MP 7,1 Mac Pro 7,1 upgrade questions

[flowrider]

Which RX6800 (or 6900) card is the best to get for the 7,1? When I search online I see several versions and prices all over the map? (I have a w5700x card that I suspect is the root cause of all my problems the past 3 years).

Glad you are finally thinking of taking my advice👍🏻

I have a Gigibyte RX6800XT in mine. The Gigabyte from factors fit, but the Gigabyte Aorus series are too long. Also the Reference RX6800, RTX6800XT and RX6900XT all fit.

Lou

 

[prefuse07]

Which RX6800 (or 6900) card is the best to get for the 7,1? When I search online I see several versions and prices all over the map? (I have a w5700x card that I suspect is the root cause of all my problems the past 3 years).

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1736918-REG/xfx_rx_68xlaqfd9_speedster_swft_319_amd.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA-bmsBhAGEiwAoaQNmjapeCnmzgolwG0OLDqdHPf2A34lfXOAuTsKFU-LiEOZtsxt1sxumBoCVx8QAvD_BwE

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1609754-REG/gigabyte_gv_r68xtgaming_oc_16gd_radeon_rx_6800_xt.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&smpm=ba_f2_lar&lsft=BI%3A514&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA-bmsBhAGEiwAoaQNmv9Eyz8gyXlxjn2Q0taYstUaE0sdS4sC4YHA6wb_a9AOlyKKkpBmFxoCuCkQAvD_BwE

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1783883-REG/gigabyte_gv_r77xtgaming_oc_12gd_g10_radeon_rx_7700_xt.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA-bmsBhAGEiwAoaQNmjxfh_X5fjyhL2sTrzLcqys4MbBBs4oKlRRwu81MOuM5iM4MOMSKSxoCVpEQAvD_BwE

you want this card (but definitely don't pay that price), but as Lou mentioned above: any of the reference cards will also fit. That Sonnet card that Zombie posted is also great.

Alternately, you can get THIS 6950xt and spoof it with a 6900xt rom and it will work in the 7,1. @blackquartz did it and he also created a thread about it.

 

[AlexMaximus]

Thanks, that's great info.

What is the port layout on that Dell 6800? Is it like the reference card? Also is it a 6800XT?

It is the 6800XT and it has 1x HDMI and 3x Display Port. The heat sink looks very similar to the Vega7 card (just with a black plastic shroud) that I used to have. Since the heat sink is so compact and the original intended Aurora chassis is so restricted, it’s most likely that it runs a bit slower compared to a full size three slot monster card.

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

It is the 6800XT and it has 1x HDMI and 3x Display Port. The heat sink looks very similar to the Vega7 card (just with a black plastic shroud) that I used to have. Since the heat sink is so compact and the original intended Aurora chassis is so restricted, it’s most likely that it runs a bit slower compared to a full size three slot monster card.

Super interesting. Since it worked so well for you I was assuming it was the AMD Reference design (like the Sonnet card) with the 1USB, 2 DP, 1HDMI ports, just packaged more tightly. But those ports are not the reference ports and it still works great. Some non-references cards may work just great too. Thanks for the great info!

 

[avkills]

1. All my USB Slots work. - I have more than enough USB ports with my USB expansion card and the ports on my display. There are plenty of video slots on my GPU. Thunderbolt - HUH❗️

2. Powered by the MPX slot is a feature❓

Lou

You did not understand what I meant; with a MPX card, any USB-C port (excluding any additional ports added by other PCI cards) on the machine can potentially be used as a display output. Non-MPX cards can only use the display outputs built into the card. Now I'm not saying this is how I would normally operate but it is indeed a feature present on MPX cards. Although currently I am using a thunderbolt output on the I/O card. Without a MPX style card you can't drive any displays from the I/O Cards 2 USB-C/Thunderbolt ports. And maybe you do not need to, great! For certain things I need to do, I need that ability. Currently I have 6 displays connected (4 4K@60Hz, 1 Ultrawide 3840x1600 and 1 1080p.) I am going to be changing this up a bit though since I have shifted most work to my M3 laptop. More than likely going to put my 580X GPU back in so I will have that and the W6800X Duo; which will work better for the instance I need all those monitors active.

