Geforce 6800 Mac Bound!!! In Next Powermacs!?

[Maclarny]

While examing the Tech Specs for the new Nvidia Geforce 6800 I noticed a very exciting bit of information under the "Operating Systems Supported" area. See for yourself!!!

http://www.nvidia.com/page/pg_20040406661996.html

[invaLPsion]

Yep, it's there!

Supported OS's: "Mac OS and OSX" :)

[Dont Hurt Me]

Interesting to say the least. Lets hope for a G5 with a G6 in it ;)

[jane doe]

Dude,

This just means that the card is compatible with certain OS models. It doesn't say that it will be included with the next G5 or G6 or what ever it is.

[crazzyeddie]

Dude,

This just means that the card is compatible with certain OS models. It doesn't say that it will be included with the next G5 or G6 or what ever it is.

At this point, any major card coming out for Mac, Apple will include as a BTO option.

[bousozoku]

Apple will have to authorise manufacturing for it, adapt drivers and firmware too. It just makes sense that they'd want a PCI-X graphics card in the PowerMac G5s.

[Maclarny]

We will see what happens with this card but this is still very good news! :D

[mikeyredk]

prob won't have ADC because the power requirements are enormous for the p.c. version it requires an additional power straight from the power supply

[Gymnut]

http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/2004/04/14/nvidia/index.php?redirect=1081973654000

[MrMacMan]

http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/2004/04/14/nvidia/index.php?redirect=1081973654000
That article barily touches on the Mac side of the issue at all!

What a waste.

[Nermal]

it requires an additional power straight from the power supply

So does the Mac Radeon 9800.

[ZildjianKX]

You guys are dreaming if you think this is hitting the mac anytime soon. I would bet $100 dollars there is no way this card will hit the mac within the next 3 months at the soonest. They're probably still working on the mac edition as we speak.

[bousozoku]

You guys are dreaming if you think this is hitting the mac anytime soon. I would bet $100 dollars there is no way this card will hit the mac within the next 3 months at the soonest. They're probably still working on the mac edition as we speak.

That's a safe bet. GeForce 2 was late. GeForce 3Ti was going to be on Macintosh before x86 PC and then, it was late too. :D

[Veldek]

Apple will have to authorise manufacturing for it, adapt drivers and firmware too. It just makes sense that they'd want a PCI-X graphics card in the PowerMac G5s.

There is no and won’t ever be a PCI-X graphics card. What you mean is PCI Extreme. The GeForce 6800 will have a AGP 8x and a PCI Extreme version. I’m not sure if Apple will already put PCI Extreme in there PowerMacs, though I hope so. But there might be an option for this card, nevertheless.

[warcraftmaster]

There is no and won’t ever be a PCI-X graphics card. What you mean is PCI Extreme. The GeForce 6800 will have a AGP 8x and a PCI Extreme version. I’m not sure if Apple will already put PCI Extreme in there PowerMacs, though I hope so. But there might be an option for this card, nevertheless.

you got any info on this PCI Extreme.what will it for the card it better make warcraft play better on my duel 3.0. thats if it has it

[oingoboingo]

Has anyone seen a picture of the GeForce 6800 card? It's a monster. It has a large 'dustbuster' style cooling system on top of it like the top-end FX series of cards...but hopefully this time nVidia has managed to make it less instrusive noise-wise. It also throws off an enormous amount of heat...up to 120W from what I've read. If this thing makes it into a G5 in its current form, it's probably going to obscure a PCI slot or two, make a lot of noise, and might affect the G5 system fans due to the heat output. I don't know if it will be able to draw enough current through the AGP Pro slot either. Maybe it will need the two external power connectors like the x86 version.

It will be interesting to see what ATI comes up with as a counter-punch. The Radeon 9800XT runs a lot cooler and quieter...hopefully ATI can continue their more heat efficient designs in their next generation.

[Veldek]

It will be interesting to see what ATI comes up with as a counter-punch. The Radeon 9800XT runs a lot cooler and quieter...hopefully ATI can continue their more heat efficient designs in their next generation.

