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

Mac Pro 4,1 Graphic Card options?

W

WillO95

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 15, 2014
70
18
Hello All!

I have 2 Mac Pro 4,1 Machines and I need to buy graphics cards for them.

I've found a second hand GT120 (original card), which sorts me out for one machine. But Now I need to find a card for the 2nd machine.

This needs to be cheap(ish) but also work well. I want to drive 2 screens, one being the apple Cinema Display (can easily swap out with a standard 1080p display), and then the second screen will go to a TripleHeadToGo making an Ultrawide screen.

I presume I can't just go out and buy a Nvidia Gefore GT610 and stick that in can I? Nvidia had drivers for ElCapitan for this card, but not having any experience with Mac Pros, I just need to know if this is actually possible? It's about 80 Dollars which is a good price, but it isn't a special Mac card, just a retail card.

(I know I will have to get an AUX power lead to power the card)

Alternatively, can someone recommend a good card?

Thanks in advance for any info!
 
Do you want a card with or without Boot Screen (Mac EFI)?

Supported by OS X native drivers, or only Nvidia drivers (could give hassles with OS X udpates)?
 
Synchro3 said:
Do you want a card with or without Boot Screen (Mac EFI)?

Supported by OS X native drivers, or only Nvidia drivers (could give hassles with OS X udpates)?
Click to expand...

Simplest possible, I'm not using the machine so it just has to work that it doesn't kill itself in a year.....
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
WillO95 said:
I did find one 630 but it's for a HP desktop:

https://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B008H...gt+630+2gb&dpPl=1&dpID=41R75DzaftL&ref=plSrch
Click to expand...

If you can stand without boot screen this card is ok. MVC Version has boot screen.

Don't forget a DP to MiniDP Adapter if you want to use an Apple Cinema Display:

DP to MiniDP Adapter.jpg
 
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Synchro3 said:
If you can stand without boot screen this card is ok. MVC Version has boot screen.

Don't forget a DP to MiniDP Adapter if you want to use an Apple Cinema Display:

View attachment 633707
Click to expand...

The Cinema is still the old DVI version, but will make sure I get the right stuff

When you say boot screen, you mean the Apple logo etc? But either way the screen will just start up?

I just plug it in, start up and then install drivers? Or will it plug and play?
 
Plug and Play without installing drivers. Nvidia web drivers are optional, but recommended nevertheless.

No boot screen: You won't see any screen before the OS X desktop appears. That means no Option boot, boot into recovery partition etc.
 
Last edited:
Synchro3 said:
Plug and Play without installing drivers. Nvidia web drivers are optional, but recommended nevertheless.

No boot screen: You won't see any screen before the OS X desktop appears. That means no Option boot, boot into recovery partition etc.
Click to expand...

Ah okay! So I will lose recovery mode etc? That might be an issue....I need to set up a fusion drive etc, so this will be necessary! Thanks for your help so far! I found someone who does upgrade kits, and will ask him if they have boot screens
 
Buy a used PC GTX680 & flash it yourself for the Apple boot screen. It's the fastest natively supported graphics card with a boot screen.
 
nigelbb said:
Buy a used PC GTX680 & flash it yourself for the Apple boot screen. It's the fastest natively supported graphics card with a boot screen.
Click to expand...

I know this is a stupid question, but how do you flash a GPU? (Never done it)
 
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