The unsupported ATI 5770

[mrh63061]

I have 4,1, 2009 Mac Pro and I'm thinking about upgrading the graphics card to the ATI 5770 but have a few questions about hardware for anyone with the same or similar system as mine.

Is the lack of audio out through the mini display port due to the hardware or is it a driver issue?

Will apple ever support these cards in 2009 models?
Since some of the 2010 models are pretty much the same as 2009 with the exception of processor speeds, but still no support, and no audio out through the mini display port.

Has anybody tried getting audio through the mini display port since the last OS update?

It makes no sense why this card is not supported in 2009 Mac Pro's and yet the 5870 is with no loss of features between the 2010, 2009 models.

I just can't see spending $200 more for a card that is fully supported.



MacPro4,1 Quad-Core Intel Xeon 2.66 GHz, Memory: 6 GB, NVIDIA GeForce GT 120

 

[Evil Spoonman]

The 5770 and 5870 work in all of the Mac Pros, I am fairly sure. That is 2006 through 2010 (at least according to Bare Feats). Apple seems to have their own ideas about what is 'supported', as usual.

The lack of audio through Mini-DP is a hardware thing, and in fact I think you can trace the blame back to AMD here. Does the reference 5770 or 5870 support audio via Mini-DP, or HDMI?

 

[Transporteur]

The lack of audio through Mini-DP is a hardware thing, and in fact I think you can trace the blame back to AMD here. Does the reference 5770 or 5870 support audio via Mini-DP, or HDMI?

In fact they do, and Apple's cards do as well, only in the 2010 model, though. So no hardware thing, rather than lack of support for the pre 2010 models.

 

[Evil Spoonman]

I did not know that. That's very interesting... in fact, that should be hackable. Considering the similarity between the 2009 and 2010 model.

 

[Cindori]

its not "hackable". there are simply no drivers. doesnt work in any macpro.

 

[Mac Hammer Fan]

I had problems with an ATI 5770 in my MacPro 2009. Noisy PCI expansion bay fan (2000 rpm). No problems with the 5870.

 

[goMac]

Is the lack of audio out through the mini display port due to the hardware or is it a driver issue?

I've guessed that it has to do with some sort of setup done in EFI on the 2010's, but no one really knows.

Ever since 10.6.5 the 2009 and 2010 have been running the same collection of OS X drivers, so it's not that.

 

[mrh63061]

Does the reference 5770 or 5870 support audio via Mini-DP, or HDMI?

I believe I read it correctly that audio is supported through both the mini display port to HDMI through one of the adapters that they sell in there store.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/H1824ZM/A?mco=MTY3ODQ5OTY

It just would be nice to have the 5770 function the same as the 5870 in a 2009 Mac Pro, I've also read somewhere online that people have audio out through the port when running Windows 7 on there Mac.

 

[TheStrudel]

Wait, it was confirmed that audio will work via Mini DP to HDMI, but only on the 2010 Mac Pros? I missed that. Did somebody post about it before?