ATI already has the R420 chip in work as a counter-measure, though I didn’t see any info about its performance yet. The new GeForce clearly rocks in terms of performance but as an ATI fan I’m sure they will come up with something even better.

[Veldek]

you got any info on this PCI Extreme.what will it for the card it better make warcraft play better on my duel 3.0. thats if it has it

I’m not sure if the PCI Express version will perform better than the AGP one. All test showed that there’s not much performance increase yet. In the future, PCI Express will be better of course, because of the higher bandwidth, but at the moment even AGP 8x isn’t used completely, so there’s no reason to not use the AGP 8x version of this card.

[Rincewind42]

prob won't have ADC because the power requirements are enormous for the p.c. version it requires an additional power straight from the power supply

You don't understand where ADC gets it's power from. An ADC equipped video card has an additional connector at the far end of the slot that is specifically for monitor power & usb. The ADC connector takes input from this connector and the video card basically just acts as a passthrough for it. The monitor is not powered from the AGP slot itself.

[benpatient]

that's not the issue.

the problem is that the 6800 requires TWO unloaded 12V 4 pin connections...that means two dedicated lines straight from the power supply to the graphics card. They need to be able to pull a load of nearly 150 watts between them...just for the graphics card.

In other words, Apple's current G5s couldn't handle the power load, (i don't think it could handle the cooling load, either at this point), which means it will have to be a revision-only option. It also means that Apple will have to introduce a 500 watt power supply into the G5, something that will NOT go over well in the noise department...

Is it possible that we'll see a 6800 in the G5 this year? Absolutely.

Is it even remotely likely that it will be the "Ultra" version that nVidia has handed out to the media this week for testing? I doubt it. No, we'll probably see the "baby" 12x1 6800 non-Ultra cards in the top-end G5s as an option...

Look, this card is a beast. But it is built like one, too. It has hefty "hand-holding" requirements...takes a lot of physical resources from the computer...it's not elegant at all. that's why i don't think it will find its way into the G5...which is terribly picky.

Anyone seen a 5950 Ultra in a G5? No way.

[ZildjianKX]

It also means that Apple will have to introduce a 500 watt power supply into the G5, something that will NOT go over well in the noise department...

LoL, the DP G5s already have a 600 W powersupply and the SP have a 450 W as is :)

[aethier]

LoL, the DP G5s already have a 600 W powersupply and the SP have a 450 W as is :)

actually

acording to apple-history, the g5 has a 700 something, power supply..

aethier

[benpatient]

well, isn't that gross.

my point was that the 6800U needs, for safety's sake, 200watts all to itself.

the 9800Pro needs 75, according to ATI...

The 9600Pro is like half of that.

what's the breakdown on that 600W PS's usage?

I bet it's largely for the cooling fans & the processors...

I know apple doesn't generally give you a lot of "extra" power supply in their boxes. I remember finding that out the hard way with a beige G3...

[crazzyeddie]

Apple will have to authorise manufacturing for it, adapt drivers and firmware too. It just makes sense that they'd want a PCI-X graphics card in the PowerMac G5s.

Why would Apple have to authorize manufacturing for it? Any company can make a product Mac compatible without asking Apple first... its called "free enterprise."

[MacsRgr8]

Has anyone seen a picture of the GeForce 6800 card? It's a monster. It has a large 'dustbuster' style cooling system on top of it like the top-end FX series of cards...but hopefully this time nVidia has managed to make it less instrusive noise-wise. It also throws off an enormous amount of heat...up to 120W from what I've read. If this thing makes it into a G5 in its current form, it's probably going to obscure a PCI slot or two, make a lot of noise, and might affect the G5 system fans due to the heat output. I don't know if it will be able to draw enough current through the AGP Pro slot either. Maybe it will need the two external power connectors like the x86 version.

INDEED!!!

