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Used Nvidia on a Budget (Mac Pro 5.1)

MacBassPlayer

MacBassPlayer

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 9, 2009
27
5
Sidney, IN
Hi guys,

I've finally joined the Mac Pro world. I was hunting around for a used 4.1 on eBay when I stumbled on the auction of a clean 2010 5.1 (2.8ghz quad, 1TB HDD, 20gb RAM) and snagged it for $405. (plus $25 shipping) I've used iMacs and Minis my entire life and was looking into something a bit more substantial for a modest home recording setup and maybe to play a game or two on the Windows side of things. I've already replaced the stock processor with a W3580 3.33 quad and installed a 500gb Samsung 850 EVO partitioned for El Capitan and Windows 10. I'm now just looking for a new graphics card (and I might up the ram from 20gb to 32 sometime in the future, but I don't see needing any more than the 20gb 1333mhz right now)

I'm not looking at spending a ton on a new card. I don't need to play the latest games on uber settings and the 5770 inside is a decent card, but I'm partial to Nvidia, especially on the Windows side. I also don't need an EFI card since I can keep the Radeon if the need arises. What would you guys would suggest as the best bang for the buck used half-decent Nvidia card that can be had one eBay or whatever for under $200? (preferably under $150)
 
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The GTX 680 may be a good choice for you, it's relatively cheap now. And it may be the most painless (in terms of driver) mid range Nvidia card in OSX.
 
A used GTX570 is a bargain. The GTX680 performance is about the same but it runs cooler & quieter plus you can run up to four monitors. The other big plus for the GTX680 is that you can easily flash it yourself & so have an Apple boot screen.
 
Another vote for a GTX680, got one myself and could find it for €175,- (4GB even instead of 2GB). It's a great card, enough performance for the occasional game and added bonus is the possibility to flash it to a Mac edition. Before this I had a GTX660, also a great card although a bit less impressive, most interesting was the price at €65,- :)
 
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My vote for Macvidcards GTX 770 with 4 GB VRAM. Best bang for the buck and working ootb with OS X drivers.
 
Synchro3 said:
My vote for Macvidcards GTX 770 with 4 GB VRAM. Best bang for the buck and working ootb with OS X drivers.
Click to expand...

While I'm sure it's a great graphics card, I'm not looking to spend that kind of money. I'm thinking in the $100-200 range. Honestly anything on par with or better than the HD 5770.
 
Synchro3 said:
My vote for Macvidcards GTX 770 with 4 GB VRAM. Best bang for the buck and working ootb with OS X drivers.
Click to expand...
Hardly good value as that costs $440 plus shipping for a used card.The best bang for the buck is a used GTX570 at about $50.
 
No, for a new Card, and if you want contemporary Video RAM for not too much money . But you're right, used GTX 570 is better on a budget.
 
Synchro3 said:
No, for a new Card, and if you want contemporary Video RAM for not too much money . But you're right, used GTX 570 is better on a budget.
Click to expand...
According to the website it's a used card http://www.macvidcards.com/store/p9/Nvidia_GTX_770_2_GB_and_4_GB.html

This Package Includes:
  • 1 Flashed Used Nvidia GTX 770 2 GB or 4 GB
  • 2 PCIe power cables (6-pin and 8-pin)
  • 1 DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort adapter
  • 60 Day Warranty
  • Returning a card that is not damaged or defective is subject to a 10% restocking fee
  • Cards may have a different fan/branding that pictured
 
Thanks, I was not on the latest standard of knowledge. They were new when I bougth one. However, for me having 4 GB VRAM is a great advantage.
 
It depends on where you are, but I had the same dilemma recently and I ended up going for a 570. The ability to flash the 680 was attractive, but it requires installing Windows which can be a real pain (but then again, if you are looking to have windows anyway this may not be an issue). Plus, in the UK the 680 goes for £100-120, whereas I just got my barely-used 570 for just over half of that. Plus, I've read on this forum that you lose the second DVI port on a flashed 4GB 680s, which would be an issue if you are looking to use dual monitors.

PS: Are you running your 850 EVO through the SATA port, or a PCIe card?
 
nigelbb said:
According to the website it's a used card http://www.macvidcards.com/store/p9/Nvidia_GTX_770_2_GB_and_4_GB.html

This Package Includes:
  • 1 Flashed Used Nvidia GTX 770 2 GB or 4 GB
  • 2 PCIe power cables (6-pin and 8-pin)
  • 1 DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort adapter
  • 60 Day Warranty
  • Returning a card that is not damaged or defective is subject to a 10% restocking fee
  • Cards may have a different fan/branding that pictured
Click to expand...

I am not 100% sure. However, MVC have to open the box, put that card in his computer, then do the flash and test. So, I don't think that he can sell any "new" card, otherwise someone may sue him.
 
r6mile said:
PS: Are you running your 850 EVO through the SATA port, or a PCIe card?
Click to expand...

The SATA port. I realize it's only SATA II speeds, but it's more than adequate for me.

A lot of recommendations of the GTX 680 (and for good reason, it looks like a great card for the price). Just curious, what's the consensus on the GTX 660? If found a few (including one locally) for under $100 and the specs look decent (not quite up to par with the 680, but somewhat comparable).

Also, this may be a dumb question, but if I leave the 5770 in (for the occasional boot screen or OS problem), will there be any conflicts with having both it and an Nvidia card installed at the same time, particularly in Windows? (Specifically Windows 10)
 
r6mile said:
Plus, I've read on this forum that you lose the second DVI port on a flashed 4GB 680s, which would be an issue if you are looking to use dual monitors.
Click to expand...

Well, I used two monitors fine (1 DisplayPort and 1 DVI). There's 4 ports on that card, so even with one DVI disabled you could do up to three monitors, depending on your input ports.

And even if you have two monitors that are DVI input only, you'd be able to use an HDMI-to-DVI adapter for one of them, provided at least one of the monitors isn't so high res that single-link DVI over HDMI wouldn't work.
 
pastrychef said:
While the GTX 660 may be a fine video card, there isn't an openly available firmware that you can flash it with to give you boot screens.
Click to expand...

From the 650, 660 and 670 series we had weird issues and gave up, since 680 worked fine and reasonable cost now. Rather telling that none of the other "me too" flashing kiddies did them either.
 
If you hurry there's a 650 ti on the EVGA B-stock page for $49.99.

http://www.evga.com/Products/ProductList.aspx?type=8

EDIT: Annnnd it's gone already (still shows up but the 'Add to cart' button is gone). But keep an eye out there if you have the patience. I've seen several quality 6xx cards in the $30 - $50 range recently.
 
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pastrychef said:
While the GTX 660 may be a fine video card, there isn't an openly available firmware that you can flash it with to give you boot screens.
Click to expand...

Again, no boot screen needed. I have the old Radeon if I need one. (speaking of which, to echo the question again, are there any conflicts with leaving both the old 5770 and the new Nvidia card installed?)

Also, since the GTX650 TI was mentioned, what about the 750 TI? It looks like they have a refurb/b-stock one for pretty cheap.
 
They have a GTX 770 on the B-stock page for only $129, that's $50 cheaper than what I paid for a generic GTX 770 from Micro Center. Maybe you might want to get that?

All I needed it for is for compute purposes, I've got the generic running in a Mac Pro 2,1 with two 6-pin cables plus one 6 to 8 pin converter.
 
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