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upgrade MacPro 4,1 video for Mountain Lion?

M

mw77

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 19, 2012
22
0
I've got a 2009 Quad-Core Xeon, 2.66 GHz with 16 GB RAM and the original ATI Rdeo HD 4870 video card driving two 22" LCDs (one with Apple Mini DisplayPort To Dual-Link DVI Adapter). While it is compatible with Mountain Lion, I'm looking for opinions on possible upgrades. I hope to get two more years out of this computer. I run all of the usual office / web apps, do some light video editing work, extensive photo editing work (Adobe LR and PS), as well as several different scientific software packages (e.g. SPSS, Stata, MatLab, Geneious, Prism) and some PC-side work via VMware.

possible upgrades:
1) change v-card to ATI Radeon 5770 (about $270)
2) add 240 GB SSD for system and apps (about $240)

Thanks for any thoughts.
 
I have update my MacPro 4,1 with:
-MSI Twin Frozr II/OC Nvidia GeForce GTX 570 1.2GB ($250 at Ebay)
-32GB Ram ($125 at Ebay)
-2 Nec EA232wmi 23" IPS monitor ($250 each at Ebay)
-1 4TB Hitachi Deskstar ($280 at ebay)
-1 6TB G-Drive external hard drive ($500 at Ebay)

Ready to keeping rolling for another year waiting for a new MacPro.
 
degl said:
I have update my MacPro 4,1 with:
-MSI Twin Frozr II/OC Nvidia GeForce GTX 570 1.2GB ($250 at Ebay)
Click to expand...

How noticeable was the improvement when you moved to this card?
I've found some things feel more sluggish now moving from 10.5 to Lion for several months.
 
degl said:
I have update my MacPro 4,1 with:
-MSI Twin Frozr II/OC Nvidia GeForce GTX 570 1.2GB ($250 at Ebay)
-32GB Ram ($125 at Ebay)
-2 Nec EA232wmi 23" IPS monitor ($250 each at Ebay)
-1 4TB Hitachi Deskstar ($280 at ebay)
-1 6TB G-Drive external hard drive ($500 at Ebay)

Ready to keeping rolling for another year waiting for a new MacPro.
Click to expand...

Would you mind sharing with me what listing/seller you bought the ram from? That is a great deal!
 
mw77 said:
How noticeable was the improvement when you moved to this card?
I've found some things feel more sluggish now moving from 10.5 to Lion for several months.
Click to expand...

Well, prior i'm been using the GT120, so the improvement is from earth to heaven.

My work is 80% with Adobe creative suite 6 and the mercury engine kicking has no price. The games in PC are running at fullest.

----------
chiefroastbeef said:
Would you mind sharing with me what listing/seller you bought the ram from? That is a great deal!
Click to expand...

The price has change a bit from when i buyed.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190635139060?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Good luck
 
While 5770 has more VRAM, it isn't any faster than 4870. 4870 was top of line in it's day. 5770 was mid level. Don't waste your money n 5770. If you are ATI fan, get a 5870.

If you can live with no boot screen, the PC GTX570 will work for you much better.
 
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