Was thinking of switching over from a Imac to a MacPro because of the performance jump. Was wondering though about the GPUs. I assume from other posts that this is user upgradeable? Also, from the apple store it seems u can bridge multiple 7300gts? is this also user upgradeable? Anyone know the set up- assuming its PCI-e or what the restrictions are on the gpus? Thanks
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MacPro GPU user upgradeable?
- Thread starter miyamoto
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Unless somthing has changed, I don't think this is possible if by "bridge" you mean nVidia's SLI.
Multiple video cards only allow for multiple displays.
The GPUs are just standard PCIe graphics cards. You can replace them solong as the card you replace it with is supported. On the Mac Pro these are the 7300GT, the X1900XT and the Quadro 4500, they have to be the Mac versions of the cards too, Apple sell them as kits from the online store.
You can't bridge the 7300, only add more cards to support more monitors.
There is plenty of information on the graphics cards at the Mac Pro website and also in the Mac Pro manual downloadable from the Apple support site.
I'd also like to add that you can put the cards in SLI mode under Windoze. Just download the drivers that allow for any motherboard/chipset to be in SLI mode.
Under OS X, the cards all work independently -- and more cards simply mean more displays.
Apple is providing a solution for the Mac Pro where a BTO 4x 7300GTs machine can immediately run one of these ....
Right now it is the only choice for that many displays under OS X, since the limit on the X1900XT is a max of 2 cards (due to power restrictions.)
Apple is providing a solution for the Mac Pro where a BTO 4x 7300GTs machine can immediately run one of these ....
Right now it is the only choice for that many displays under OS X, since the limit on the X1900XT is a max of 2 cards (due to power restrictions.)
But that doesn't effect the Mac side..
And... there's such a software thing that allows a motherboard that doesn't support SLI to support SLI? Where?
ahhh
Was wondering how an apple would set up multiple gpus. Didnt take into account each gpu would supply a different external. Still the mac pro from all that ive seen is a beast and will have to decide whether the mac os x is worth the extra cash for a system i can build at cheaper cost.
Was wondering how an apple would set up multiple gpus. Didnt take into account each gpu would supply a different external. Still the mac pro from all that ive seen is a beast and will have to decide whether the mac os x is worth the extra cash for a system i can build at cheaper cost.
Under OS X, the cards all work independently -- and more cards simply mean more displays.
Apple is providing a solution for the Mac Pro where a BTO 4x 7300GTs machine can immediately run one of these ....
Right now it is the only choice for that many displays under OS X, since the limit on the X1900XT is a max of 2 cards (due to power restrictions.)
damn, that's insane.
so how many GPU's for one of them Matrix like set-ups (with screens all over the room)?
The motherboard itself supports SLi-
Its OSX that doesnt support SLi.
You can run any GPU in the Mac Pro-
via Boot Camp that is, in Windows (Usually)
Its OSX that cant run any GPU
Err.. got some links or somthing to confirm this?
You'll exuse me if I don't simply take your word for it.
Ok..look at it this way-
SLi is confirmed to work on a Mac Pro.
It may not be supported (I may have phrased myself wrong last time), but it is confirmed to work.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/227393/
SLi is confirmed to work on a Mac Pro.
It may not be supported (I may have phrased myself wrong last time), but it is confirmed to work.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/227393/
damn, that's insane.
so how many GPU's for one of them Matrix like set-ups (with screens all over the room)?
All four cards ...
A little more expensive for their solution, but at least you don't have to worry about the mounting hardware.
The triple 30" unit would be nice though.
As I understand it, this is not quite true.
the GPU chips are standard, the cards use a standard PCIe interface, but the firmware on the cards is completely different.
So you can put any card in that has a firmware that meets the Mac OSX specs, but a windows card generally doesn't have this and will not work in OSX.
You can run just about any PC NVidia card you want WITHOUT flashing.
http://omni.starchaser.org/
The whole ROM thing is just smoke and mirrors.
http://omni.starchaser.org/
The whole ROM thing is just smoke and mirrors.
slughead can you get the same performance in OSX?
if i used a pc Quadro 4500 or a pc 7950 gx2 would these work?
i cant find a page of tested and confirmed cards running inside of a mac pro
if i used a pc Quadro 4500 or a pc 7950 gx2 would these work?
i cant find a page of tested and confirmed cards running inside of a mac pro