5870 Availability!?!??!!?!?

[sparkie1984]

Thanks Dave

Guess I'll wait it out then

Although I could flash one I guess there's just something nice about having one that'll support everything fine

 

[MythicFrost]

Get the 5870. The 5770 is half as good.

 

[seek3r]

Get the 5870. The 5770 is half as good.

And half the price. And available!

Yeah, I sat on the fence because of that... I figured they'd make it available "soon", why else would it be on the site? Anyway, I finally ordered a 5770

Yeah, I just ordered a 5770, I think I'll pocket the $200 and save it for another upgrade down the line, the 5770 is good enough for now, and I can get it *now* (especially important as my remaining 8800 started flaking out today )

You can guarantee that as soon as you receive your 5770, the 5870 will become available

Yeah, I know :-(. Well, maybe my ordering the 5770 then will be good luck for ya'll still waiting!

 

[DaveAmbler]

I must admit, I am starting to think that way too. Anyone have a clue how much of a performance upgrade a 5770 will be from my GT 120?

 

[MythicFrost]

And half the price. And available!

True, but for powerful gaming performance the 5870 is the best, the 5770 is better than the 4870 IIRC however it's only the 5750 (5850M) in the high end iMacs. If now suits you better than later, go for it then

 

[Topper]

I just hope by the time they sell it to the rest of us, ATi doesn't release the 6000 series.

Maybe they are waiting to make sure we remain a generation behind the PCs.

 

[seek3r]

I must admit, I am starting to think that way too. Anyone have a clue how much of a performance upgrade a 5770 will be from my GT 120?

General answer: It'll kick the crap outta the GT120

More specific answer: My 5770 is scheduled to show up tomorrow, my current setup is 1xGT120 and 1x(Failing)8800GT. I'll be pulling the 8800 and keeping the 120, so I can, if you'd like, post a couple benchmarks comparing the two (I was planning to anyway, to see if there were performance issue with having both in vs. just the 5770)

True, but for powerful gaming performance the 5870 is the best, the 5770 is better than the 4870 IIRC however it's only the 5750 (5850M) in the high end iMacs. If now suits you better than later, go for it then

The best is useless if I can't drop it in my tower. I figure I'll have the 5770 now and I'll grab a 6770 or somesuch next year, for the same price combined as a 5870 now, plus I get the 5770 tomorrow as opposed to whenever Apple decides to ship the 5870s

 

[DaveAmbler]

seek3r if you could do that, that'd be awesome! Just any info you can provide would be great.

 

[Ferazel]

Geez, I was waiting for an easy flash, but it sounds more complicated than that. So I think I'm going to buy this and pay $50 surcharge. However, when is it going to ship???? It's quite annoying to be waiting on something that is already shipping in new Mac Pros. :\

Civ5 on my PC is already chugging when running at native resolution.

 

[xispec]

Apple needs to give a date. I am tired of waiting! Already been tempted to get the 5770 3 times already, but I am on the edge of waiting for the 5870. Maybe a little longer... I hope it's soon.

 

[ovrlrd]

I will wait as long as it takes until the 5870 is available.

I hope it's soon. It seems like the 5770 supply is starting to stabilize, but I fear that the 5870 supply hasn't changed much. At some point though the amount of new Macs being sold has to slow down enough for them to finally get a handle on things.

It has taken this long though, I worry about it.

 

[dallas112678]

Ok, I haven't heard ANY news of the 5870 availability. Has anyone heard anything other than "dunno..." since the ipod event? I'm quite perplexed and eager... :/

Maybe anybody heard from chatting with Apple tech support?

5870 Hamburgerz!?!??!!?!?

 

[macz1]

I think Apples 5870 will be available just in time for the release of the 6870. It would be untypical for apple to offer a current-gen GPU!

 

[Gomff]

Apple may well be holding back the 5870's to make a total machine upgrade more appealing to those with the money or others who are trying to get another year or two out of their aging Mac Pro's.

The more I think about it and look into the advantages of a 5870 over a 4870/5770, the more inclined I am to stick with my current GPU. The 5870 seems to offer great gains for gaming (which I'm not that bothered about tbh) but it's questionable how much real advantage there is to be had in other areas like 3d Apps and so on.

