Mac Pro Graphics Card for CS5

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Mac Pro Graphics Card for CS5
by Danny O'Malley on Aug 19, 2010 at 3:57:04 pm

Basically I've done a lot of research online and can't make sense of it. The 5870 sounds good, but when I go to buy it I can't figure out which one is actually compatible with the Mac Pro.

I work in After Effects and Final Cut Pro. I need a graphics card for my Mac Pro which I bought in 2007. My computer won't start up with the current graphics card so I can't really check specs on the unit. So what would be a good help is if some one could link me to recommended cards which would work with the mac pro.

And if you could link me to a page on an internet store where I can actually buy one that is compatible that would be perfect. I'm on a tour bus at the moment and can't do the research I'd usually do in this situation. I can spend up to 800 bucks. Ideally after a few suggestions I'd research the suggestions and click buy on one of the pages.

I know this is a dimwitted way of going about this, but alas time availability has made me a dimwit.

Tell me what to buy Creative Cow.

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Re: Mac Pro Graphics Card for CS5
by Walter Soyka on Aug 20, 2010 at 1:19:05 pm

The 2006 Mac Pro (which is sounds like you have) uses EFI32, which really limits your graphics card options. The 2008 models use EFI64, and have much broader compatibility.

In addition to ATI's 1900 XT, the ATI Radeon 3870 is supposedly backwards compatible with your Mac Pro 1,1 model. Apple released a custom NVIDIA 8800 GT for the 2006 Mac Pro, but good luck finding one. If you get any of these cards, make sure that you are buying the Mac edition. A PC graphics card will not work out of the box.

The graphics card really isn't a factor for After Effects.

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog - What I'm thinking when my workstation's thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events

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Re: Mac Pro Graphics Card for CS5
by Jason Myres on Aug 20, 2010 at 3:40:56 pm

Radeon 4870.

JM

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Re: Mac Pro Graphics Card for CS5
by Walter Soyka on Aug 20, 2010 at 3:48:07 pm

[Jason Myres] "Radeon 4870"

Jason, you're absolutely right.

I thought this card wasn't compatible with the Mac Pro 1,1 -- but as long as you are running Mac OS X 10.5.7 or higher, it apparently works. There are a couple user reviews on Amazon describing their configurations:

http://www.amazon.com/ATI-Radeon-4870-Graphics-Upgrade/dp/B001V3O2HW

This card will vastly outperform any of the others I listed.

Walter Soyka
Principal & Designer at Keen Live
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
RenderBreak Blog - What I'm thinking when my workstation's thinking
Creative Cow Forum Host: Live & Stage Events

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Re: Mac Pro Graphics Card for CS5
by Danny O'Malley on Aug 20, 2010 at 4:48:20 pm

any links to a 4870 with dual dvi. my monitors don't have mini ports

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Re: Mac Pro Graphics Card for CS5
by Jason Myres on Aug 24, 2010 at 6:15:54 am

Grab this adapter for your second monitor: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB570Z/A?mco=MTY3ODQ5OTY

JM

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Re: Mac Pro Graphics Card for CS5
by Jason Myres on Aug 27, 2010 at 9:38:10 pm

Update: Radeon 5870

http://www.barefeats.com/wst10g3.html

JM

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