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

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ScreenSaver and SleepMode get stuck after Installing PC Quadro in Mac

Eureka ! I removed the extra SSD from the second x16 slot and left in out for now...and the Quadroo 4000 worked. I could see the desktop normally, go into After Effects preferences and choose the GPU option. And After Effects works faster with this card. So a big thanks to everyone for all the help to get this far. However....
When I put my MacPro into Sleep Mode or the Screen Saver starts up, the MacPro won't wake back up out it back to the desktop. With Sleep Mode the screen stays black. In the case of the ScreenSaver it freezes on one photo instead of rotating from the folder of Screen Saver images. I have to power down the Mac and restart using the power button on the tower to get back to the desktop.
I thought the wireless mouse might be the the problem but after trying new batteries, a wired mouse and pressing keys on the keyboard, it's obviously something else.
Is this an unavoidable, common side-effect of using a non-EFI PC Nvidia card in a Mac or can it be troubleshot ?
Hope someone might have some ideas.
Thanks in advance,
Wade
 
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Thanks for your help, Lou. Just gotta solver this screen saver/sleep mode freeze issue. It's a real buzzkill.
 
Rootarty said:
Eureka ! I removed the extra SSD from the second x16 slot and left in out for now...and the Quadroo 4000 worked. I could see the desktop normally, go into After Effects preferences and choose the GPU option. And After Effects works faster with this card. So a big thanks to everyone for all the help to get this far. However....
When I put my MacPro into Sleep Mode or the Screen Saver starts up, the MacPro won't wake back up out it back to the desktop. With Sleep Mode the screen stays black. In the case of the ScreenSaver it freezes on one photo instead of rotating from the folder of Screen Saver images. I have to power down the Mac and restart using the power button on the tower to get back to the desktop.
I thought the wireless mouse might be the the problem but after trying new batteries, a wired mouse and pressing keys on the keyboard, it's obviously something else.
Is this an unavoidable, common side-effect of using a non-EFI PC Nvidia card in a Mac or can it be troubleshot ?
Hope someone might have some ideas.
Thanks in advance,
Wade
Click to expand...

Congrats, am glad my suggestion works. I don't have any sleep issues with my unflashed card. It appears to be a driver issue.
 
4x Slot for Solid State Drive gives Maximum Results?

apphotography said:
Try moving the SSD to the 4x slot, there's more than enough bandwidth there. .
Click to expand...

Is there really no extra bandwidth benefit putting the SSD in the x16 slot rather than the x4 ?

My ultimate goal is to install 2 SSDs in the optical drive bay with one of these OWC Multi-Mounts :
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MM352A52ST/

And add two SSDs in an empty slot with the Sonnet Tempo SSD Pro I already have:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Sonnet Technologies/TSATA6SSDPSE/

This set up is mainly to optimise the MacPro for After Effects use.
I want to have :
-One SSD with the OS and my main software (I assume all other apps can be on other drives)
-One SSD for source video/asset files
-One SSD for rendering out to videos to
-One SSD for After Effects (and Premiere Pro) cache

So, I'm also wondering :
1) With two SSDs in the Optical drive bay and two on the Sonnet Tempo Pro, what would be the optimum arrangement considering my four uses outlined above?
2) With the Quadro 4000 in one x16 slot, and the Sonnet Tempo Pro in either the other x16 or a x4, is it reasonable to add two more Sonnets into the two free slots left which would allow me to add 4 more SSDs? Or would this require too much power or cause some other problems?

I appreciate any advice on this....thanks,
Wade
 
Rootarty said:
Is there really no extra bandwidth benefit putting the SSD in the x16 slot rather than the x4 ?

I appreciate any advice on this....thanks,
Wade
Click to expand...

My SSD is more than twice as fast as yours and is in the X4 slot. There are currently no SSDs that can saturate the bandwidth of that X4 slot.
 
hi guys,
first of all, thanks to everyone who wrote on this huge thread!
this is my first post on the forum, I arrived here while searching a gtx680 for mac, but after reading most of the 70 pages all I got is a big headache and now I'm even more confused :confused:

I'm planning to buy a new graphic card, as I wrote i was going for a gtx680 mac edition, but after reading the OP I realized that I can save some money buying a pc card, but there are so much choices I can't decide.
moreover, I don't have a great knowledge of hardware stuff, so I can't understand i.e. why a gtx 570 (that has few cores) is better than a gtx 680?
anyway, my budget is about 250-350$, and I'm trying to decide which one suits better for me between the following ones (all with 2gb):
gtx 660ti
gtx 670
gtx 680
gtx 760
gtx 770

this is my actual configuration:
Mac Pro 4.1
quad core xeon 2.66
nvidia gt 120
12 gb ram 1066 ddr3

I have 3 hdd, one with SL 10.6.8, one with Mavericks 10.9.1, the third one with Win8.1 on Bootcamp, and 2 monitors, a Samsung 2333hd through DVI and an old Dell with VGA through mini display port.
The software I usually use are Maya, Zbrush, Photoshop CS6, AfterEffects CS6, NukeX 6 and Final Cut Pro X, but with my new card I'm planning to use also Mari and Substance Painter. Moreover, if possible I would like to continue working also on my SL partition, so my questions are:

1. is there a compatible card on my list that allows me to use SL?
2. if not, how can i still use my gt 120 at the same time (using it for example as boot screen)?
3. known issues about drivers, dual monitor, power suppy that should move me toward one of them in particular?

thanks for your help,
zell
 
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Hi Zell,

You might want to look into Nvidia's most recent and energy-efficient line of GPUs, the GTX 970/980. A new 970 can be had for less than $350 and works well with Yosemite using the Nvidia drivers. I don't know if it works under Mavericks. I use an ancient GT-120 as a boot card on a smaller third monitor. Both GPUs work well together, since the 120 doesn't need aux power, and the 970 works just fine with the two 6-pin power cords. YMMV.

Mike
 
apphotography said:
My SSD is more than twice as fast as yours and is in the X4 slot. There are currently no SSDs that can saturate the bandwidth of that X4 slot.
Click to expand...

apphotography said:
My SSD is more than twice as fast as yours and is in the X4 slot. There are currently no SSDs that can saturate the bandwidth of that X4 slot.
Click to expand...

Ok. I see. So even does anyone know :

1) If my 2 SSDs in my Sonnet Tempo would be fine as they generally aren't accessed at the same time?

2) Could I effectively fill up the other free slots with 6 other SSDs on Sonnet Tempos...in theory ?

As long as I don't have a NAND tech SSD then x4 slot is fine for regular SSDs...yeh ?

Wade
 
MacVidCards said:
You should probably go post in a thread about SSDs or start a unique one. People with knowledge on them aren't likely to wander into a dedicated GPU thread.
Click to expand...

Ok, I'll do that MacVidCards. Thanks for your help with all this. You rock ! All you guys are champions !!

Wade
 
Ruce said:
Hi!

I just buy MSI GTX750 TI OC and put it in my Mac Pro 1.1 Yosemite 10.10.1.
Have new NVIDIA drivers (343.01.02f01) from their site. Try to boot but i only get black screen. 750gtx fans starts spinning so it's properly installed. Try hdmi and dvi ports, but dosnt matter, black screen. OS X boot with NVIDIA drivers. MSI GTX750 doesn't need extra power.

Try also with my old 8600gts and it worked just fine.

What i should do and try?

EDIT: Also ATI Radeon HD5770 (pc-version, no flash) works with my MacPro with default os x graphics driver
Click to expand...

EDIT2: ATI Radeon HD7770 works also.
I try my gtx750 to my friends pc and it work. So card is good.

Anyone know solution for this?
 
I've been trawling through the forums, and there seems to be a lot of conflicting reports about the GTX 750/750Ti working under Yosemite/10.10.1

Does anyone out there know if a GTX 750/750Ti would work in a Mac Pro 3,1 running OS 10.10.1?

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

I'm still waiting for a flashed GTX-980, any news on those MVC and/or will the .rom be available for home tweakers?

I really would like to upgrade and lose the ATI 2600 HD (for bootscreen on third monitor) in that process! I need that PCIe slot urgently.

Cheers...
 
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Simmie said:
I've been trawling through the forums, and there seems to be a lot of conflicting reports about the GTX 750/750Ti working under Yosemite/10.10.1

Does anyone out there know if a GTX 750/750Ti would work in a Mac Pro 3,1 running OS 10.10.1?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I am successfully using a GTX 750Ti with 10.10.1 and the nVidia web drivers. I recommend you use a 750 as close to nVidia's Reference Card as possible (2-DVI and a mini HDMI). EVGA is the closest. I am using a Gigabyte GTX 750 Ti (GV-N75TWF2OC-2GI) graphics card (2-DVI & 2-HDMI) in my hackintosh w/o any problems. I've tested driving four monitors with this card - works. As soon as Yosemite gets few more updates behind it, I'll try one in my Mac Pro 3,1.

Now, that being said, you're right about the varying reports on the success, or lack of it, using a 750 series in 10.10.1. My thread at the link above has several users with other manufactures' cards that are not having success with a variety of issues. I either lucked out with my choice of 750 Ti or I did something right when I installed the drivers or both. BTW, my 750 Ti is Gigabyte's "top of the line"; I've read about several other users with the entry level Gigabyte 750 Ti cards having issues. Most of the problems I've seen are users wanting to use just the HDMI connection(s) in their versions of the 750 Ti cards. I can't recommend ASUS's 750 Ti from what I've read; they have 2-DVI, 1-HDMI and 1-VGA(!!). So, for early adopters, it's YMMV.

Good luck!
 
Thanks for your thoughts. Sounds too hit-and-miss at the moment, I think I'll give it a miss for now and see if things improve over then next few months.
 
BDM STUDIOS NL said:
I'm still waiting for a flashed GTX-980, any news on those MVC and/or will the .rom be available for home tweakers?

I really would like to upgrade and lose the ATI 2600 HD (for bootscreen on third monitor) in that process! I need that PCIe slot urgently.

Cheers...
Click to expand...

