Having trouble choosing a videocard

[benguild]

I have an original, base model launch 2006 Mac Pro, which I've upgraded everything except the Video card for.

I've seen so many threads and things for sale, but I'm losing track of what is compatible with my machine since everyone else is on a 2008+ model. Can someone recommend a card that will handle modern Steam games (aka. Portal 2) at 1920x1200?

P.S. I'd prefer to not flash anything (as I don't have Bootcamp available, unless I could do it from a USB Drive) and I don't want to lose my Bootscreen.

 

[goMac]

Radeon 5770 or 5870.

 

[benguild]

Radeon 5770 or 5870.

Do these require a flash? Unfortunately I have a RAID-10 in my machine and I can't do Bootcamp unless I could put it on a USB drive.

 

[Cindori]

Do these require a flash? Unfortunately I have a RAID-10 in my machine and I can't do Bootcamp unless I could put it on a USB drive.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC742ZM/A

 

[benguild]

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC742ZM/A

Cool. And that works with a 1,1 model? Apple's site says otherwise but I'm assuming it's just unsupported?

 

[AngryRedTicTac]

Yep, the Apple branded cards are plug and play if you are running up to date Snow Leopard. Benchmarks indicate that the 5870 isn't much better in the 1,1 so I'd stick with the 5770. I got one shortly after they came out, and it has no problem running any Mac games at 1900x1200. For that matter, if you did get Bootcamp running it'll do Crysis well too.