[benpatient]

off topic comment on your sig, MacsRgr8...couldn't resist educating you:

windows lets you drag and drop files, or copy and paste them, or cut and paste them, in what you would call the finder. Macs can finally copy and paste, but still can't cut and paste.

also, windows lets you run programs or rename files, (all the normal file-interaction type commands) all from the convenience of things like "open" and "save" dialog boxes.

i've read that this isn't even technically possible on OS X because of the unix structure.

but your joke is very funny aside from that.

[srobert]

Boo-Frigin-Yah!

I would like to see a high-end graphic card for the mac... but that turbine on top of it?!?! How loud is that?

[MacsRgr8]

off topic comment on your sig, MacsRgr8...couldn't resist educating you:

windows lets you drag and drop files, or copy and paste them, or cut and paste them, in what you would call the finder. Macs can finally copy and paste, but still can't cut and paste.

also, windows lets you run programs or rename files, (all the normal file-interaction type commands) all from the convenience of things like "open" and "save" dialog boxes.

i've read that this isn't even technically possible on OS X because of the unix structure.

but your joke is very funny aside from that.


I know you're right....

It's just the only copy and paste action I like doing on a Windows PC :D

[Rincewind42]

also, windows lets you run programs or rename files, (all the normal file-interaction type commands) all from the convenience of things like "open" and "save" dialog boxes.

i've read that this isn't even technically possible on OS X because of the unix structure.

Actually, there is nothing to prevent this from being done on Mac OS X, except for if Apple wants to implement it or not. Personally, I suspect that most users (i.e. non-power users) don't even know they can do that stuff from Open/Save dialogs on Windows.

[gekko513]

also, windows lets you run programs or rename files, (all the normal file-interaction type commands) all from the convenience of things like "open" and "save" dialog boxes.

i've read that this isn't even technically possible on OS X because of the unix structure.
Don't believe everything you read. There is nothing that technically prevents renaming and program-execution from a dialog in the "unix structure". Here's a link to a little java program I made to prove it DialogTest (http://lavacat.com/dialog.html)

[Mav451]

Actually, there is nothing to prevent this from being done on Mac OS X, except for if Apple wants to implement it or not. Personally, I suspect that most users (i.e. non-power users) don't even know they can do that stuff from Open/Save dialogs on Windows.

Hmm, that's might be true. But how bout this--the search function on a XP box. When you search for something it lets you see the location, size, type of file, etc. etc.

But what i find REALLY useful is that you can move the file by simply cutting it from that very same search window and then paste it into another location/folder. WITHOUT going DIRECTLY to the folder. I wonder if OSX can do this as I have never tried this, nor have i used its search function.

The point I'm trying to make is that I've seen even noobs do this, without realizing how convenient it is. They can't find that movie/music/doc file, so they go to search. They find out its somewhere they didn't want it, so they cut it and paste it in My Documents, or more commonly Desktop (hence the crowded Desktop ala '98 days).

[hvfsl]

I was talking to a guy in the UK that is friends with someone that works at one of the Apple stores in London and he said that Apple should be having the Geforce 6800U a few weeks before PC users.

The Geforce 6800U is not just a faster gaming card, but features a special video processor that will greatly speed up converting one video format to another (e.g. creating a DVD of an iMovie project). So video professionals will also want the card in their machines.

So I expect Apple will anounce the card when it releases it's new G5 PowerMacs, or at NAB.

[Rincewind42]

Hmm, that's might be true. But how bout this--the search function on a XP box. When you search for something it lets you see the location, size, type of file, etc. etc.

But what i find REALLY useful is that you can move the file by simply cutting it from that very same search window and then paste it into another location/folder. WITHOUT going DIRECTLY to the folder. I wonder if OSX can do this as I have never tried this, nor have i used its search function.

The point I'm trying to make is that I've seen even noobs do this, without realizing how convenient it is. They can't find that movie/music/doc file, so they go to search. They find out its somewhere they didn't want it, so they cut it and paste it in My Documents, or more commonly Desktop (hence the crowded Desktop ala '98 days).

You can do the copy/paste from the Finder's search as well (both search from the toolbar and the find window). The only significant difference here is that the Finder doesn't support Cut/Paste. Probably because of the potential for data loss.