2 steps forward, one step back.

We got 980 nearly perfect....in a 3,1. I (stupidly) assumed that issues on 4,1 were due to 4K screen it was connected to. I finally noticed that Mini using 980 via TB had perfectly fine bootscreens on 4K. Light bulb moment followed by carrying 3,1 and 4,1 20+ meters to switch them out. HEAVY !!!

And sadly the 4,1 issues are with 4,1. Apple made some funky changes over the years. Turns out they were transitioning from UGA TO GOP (not repub) in the years and adopted changes in 4,1 that didn't mesh with our new strategy.

On the good news front we can now enable PCIE 2.0 for 3,1 and 4,1 in OSX and Windows. Sorry it's taking so long guys, but I'm convinced we'll get there.
 
Frequently Asked Questions About NVIDIA PC (non-EFI) Graphics Cards

MacVidCards said:
2 steps forward, one step back.



We got 980 nearly perfect....in a 3,1. I (stupidly) assumed that issues on 4,1 were due to 4K screen it was connected to. I finally noticed that Mini using 980 via TB had perfectly fine bootscreens on 4K. Light bulb moment followed by carrying 3,1 and 4,1 20+ meters to switch them out. HEAVY !!!



And sadly the 4,1 issues are with 4,1. Apple made some funky changes over the years. Turns out they were transitioning from UGA TO GOP (not repub) in the years and adopted changes in 4,1 that didn't mesh with our new strategy.



On the good news front we can now enable PCIE 2.0 for 3,1 and 4,1 in OSX and Windows. Sorry it's taking so long guys, but I'm convinced we'll get there.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the update @MacVidCards! Good things comes with a pace, so it's worth waiting for!

Cheers
 
Last edited:
MacVidCards said:
2 steps forward, one step back.

We got 980 nearly perfect....in a 3,1. I (stupidly) assumed that issues on 4,1 were due to 4K screen it was connected to. I finally noticed that Mini using 980 via TB had perfectly fine bootscreens on 4K. Light bulb moment followed by carrying 3,1 and 4,1 20+ meters to switch them out. HEAVY !!!

And sadly the 4,1 issues are with 4,1. Apple made some funky changes over the years. Turns out they were transitioning from UGA TO GOP (not repub) in the years and adopted changes in 4,1 that didn't mesh with our new strategy.

On the good news front we can now enable PCIE 2.0 for 3,1 and 4,1 in OSX and Windows. Sorry it's taking so long guys, but I'm convinced we'll get there.
Click to expand...

MacVids I hope you can do the same for the 970 as well! :)
 
TheStork said:
I am successfully using a GTX 750Ti with 10.10.1 and the nVidia web drivers. I recommend you use a 750 as close to nVidia's Reference Card as possible (2-DVI and a mini HDMI). EVGA is the closest. I am using a Gigabyte GTX 750 Ti (GV-N75TWF2OC-2GI) graphics card (2-DVI & 2-HDMI) in my hackintosh w/o any problems. I've tested driving four monitors with this card - works. As soon as Yosemite gets few more updates behind it, I'll try one in my Mac Pro 3,1.

Now, that being said, you're right about the varying reports on the success, or lack of it, using a 750 series in 10.10.1. My thread at the link above has several users with other manufactures' cards that are not having success with a variety of issues. I either lucked out with my choice of 750 Ti or I did something right when I installed the drivers or both. BTW, my 750 Ti is Gigabyte's "top of the line"; I've read about several other users with the entry level Gigabyte 750 Ti cards having issues. Most of the problems I've seen are users wanting to use just the HDMI connection(s) in their versions of the 750 Ti cards. I can't recommend ASUS's 750 Ti from what I've read; they have 2-DVI, 1-HDMI and 1-VGA(!!). So, for early adopters, it's YMMV.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

My MSI GTX750 Ti with 1-HDMI 1-DVI 1-VGA isn't working. MacPro 1.1 will start, but no picture at all. Try nvidia drivers and os x drivers, but no difference. Im using Radeon HD7770 right now and it works with zero problems.
 
And what does it mean exactly for me?

MacVidCards said:
2 steps forward, one step back.

We got 980 nearly perfect....in a 3,1. I (stupidly) assumed that issues on 4,1 were due to 4K screen it was connected to. I finally noticed that Mini using 980 via TB had perfectly fine bootscreens on 4K. Light bulb moment followed by carrying 3,1 and 4,1 20+ meters to switch them out. HEAVY !!!

And sadly the 4,1 issues are with 4,1. Apple made some funky changes over the years. Turns out they were transitioning from UGA TO GOP (not repub) in the years and adopted changes in 4,1 that didn't mesh with our new strategy.

On the good news front we can now enable PCIE 2.0 for 3,1 and 4,1 in OSX and Windows. Sorry it's taking so long guys, but I'm convinced we'll get there.
Click to expand...

I've a MP 4.1 and two EVGA 980 GTX on my desk, is there now a chance to flash my both graphic cards to full functionality like EFI and PCIE2.0?
Maybe you explained it before but my english is to bad :eek:

Regards Zodiac
 
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