Nvidia NVS 510

[SamPotts]

I tried to get the UP2715K working on my cMP with a flashed 7970 with no luck so I'm looking at other options now. The flashed 980 from MVP is a little out of my price range so I'm considering the Nvidia NVS 510. I don't game or edit video or anything. I'm just a web designer/developer. It looks like it can run 2 of these displays at 5K in a PC, so it's possible (http://superuser.com/a/874569). I just worry about support in the Mac Pro. I've seen a few people using them in Macs while googling (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/nvidia-nvs-510-efi.1830398/). I realise I'll have no boot screen of course. I have a 7970 or a 5870 I can use for that.

It's not listed under supported products on the Nvidia web driver page but then neither is the 980 or 970 so is it possible that driver will also work for the NVS 510 and allow 5K as it does on a PC?

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

I tried to get the UP2715K working on my cMP with a flashed 7970 with no luck so I'm looking at other options now. The flashed 980 from MVP is a little out of my price range so I'm considering the Nvidia NVS 510. I don't game or edit video or anything. I'm just a web designer/developer. It looks like it can run 2 of these displays at 5K in a PC, so it's possible (http://superuser.com/a/874569). I just worry about support in the Mac Pro. I've seen a few people using them in Macs while googling (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/nvidia-nvs-510-efi.1830398/). I realise I'll have no boot screen of course. I have a 7970 or a 5870 I can use for that.

It's not listed under supported products on the Nvidia web driver page but then neither is the 980 or 970 so is it possible that driver will also work for the NVS 510 and allow 5K as it does on a PC?

It's a cut down Kepler so it might work with the UDA foundation in the drivers. Doesn't officially support 5K.

http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/nvs-510-graphics-card-uk.html#pdpContent=2

 

[SamPotts]

Yeah doesn't officially but it seems to work. Might just give it a go. I guess I can always sell it on if it doesn't work out.

 

[SoyCapitanSoyCapitan]

The price is crazy for what it is. Why not get a 960 or 970?

 

[SamPotts]

Well neither would support 2 5K screens. Can't find one with 4 MDP or DP ports. There's used ones on eBay for about half what a 970 would cost?

 

[SamPotts]

Another option could be the Quadro K1200?

 

[SamPotts]

The Quadro K1200 seems pretty decent. Same as the NVS510 but newer and with 4GB:
http://www.amazon.com/PNY-VCQK1200DP-PB-Graphics-Card/dp/B00UPHAT2C

 

[p.l]

Id recommend a K1200, The 4gb of vram i think would better deal with 2x 5k 60hz.
I know 1 4k 60hz chews through close to 1gb vram

 

[SamPotts]

Cheers for the reply. Sounds logical to me.

I was considering the GTX970 but only 3x DP's is a killer. I guess HDMI 2.0 is better for most consumers.

 

[p.l]

Im pretty sure mac's don't have hdmi 2.0 available only pc i think we are limited to 1.4 unless things have changed with the webdriver...

I know the M4000 might be overkill but maybe a better long term card, Adobe will like you its the power of a GTX 970 in CUDA but single slot. Larger investment but they also hold there value better than the GTX series... Food for thought.
Also there cheaper to import from the states then purchase here (AUS) even with our dollar being kaka.

 

[SamPotts]

Ended up getting the K1200 from Amazon. Had to buy a full height bracket separately which is a bit of a downer.

The M4000 is a bit out of my budget I think I'll see how I go with the K1200.

 

[NayborAxi]

Nvidia released a new nvs 810 card that support 8 monitors and is single slot. Check it out if is not too late.

 

[SamPotts]

The NVS 810 looks awesome but it's a little pricey and looks like availability is an issue at the moment. The other worry is it looks like it's effectively a twin GPU like the AMD eyefinity cards that weren't well supported by OS X from memory.

 

[ActionableMango]

Let us know how well it works or not!

 

[SamPotts]

Will do. I've ordered a GTX970 (used) in case the K1200 doesn't have enough power. I'm guessing I can use them together since the GTX970 is only 145W and the K1200 is only 45W. K1200 only has 512 CUDA cores whereas the GTX970 has 1664. Wish they did a 4xDP GTX970.

 

[mmendoza27]

I've been looking for a monitor that will allow me to do 2x5K monitors (eventually, not right now) or even 2x4K. This looks like a great card. Too bad it doesn't have a boot screen. I plan on keeping one of my GT 120s just in case. Thanks for the post.

 

[SamPotts]

I've been looking for a monitor that will allow me to do 2x5K monitors (eventually, not right now) or even 2x4K. This looks like a great card. Too bad it doesn't have a boot screen. I plan on keeping one of my GT 120s just in case. Thanks for the post.

Take a look at the K1200. They're $278.99 on Amazon and have 4GB: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UPHAT2C/

Only downer is you need to buy a full height bracket separately.

 

[mmendoza27]

Yeah, but an extra $13 isn't that bad.

 

[SamPotts]

Yeah, but an extra $13 isn't that bad.

Yeah, it's not the end of the world. Easier to source in the US compared to AU. Mine's coming from HK.

 

[SamPotts]

Just got the K1200. I had high hopes of glorious 5K. Sadly my dreams were shattered when I was greeted with the pixelated 2560x1440 resolution again. I have a GTX970 on the way but sadly the dreams of 2 5K monitors are gone I knew I should have binned this old thing and got an iMac 5K. Boo hoo.

 

[ActionableMango]

Have you tried something like SwitchresX? I know in the past that it has been successful for enabling additional resolution choices that did not appear by default.

 

[SamPotts]

I didn't try that. Too late, the card sold on eBay in like 15 minutes and I shipped it this morning (good and bad I guess). I had been trying clicking "Scaled" while holding option to get the other resolutions listed.

One thing I didn't realise though was I had to turn on 5K mode ...

6. Here is where it gets interesting. By default 5K support is turned off, you'll need to turn it on. You will need to open the "Terminal" application. It is in the "Utilities" folder inside the "Applications" folder. I keep an icon in the dock for quick access. If you type nvram -p you will see contents of NVRAM. The "boot args" section should show "nvda_drv=1". This is what tells OS X at boot time to load the NVIDIA Web Driver instead of the OS X Default Driver. You need to add to this to turn on 5K mode. Type this command as it appears below:

sudo nvram boot-args="kext-dev-mode=1 nv_spanmodepolicy=1"

From: http://www.macvidcards.com/blog/the-5k-report

Not sure if this info is still up to date but perhaps the K1200 would have worked after all? I'll try it again later. GTX970 should get here on Monday.

 

[SamPotts]

Anyone know about the "nv_spanmodepolicy=1" and whether it's still needed for 5K support? Could be why the K1200 didn't work.

GTX970 #1 just arrived. Bought another to run a 2nd 5K display if this one works out.

 

[SamPotts]

Answering my own question here but yes the above is required. I tried the GTX970 + UP2715K before running setting the boot args and I couldn't get 5K, added the boot args, rebooted and boom! 5K image. That means there's a high chance (I reckon) that the K1200 would have worked too, damn.

There seems to be some screen tearing though (particular on modals on websites, scrolling fast etc) which has surprised me, given everyone saying the iMac 5K GPU is crap. I've never seen that kind of thing on my iMac 5K at work (with the 290). Not sure if that's a driver thing or what but I think I'm going to sell the UP2715K anyway and stick to two 27" cinema displays.

Only thing is, I now have 2 GTX970s to drive 2 27" cinema displays, overkill or what

 

[neo-disco]

hi ! 5 years after, happy to discover the pleasure of a nvs510 with 2 apple Led cinema display.

it is a metal GPU, kepler GK107, metal supported with apple managing GpuDrive4.
runs perfectly with mojave, 4 ports working

with catalina (installed via OpenCore)... always black screens on the cinema displays. only Hdmi signal works ..
i wish it could work.. how would it work ?