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macgeof

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 21, 2005
69
0
Sheffield:UK
Hiya,

I recently purchase a base 2009 Quad 2.66/16GB RAM/GT120 graphics card and am looking to upgrade to a modern low-ish level graphics card (2nd hand). On off I have a HD5770 and at a similar price an HD5870. Both the cards are Mac versions (or so I am told).
Now I am sure there are posts in other threads covering this, I've tried searching and reading but not fond the exact answer I am after so am posting new thread (sorry!).
1) So, looking at stats the HD5870 sounds like the way better card and therefore deal for me. Is this true?
2) What do I need to drop it in (a pair of 6pin PCIe power cables I suppose)?
3) Will the power draw (188W) of the HD5870 be OK in my Mac Pro?
Been a while since I've tinkered inside a box, but I am guessing it's a pretty straight-forward process?
Thanks in advance for any help - or even suggestions that these may be totally the wrong cards for me to consider. Main use is Photoshop CC, Xcode, Eclipse with a bit of light gaming on the side - e.g. Warcraft.
 
Hiya,

I recently purchase a base 2009 Quad 2.66/16GB RAM/GT120 graphics card and am looking to upgrade to a modern low-ish level graphics card (2nd hand). On off I have a HD5770 and at a similar price an HD5870. Both the cards are Mac versions (or so I am told).
Now I am sure there are posts in other threads covering this, I've tried searching and reading but not fond the exact answer I am after so am posting new thread (sorry!).
1) So, looking at stats the HD5870 sounds like the way better card and therefore deal for me. Is this true?
2) What do I need to drop it in (a pair of 6pin PCIe power cables I suppose)?
3) Will the power draw (188W) of the HD5870 be OK in my Mac Pro?
Been a while since I've tinkered inside a box, but I am guessing it's a pretty straight-forward process?
Thanks in advance for any help - or even suggestions that these may be totally the wrong cards for me to consider. Main use is Photoshop CC, Xcode, Eclipse with a bit of light gaming on the side - e.g. Warcraft.

there is a youtube for this issue...
but 5870 is good...u shouldn't have a problem...also it sounds like you having a hard installing it? if so..go to computer service to get that fixed up.
 
there is a youtube for this issue...
but 5870 is good...u shouldn't have a problem...also it sounds like you having a hard installing it? if so..go to computer service to get that fixed up.

Hi thanks for the response. Sorry for confusion but I think that autocorrect "fixed" a sentence above. It should have started, On offer (not On off) lol. So, not having trouble fitting it as I haven't even got it to install yet.
 
Hi thanks for the response. Sorry for confusion but I think that autocorrect "fixed" a sentence above. It should have started, On offer (not On off) lol. So, not having trouble fitting it as I haven't even got it to install yet.

oh haha ok.
 
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