NVidia 7800 GT Option, More Dual Core G5 Benchmarks

MacRumors · Oct 26, 2005, 10:47 AM

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif

Apple is now offering the NVidia GT video card as a Build to order option on the PowerMac G5 configurations. The video card from NVidia utilizes the new PCI Express architecture introduced on the new PowerMacs.

The 7800 card is a $400 upgrade for Dual 2.0 G5 buyers and a $350 upgrade for Dual 2.3/Quad 2.5 buyers. Apple provides a comparison chart of the various cards offered on the new PowerMacs.

Quote:

Need faster performance for motion graphics, animation, and 3D design and visualization? Upgrade to the NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT, designed to accelerate the latest creative applications and blockbuster games.

Meanwhile, MacCentral has published some benchmarks for the new dual-core PowerMac G5s. Again, no real-life benchmarks for the Quad PowerMac G5s are yet available as they are not shipping at this time. These benchmarks confirm that the Dual Core machines were generally comparable to the clock-equivalent dual processor machines.

Lord Blackadder · Oct 26, 2005, 10:50 AM

Ah, excellent news! Good price too.

Hiroshige · Oct 26, 2005, 10:50 AM

This is excellent news!

Shipping time is 6-8 weeks with this card!

longofest · Oct 26, 2005, 10:52 AM

I was wondering where this card was in the options! But since I game on my PC box, the Geforce 6600 will suit me just fine on my new Quad :-).

robbieduncan · Oct 26, 2005, 10:53 AM

I've got a 7800GT in my games PC. It an amazingly fast card. It can push out 60fps most of the time in Doom3 and the highest quality settings with 4xAA and 8xAS turned on (1280x1024). It's about time the Apple got serious about offering top quality card in the PowerMac!

MacTruck · Oct 26, 2005, 10:55 AM

I don't see it on the build page at all.

patseguin · Oct 26, 2005, 10:58 AM

I was wondering if either of the new Duals would be a worthy upgrade from my 1st gen Dual 2.0. It doesn't seem like I would be getting a significant speed increase going to the 2.3GHz config. I wonder if the Quad will be the way to go?

Bear · Oct 26, 2005, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patseguin

I was wondering if either of the new Duals would be a worthy upgrade from my 1st gen Dual 2.0. It doesn't seem like I would be getting a significant speed increase going to the 2.3GHz config. I wonder if the Quad will be the way to go?

It doesn't make sense for you to get the new dual core 2.0 or 2.3 Not enough speed increase. The Quad would be the way to go if you feel the need to upgrade.

Multimedia · 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patseguin

I was wondering if either of the new Duals would be a worthy upgrade from my 1st gen Dual 2.0. It doesn't seem like I would be getting a significant speed increase going to the 2.3GHz config. I wonder if the Quad will be the way to go?

Definitely only the quad would be significantly faster. I have dual 2 AND dual 2.5 and am trying to sell both to turn them into one quad.

You will not see any advantage with either of the single dual core models.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCT

Are you sure? I just sent my order down to my purchasing agent and it had the 7800GT listed...

JT

They must have just added it. + $315 quite the bargain. Thanks for the update.

Lord Blackadder · Oct 26, 2005, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacTruck

Ok, I was going to cancel my previous order and reorder it with this card until I saw that 6-8 week ship time. No thanks. I want my computer some time before the macintels come out.

I imagine that it will be available from the Apple Store as a kit in the near future - they already offer the 6600 as kit.

Jesus · Oct 26, 2005, 11:13 AM

WOO HOO. The quad will be groovy. Credit card at the ready.

Jesus

G5Unit · Oct 26, 2005, 11:15 AM

How does this card compare to my X800XT?

MacTruck · Oct 26, 2005, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G5Unit

How does this card compare to my X800XT?

I think its like the same.

robbieduncan · Oct 26, 2005, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G5Unit

How does this card compare to my X800XT?

The 7800GT is faster than an X800XT.

Very Recent Benchmarks

If you skip to page 5 in the linked benchmarks you can see an X800XT scores 75fps (more or less) in Quake 4 (1280x1024, 8xAF). The 7800GT scored 98. Whilst this is on a PC, not a Mac I would expect the difference on the Mac to be similar.

