Dead Mac Pro GPU, options?

TriedandTested

TriedandTested

TriedandTested

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What are the most cost effective options to replace this faulty card? I don't need a powerhouse GPU, something low-med spec is fine.

I've seen a couple of mentions here about flashing cheaper PC GPUs with Mac BIOS. Is that the best route?
 
I'm pretty sure that the GTX 570 goes straight into a Mac Pro with no flashing, worth looking into but this was the plan for a mate of mine who was trying to sort out something similar. You can get those for about £80, or there abouts :)
 
Just found this: http://www.tonymacx86.com/328-native-support-nvidia-gtx-650-ti-gtx-660-graphics-cards-10-8-3.html

"As part of the updated NVIDIA drivers in OS X 10.8.3, Apple has included native support for a few more mid-range NVIDIA graphics cards. The GeForce 650 Ti and GTX 660 now join the other Kepler GTX 640, 650, 660 Ti, 670 and 680 as fully supported cards. No extra injection or patches are needed for full graphics acceleration or to enable OpenCL."

This would for a 2008 Mac Pro....2008/2009 i'm sure. Can't check now as no display!
 
Which card died?

The Nvidia Geforce 8800GT that was in my Mac Pro 2008 died last year. Replaced it with the ATI Radeon HD 5770 that is sold for Mac and it works a hell of a lot better.

I'm sure this probably isn't anything special compared to what graphics cards enthusiasts look for, but then I don't play any games.
 
You can put in any NVIDIA 5xx or higher GPU and have native OS X support if you have OS10.8.3 at least.

Do note that you need to get 2 MAC PRO PCIe 6 pin power cables if your card needs it.
Also as stated, you won't get a boot screen unless you buy the specific Mac cards.

I've a 2012 refurb Mac Pro coming next week with a GT120, which I'll be replacing right away with an EVGA GTX 660 SC+ 3GB card.
 
That would be the kind of cable you're after yes. As for power, if its only 300w, I'd be a little cautious over going with a bigger card, that might give you troubles.
 
Thanks. That's what i'm worried about. Is the one I linked to OK? It even says in the description:

"Lower power consumption (Maximum consumption 170 watts at stock speed)" - is that leaving enough for CPU/Mobo, 1 x SSD and 2xHDD?
 
The 5,1 featured a 980w PSU.

Although they state that the PCB/mobo can only give around 250w to a GPU. As the power is routed through it.

It hasn't stopped people from slapping in any 2 6pin GPU's without issue though.
Do have a look at the macrumors Mac Pro section, there are plenty of GPU's and other parts that work in the MP still.

Personally I'll be cramming my 5,1 full to last a few more years.
 
N19h7m4r3 said:
The 5,1 featured a 980w PSU.

Although they state that the PCB/mobo can only give around 250w to a GPU. As the power is routed through it.

It hasn't stopped people from slapping in any 2 6pin GPU's without issue though.
Do have a look at the macrumors Mac Pro section, there are plenty of GPU's and other parts that work in the MP still.

Personally I'll be cramming my 5,1 full to last a few more years.
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I'd like to clarify here.

Any GPU that sucks below 225W is ok, I personally run a 6870.

There has been confirmation that 250+W cards do cause forced shutdowns due to overload.

Personally I'd buy a 7950 and flash it for boot screens, then I'd work down from the 780.

6870 and flashing it is reasonably cheap and a good card too boot.
 
I would have thought that if buying a new card, something that is compatible without flashing would be better to avoid any warranty issues down the road, on the off chance that it breaks etc... Saves the risk of having to shell out for another card should it be flashed and something goes wrong.

That's just me being overly cautious and thinking about the OP's wallet of course :)
 
dav3evans said:
I would have thought that if buying a new card, something that is compatible without flashing would be better to avoid any warranty issues down the road, on the off chance that it breaks etc... Saves the risk of having to shell out for another card should it be flashed and something goes wrong.

That's just me being overly cautious and thinking about the OP's wallet of course :)
Click to expand...

I don't believe you have to flash them, only if you want the boot screen to appear. At least that's what I've understood from reading up.
 
dav3evans said:
I would have thought that if buying a new card, something that is compatible without flashing would be better to avoid any warranty issues down the road, on the off chance that it breaks etc... Saves the risk of having to shell out for another card should it be flashed and something goes wrong.

That's just me being overly cautious and thinking about the OP's wallet of course :)
Click to expand...

You don't need to flash it, just you won't have boot screens.

Secondly, you flash it back if it isn't working correctly before RMAing. The first 6870 i had would crash when it dropped down to low power idle clocks before and after the flash. I flashed it back to stock and sent it back for RMA.

Thirdly, if its completely dead then they wouldn't know!

All the flashing does is insert the EFI part of the ROM from the 6 series iMac firmware, which DOES NOT alter the BIOS on the card that controls voltage, fan speeds, etc so there is zero chance of the flash buggering the card.

I went a step further and modified the fan profile because in OS X at idle my card had an annoying tendency to oscillate the fan speed, so I reduced it from 30% to 20%. Been like that for a year now, play games on OS X with no problems.
 
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