Graphic Card Shopping. I need help....

[tjasinto]

Hi all. I have a Dual 867 G4 MDD.

I need to replace my stock grpahic card which is a NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 32MB VRAM. This card uses an AGP slot/bus . I also need a card with DVI outs which is what I'm currently using

I have one AGP and 2 open PCI slots. But I want to use the AGP slot of course. I don't have a PCI express slot.

The question I had was, I went to both Best Buy and Circuit City to look for a Graphics card and under the system requirments on the box of the different graphics cards, non of them say that they are compatible with macs. The sales clerks didn't know so I didn't end up buying one.

Shouldn't I be able to just buy a card that uses an AGP slot? Or do I need to find a card that specifically says its compatible with macs?

Thanks....

 

[clevin]

i think it would be easier to check apple's documentation and find out what card they support in OSX, i don't think most of the retail graphic cards would ID them as mac compatible or not at all.

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

Your best bet is to go find a Mac radeon 9800 for that thing. Pc cards arent going to work for that thing. You may post for a used one here in market place or go to Ati's web site I think they still sell those Mac 9800's new.

 

[tjasinto]

i think it would be easier to check apple's documentation and find out what card they support in OSX, i don't think most of the retail graphic cards would ID them as mac compatible or not at all.

I'm looking specifically for a card that I can use to run Final Cut with. Amazingly the card I have now is not that bad when doing basic edits.

I'm looking for a card that costs no more than $150. I' going to be getting a new computer within the year so I don't want to put that much more money into the one I have now especially since everything seems to be going into the PCI-E direction.

Final Cut Pro, lists about 20 recommended cards to use with the program on the Apple Site, But I can't seem to find any of them anywhere.

For example one card that Apple recommends for Final Cut Pro is an ATI Radeon X1900 XT. Best Buy had an ATI Radeon X1900 (no XT at the end of the name). But it did not say on the box if it was compatible with macs..

Very confusing...

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

No the x1900 isnt compatable with your Mac.

 

[tjasinto]

Anyone know of a good web site that sells cards that are mac compatible?

 

[Dont Hurt Me]

Anyone know of a good web site that sells cards that are mac compatible?

1 more time, go to ati's home page they have agp 9800s for your mac that will be night and day above that 4mx.

 

[StealthRider]

I agree with the 9800 - that's the best you'll do without hacking another card.

 

[dusanv]

There are a couple on eBay, if you use that...

 

[tjasinto]

There are a couple on eBay, if you use that...

Saw a few on eBay.

One more question. If Apple recommends a card on their system reqquirements do the cards have to be a 'mac edition' for those specific cards?

 

[Passante]

Anyone know of a good web site that sells cards that are mac compatible?

Try OWC or Small Dog

 

[tjasinto]

Your best bet is to go find a Mac radeon 9800 for that thing. Pc cards arent going to work for that thing. You may post for a used one here in market place or go to Ati's web site I think they still sell those Mac 9800's new.

I like the price point on those also. I'm going to go with what you suggested..Thanks..

BTW is there much of a difference between the 9800 and the 9800XT?

 

[apfhex]

If Apple recommends a card on their system reqquirements do the cards have to be a 'mac edition' for those specific cards?

Yes. For example the X1900 XT (even though it doesn't work with your PMG4 anyway) comes in a version that works with the Mac Pro and a different one that works with the PMG5s. A PC version will only work if you're using Boot Camp/Windows. It has to do with the firmware on the cards. You might be able to flash the firmware, but it'd probably be a better idea to just get the Mac version.