Epicurus · Oct 26, 2005, 11:15 AM

I was pretty sure this was coming, despite all the rumors to the contrary. Apple had to have a card priced between the 6600 and the Quadra. 6-8 weeks is a long wait, but at least Apple has quieted down the rumors by comfirming that the cards will be available (eventually). If they've been waiting for the cards for a few weeks and still have 8 weeks to go, that might be why Apple didn't offer the card to begin with. Can you imagine seeing a ship estimate of 8-10 weeks! That would really hurt sales. Now that people have had a moment to really look at the other graphics options, tossing in the 7800 with a long ship time shouldn't affect too many people's decisions to buy a PowerMac.

For me, I'm holding out for a PowerBook upgrade to the NVidia Go 7300.

Sdashiki · Oct 26, 2005, 11:17 AM

Wow the difference from the GeForce 6600 to the 7800 is huge

8 Gbps to 32

225 million vertices to 700

2.4 billion fills to 8

just much bigger numbers. big jump.

Tastannin · Oct 26, 2005, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sdashiki

Wow the difference from the GeForce 6600 to the 7800 is huge

8 Gbps to 32

225 million vertices to 700

2.4 billion fills to 8

just much bigger numbers. big jump.

Yup, a great big jump, makes the money and wait worth it for the card, IMHO. Have you seen the EDU pricing, just outrageous, $2200 for dual core 2.0 with GF7800 card!! If I had the money, I would have ordered one already. (Muttering to self: "Must get another client thats willing to pay up front!") LOL

ipacmm · Oct 26, 2005, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacTruck

Ok, I was going to cancel my previous order and reorder it with this card until I saw that 6-8 week ship time. No thanks. I want my computer some time before the macintels come out.

Good to know, I was going to do the same thing, but I can't wait any longer. I hope I can just order the card through Apple for $399 or something like that...I will just order it later.

TrumanApple · Oct 26, 2005, 10:56 AM

this quad is going to be fast...

MacTruck · 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrumanApple

this quad is going to be fast...

Lets hope so, I had to sell one of my kids to get it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiroshige

This is excellent news!

Shipping time is 6-8 weeks with this card!

Ok, I was going to cancel my previous order and reorder it with this card until I saw that 6-8 week ship time. No thanks. I want my computer some time before the macintels come out.

ijimk · Oct 26, 2005, 11:03 AM

will it be suported in my sig cpu if i bought it seperate?

AidenShaw · Oct 26, 2005, 11:08 AM

Interesting, the Speedmark scores show the dual-core 2.3 to be 2¼ times faster than a 1.25 GHz MiniMac....

So, the quad-core will probably be 2½ times faster than a Mini - w00t !!

(Further proof of the validity of the comment "Lies, Damn Lies, and Benchmarks" )

Tastannin · 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ijimk

will it be suported in my sig cpu if i bought it seperate?

Nope. Those new PowerMacs and cards are PCI Express. Not the same as PCI or PCI-X. Your G5 uses AGP for its video card anyways. Sorry.

You'd do better to either upgrade your G5 to one of the new ones, or just get a X800 XT AGP card off eBay.

ijimk · Oct 26, 2005, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tastannin

Nope. Those new PowerMacs and cards are PCI Express. Not the same as PCI or PCI-X. Sorry.

You'd do better to either upgrade your G5 to one of the new ones, or just get a X800 XT AGP card off eBay.

can i get one of those X800 XT AGP cards from the apple store? and my cpu does suport the nvidia geforce 6800 right? if so might i see a price drop in that in the apple store?

crazzyeddie · Oct 26, 2005, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ijimk

will it be suported in my sig cpu if i bought it seperate?

No. Your computer uses AGP for graphics cards. The best card you can get is the Radeon X800XT or X850XT, which are still very good cards.

