Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Graphics Card for Mac Pro, first generation...

M

mattso

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 16, 2010
3
0
I've got a Quad 3.0 made in August 2006...
the video card in it seems to be bad. (Blue Verticle lines and hangs during boot.) I can't really seem to find a straight answer about what card(s) I can put in it. FOR EXAMPLE... do I REALLY have to spend 500$ to get a nVidia 8800 or 'Apple Brand' ATI x1900?
Really?

I tried a 9800GT, but no luck... the supplemental power cable that comes with the card is a little tiny 2-pin thingy, and of course the Mac Pro 6-pin connectors are all I can find to plug into. So I don't even know if the 9800 would work even if I DID have the right cable.


Please help... this is my working computer, and if I HAVE To spend a huge amount of money on an Older model graphics card, I will...
but PLEASE... that makes me feel so... small.

thanks!

matt, so?
 
mattso said:
I've got a Quad 3.0 made in August 2006...
the video card in it seems to be bad. (Blue Verticle lines and hangs during boot.) I can't really seem to find a straight answer about what card(s) I can put in it. FOR EXAMPLE... do I REALLY have to spend 500$ to get a nVidia 8800 or 'Apple Brand' ATI x1900?
Really?

I tried a 9800GT, but no luck... the supplemental power cable that comes with the card is a little tiny 2-pin thingy, and of course the Mac Pro 6-pin connectors are all I can find to plug into. So I don't even know if the 9800 would work even if I DID have the right cable.


Please help... this is my working computer, and if I HAVE To spend a huge amount of money on an Older model graphics card, I will...
but PLEASE... that makes me feel so... small.

thanks!

matt, so?
Click to expand...

You can either get an Apple ATI 5770, or you could buy a PC card and flash it, like a 5870 or a 5770 :)
 
Good that there is the new ATI options, I still don't regret selling my 1,1 and building my new rig though...
 
neckarb said:
You can either get an Apple ATI 5770, or you could buy a PC card and flash it, like a 5870 or a 5770 :)
Click to expand...

Thank you guys!
I'd love to do this - flash the PC card - if for nothing else, just to get the satisfaction of NOT paying for apple's 'branding'. BUT, I have no idea how to do that. I'm not computer illiterate, but I'm at my knowledge threshold with such things.
tutorial, anyone?

m
 
mattso said:
Thank you guys!
I'd love to do this - flash the PC card - if for nothing else, just to get the satisfaction of NOT paying for apple's 'branding'. BUT, I have no idea how to do that. I'm not computer illiterate, but I'm at my knowledge threshold with such things.
tutorial, anyone?

m
Click to expand...

If that's the case, I'd just go with the Apple branded ones. Less fuss, and it will come with the power cable you need.

The flashed ones still have a few catches.
 
need help on a video card dual core?

i just got fcp x - for a 2006 dual core - its running pretty good - but it keeps suggesting i need a new video card - i still use 10.4 sometimes to run the old versions of pro tools and logic .. need a little help - whats the fastest or the best video card i can get for my computer -- someone suggested ati 4870 -
does anyone have an idea here?

thanks - tech
 
King,

Are you running FCPX on 10.4? Didn't think you could...

What video card is in your machine and how much RAM do you have?

A 5870 is going to be the best OEM card for you, but they are expensive.
A 5770 is a good option too, at $229 new, shipped, from B&H Photo

Pretty tough to find either of these for any less used.

For some reason, Mac users feel that their used 5770 is worth $200 plus.

Put down the crack pipes people.....
 
TableSyrup said:
Pretty tough to find either of these for any less used.

For some reason, Mac users feel that their used 5770 is worth $200 plus.

Put down the crack pipes people.....
Click to expand...

What something is worth is what people will pay for it. The only real question is are you willing to pay what others have decided it is worth?

Easiest way to get this price is to do a "completed items" search on Ebay. Shows you what the bids ran to recently. You will need to mentally weed out the flashed 5770s and only compare the APple OEM ones. The fact that they have boot screens from any port whereas flashed ones only have boot screen from VGA adapted ports makes real ones much more valuable. Price will stay high until APple releases new OEM card as base.

Thinking that you know better than the market what any particular object or commodity is worth is a sure sign of someone needing to put down a crack pipe.
 
king tech 1 said:
i just got fcp x - for a 2006 dual core - its running pretty good - but it keeps suggesting i need a new video card - i still use 10.4 sometimes to run the old versions of pro tools and logic .. need a little help - whats the fastest or the best video card i can get for my computer -- someone suggested ati 4870 -
does anyone have an idea here?

thanks - tech
Click to expand...

A flashed 4870 requires Snow Leopard to be reliable. On my 2007 Quad Core 1.1 Mac Pro, when I install Leopard 10.5.1 it works fine with DVI ouput, but when I patch to 10.5.8 it suddenly will no longer output DVI signal, and I have to use a DVI to VGA converter and run Leopard under VGA (much research online says it's an issue with Apple's video drivers negotiating signal with the monitor).

I think even the Apple-branded 8800 nVidia card upgrade requires Leopard. Of course, you could run both cards at the same time with different OSs. I still keep my OEM 7300 so I can run Tiger if necessary.
 
Gambol said:
A flashed 4870 requires Snow Leopard to be reliable. On my 2007 Quad Core 1.1 Mac Pro, when I install Leopard 10.5.1 it works fine with DVI ouput, but when I patch to 10.5.8 it suddenly will no longer output DVI signal, and I have to use a DVI to VGA converter and run Leopard under VGA (much research online says it's an issue with Apple's video drivers negotiating signal with the monitor).

I think even the Apple-branded 8800 nVidia card upgrade requires Leopard. Of course, you could run both cards at the same time with different OSs. I still keep my OEM 7300 so I can run Tiger if necessary.
Click to expand...

no problems with my 4870, did not have to flash
 
Gambol said:
Odd. I had the problem on two different monitors, but both were Viewsonic, so perhaps the card / drivers can talk better to other brands.
Click to expand...

i put in in while still on tiger.
Did have some monitor problems, but it was due to a wimpy dvi cable
 
I have been reading through these forms gathering as much information as possible. I have the same question as the original poster I'm trying to figure out what to do in regards to my aging Mac Pro 1.1 Dual core 3ghz Intel Xeon. I would like a video card that I can load into the boot screen and select my OS (Bootcamp). However I still have a working Nvidia Quadro FX 4500 , which brings me to my first question. If I put another video card in my machine could I leave the Quadro in another slot for booting? I would like something better for gaming as many have suggested the ATI 5770 for Mac. I was looking into getting it but I'm not sure if I can get into the boot screen or if that only works with an analog VGA adapter (mac card)? If that’s the case I was wondering If there’s anything faster from Nvidia I saw MacVidCards was selling a 8800 ultra that would work with my machine (I apologize if I am mistaken).

Thanks in advanced!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back