4870 + 2 ati 2600?

[Macpropro80]

Hey I currently have 2 ati 2600s in my 2008 mac pro, If I were to get a new ati 4870 will I be able to use the 4870 and my 2 2600's at the same time? I need to drive 4 displays.

[Tallest Skil]

You can already run four displays off of two HD 2600 XT.:confused:

[Macpropro80]

yes but i want more power! I need the graphical power of a 4870 but I also need to drive multiple displays.

[Trev311]

You can already run four displays off of two HD 2600 XT.:confused:

Maybe he means 4 30in displays? I wouldn't see what would stop you from doing that. The obvious stuff applies, 4870 in doublewide slot, etc.

[Tallest Skil]

Maybe he means 4 30in displays? I wouldn't see what would stop you from doing that. The obvious stuff applies, 4870 in doublewide slot, etc.

The only logical thing is power draw, but even a 4870 and two HD 2600 XT are under the max draw, so he should be fine.

[Macpropro80]

So i should order it then? If it doesn't work or I don't like it, can I return it?

[Chaos123x]

If your only using four monitors just take one of the 2600 cards out and sell it.

THe 4870 is the most powerful card out there right now. (for mac).

[skyline r34]

I wonder which is the better card the ATi 512MB 4870 or the Geforce 512MB 8800GT? I might have to get the 4870 because I want to use the LED Display but I just want to know which is the better card and do you guys think when Apple release 30 inch LED it will come with adapters

[Tallest Skil]

I wonder which is the better card the ATi 512MB 4870 or the Geforce 512MB 8800GT? I might have to get the 4870 because I want to use the LED Display but I just want to know which is the better card and do you guys think when Apple release 30 inch LED it will come with adapters

The 4870 by LEAGUES.

[Battlefield Fan]

I wonder which is the better card the ATi 512MB 4870 or the Geforce 512MB 8800GT? I might have to get the 4870 because I want to use the LED Display but I just want to know which is the better card and do you guys think when Apple release 30 inch LED it will come with adapters

Um the 4780 by far. Why even ask? On the pc side the only more powerful gpu from ati is the 4780X2.

[Tallest Skil]

Um the 4780 by far. Why even ask? On the pc side the only more powerful gpu from ati is the 4780X2.

And the GTX 295, 285, 280, and 260 from nVidia are better. We really expected a 260, but we got what we got.

[skyline r34]

Um the 4780 by far. Why even ask? On the pc side the only more powerful gpu from ati is the 4780X2.

sorry that I ask just wanted to know which one better before i drop $380 for the upgrade kit but thanks for the advice anyway

The 4870 by LEAGUES.

thanks I will get the 4870 but it's a 7 week delay for the upgrade kit, hope by then we will see the new 30 inch LED 2560 x 1600 would be amazing to work on.

[Peace]

I'd go with two 4870's.

That's if the new MP has dual PCI-X 2 lanes. Or 4 lanes. etc..

[Tallest Skil]

I'd go with two 4870's.

That's if the new MP has dual PCI-X 2 lanes. Or 4 lanes. etc..

1. It's PCIe, not PCI-X. That was pretty darn short lived. :p
2. The Mac Pro doesn't have the external power connectors for two of them. :(

[edspencer]

Anyone know if the new (Nehalem) Mac Pros will take the 4870X2?

They give you the option of the basic 4870 but I'd like to get a 4870X2 from elsewhere and fit it myself - they question is will it work?

[Tallest Skil]

Anyone know if the new (Nehalem) Mac Pros will take the 4870X2?

They give you the option of the basic 4870 but I'd like to get a 4870X2 from elsewhere and fit it myself - they question is will it work?

Define take.

Windows will be able to use it, OS X will not.

[thedarkhorse]

And the GTX 295, 285, 280, and 260 from nVidia are better. We really expected a 260, but we got what we got.

maybe because some of their pro apps like Color in the final cut studio actually work better with ati cards than nvidia. But it would always be nice to have more options.

[edspencer]

Define take.

Windows will be able to use it, OS X will not.

Thanks, and sorry for lack of clarity...

I will be using it for web development by day using OS X and 3 screens, then for games by night using Windows (and not really caring how many screens Windows can use).

Sounds like I wouldn't be able to use this to power some of those 3 screens then if OS X can't use it? Do you know of any alternatives or where I should look for more info?

[Tallest Skil]

Thanks, and sorry for lack of clarity...

I will be using it for web development by day using OS X and 3 screens, then for games by night using Windows (and not really caring how many screens Windows can use).

Sounds like I wouldn't be able to use this to power some of those 3 screens then if OS X can't use it? Do you know of any alternatives or where I should look for more info?

You would need two GT 120, running in slots two and three, for OS X.

The 4870x2 would go in slot 1.

[edspencer]

You would need two GT 120, running in slots two and three, for OS X.

The 4870x2 would go in slot 1.

Ah interesting, that sounds like a good solution. Presumably OS X would just ignore the 4870X2...

