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Game performance is crap on my Mac Pro 8core

D

digiegg

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 23, 2007
117
0
Hey guys,
I have a Mac Pro 8core + 7300GT graphics card + 3GB RAM. I use Windows XP 64bit.

I thought my mac pro will handle games well at the highest rate but I was wrong...
Warcraft 3 runs fine on it's highest settings.
Thing is, for games like F.E.A.R and Oblivion, my computer kinda lags.
I have to play it on 800x600 if I want smooth performance without the lag.
I set it as higher settings, it runs but it still has this lag.

Maybe it's the driver that's not letting the card to be at it's fullest?
I tried installing the new drivers for 7300 but it just tells me it's the wrong driver.
I mean for a 4k$ computer, games should at least run pretty damn nicely... =(
Help?
 
I would get a ATI but I'm a 3D modeler so I prefer to stick with Nvidia.
Ack.. I don't think I can afford a new card...
I had a 6800GT OC. You think that's better than the 7300?
 
digiegg said:
I would get a ATI but I'm a 3D modeler so I prefer to stick with Nvidia.
Ack.. I don't think I can afford a new card...
I had a 6800GT OC. You think that's better than the 7300?
Click to expand...

YES! That 7300 card is complete crap.
 
At least there is nothing better than th ati card at the mo. What would be the problem in 3D with that? I do also a lot of 3D stuff with the mac (CINEMA 4D, Silo, modo). Runs great on ATI.
 
digiegg said:
I would get a ATI but I'm a 3D modeler so I prefer to stick with Nvidia.
Ack.. I don't think I can afford a new card...
I had a 6800GT OC. You think that's better than the 7300?
Click to expand...

Using a non-supported card will not work in Mac OS, so you'd be best off getting the 1900XT. If you're using Windows exclusively, you can plug in your 6800GT OC.
 
could you guys point me to the place where I can buy that card?
Can't seem to find a official ATI version... I found a Saphire one at Newegg...
God why did apple give me this crap card? =(
 
Ditch that nVidia card as fast as you can and get the ATI. For 3D it runs almost flawlessly on the ATI both under OSX and WXP32. I say almost because the *one and only* problem I've had is the long running RenderView jagged edges problem in Maya. It's annoying, but easily circumvented and thus a bit of a nonissue. Other than that, the card has been performing wonderfully both on OSX and on WXP sp2.

The software I'm running is (XSI6.0(WXP), modo 103(OSX), Maya8.5(OSX), ZBrush3.0(both bootcamped and under Parallels3.0) and PhotoShop CS3(OSX)).

There has been a lot of bad press in the past with ATI cards being a bad choice for 3D DCC. My personal experience is that's more or less where it stays.... in the past!

digiegg said:
I would get a ATI but I'm a 3D modeler so I prefer to stick with Nvidia.
Ack.. I don't think I can afford a new card...
I had a 6800GT OC. You think that's better than the 7300?
Click to expand...
 
gloss said:
Hold your horses. I think you need to buy the Mac-specific version. The standard PC version won't work in Mac OS.
Click to expand...

$400 for a 1900XT? Wow, now that's a rip off if I've ever seen one. If you're willing to spend that on the 1900XT, you have more money than brains.
 
Since the 7300 GT is offered in multiple different combo's can't the 7300 be put in a different slot for OS X and use a PC Card for Windows gaming. Though you would need a KVI switch.

In which case to heck with the X1900 for the price of the mac version you could get a sweet 8800GTS maybe even an 8800GTX.
 
Basically it all depends if I can find a driver for it right?
Closest thing to that is the X1900 G5 Mac edition.
http://ati.amd.com/support/drivers/mac/MacX1900G5Updater.html

So I guess the X1950 wouldn't work with Mac OS.
Man... this is bull.

Also there are complaints on this card about overheating and it being loud. Also it dying on you after 6 months of usage...
I push my graphics card alot when doing things and if this happens... I don't know why I should pay that much money for it.

what to do what to do...
 
You could wait for the next Mac Pro update. I'm guessing Apple is going to be upgrading all the cards significantly, as well as (I think) switching predominantly to NVidia.
 
7300 is a bad card. It is just fine for Running Multiple ACD's but sux0rs for gaming.
 
digiegg said:
Hey guys,
I have a Mac Pro 8core + 7300GT graphics card + 3GB RAM. I use Windows XP 64bit.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the 7300 GT card is actually a joke in such a powerful machine as the Mac Pro (especially the 8 Core!!). Having that card as a cheap-o BTO option for buyers who prefer to wait for the next-gen of cards, or are asolutely sure of the fact that having a decent grfx card is not necessary, is fine with me.
But the good middle-of-the-road X1900 XT should be the default card.

Question though: is using the 64 bit version of XP a good choice regarding games?
 
I can't remember any specific issues with 64 bit regarding the games themselves. It's usually a driver issues. Still. In 2007. :rolleyes:
 
Games are no issue on the 64bit.
Everything works fine. It's just this crappy card and crappy drivers...
They won't update much for us 64bit users... which is lame.
 
Just buy the normal PC version of the x1900. Then search Google for "x1900 Mac flashing" and look at the results. IF you flash the card correctly, you'll be able to use it with OS X.

Beware though, you could potentially ruin your card and use of the flashed card isn't covered under warranty.
 
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