Graphics Card for After Effects

[talljonny]

I have an Intel Mac running OS 10.4.11, although I am hoping to up this to leopard soon. I've been reading on here about graphics cards and am getting a bit confused, especially about "flashing cards". I'm a bit wary of this, unless someone knows otherwise?

If anyone has any ideas about what card to buy that would be great. It's primarily to do some pretty complicated After Effects. I'm currently using a NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT on a 2.66 Dual core intel mac pro and could do with something beefier. Recomendations greatly appreciated.

[Cindori]

4870 1GB

there are several flashing threads, one big one on this card.

see my flashing software, in sig.

basically with 7300 as 2nd, its:

insert 4870 in slot2

boot

flash with my tool

shut down and remove 7300, put 4870 in slot 1

done


4870 reqs. Leopard 10.5.7 or later you should get snow leopard.

[talljonny]

This sounds interesting. Is flashing the only tip though? Is there not a card that I can just buy that would do the job?

Are there any links that describe in "idiot" language what flashing is? I'm a little confused as to why I need to do it.

Thanks

[Cindori]

on the card is a chip

on the chip is data (ROM)

this data communicates with the computer

mac speaks EFI, PC speaks BIOS

this is why you have to flash PC cards with EFI rom to work in Mac

apple also sells 4870, but they charge twice as much and has half the video memory.


your other choices from apple are 3870 or x1900, but they too are sold for insane prices, and they are many years old.


flashing is my #1 tip because you save up to $200 for doing a couple hours of reading and then clicking two buttons.

[talljonny]

Many thanks for the explanation. One last one:

"see my flashing software, in sig"

Does that mean on your profile? After this I'll get going on sorting it myself using the forum and your software.

[Cindori]

signature, its below my post

[talljonny]

Doh! Thanks for this.