What is the most stable AMD 480 8GB version?

[SolidCake]

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]

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

 

[SolidCake]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[SolidCake]

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]

Currently as we know the most stable is XFX RX 480 GTR.

 

[cube]

I think Gigabyte has the smallest.

 

[BillyBobBongo]

Currently as we know the most stable is XFX RX 480 GTR.

And is that being powered by a single 'Mini PCIe 6-Pin to PCIe 8-Pin' cable? I see from the specs that it's only supposed to draw 150W.

 

[koyoot]

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]

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?

 

[theitsage]

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.

 

[SolidCake]

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.

Awesome, good to hear. Thanks!

 

[wickerstick]

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]

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.

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

 

[ActionableMango]

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

A single 6-pin connector is fine.

Early cards had an issue with too much power draw, but that was over the PCIe slot anyway, not the supplemental power sockets.

 

[SolidCake]

A single 6-pin connector is fine.

Early cards had an issue with too much power draw, but that was over the PCIe slot anyway, not the supplemental power sockets.

That's good to hear, thanks!

 

[Earl Urley]

Aren't Apple drivers for the 480 still only using 8 compute units?

 

[theitsage]

Aren't Apple drivers for the 480 still only using 8 compute units?

16 out of 36 CU. Here's the difference in terms of performance of these GPUs in macOS vs. Windows.

 

[Earl Urley]

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?

 

[h9826790]

16 out of 36 CU. Here's the difference in terms of performance of these GPUs in macOS vs. Windows.

View attachment 677120 View attachment 677121

(16/36)*44379 = 19724

In fact, I am very surprised only 16CU are working but still able to achieve this performance.

 

[knowhate]

.

 

[koyoot]

There are two XFX GTRs. Would either give stable performance?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150773
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150782

1288 MHz version is supposedly the most stable one. 1338 MHz(Black Edition) will consume more power.

 

[knowhate]

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