[7on]

I search in a finder window, then I drag from the search window. If it's on the same volume, it'll be like a cut and paste. If the file searched for is on another volume, I simplly drag the one in the search window to the trash (or Cmd+Delete it).

Anyway, I think it would be great if apple's next monitors didn't use ADC and they struck a deal with Nvidia and ATI to get the PC versions of their cards to work natively on the Mac. And Apple could go back to the old way of having a plug on the tower for a monitor, if they don't want a computer taking up 2 power outlets.

[lewdvig]

In my PC, I am going to ditch my 9800 as soon as these 6800s are in the shops. Unless the x800 is even better.

I don't see much point in putting one of these into a Mac though. Only the dual G5s will really show any benefit. Unless Apple speeds up its line in the next month.

IMO: The GF6 is wasted in any G4 machine - thats all I got.

[gekko513]

In my PC, I am going to ditch my 9800 as soon as these 6800s are in the shops. Unless the x800 is even better.

I don't see much point in putting one of these into a Mac though. Only the dual G5s will really show any benefit. Unless Apple speeds up its line in the next month.

IMO: The GF6 is wasted in any G4 machine - thats all I got.
There is no way Apple will put a 6800 in eMac or iMac, not in the near future anyway, so you don't have to worry. I think it may be available as an option, not default, for the next PowerMac G5 revision, that's all.

[Dont Hurt Me]

In my PC, I am going to ditch my 9800 as soon as these 6800s are in the shops. Unless the x800 is even better.

I don't see much point in putting one of these into a Mac though. Only the dual G5s will really show any benefit. Unless Apple speeds up its line in the next month.

IMO: The GF6 is wasted in any G4 machine - thats all I got.True, G4 cant feed a 9800 it sure isnt going to be able to feed a 6800.

[invaLPsion]

There is no way Apple will put a 6800 in eMac or iMac, not in the near future anyway, so you don't have to worry. I think it may be available as an option, not default, for the next PowerMac G5 revision, that's all.

MacOSXRumors has a report shich states that this is in fact the case. The new powermacs (up to 2.5) should be released soon along with the 6800U as a BTO option. Next month?

[topicolo]

that's not the issue.

the problem is that the 6800 requires TWO unloaded 12V 4 pin connections...that means two dedicated lines straight from the power supply to the graphics card. They need to be able to pull a load of nearly 150 watts between them...just for the graphics card.

In other words, Apple's current G5s couldn't handle the power load, (i don't think it could handle the cooling load, either at this point), which means it will have to be a revision-only option. It also means that Apple will have to introduce a 500 watt power supply into the G5, something that will NOT go over well in the noise department...

Is it possible that we'll see a 6800 in the G5 this year? Absolutely.

Is it even remotely likely that it will be the "Ultra" version that nVidia has handed out to the media this week for testing? I doubt it. No, we'll probably see the "baby" 12x1 6800 non-Ultra cards in the top-end G5s as an option...

Look, this card is a beast. But it is built like one, too. It has hefty "hand-holding" requirements...takes a lot of physical resources from the computer...it's not elegant at all. that's why i don't think it will find its way into the G5...which is terribly picky.

Anyone seen a 5950 Ultra in a G5? No way.

Actually, even though nVidia says that the recommended power supply is 480W for the GF6800, there have been reports by quite a few reviewers that there aren't any problems with 320W power supplies. The GF6800 might run after all

[Mav451]

Well just make sure you got a brand name. If you got some OEM PSU in your PC, then don't expect it to be as ROBUST as an Enermax/Antec power supply

I know that an Enermax tends to have a ton more in +12v and +3.3, which is good for both the CPU and peripherals (incl. video card). It does have slightly less than an Antec in the +5v rail, but this is less of an issue as most PSUs have plenty in this area already.

I had a friend with a "Austin" power supply "430W"--it constantly caused her computer (2400+ Athlon XP, MSI Kt400 mobo, GF4Ti4200, 2 CD drive, 2 HD's) to reboot constantly. Replaced with 350W Enermax. Those reboots are gone.

