Mac Pro 1,1 (2006) graphics card upgrade

The ATI card is the correct choice if you want more video "processing" and speed. Remember, it also depends on the applications you run.

Graphics Cards Upgrade

I had this problem and had a difficult time locating the right graphics card that would work with my 2006 mac pro. Everyone referenced older graphics cards, or ones that were discontinued. After trial and error, I found the XFX Radeon graphics cards sold at Best Buy work perfect. They are the same Radeon type, although older, that was previously in my mac when I purchased it new. All I did was pop out the old graphics card, put in the new one, and fired up the computer. After the system uploads it recognized the new card, the screen appeared and it prompted me to select the proper power configuration for the new graphics card. Then the system resets and I are off and running with the new graphics card.

I think any of the XFX Radeon graphics cards will work.

This is the first one I tried. IT worked well but seemed to lack the power.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/XFX+-+O...Card/4676591.p?id=1218505476084&skuId=4676591

The second one I tried seems to work much better.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/XFX+-+A...Card/4677014.p?id=1218505322347&skuId=4677014

prattio said:

Thanks for the advice Shawk.

I was liking those prices, but then I checked the Lion supported video card list, and neither of those are listed there.

Looks like the ATI HD5770 is the winner.

Click to expand...

My nVidia 8800GT card died a few months ago and I was waiting for Apple to replace the Radeon 5770's with something but in typical Apple fashion they'd worked the i-devide lineup and left desktops to languish.

Does your 1,1 2006 MacPro now work with Mountain Lion?

I have a Mac Pro 1.1 with the Radeon 5770. The card is fine but I cannot run Mountain Lion. It is possible to have a 1.1 running Mountain Lion but there is more involved than simply using a compatible video card.

http://www.j4mie.co.uk/blog/how-to-install-mountain-lion-on-macpro11/

shawk1 said:

...

I think any of the XFX Radeon graphics cards will work.

...

The second one I tried seems to work much better.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/XFX+-+A...Card/4677014.p?id=1218505322347&skuId=4677014

Click to expand...

So which version of OSX has drivers for the Radeon 6670 and does it work right out of the box? Is it just a PC version? Thanks.

Asus en gtx560 tidc2di1g5

Can anybody help me whether this card from ATI would work with my Mac Pro 1,1. Applications I am using are Final Cut Pro, Motion etc

cgc said:

So which version of OSX has drivers for the Radeon 6670 and does it work right out of the box? Is it just a PC version? Thanks.

Click to expand...

bump... I have been wanting to upgrade the video card in my MacPro 1,1 for years. The price is right on the Radeon HD 6670! I am running Lion. Can anyone confirm that the Radeon HD 6670 will be compatible with Lion? Does anyone have any other recommendations?

Thank You!

shawk1 said:

I had this problem and had a difficult time locating the right graphics card that would work with my 2006 mac pro. Everyone referenced older graphics cards, or ones that were discontinued. After trial and error, I found the XFX Radeon graphics cards sold at Best Buy work perfect. They are the same Radeon type, although older, that was previously in my mac when I purchased it new. All I did was pop out the old graphics card, put in the new one, and fired up the computer. After the system uploads it recognized the new card, the screen appeared and it prompted me to select the proper power configuration for the new graphics card. Then the system resets and I are off and running with the new graphics card.

I think any of the XFX Radeon graphics cards will work.

This is the first one I tried. IT worked well but seemed to lack the power.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/XFX+-+O...Card/4676591.p?id=1218505476084&skuId=4676591

The second one I tried seems to work much better.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/XFX+-+A...Card/4677014.p?id=1218505322347&skuId=4677014

Click to expand...

HI Shawk1,

I'm trying to do this same upgrade with my MacPro 1,1.

Do you have to flash the graphics card or did it really work right away? ?

Thanks for any advice

What worked for me.

I purchased a used ATI Radeon HD 5770 1024 MB (Apple Brand). Everything works and no worries. May have spent a bit more but I didn't have to take any chances either. Works great, no drivers needed. Install and power on.

Hey Tandava,
I probably will end up buying that card. But I'm trying to spend the least money possible on this awesome (though outdated machine, before I make the plunge for the new MacPro this Fall.

Mac Pro 1,1 Mavericks GPU

Hey all,

I am running 10.9.1 on my Mac Pro 1,1 following some great work by Tiamo in the following thread:

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/18411621/

I am looking for the best performing GPU for the Mac Pro 1,1 with boot screen. I used to keep an eye on things a few years back (I flashed a PC 4870 some time back following advice form this forum) but I've lost track.

