I've removed the 5870 and screen's no longer works. Authentication always fails.
Click to expand...

I'm using VNC and OS X's native screen sharing. They both authenticate and work fine. Video card is a flashed GTX 680.
 
I"m looking to pick up a Zotac GTX650 TI 2gb today.

the seller said the box wants 400watts - it uses one 6-pin power cable.

Am I safe to plop this into my 4,1 ?
 
spoonie1972 said:
I"m looking to pick up a Zotac GTX650 TI 2gb today.

the seller said the box wants 400watts - it uses one 6-pin power cable.

Am I safe to plop this into my 4,1 ?
Click to expand...

Seller is talking nonsense, you 4,1 can easily handle the GTX650 Ti.

The Mac GTX 680 uses more power than the 650 and works fine, as does my GTX 660.

Plop it in and have fun, just remember you get no boot screen.
The entire computer might need 400w GPU, including the rest. The Mac Pro has a 980w Power supply.
 
awesome, thanks!

edit:

Picked it up, put it in slot 2, installed CUDA, still running OSX driver.

Works. AE and premiere seem to see it OK.

I can't seem to download the Nvidia driver from here:

http://www.nvidia.com/content/Drive...ebDriver-313.01.03f01.pkg&lang=us&type=Quadro


no matter what i put in to "subscribe to their newsletter", to get to the actual download page, i see :

"Access Denied

You don't have permission to access "http://news.nvidia.com/subscribe/subscribe.tml" on this server.
Reference #18.c4e33f17.1379888582.46b25a02"

Am i doing something wrong here? Anyone have a mirror for the latest driver?
 
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Noooooooo!!!!!!

I accidentally updated to 10.8.5 and got the updated drivers. Now the screen freezes on wake. Looking into the console I get this...

9/22/13 9:10:18.000 PM kernel[0]: NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception! exception type = 0xd = Graphics Engine Error (GR Error 5)

...


9/22/13 9:11:20.000 PM kernel[0]: NVDA(OpenGL): Channel timeout!
9/22/13 9:11:20.000 PM kernel[0]: NVDA(OpenGL): Channel exception! exception type = 0x20 = DMA Engine Error (PBDMA Error)
Click to expand...
 
spoonie1972 said:
awesome, thanks!

edit:

Picked it up, put it in slot 2, installed CUDA, still running OSX driver.

Works. AE and premiere seem to see it OK.

I can't seem to download the Nvidia driver from here:

http://www.nvidia.com/content/Drive...ebDriver-313.01.03f01.pkg&lang=us&type=Quadro


no matter what i put in to "subscribe to their newsletter", to get to the actual download page, i see :

"Access Denied

You don't have permission to access "http://news.nvidia.com/subscribe/subscribe.tml" on this server.
Reference #18.c4e33f17.1379888582.46b25a02"

Am i doing something wrong here? Anyone have a mirror for the latest driver?
Click to expand...


That's weird, although I recently went from NVIDIA to OS X drivers again because the latest ones game me Graphics kernel crashes in iMovie, and another person reported in in FCPX. So it might even happen in AE.

Also at best I got 1-2 at most in benchmarks from the latest NVIDIA drivers.
 
spoonie1972 said:
I"m looking to pick up a Zotac GTX650 TI 2gb today.

the seller said the box wants 400watts - it uses one 6-pin power cable.

Am I safe to plop this into my 4,1 ?
Click to expand...

To echo what N19h7m4r3 has said, You will be totally fine with that card. It's true that the card requires a 400w power supply, but the important part is the TDP (Total drawn power) of the card. That card draws a mere 140w, well under Asgorath's recommendation not to exceed 225w before needing an additional power supply. I just put in an EVGA 2GB 650ti SC; works brilliantly!
 
Good to know, thanks! I'm happy it works, and really I bought this card because it was cheap (used), and I wanted to test it on my machine before spending a sizeable amount. With that said...

What's the best/fastest card I can buy for a reasonable price that will only use the 2x 6-pin power (and not need more watts) that can accelerate AE's ray-tracing features and all the bells and whistles?
 
spoonie1972 said:
Good to know, thanks! I'm happy it works, and really I bought this card because it was cheap (used), and I wanted to test it on my machine before spending a sizeable amount. With that said...

What's the best/fastest card I can buy for a reasonable price that will only use the 2x 6-pin power (and not need more watts) that can accelerate AE's ray-tracing features and all the bells and whistles?
Click to expand...

To quote Asgorath again "The generally accepted consensus is that the two 6-pin connectors provide up to 225W (75W from the PCIe slot, 75W per 6-pin cable)."

So for example, the TDP of the 650ti is 140w, and one 6-pin cable delivers 150w; adding a second 6-pin cable adds another 75w to the TDP reaching your max of 225w. The anything above the 650ti will require the second 6-pin cable, but you're safe to go up to the 680 which is in the range of 190w. The guideline is to check the TDP and what cables the card uses. Hope that helps!
 
MacGamver said:
To quote Asgorath again "The generally accepted consensus is that the two 6-pin connectors provide up to 225W (75W from the PCIe slot, 75W per 6-pin cable)."

So for example, the TDP of the 650ti is 140w, and one 6-pin cable delivers 150w; adding a second 6-pin cable adds another 75w to the TDP reaching your max of 225w. The anything above the 650ti will require the second 6-pin cable, but you're safe to go up to the 680 which is in the range of 190w. The guideline is to check the TDP and what cables the card uses. Hope that helps!
Click to expand...

GTX570 it is - just got it today but won't be home until later. Thanks a bunch. Will AE use CUDA cores from both the 650TI and the 570 if they're both installed? (I'd use an external PSU if this is sensible option for faster computing/rendering).
 
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Help on Mac Pro 1.1 please.

Hi everyone and thank you for the useful infos here.

I have read this thread twice so far (english is not my language) and i still have a doubt :

I run a mac pro 1.1- 2x3Ghz - radeon 5770 (pc card flashed by myself in replacement of the loud x1900) - in Os 10.7.5 Lion.

I need to upgrade my video card, i mainly do 3d apps, adobe suite and renders via lux render.

I plan to buy a GTX 570 but as it will probably be the last video card bought for this machine, i would better go bigger than the usual 1,2 G of memory.

i do not plan on buying a flashed card as i don't need the boot screen. If something goes wrong, i put the original mac radeon to access the boot screen and deal with the problem

I do not plan on buying an external power supply for a more massive gtx 580 or a very powerfull GTX 570

I found a good deal on a used EVGA 570 with 2,5 gigs of memory. Seems to be 2x6pins
Stangely, I have read somewhere those cards are not compatible with mac pro 1,1.

Does anyone have made it work?
Does anyone know why it should not be compatible ?
If it really is not compatible, any advice on what model i should search?

Thank you
Cake
 
I just ordered a Gigabyte GTX680 from Newegg (no sales tax vs. Amazon). When received will ship to MacVidCards for flashing. Then my GTX570 1.25GB will be up for sale.

Lou
 
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