Truth is the 4870 seems to be doing OK for me at the moment and £370 for a new GPU could be put to one side as funds towards a complete machine upgrade a couple of years down the line. In that sense, Apple's strategy would have backfired as had the 5870 been available immediately, I'd have pulled the trigger.

 

[vogelhausdesign]

My two-cents , to those holding out for a 5870. I've now officially had all 3 cards from Mac, 4780-5770-5870 , I do 3d/graphic design and I'm also an avid gamer. I currently own a 12 core system and here are my thoughts.

4870 handles 3D better than 5770, it's a solid card although a bit sluggish.

5770 is just awful, better than 4870 on paper but this not a card worthy of a Mac Pro.

5870 it's fast, for gaming. Not worth the extra money for 3D/gaming currently. It's better all around but for those holding out, hold out for something better. The gains on paper were much greater than the gains while using it.

Short: get a stock 5770 or stay with 4870. Hold out for better tech, it's coming soon. Avoid the apple tax on this one.

EDIT: Is their any reason why we don't have a 2gig apple card available to apple users in 2010?

 

[Gomff]

4870 handles 3D better than 5770, it's a solid card although a bit sluggish.

5770 is just awful, better than 4870 on paper but this not a card worthy of a Mac Pro.

5870 it's fast, for gaming. Not worth the extra money for 3D/gaming currently. It's better all around but for those holding out, hold out for something better. The gains on paper were much greater than the gains while using it.

Short: get a stock 5770 or stay with 4870. Hold out for better tech, it's coming soon. Avoid the apple tax on this one.

Thanks for chiming in...Useful to hear another opinion from a 3D pro, and confirming what I've been thinking for a little while now.

I think there are better things to do with £370 right now....The 5870 is a nice card but it's expensive and won't be the new kid on the block for much longer.

I have to say though that it's probably going to be the best thing that Apple offers for quite some time to come yet.....Given their track record on GPU upgrades.

 

[ovrlrd]

My two-cents , to those holding out for a 5870. I've now officially had all 3 cards from Mac, 4780-5770-5870 , I do 3d/graphic design and I'm also an avid gamer. I currently own a 12 core system and here are my thoughts.

4870 handles 3D better than 5770, it's a solid card although a bit sluggish.

5770 is just awful, better than 4870 on paper but this not a card worthy of a Mac Pro.

5870 it's fast, for gaming. Not worth the extra money for 3D/gaming currently. It's better all around but for those holding out, hold out for something better. The gains on paper were much greater than the gains while using it.

Short: get a stock 5770 or stay with 4870. Hold out for better tech, it's coming soon. Avoid the apple tax on this one.

EDIT: Is their any reason why we don't have a 2gig apple card available to apple users in 2010?

Cool but for me the upgrade from a GT120 to a 5870 is huge and I need every extra bit of performance I can get because of 2560x1440 on the 27 inch.

 

[vogelhausdesign]

Cool but for me the upgrade from a GT120 to a 5870 is huge and I need every extra bit of performance I can get because of 2560x1440 on the 27 inch.

Honestly, you'd be better off getting a stock 5770. GT120 to a 5770 is pretty large as well, and you could save the extra $$ for an even better card down the road if you decide the 5770 isn't enough for you.

Aside from 3D/Gaming , the 5770 is very suitable for blu-ray and casual non-fps intensive gaming if thats what you're worried about.

I'm using it on my 30" ACD without any trouble, aside from performance issues related to my work.

 

[ovrlrd]

Honestly, you'd be better off getting a stock 5770. GT120 to a 5770 is pretty large as well, and you could save the extra $$ for an even better card down the road if you decide the 5770 isn't enough for you.

Aside from 3D/Gaming , the 5770 is very suitable for blu-ray and casual non-fps intensive gaming if thats what you're worried about.

I'm using it on my 30" ACD without any trouble, aside from performance issues related to my work.

Unfortunately this is not just for casual gaming. When my Mac Pro isn't being used for work I use it is used for all sorts of games and I like to run them all at the maximum settings possible. So 2560x1440 plus maximum detail settings is not something to joke about and definitely not something I would even think about using a 5770 for. Even as is the 5870 will be getting a real work out with some games, but every bit of FPS I can get helps. I am not worried about the money, I already set aside the money months ago.

 

[Gomff]

Unfortunately this is not just for casual gaming. When my Mac Pro isn't being used for work I use it is used for all sorts of games and I like to run them all at the maximum settings possible. So 2560x1440 plus maximum detail settings is not something to joke about and definitely not something I would even think about using a 5770 for. Even as is the 5870 will be getting a real work out with some games, but every bit of FPS I can get helps. I am not worried about the money, I already set aside the money months ago.

For hardcore gaming the 5870 is the best Mac Pro option IMHO. But if I was a hardcore gamer, I'd have a PC rig specifically for that purpose and not be constrained by the GPU scraps Apple throws from the table.

 

[ovrlrd]

For hardcore gaming the 5870 is the best Mac Pro option IMHO. But if I was a hardcore gamer, I'd have a PC rig specifically for that purpose and not be constrained by the GPU scraps Apple throws from the table.

I used to do that and have a separate PC, but it just ended up taking up too much space that I didn't have and also didn't help when I wanted to play games in OS X (which I find myself doing more and more every year as it gets better).

If all I did was gaming on my computer then it would make a lot more sense, but I use it for work primarily, and gaming as secondary. It has worked out great so far except for the video card, which will be solved when the 5870 is finally available.

 

[Gomff]

I used to do that and have a separate PC, but it just ended up taking up too much space that I didn't have and also didn't help when I wanted to play games in OS X (which I find myself doing more and more every year as it gets better).

If all I did was gaming on my computer then it would make a lot more sense, but I use it for work primarily, and gaming as secondary. It has worked out great so far except for the video card, which will be solved when the 5870 is finally available.

Fair enough, I hope it works out for you....I'm sure it will. My flashed 4870 copes with the odd bit of gaming I do on my machine so the 5870 should rock.

 

[vogelhausdesign]

Do as you please, wasn't trying to stop you. Just saying, for all the effort it't taking to just get a 5870 to your door step, you might as well wait a month or two and buy a card with twice the specs.

Also, what gaming do you do that you like full graphical settings? Being a hardcore FPS player, even though my machine is the best you can buy from apple I run very minimal settings to maximize package/fps usage.. the "sweet spot" if you will, for the game engine.

PS: I have both cards, and I'm having hardware problems with both of them.. I think apple jumped the gun on this 5### Line up.. I'll be waiting for better before I get back into caring about Apple GPU's

 

[ovrlrd]

Also, what gaming do you do that you like full graphical settings? Being a hardcore FPS player, even though my machine is the best you can buy from apple I run very minimal settings to maximize package/fps usage.. the "sweet spot" if you will, for the game engine.

I only choose the maximum settings that the game can allow while still running at fully locked 60fps with vsync enabled. With a 5870, that should be possible with no problems in some games. With certain games that might be pretty hard though, especially in 2560x1440, so I will probably have to drop the settings down a little bit. I still want every bit of power I can have, no reason to settle for less just to get a card sooner, and money isn't the issue for me at all.

Oh and I already stated I don't mind waiting as long as it takes. The Radeon 6xxx cards seem nice but flashing them is out of the question for me. It sucks because I am left at the mercy of Apple's choosing, but I like to run on fully supported hardware and so even if I am running an older card I don't care. If Apple releases a better card next year I will just sell the 5870 and buy that one. It's not really that big of a deal to me.

 

[w00tini]

I only choose the maximum settings that the game can allow while still running at fully locked 60fps with vsync enabled. With a 5870, that should be possible with no problems in some games. With certain games that might be pretty hard though, especially in 2560x1440, so I will probably have to drop the settings down a little bit. I still want every bit of power I can have, no reason to settle for less just to get a card sooner, and money isn't the issue for me at all.

i've been able to run every game i have at 2560x1440 with all of the advanced video settings set to max. the only time i had to dumb down was going from 8x/16x in Bad Company 2 to 4x/8x. Solid 60+ fps the entire time once i tweaked that bit.

the Mac Pro is a beast of a PC gaming machine.