Yes getting powered by the MPX slot is a feature because it simplifies installation and did not require me to add cabling inside the tower.

I understand the reasoning behind not getting a MPX module because of the cost involved.

But this thread is an argument about spending money *right now* on something that is basically a dead end. Why would you spend money trying to upgrade the CPU (which is going to be expensive unless you buy used, and a pain in the ass to install); instead of investing in Apple Silicon which has a longer future and is faster.

Perhaps the OP has a specific reason on needing the 2019 Mac Pro which has been left out from the original post.

 

[H2SO4]

You did not understand what I meant; with a MPX card, any USB-C port (excluding any additional ports added by other PCI cards) on the machine can potentially be used as a display output. Non-MPX cards can only use the display outputs built into the card. Now I'm not saying this is how I would normally operate but it is indeed a feature present on MPX cards. Although currently I am using a thunderbolt output on the I/O card. Without a MPX style card you can't drive any displays from the I/O Cards 2 USB-C/Thunderbolt ports. And maybe you do not need to, great! For certain things I need to do, I need that ability. Currently I have 6 displays connected (4 4K@60Hz, 1 Ultrawide 3840x1600 and 1 1080p.) I am going to be changing this up a bit though since I have shifted most work to my M3 laptop. More than likely going to put my 580X GPU back in so I will have that and the W6800X Duo; which will work better for the instance I need all those monitors active.

Yes getting powered by the MPX slot is a feature because it simplifies installation and did not require me to add cabling inside the tower.

I understand the reasoning behind not getting a MPX module because of the cost involved.

But this thread is an argument about spending money *right now* on something that is basically a dead end. Why would you spend money trying to upgrade the CPU (which is going to be expensive unless you buy used, and a pain in the ass to install); instead of investing in Apple Silicon which has a longer future and is faster.

Perhaps the OP has a specific reason on needing the 2019 Mac Pro which has been left out from the original post.

Do the Silicon models run WIndows apps?

 

[avkills]

Do the Silicon models run WIndows apps?

That requirement was never mentioned by the original poster and is definitely a valid argument towards keeping the Intel Mac Pro. Others have posted that the ARM version of Windows works by running VM software on Apple Silicon; but my guess is hardly any apps have been optimized for ARM on the Windows side, so they probably run like crap and isn't worth it.

 

[H2SO4]

That requirement was never mentioned by the original poster and is definitely a valid argument towards keeping the Intel Mac Pro. Others have posted that the ARM version of Windows works by running VM software on Apple Silicon; but my guess is hardly any apps have been optimized for ARM on the Windows side, so they probably run like crap and isn't worth it.

Was in response to a single statement you made;
"instead of investing in Apple Silicon which has a longer future and is faster."
Depending on your use case.

 

[avkills]

Was in response to a single statement you made;
"instead of investing in Apple Silicon which has a longer future and is faster."
Depending on your use case.

Well in my eyes it would be strange for someone to spend on a Mac Pro specifically to run Windows. Pretty much everything depends on use case unless you absolutely can’t live without being on macOS. 🤷

 

[H2SO4]

Well in my eyes it would be strange for someone to spend on a Mac Pro specifically to run Windows. Pretty much everything depends on use case unless you absolutely can’t live without being on macOS. 🤷

Possibly, but I go to qiuote a few publishing/design houses, (at least I think that's what they are), and they all seem to dual boot. Must be a reason for it.

 

[AlexMaximus]

Super interesting. Since it worked so well for you I was assuming it was the AMD Reference design (like the Sonnet card) with the 1USB, 2 DP, 1HDMI ports, just packaged more tightly. But those ports are not the reference ports and it still works great. Some non-references cards may work just great too. Thanks for the great info!

Here are two shots of the card