I'm wanting to install a gtx 980, gtx 780ti, or a gtx 970 into my 2008 mac pro to play games with. Would I have to upgrade the power supply? If so how should I go about doing that? Also is the cooling system good enough to keep everything running at ideal temperature? If any of you have recommendations on what card I could get that would be easier to install than those and powerful let me know!
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Upgrading graphics card
- Thread starter Worldstar
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The basic answer is that any card that has up to 2x 6-pin power connectors will be fine with power and cooling in a 2008 Mac Pro.
There are 2x 6-pin connectors on the 2008 Pro's motherboard. Avoid cards that have any 8-pin power connectors unless you really, really know what you are doing.
After that, you have to worry about software/firmware compatibility. There are many threads on this given that there are so many options.
There are 2x 6-pin connectors on the 2008 Pro's motherboard. Avoid cards that have any 8-pin power connectors unless you really, really know what you are doing.
After that, you have to worry about software/firmware compatibility. There are many threads on this given that there are so many options.
You should go with a reference cooler gtx 980. It uses 2 6pin connectors and the reference blower will shoot all the hot air our of the computer.
The 970 and 980 are both 2x 6 pin graphics card. So you can just disconnect the old card and put the new one in! Now people have reported driver issues even with Yosemite, some got it to work and some couldn't!
Also since it's a PC Card, it will run at pci 1. so wait for a bit and see if MacVidCards makes an EFI for those cards!
The 780 Ti uses a 1x 8 pin and 1x 6 pin! Now some people have proof that they have the card for months and no problem! But theoretically the Mac Pro does not support it and you could damage the logic board!
Also since it's a PC Card, it will run at pci 1. so wait for a bit and see if MacVidCards makes an EFI for those cards!
The 780 Ti uses a 1x 8 pin and 1x 6 pin! Now some people have proof that they have the card for months and no problem! But theoretically the Mac Pro does not support it and you could damage the logic board!
technically yes but a lot of the non reference cards aren't 2x6pin.
i think only evga's gtx 970 even has a reference stye blower cooler.
If you have a 08 Mac pro you are gonna experience some bottlenecks with your gpu. you cant put a gtx 780 and 780 TI. The Max TDP cant be higher over 225w. you can use a external power supply but thats a bit problematic. the gtx 980 and 970 will work fine but as i said its gonna bottleneck
The 970 has a 145w tdp, even if the manufactures super charges the card and extra stuff, still it will consume below the tdp of the mac pro. So that card should be supported easily.
Now the 980 uses 165w, so maybe if they super charge it and add 3 fans to cool it down, it will reach 230w which is almost close! So either way i think the 980 will still be a 2x 6 pin!
Now the 980 uses 165w, so maybe if they super charge it and add 3 fans to cool it down, it will reach 230w which is almost close! So either way i think the 980 will still be a 2x 6 pin!