Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
REVIEW: 7950 Mac Edition vs Apple 5870 vs MSI 7970 (Pics)
- Thread starter 100Daily
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
If you are using 10.8.3, it will work but remember to buy one that has a 2x 6-pin power requirement. If it is a 1x 6-pin and 1x 8-pin like most of the 7970s, you will need to decide if you risk your MP or buy and fit an external power supply. Some of the 7970s can draw between 250W and 300W (if over clocked) and the MP graphics power spec only offers 225W which is why the 7950 is popular.
You will lose the boot screen (which can be offset by using the free app called BootChamp). It will run at PCI 2.0 speed in OSX but at PCI 1.0 speed in Windows.
Apart from that, it will be fine. The fix for >2Gb is no longer needed in 10.8.3.
You will lose the boot screen (which can be offset by using the free app called BootChamp). It will run at PCI 2.0 speed in OSX but at PCI 1.0 speed in Windows.
Apart from that, it will be fine. The fix for >2Gb is no longer needed in 10.8.3.
Last edited:
My apologies - I made an assumption that since the nVidia cards gained 2.0 in OSX then the AMD ones would too. I have edited my post above.
You will get the apple logo on the efi card, and a gray screen in my case on the PC Card. Plugged in or not.
So..... If I have a MP 3.1 with a Mac NV 800GT and a PC GTX 650, with an apple cinema display plugged only into the GTX 650, there will be a boot screen?
Seriously?!?! Then why don't more people just run dual cards? throw in any low-power EFI card in for just that purpose?
I don't know, it is working just fine for me with my MSi 7970 and my Apple 5770
And you have only one monitor plugged into only the MSI card, and the system boots into OSX with an EFI boot screen?
edit: Thank you for sharing so much insightful info, btw!
Ahh, no sorry. One monitor plugged into each card. Efi card has apple logo, PC Card just has gray screen.
OK, that's what I figured, but I was a bit confused when it seemed like an inactive card would load the EFI firmware.
That's my question too! My MP came with a low-power card, and I keep it in slot 0 to run the main display. The 570 is in the next slot up, for compute and out to the projector. I don't give a flying fig whether the projector shows a boot screen . . . .
Bump
Hello Guys,
Sorry to bump an older thread but I am a recent proud owner of a new 2012 12-core Mac Pro, purchased from Fry's in November.
My 5870 (I believe) that comes stock with the system is a bit slow when playing Counter Strike: Global Offense (the only game I play...as of now).
I know I can purchase either the 7950 Mac Edition or the Geforce 680(?) Mac Edition but if the 7970 performs better than the 7950 and costs less, its almost a no brainer.
Beside the 2-6pin requirement, is there any other detail I need when purchasing a 7970? I am not interested in Nvidia cards because I rather have mini-display ports in the card itself than to use an adapter (just personal preference).
Many companies like MSI, HIS, and more make 7970. Just want to know if there are specific brands I should purchase.
Thank you in advance.
Hello Guys,
Sorry to bump an older thread but I am a recent proud owner of a new 2012 12-core Mac Pro, purchased from Fry's in November.
My 5870 (I believe) that comes stock with the system is a bit slow when playing Counter Strike: Global Offense (the only game I play...as of now).
I know I can purchase either the 7950 Mac Edition or the Geforce 680(?) Mac Edition but if the 7970 performs better than the 7950 and costs less, its almost a no brainer.
Beside the 2-6pin requirement, is there any other detail I need when purchasing a 7970? I am not interested in Nvidia cards because I rather have mini-display ports in the card itself than to use an adapter (just personal preference).
Many companies like MSI, HIS, and more make 7970. Just want to know if there are specific brands I should purchase.
Thank you in advance.
I used the MSI Afterburner or something like that. It was the over locked MSI. I posted the exact model some pages back.
Thank you OP.
I am debating on getting one of the 7970's or perhaps wait for potential support of r280x or even perhaps r290x (one can dream hehe)
I am debating on getting one of the 7970's or perhaps wait for potential support of r280x or even perhaps r290x (one can dream hehe)
Update: 7970 fried my machine!
Just kidding, it's still fine. Just wanted to post an update for the people who said it would break my computer. I have used the living crap out of it and it's never once had a hiccup. Works fine with Yosemite as well.
Just kidding, it's still fine. Just wanted to post an update for the people who said it would break my computer. I have used the living crap out of it and it's never once had a hiccup. Works fine with Yosemite as well.