Oct 26, 2005, 10:50 AM	#2
Lord Blackadder macrumors 601 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Sod off	Ah, excellent news! Good price too. __________________ Digital Audio G4 w/OWC 1.4GHz/1GB/2x250GB SATA/Pioneer DVR-107D/GeForce6800GT/Panther/2005FPW 20.1" Oh, God, God, God! What on earth was I drinking last night? My head feels like there's a Frenchman living in it. - Edmund Blackadder

Oct 26, 2005, 10:53 AM	#5
robbieduncan macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: London	I've got a 7800GT in my games PC. It an amazingly fast card. It can push out 60fps most of the time in Doom3 and the highest quality settings with 4xAA and 8xAS turned on (1280x1024). It's about time the Apple got serious about offering top quality card in the PowerMac! __________________ My App Store Apps: DLR Times

Oct 26, 2005, 10:58 AM	#7
patseguin macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2003	I was wondering if either of the new Duals would be a worthy upgrade from my 1st gen Dual 2.0. It doesn't seem like I would be getting a significant speed increase going to the 2.3GHz config. I wonder if the Quad will be the way to go? __________________ Mac Pro 2.66GHz, 4GB, 400GB, 8800GT, Dell 30" Macbook Pro SR 2.4GHz

Oct 26, 2005, 11:13 AM	#11
Jesus macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: On a Higher Spiritual Plane known only to Gods and those who consume large quantities of hallucinogens	WOO HOO. The quad will be groovy. Credit card at the ready. Jesus __________________ µ

Oct 26, 2005, 11:15 AM	#12
G5Unit macrumors 68020 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: I'm calling the cops	How does this card compare to my X800XT? __________________ flickr yannikr i am not here to do what has already been done.

Oct 26, 2005, 10:50 AM	#3
Hiroshige macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2004	This is excellent news! Shipping time is 6-8 weeks with this card!

Oct 26, 2005, 10:52 AM	#4
longofest Demi-God (Editor) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Falls Church, VA	I was wondering where this card was in the options! But since I game on my PC box, the Geforce 6600 will suit me just fine on my new Quad :-).

Oct 26, 2005, 10:55 AM	#6
MacTruck Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Endless Loop	I don't see it on the build page at all.

Oct 26, 2005, 11:15 AM	#15
Epicurus macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN	I was pretty sure this was coming, despite all the rumors to the contrary. Apple had to have a card priced between the 6600 and the Quadra. 6-8 weeks is a long wait, but at least Apple has quieted down the rumors by comfirming that the cards will be available (eventually). If they've been waiting for the cards for a few weeks and still have 8 weeks to go, that might be why Apple didn't offer the card to begin with. Can you imagine seeing a ship estimate of 8-10 weeks! That would really hurt sales. Now that people have had a moment to really look at the other graphics options, tossing in the 7800 with a long ship time shouldn't affect too many people's decisions to buy a PowerMac. For me, I'm holding out for a PowerBook upgrade to the NVidia Go 7300.

Oct 26, 2005, 11:17 AM	#16
Sdashiki macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: 9th Circle most of the time	Wow the difference from the GeForce 6600 to the 7800 is huge 8 Gbps to 32 225 million vertices to 700 2.4 billion fills to 8 just much bigger numbers. big jump.

Oct 26, 2005, 10:56 AM	#19
TrumanApple macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2005	this quad is going to be fast...

Oct 26, 2005, 11:03 AM	#21
ijimk macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Here	will it be suported in my sig cpu if i bought it seperate? __________________ ijimk 60 gig iPod 5g; iPod shuffle; dual 1.8 ghz G5 nVidia 6800, 2 gig ram; 20" Cinema display; 1.8 ghz Macbook Pro

Oct 26, 2005, 11:08 AM	#22
AidenShaw macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Peninsula (Northern Silicon Valley)	Humm, 2.26 times faster than a 1G MiniMac Interesting, the Speedmark scores show the dual-core 2.3 to be 2¼ times faster than a 1.25 GHz MiniMac.... So, the quad-core will probably be 2½ times faster than a Mini - w00t !! (Further proof of the validity of the comment "Lies, Damn Lies, and Benchmarks" ) __________________ -as Marriage Equality - Have you talked about it with your gay friends, your gay colleagues and your gay relatives?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode