Quietest competent GPU for 5,1?

[Naimfan]

All -

Looking for a quiet and competent GPU to install in a 5,1. Currently has a Mac version Radeon 5870; the fans in it are too noisy for where the MP is located. I've searched some, and saw a statement that most modern GPUs are inaudible, but could use some reinforcing feedback (a friend of mine keeps it in his bedroom, hence the need for quiet).

Budget is probably anything up to about $400 or so. Have looked at RX-580/GTX-1060, have read about the foibles of nVidia 10 series drivers. Would a W7000 or something similar work?

 

[Squuiid]

Sapphire Radeon RX 580 PULSE 8GB.
Totally silent at idle (fans stay off) and barely audible when they spin up.
Also, only occupies two slots unlike the Nitro+ and many others which are 2.5.

Probably the best card to put into a cMP these days.

 

[whoisandy]

I have a GTX 1070 8GB Founders Edition in my Mac Pro 5,1. I know it's top of your budget but they're $400 at Best Buy (not sure about your area - there's a few in-stock locally here according to their site). I think this card provides good bang for the buck and it doesn't require any additional modification to your mac. You just need to buy a dual mini-6 pin PCI-E to 8pin Standard PCI-E cable for the Mac Pro motherboard connectors.

The noise doesn't bother me at all when idle (I think the tower fans hide the GPU fan noise) but when doing 3D renders or anything with GPU-acceleration, of course you'll hear the fan running high but it's nothing like a jet taking off.

 

[orph]

id gess a RX460/560 are the low powered option too

dose he want to game, do video work or something or just emails/web?

there's also passive cooled cards too https://www.tomshardware.co.uk/passive-cooling-geforce-radeon-test,review-33844.html

 

[pixelatedscraps]

id gess a RX460/560

I have two RX560 2Gb cards in both my Mac Pro 5,1s and they're fantastic - silent, and have been performing very well for us. That said, we don't do any gaming on them at all.

 

[h9826790]

Those card only has passive cooler will be quietest.

But what GPU power you need? For high end card, the open fan type graphic card usually quieter when under stress. But will also make the whole PCIe compartment warmer.

 

[bsbeamer]

The GTX 1080 FE runs cool and quiet when not engaging all the time. If you're not using your machine in a well ventilated space, the GPU fan is the least of the fan noise issues you'll run into. The system fans will have to cool the inside of the case down and you will (likely) hear them.

You could go with a water cooled solution, but that would require system modifications, likely using external power, and possibly either removing the side door or modifying it in some way.

There are some cooling rack cases with sound dampening if you're really looking for quiet operation. I personally find them to increase the internal temps beyond what I would recommend with lack of consistent airflow. The MacPro6,1 is often better suited to these setups.

 

[h9826790]

The GTX 1080 FE runs cool and quiet when not engaging all the time. If you're not using your machine in a well ventilated space, the GPU fan is the least of the fan noise issues you'll run into. The system fans will have to cool the inside of the case down and you will (likely) hear them.

You could go with a water cooled solution, but that would require system modifications, likely using external power, and possibly either removing the side door or modifying it in some way.

There are some cooling rack cases with sound dampening if you're really looking for quiet operation. I personally find them to increase the internal temps beyond what I would recommend with lack of consistent airflow. The MacPro6,1 is often better suited to these setups.

Liquid not necessary quieter because of the pump. Anyway, those hybrid card can fit inside the cMP without any mod (but still need to consider how to power the card).

 

[flehman]

Not widely available anymore (maybe used?), but 980 runs dead quiet and cool in my MP 4,1->5,1. The fans run during high activity but I probably am hearing 80% Mac Pro fans and only 20% GPU fans.

 

[bsbeamer]

Most of the high-end GTX cards run fairly quiet. The GTX 680 Mac Edition and GTX 1080 FE are both quiet most of the time, unless being heavily taxed by the system for processing. (For me, this is usually when rendering video.)

 

[ActionableMango]

Looking for a quiet and competent GPU to install in a 5,1.

Competent for doing what?

 

[csd]

+1 for the RX560. I have a Sapphire Pulse RX560 driving a LG 4K display (scaled to 2560 x 1440) and it works very well with no noise audible above that of the Mac's own fans.

