Absolute best video card I can get for my Powermac?

[Mike Teezie]

I know next to nothing about this topic, so I figured I'd leave it to the pros.

I want to beef up my machine so I can run Aperture as smoothly as possible with a 30" ACD. It's a Dual 2.0, 2nd generation Powermac.

What's the best video card available for it? The 9800?

[jackieonasses]

I am slow as of late... but the Nvidia 6800 is close to the best. I thought you had to have one to run a 30"??

[homerjward]

the x850xt is the best card for a powermac, if you can find one. if not, newegg sells x800xt's for macs at a very reasonable price.

[crazzyeddie]

the 6800 Ultra might be a little better for Aperture, but the price difference between that and the 800XT/850XT isn't worth it.

[risc]

If you want to use a 30" monitor you only have a limited amount of AGP cards you can buy:

ATI X850 XT - This is an Apple CTO option, you may find one on eBay (1x 30")

ATI X800 XT - This card is available from Mac resellers it is not a CTO option (1x 30")

nVIDIA 6800 Ultra DDL - This card was a CTO option, but isn't available from Apple anymore, you may find one of eBay (2x 30")

nVIDIA 6800 GT DDL - This card is an Apple CTO option, Apple also sell these cards via the Apple store (2x 30")

ATI 9650 - This card is the slowest of the lot and is a CTO option, I'm not sure if you can buy these off Apple without buying a new Mac (1x 30")

I'd only consider the first 4 as upgrades. From what I've read the X850 is the fastest, the X800 and 6800 ULTRA are pretty much the same (though the ULTRA is the fastest of the 4 for Apples professional apps like Motion,etc), with the 6800 GT being a little slower. You would have no reason to complain with any of these cards as they are all amazing. The ATI 9650 may be able to use a 30" but I think it would have a hard time doing anything in 3D on a 30".

I have a nVIDIA 6800 Ultra DDL that I recently purchased on eBay it's a great card, it cost me less than ordering a X800 XT so I'm more than happy.

[Mike Teezie]

Wow, thanks for all the replies everybody.

I'm leaning towards the 6800 Ultra DDL.

So my system would be:

Dual 2.0 G5
2.5 gigs RAM
6800 Ultra
30" ACD

Should run Aperture well, huh?

[iGary]

Wow, thanks for all the replies everybody.

I'm leaning towards the 6800 Ultra DDL.

So my system would be:

Dual 2.0 G5
2.5 gigs RAM
6800 Ultra
30" ACD

Should run Aperture well, huh?

Buy 2 more gigs of RAM. ;)

[Aarow]

Buy 2 more gigs of RAM. ;)


Got much RAM, iGary?

[dmw007]

So my system would be:
Dual 2.0 G5
2.5 gigs RAM
6800 Ultra
30" ACD
Should run Aperture well, huh?

Like a dream. :)

[MacNoobie]

I like the 6800 Ultra DDL in my PowerMac as of now and runs everything pretty damn smooth but if they offer a 7800 with 512MB of ram I might snag it.

[Soulstorm]

Actually, I would recommend any other card other than nVidia, for these reasons:

ATI X800XT is 100 dollars cheaper than its equivalent nVidia 6800, it is smaller (it doesn't cover any PCI slot, while the nVidia does) and it has those awsome ATI drivers, which enable things like anisotropic filtering and FSAA in games that do not even support it. Also, Apple seems to work better with ATI products (drivers are the reason).

[devman]

Actually, I would recommend any other card other than nVidia, for these reasons:

ATI X800XT is 100 dollars cheaper than its equivalent nVidia 6800, it is smaller (it doesn't cover any PCI slot, while the nVidia does) and it has those awsome ATI drivers, which enable things like anisotropic filtering and FSAA in games that do not even support it. Also, Apple seems to work better with ATI products (drivers are the reason).

Provided the user only ever wants to run one 30" display. If the user can forsee wanting two 30" displays then nvidia is the only game in town.

[Mechcozmo]

Wow, thanks for all the replies everybody.

I'm leaning towards the 6800 Ultra DDL.

So my system would be:

Dual 2.0 G5
2.5 gigs RAM
6800 Ultra
30" ACD

Should run Aperture well, huh?

Bastard. I hate you. I have a 12" PowerBook.
;)

[greatdevourer]

Got much RAM, iGary? 4GB is an insult to your G5, so... :p

[risc]

Actually, I would recommend any other card other than nVidia, for these reasons:

ATI X800XT is 100 dollars cheaper than its equivalent nVidia 6800, it is smaller (it doesn't cover any PCI slot, while the nVidia does) and it has those awsome ATI drivers, which enable things like anisotropic filtering and FSAA in games that do not even support it. Also, Apple seems to work better with ATI products (drivers are the reason).

The OP is talking about running pro Apps like Apeture not playing games and as I stated above the 6800 Ultra is the fastest for these apps. Makes me wonder actually why is this in the Games forum?

[Mike Teezie]

You're right risc, it should probably be somewhere else.

I've just been in a few discussions in this forum, and there's a lot of knowledgeable folks around here when it comes to gpus. Seemed like the best place to come for that kind of info.

And again, you are correct. I have next to zero interest in gaming performance, it's all about Aperture. Playing Halo will be pretty sweet on this setup though.....

[risc]

I have next to zero interest in gaming performance, it's all about Aperture.

Personally I say go for the 6800 Ultra DDL if you are buying a 30" also I don't think you will be too worried about paying $100 extra. ;) Also like I said above I actually got my new 6800 Ultra DDL cheaper than getting an X800 XT, finally I wouldn't worry about the drivers with the 6800s I know they had problems back in 10.3.5 but they seem pretty rock solid to me now.

Enjoy it when you get it.