If you need more information, a quick stop at good hardware review site, firingsquad.com can help clarify what I'm talking about:

http://firingsquad.com/guides/power_supply/

If someone can post the 3.3, 5, 12v amp information for the G5 and G4 power supplies, it would be nice to see.

[hvfsl]

that's not the issue.

the problem is that the 6800 requires TWO unloaded 12V 4 pin connections...that means two dedicated lines straight from the power supply to the graphics card. They need to be able to pull a load of nearly 150 watts between them...just for the graphics card.

In other words, Apple's current G5s couldn't handle the power load, (i don't think it could handle the cooling load, either at this point), which means it will have to be a revision-only option. It also means that Apple will have to introduce a 500 watt power supply into the G5, something that will NOT go over well in the noise department...

Is it possible that we'll see a 6800 in the G5 this year? Absolutely.

Is it even remotely likely that it will be the "Ultra" version that nVidia has handed out to the media this week for testing? I doubt it. No, we'll probably see the "baby" 12x1 6800 non-Ultra cards in the top-end G5s as an option...

Look, this card is a beast. But it is built like one, too. It has hefty "hand-holding" requirements...takes a lot of physical resources from the computer...it's not elegant at all. that's why i don't think it will find its way into the G5...which is terribly picky.

Anyone seen a 5950 Ultra in a G5? No way.

The reason Apple dont use the FX5950U cards in the Macs is because they are slower and more expensive than the Radeon 9800pro, so it would be stupid of Apple to use them.

[invaLPsion]

The reason Apple dont use the FX5950U cards in the Macs is because they are slower and more expensive than the Radeon 9800pro, so it would be stupid of Apple to use them.

Apple wants only the best for its customers. :D

[justin216]

I hope to see this card in later rev G5s as a BTO option...YUM!

[ZildjianKX]

In my PC, I am going to ditch my 9800 as soon as these 6800s are in the shops. Unless the x800 is even better.

I don't see much point in putting one of these into a Mac though. Only the dual G5s will really show any benefit. Unless Apple speeds up its line in the next month.

IMO: The GF6 is wasted in any G4 machine - thats all I got.

Hey, the SP G5s are toe to toe with the the DP as games go :)

I wouldn't want a card that's going to be this noisy in a G5. I still say it will not make the next revision of the G5s.

[wrldwzrd89]

IMO: The GF6 is wasted in any G4 machine - thats all I got.
If the GF6 uses a connection method newer than AGP to feed it with data (and AGP isn't an option), G4 machines couldn't use it anyway because the slots aren't compatible. I would think that for this reason plus a G4 not being able to feed the previous generation of graphics cards with data fast enough would kill all hopes of this card being usable in a G4-based machine.

[Bigheadache]

The Geforce 6800 class would at a guess be a better option than ATI for professionals as its FP32 instead of FP24 precision. Anyway, that will be great for all of those fanboys when it arrives, but please don't post here whinging about how you have a noisy dustbuster in your G5 now.

[hvfsl]

If the GF6 uses a connection method newer than AGP to feed it with data (and AGP isn't an option), G4 machines couldn't use it anyway because the slots aren't compatible. I would think that for this reason plus a G4 not being able to feed the previous generation of graphics cards with data fast enough would kill all hopes of this card being usable in a G4-based machine.

The Geforce 6800 and Radeon X800 cards are coming in PCI-EX and AGP flavours, so you will still be able to put one in a G4. But there will be little point in doing it because, while you will see a small increase in somethings and you will be able to use AA/AF in most games, the cost will not be worth it. The best card you can get for the G4 range is a Geforce 4Ti, anything else is only going to be a few fps faster.

[Mord]

they are agp 8x cards no g4 had agp 8x so it wont work (unless you attempt the g5 9600 mod)

[benpatient]

Apple wants only the best for its customers.

ohhhhh, you mean like the 9600 "pro" with only 64mb of RAM that they are still putting in their 3000 dollar box?



Riiiiight...

The 128mb version can be had right now for a PC with no tax or shipping for under 130 dollars. go to www.pricewatch.com and see for yourself.