/csd

 

[dgarratt]

+1 for the RX560. I have a Sapphire Pulse RX560 driving a LG 4K display (scaled to 2560 x 1440) and it works very well with no noise audible above that of the Mac's own fans.

/csd

Hi Guys, do the AMD cards suggested above support boot screen on 4k display?

 

[h9826790]

Hi Guys, do the AMD cards suggested above support boot screen on 4k display?

NO

 

[csd]

NO

...but you will get a system recovery screen.

/csd

 

[davorrr]

Is there really no fanless / totally quiet / passive cooled GPU for Mac Pro 5.1?

 

[mikas]

Well there was this XFX RX 460 4GB (and 2GB too). I even bought one, but decided to return it, and swap it after reading the forum a little bit. I chose GTX 1060 6GB instead.

But yes, there has been a reasonable Metal compatible card. Now it's hard to find, and XFX brand is not the best for Macs, I have read from here and there.

XFX RX 460 4GB Heatsink Edition Review - Bjorn3D.com

INTRODUCTION While we here at Bjorn3D typically focus on the top-end, enthusiast-level hardware, we

bjorn3d.com

 

[rezwits]

Just get the old standard ATI 5770, $50 now, stock all your machines, no metal sure, but the thing never dies... no fingers crossed.

Quiet as a whispers, no bs drivers are bulletproof. I mean if you're looking for just a SOLID keep the machine running end the headaches of fans dying and noise, and not to mention "Oh it's only $499 for this one" bah!

The stupid NVIDIA and ATI, rat race is over in my book. Good Riddance!

The ATI 5770 gives FULL FEATURES all boot screens etc. Just don't get super speed, but plays Unreal 2004!?

 

[KeesMacPro]

Is there really no fanless / totally quiet / passive cooled GPU for Mac Pro 5.1?

That depends on :
- the performance you need
- the OS you're running

Short version: for Mojave and up only nVidia Kepler family cards are supported and AMD cards ( see GPU sticky thread for further info).
If you specifically want a passive cooled GPU there's a GT710 passive version (MSI I believe) and there was a GTX680 passively cooled version.

Otherwise lots of modern GPUs only ramp up the fans when a certain Temp is reached , so under light/medium use there's no GPU fan spinning as for example the RX580 Sapphire Pulse.

 

[avro707]

Well there was this XFX RX 460 4GB (and 2GB too). I even bought one, but decided to return it, and swap it after reading the forum a little bit. I chose GTX 1060 6GB instead.

But yes, there has been a reasonable Metal compatible card. Now it's hard to find, and XFX brand is not the best for Macs, I have read from here and there.

View attachment 1915159

XFX RX 460 4GB Heatsink Edition Review - Bjorn3D.com

INTRODUCTION While we here at Bjorn3D typically focus on the top-end, enthusiast-level hardware, we

bjorn3d.com

I have XFX RX580 GTS - it worked immediately with no issues. Just wanted to mention that.

I’ve had it for 2 months now and that machine gets daily use. I also used that card in another 5,1, also fine.

It’s a fairly silent card unless you play games but even then it doesn’t make that much noise.

 

[mikas]

^Good point. I have an XFX VII, and it's working perfectly. It's the same reference design though as all the other VIIs in there.
I myself have not any negative experiences with XFX, just have read those comments of it as not a recommended brand for Mac.

I do own a Gigabyte RX 460 2GB too, and at the time I still used it in a 4,1/5,1, it was not loud by any means, even if it has got two fans in it.

 

[h9826790]

^Good point. I have an XFX VII, and it's working perfectly. It's the same reference design though as all the other VIIs in there.
I myself have not any negative experiences with XFX, just have read those comments of it as not a recommended brand for Mac.

I do own a Gigabyte RX 460 2GB too, and at the time I still used it in a 4,1/5,1, it was not loud by any means, even if it has got two fans in it.

Radeon VII is special, no 3rd after market options. All Radeon VII are reference, with the same firmware basically.

In general, XFX cards works on cMP. However, some after market options has highly customised PCB, which also shipped with a tailor made firmware. And some of those cards doesn't works well (or even can't boot) on the cMP.

Therefore, for those who don't do their study, better just avoid XFX completely.