2560x1440 on Power Mac G4?

[Liggysmalls]

Hi Guys,

Just trying to figure out if I will be able to participate in the upcoming PowerPC challenge. I think with some careful prep I can pull this off without too much pain but I do need my screen real estate. My normal display is a run of the mill 27" 2560x1440 panel and I tend to use all those pixels for my day to day work.

I have been searching around and doing my best to figure out if this is possible. Does anyone know off hand if there are any compatible AGP cards which would provide 2560x1440 on a Power Mac G4? I remember the AGP era well and I know cards which could handle this would have been on the higher end.

TIA!

 

[eyoungren]

About the only thing I can think of, being AGP, that would support that would be the Radeon FireGL X3. You'll need to tape pins or cut traces if using in a G4. They don't work in a Quicksilver by the way.

Keep in mind that in G4 systems this is going to be pushing it, except perhaps for the higher end MDDs.

Late model G5's have PCI-e which can give you access to the NVIDIA Quadro and the Radeon XT1900 (which can both drive that resolution).

 

[bunnspecial]

A 9600 Pro PC&Mac would work also, but they are iffy in QSs and MDDs. They are out with anything earlier.

 

[Cox Orange]

It probably doesn't help a lot and it only lists stock cards, no BTO options or aftermarket cards, but nevertheless here is a start.

PowerMac G4 stock cards (none bigger than 1920x1200) http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...hics-cards-vga-adc-dvi-ports-resolutions.html
PowerMac G5 stock cards http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...dc-ports-dvi-ports-resolutions-supported.html

The second link lists the 9600 as 1920x... and the 9650 as 2560x1600, both AGP, but in the PCI-X models of the G5 series, after that there are only the PCIe ones of the very last G5 line.

PS: there is a PowerMac G3 link as well...

 

[Liggysmalls]

Seems like I should probably just track down a G5, thanks guys!

 

[Cox Orange]

What ever comes in more handy. From a cost effectivity standpoint, though, most probably a G5 is more for the money.

According to the list I posted you would need at least get a PowerMac G5 Dual Processor 2,7GHz, early 2005, with its ATI 9650 (the 2,5GHz and 2GHz have the ATI 9600) or one of the late 2005 Dual Core / Quad G5s. BUT since Bunnspecial allready confirmed that the 9600 does support the resolution (contrary to what the list says) with earlier models, but be sure to get the 9600 or better, then. There are models that came with a Nvidia 5200. If you click the Processor Speed in blue in the second list I posted, you can then scroll down and expand the field with the GPU infos and see the annotations about which BTO options were also available.


If you're looking into other PowerMacs + a card then maybe this might be helpful as well http://themacelite.wikidot.com/compatibility

Which G4 do you have especially you'd use instead of a G5?


Would expanding the picture to a second monitor work for you maybe? So you could have two cheaper cards combined.

 

[Liggysmalls]

If you're looking into other PowerMacs + a card then maybe this might be helpful as well http://themacelite.wikidot.com/compatibility

More great info, I will hold on to this for the future! Thank you very much.

Which G4 do you have especially you'd use instead of a G5?

I have a MDD DP that would probably get the job done for me. I was thinking "why get another old Mac?" and now I am thinking "why not get another old Mac?". To be honest I would love to have a G5 in the collection but I was trying to be reasonable in a hobby which reason has no business being involved.

Would expanding the picture to a second monitor work for you maybe? So you could have two cheaper cards combined.

My plan in respects to the challenge was to keep my regular monitor on the desk so I could quickly and easily switch inputs back to my modern environment. While I know deep down I will be fine running a PPC machine I can't allow work to suffer so if I must tap out I would rather it be quick and easy.

Thank you again for the info, it's much appreciated.

 

[Cox Orange]

I mean you could do both:
a)
search for one of the GPUs (ATI 9600, 9650, 9700 (with issues), 9800, X800/850, X1900 and Nvidia 6600, 6800 and 7800GS/GT/GTX...
-> Actually this list from 9600 following for AGP cards http://www.jcsenterprises.com/Japamacs_Page/Blog/71BBF3EF-9713-4C53-8B80-26771F8A4087.html and all PCIe cards from this list http://www.jcsenterprises.com/Japamacs_Page/Blog/71BBF3EF-9713-4C53-8B80-26771F8A4087.html

b)
search for any G5 that has/lists a special card in the offer or search for these models: 2,7GHz (liquid cooled, you might want to avoid this unless you feel save to look after that from time to time) and all late 2005 models. The late 2005 2GHz and 2,3GHz is fan cooled and the Quad is liquid and fan cooled, the same like 2,7GHz model. If you're going for it anyway, I would eliminate the 2GHz model from the list.
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I was thinking "why get another old Mac?" and now I am thinking "why not get another old Mac?". To be honest I would love to have a G5 in the collection but I was trying to be reasonable in a hobby which reason has no business being involved.

*thumbs-up*

 

[Liggysmalls]

After my last post I decided to scoot over to Craigslist to see what was new for the day and the stars aligned for me. About 20 minutes from my home there was a nice fellow selling a 2.3ghz DC G5 with 6gb of memory in excellent condition. I spoke with him already and we came to an agreement, I should be collecting my new machine tomorrow with a little luck!

 

[Cox Orange]

Congratulations!

 

[eyoungren]

After my last post I decided to scoot over to Craigslist to see what was new for the day and the stars aligned for me. About 20 minutes from my home there was a nice fellow selling a 2.3ghz DC G5 with 6gb of memory in excellent condition. I spoke with him already and we came to an agreement, I should be collecting my new machine tomorrow with a little luck!

Congrats!

I had a forum member very graciously send me that exact G5. Unfortunately, it arrived with handles bent. But craigslist also saved me as a local fellow there had a 2.3Ghz Dual Core so I was able to swap in parts. Next to the Quad, these are very nice G5s.