Is the 7950 Mac Edition the highest performing card which is proven with the PSU within the 1,1? Can I flash a PC 7xxx series card for better performance than the Apple-provided 5870 offered?

Many thanks,

FireArse

FireArse said:

Hey all,

I am running 10.9.1 on my Mac Pro 1,1 following some great work by Tiamo in the following thread:

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/18411621/

I am looking for the best performing GPU for the Mac Pro 1,1 with boot screen. I used to keep an eye on things a few years back (I flashed a PC 4870 some time back following advice form this forum) but I've lost track.

Is the 7950 Mac Edition the highest performing card which is proven with the PSU within the 1,1? Can I flash a PC 7xxx series card for better performance than the Apple-provided 5870 offered?

Many thanks,

FireArse

Click to expand...

This I would like to know too

Best graphic card?

Hi

Same for me. I have a Mac Pro 1,1 running Mac Os X.7 but the original Graphic Card I have just passed away today...

So by which Graphic Card should I go for considering that I may want to go for X.9 also?

Thanks

Andre

I wanted to know if the ATI Radeon HD 5870 can go on my Mac Pro 1,1

this thread also has my interests. Possibly even a 6670? im generally just trying to poke my head into these threads looking for idea for my mac pro 1,1 on 10.9.x

I have 10.9.1 on my Mac Pro 1,1 and all is well but I can't get my XFX ATI 5770 to work. It's worked fine up until now on Snow leopard and Lion (if I installed the SL kext s) but I can't get it to work on 10.9. It's seen by the system but doesn't display. It's a pc card and not flashed. All I keep reading is the the 5770 works without hitch.

Any suggestions?

XFX AMD Radeon HD 6670 2GB DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 Graphics Card HD

shawk1 said:

I had this problem and had a difficult time locating the right graphics card that would work with my 2006 mac pro. Everyone referenced older graphics cards, or ones that were discontinued. After trial and error, I found the XFX Radeon graphics cards sold at Best Buy work perfect. They are the same Radeon type, although older, that was previously in my mac when I purchased it new. All I did was pop out the old graphics card, put in the new one, and fired up the computer. After the system uploads it recognized the new card, the screen appeared and it prompted me to select the proper power configuration for the new graphics card. Then the system resets and I are off and running with the new graphics card.

I think any of the XFX Radeon graphics cards will work.

This is the first one I tried. IT worked well but seemed to lack the power.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/XFX+-+O...Card/4676591.p?id=1218505476084&skuId=4676591

The second one I tried seems to work much better.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/XFX+-+A...Card/4677014.p?id=1218505322347&skuId=4677014

Click to expand...

Can you please tell me if the 6670 will work on Lion 10.7.5? Thanks!

Rayamedia said:

I have 10.9.1 on my Mac Pro 1,1 and all is well but I can't get my XFX ATI 5770 to work. It's worked fine up until now on Snow leopard and Lion (if I installed the SL kext s) but I can't get it to work on 10.9. It's seen by the system but doesn't display. It's a pc card and not flashed. All I keep reading is the the 5770 works without hitch.

Any suggestions?

Click to expand...

Have you found a fix for this yet? I'm running into the same issue with the same card

XFX HD 6670 Works kinda

I can say that I got an XFX Radeon HD 6670 working in a MacPro1,1 but not with x16 under 10.6.8. I will try to update as I learn more and let you know if it is stable. I am using DVI connection have not tested the others.
In order for it to work I had to leave it at the 3rd setting in the "Expansion Slot Utility" which is 3-x8 Lane 1-x1 Lane. I have the 6670 in slot 1 the bottom most slot and under this setting that is an x8 lane. The Utility tells you that the Graphics Card is running below the x16 mark but when I tried one of the x16 settings for slot 1 the card did not appear to work and I had to VNC in to change it back.
To find the "Expansion Slot Utility" and manually launch it goto /System/Library/CoreServices/
I have also heard but not tested that these PC Graphics Cards function better under higher Mac OS's and that HDMI may even work on this card in Lion or higher.

I bought this for a Linux build. I had given up trying to find a graphics card for the 2006 Mac pro. For fun I tried it out in the Mac and much to my surprise it worked. I had tried 3 other cards before and the Mac just kept restarting. I got it at best buy for $49