On the off-chance do you know if the new Mac Pros will take an 8800GT? Googling brings up a lot of stuff pertaining to the old MPs, but nothing regarding the new version.

[Tallest Skil]

Ah interesting, that sounds like a good solution. Presumably OS X would just ignore the 4870X2...

On the off-chance do you know if the new Mac Pros will take an 8800GT? Googling brings up a lot of stuff pertaining to the old MPs, but nothing regarding the new version.

I remember reading something about them... not.

Well, they won't take the 8800 GT meant for the 2006 Mac Pro, at any rate.

[edspencer]

I remember reading something about them... not.

Well, they won't take the 8800 GT meant for the 2006 Mac Pro, at any rate.

lol I thought that might be pushing it a little ;)

Thanks for your help, I'll keep searching and report back here if I find anything.

[Jpoon]

It's a shame that the Pro users don't see a new video card sooner than later. I've been enjoying my 4870 for about six months now lol.

[edspencer]

It's a shame that the Pro users don't see a new video card sooner than later. I've been enjoying my 4870 for about six months now lol.

Yeah I'm on a PC currently, which is where my 8800GT is currently sitting. The main reason I'm moving to a mac is that it's easier for my work.

I like games too though and it's hard to know which cards will/won't work with an MP...

[Tallest Skil]

Yeah I'm on a PC currently, which is where my 8800GT is currently sitting. The main reason I'm moving to a mac is that it's easier for my work.

I like games too though and it's hard to know which cards will/won't work with an MP...

Nine cards work.

7600 GT, X1900, Quadro FX 4600, HD 2600 XT, 8800 GT, Radeon 3870, Quadro FX 5600, GT 120, Radeon 4870.

[Macpropro80]

has anyone tested to see if I can indeed run 2 ati 2600's and a 4780 at the same time on a 2008 pro?

[Tallest Skil]

has anyone tested to see if I can indeed run 2 ati 2600's and a 4780 at the same time on a 2008 pro?

It should be possible simply because you are still under the power draw.

[Spanky Deluxe]

yes but i want more power! I need the graphical power of a 4870 but I also need to drive multiple displays.

What displays do you want to drive and what do you want to do on them? 3D stuff will only be accelerated by the 4870 if its on a monitor being driven by the 4870. I.e. if you had a game in a window on a screen powered by one of your ati 2600s then it will not get any performance boost from the 4870.

So, what are your needs? If you want one main display with all the graphical power of the 4870 and then some secondary displays with the graphical power of the 2600s then this should be fine.

[Macpropro80]

What displays do you want to drive and what do you want to do on them? 3D stuff will only be accelerated by the 4870 if its on a monitor being driven by the 4870. I.e. if you had a game in a window on a screen powered by one of your ati 2600s then it will not get any performance boost from the 4870.

So, what are your needs? If you want one main display with all the graphical power of the 4870 and then some secondary displays with the graphical power of the 2600s then this should be fine.

I do alot of motion graphics, Final Cut pro, and Photoshop. I would also like to play COD 4 on my 30inch ACD with the resolution set to the highest and all the textures set on ultra.

[ArthurianLegend]

I currently have an ageing G4 for graphics work and a separate gaming PC. Can I combine the two with a new Mac Pro? If I purchase a a standard 2.66 quad-core Nehalem with the GT 120, can I remove my PC graphics card (Nvidia 8800GT) and install it in the Mac Pro alongside the 120? I know that the 8800GT won't work in OS X, but I'm assuming that it will be recognised in Vista 64 via Boot Camp? Does the 8800GT have to be installed into a specific PCI-e slot and will it have enough power? Thanks.

[Spanky Deluxe]

I currently have an ageing G4 for graphics work and a separate gaming PC. Can I combine the two with a new Mac Pro? If I purchase a a standard 2.66 quad-core Nehalem with the GT 120, can I remove my PC graphics card (Nvidia 8800GT) and install it in the Mac Pro alongside the 120? I know that the 8800GT won't work in OS X, but I'm assuming that it will be recognised in Vista 64 via Boot Camp? Does the 8800GT have to be installed into a specific PCI-e slot and will it have enough power? Thanks.

Yes you can. You might struggle a bit finding the appropriate power connector though. Its easily available in the states but costs a fair bit to get shipped over to Europe. You could run a cable from the optical bays maybe but you'd need to find a SATA to ATA power adapter - usually they go the other way around. Its also a bit of an arse to wire up. Certainly not impossible though. I've got an ATI 3700 Mac card in my Mac Pro and also an ATI 3700 PC card (for Crossfire in Boot Camp). I ran a power cable from my optical bay. It resulted in many scratched knuckles but it is possible!!

Of course, if you go this route, you'll need to have a monitor that has two DVI connections or a DVI swticher so as to switch inputs between the two cards. I'm sure you're already prepared for this though since you currently have two machines!

[zer0tails]

Can anyone tell me if it's possible to run two Apple 24" LED cinema displays on a 2008 2.8 Octo? I know with the new ATI 4870 I can run one 24" LED and a dual link dvi display. But what if I wanted to run two 24" ? two ATI 4870 cards?