Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

SolidCake

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 20, 2016
109
41
Hey guys I am in the process of upgrading the graphics card of my flashed Mac Pro 4,1. I use Final Cut Pro X daily (work). I’ve heard good things about the XFX version of the card as it appears to be stable enough for higher work loads. Is this true? What do you guys recommend?
 

steveOooo

macrumors 6502a
Jun 30, 2008
743
89
UK
I use a sapphire one (think its 4gb though) - I've heard x after 480 is a bad thing?

Anyway, the one is this video is great for fcpx

http://www.unboxfresh.com/computing...md-r9-380-nitro-graphics-card-macpro-2010-51/

Fast renders / exports, everything is very smooth and the card is very quite compared to the flashed 7950 that I briefly used from MCV

Using it in a 2010.
I had to take the baseplate off - it just won't fit but this was v easy - a few Philipps sized screws
 
Last edited:

SolidCake

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 20, 2016
109
41
I use a sapphire one (think its 4gb though) - I've heard x after 480 is a bad thing?

Anyway, the one is this video is great for fcpx

http://www.unboxfresh.com/computing...md-r9-380-nitro-graphics-card-macpro-2010-51/

Fast renders / exports, everything is very smooth and the card is very quite compared to the flashed 7950 that I briefly used from MCV

Using it in a 2010.
I had to take the baseplate off - it just won't fit but this was v easy - a few Philipps sized screws
Thanks! How does the R9 390 compare to the 380?
 

theitsage

Suspended
Aug 28, 2005
795
862
I went with reference cooler RX 480 8GB. Dual setup has been running in my 5,1 since mid July. With 10.12.1 drivers, it's been very reliable.
 

SolidCake

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 20, 2016
109
41
I went with reference cooler RX 480 8GB. Dual setup has been running in my 5,1 since mid July. With 10.12.1 drivers, it's been very reliable.
Thanks for the info! What do you mean by "reference cooler"?
EDIT: I'm also following your thread about the RX 480. Thanks for all the great work and the guides! Much appreciated! :)
 

theitsage

Suspended
Aug 28, 2005
795
862
Reference = the way manufacturers intend their cards to be. For the RX 480, it's 1266MHz and 2000MHz memory speed with a cooler that looks like this.

20171623156l.jpg
 

SolidCake

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 20, 2016
109
41
Reference = the way manufacturers intend their cards to be. For the RX 480, it's 1266MHz and 2000MHz memory speed with a cooler that looks like this.

View attachment 670073

Thanks again! I just ordered the XFX Radeon RX 480 XXX Edition 8GB. I'll keep you guys posted and give an update on how the card performs when I get it up and running!
 

koyoot

macrumors 603
Jun 5, 2012
5,939
1,853
Actual power draw has not been tested by reviews, apart from one youtuber, who decided to test it with MSI Afterburner. And it was drawing 20-30W less for the GPU die only than other RX 480 GPUs.

RX 480 GTR requires 8 pin connector.
 

SolidCake

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 20, 2016
109
41
Just installed the XFX RX480 XXX and I have to say that I am really happy with the results so far. I followed theitsage's guide and so far so good! One question though, because of the backplate I could not get it to fit in the first PCIe slot. Is it safe to remove it? Will this affect cooling?
 
  • Like
Reactions: theitsage

theitsage

Suspended
Aug 28, 2005
795
862
Backplate is more for looks and the heft it gives to the GPU than cooling. I removed the one from my RX 470 in order to make it fit in Slot 1.
 

wickerstick

macrumors member
Oct 14, 2016
70
7
Denton
Just a heads up I have 2 of these and under windows they will pull too much power for a single pcie power cable. If you use under windows and or your planning on using just 1 card do yourself a solid and run 2x6 pin to 1 8 pin to ensure you don't have any weird shutdowns...
 

SolidCake

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 20, 2016
109
41
Thanks! I am planning on running just 1 card for the time being. But the 2x6 pin to 1 8 pin sounds like a good idea.
I don't think the 8 pin connecter would fit in the card.
01102615255l.JPG


Is there a work-around for getting 2 mini 6 pin connectors to fit?
 

Earl Urley

macrumors 6502a
Nov 10, 2014
793
438
Damn, hope someone can find a way to get the additional CUs enabled or Apple decides to allow a toggle for the CUs for power/performance.

If Apple did it, it'd probably be for Metal performance anyway, not OpenCL?
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.