Hey Folks—
I have some 2006 Mac Pro servers running Mac OS X Server 10.6.8 that have done a fantastic job over the years. However, I'm considering upgrading to 10.11 El Capitan (via Pikify app hack) for some improvements in the file sharing service, among other things. We all know this about the GPU situation on EFI32 Mac Pros:
Given this server duty, *DO* I "need normal graphics support"? UI sluggishness is not really much of a concern, unless it impacts Remote Desktop and some very occasional console use. In one case, I've run the Mac Pro for a while w/ no graphics card at all (the one it had was failing and causing crashes, so it was better off w/o one!). I'm wondering if it makes more sense to leave the GPU and not worry about interface performance, or to look for something minimal.
What's your opinion? "Dump it and get XYZ NAS, you fool!" while a perfectly acceptable opinion, and you're welcome to it, doesn't really help me here. Just trust me.
If that's your take, then consider this a purely academic exercise, if you will.
Considerations on a replacement GPU, if there's no avoiding it:
1. Single-slot (I tend to relocate server GPUs to lesser-lane slots so that network & disk I/O can have the wider x8/x16 slots 1 & 2)
2. Preferably powered from slot only
3. I forgot 3.
I see that the 2014-recommended flashed GT120s that MVC had are sold out. And the MP4,1 GT120s are EFI64-only and therefore incompatible (at least, in my experience; perhaps those could be flashed too?). Worthwhile to try flashing a PC GT120 or something along those lines?
Appreciate your thoughts!
Fred
EDIT: Just realized that a couple of possible candidates have Radeon HD 2600 XTs in them. So these should do alright, shouldn't they? That's one option mentioned in this old thread. Others are X1900 and 7300GT, so they'd need help.
I have some 2006 Mac Pro servers running Mac OS X Server 10.6.8 that have done a fantastic job over the years. However, I'm considering upgrading to 10.11 El Capitan (via Pikify app hack) for some improvements in the file sharing service, among other things. We all know this about the GPU situation on EFI32 Mac Pros:
Given this server duty, *DO* I "need normal graphics support"? UI sluggishness is not really much of a concern, unless it impacts Remote Desktop and some very occasional console use. In one case, I've run the Mac Pro for a while w/ no graphics card at all (the one it had was failing and causing crashes, so it was better off w/o one!). I'm wondering if it makes more sense to leave the GPU and not worry about interface performance, or to look for something minimal.
What's your opinion? "Dump it and get XYZ NAS, you fool!" while a perfectly acceptable opinion, and you're welcome to it, doesn't really help me here. Just trust me.
If that's your take, then consider this a purely academic exercise, if you will.Considerations on a replacement GPU, if there's no avoiding it:
1. Single-slot (I tend to relocate server GPUs to lesser-lane slots so that network & disk I/O can have the wider x8/x16 slots 1 & 2)
2. Preferably powered from slot only
3. I forgot 3.
I see that the 2014-recommended flashed GT120s that MVC had are sold out. And the MP4,1 GT120s are EFI64-only and therefore incompatible (at least, in my experience; perhaps those could be flashed too?). Worthwhile to try flashing a PC GT120 or something along those lines?
Appreciate your thoughts!
Fred
EDIT: Just realized that a couple of possible candidates have Radeon HD 2600 XTs in them. So these should do alright, shouldn't they? That's one option mentioned in this old thread. Others are X1900 and 7300GT, so they'd need help.
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