Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

5870 : Finally readily available for 2006-2010 users.... Hallelujah!!!

Should Apple speed up the process of making the 5870 readily available for Mac Pros?

  • Yes, it's extremely frustrating that it's taken this long already. Issue needs to be solved ASAP

    Votes: 100 91.7%

  • No, the waiting time for 5870 Upgrade Option for 2006-2009 Mac Pro users seems reasonable

    Votes: 9 8.3%
  • Total voters
    109
ildondeigiocchi said:
That's definitely a flashed PC 5870 that the person is selling. It's not an Apple branded 5870. Seems that they're an endangered species :p
Click to expand...

Forgive my ignorance, but what's the difference besides not being from Apple? Will it have problems with updates?
 
Ricko101 said:
Forgive my ignorance, but what's the difference besides not being from Apple? Will it have problems with updates?
Click to expand...

It's not running the Apple firmware, and it's different hardware slightly. It's possible that it could have problems with updates.
 
Ricko101 said:
Forgive my ignorance, but what's the difference besides not being from Apple? Will it have problems with updates?
Click to expand...

As was said by another user you might run into problems when updating the OS. Also for 2009 users, the card is covered by Apple if ever any problem arises.
 
I'm now hoping they just give us the 6000 series of cards instead.

Ricko101 said:
Forgive my ignorance, but what's the difference besides not being from Apple? Will it have problems with updates?
Click to expand...

Also the card will have no warranty.
 
I'm frustrated as well. Still using the 8800GT on my '08, with no options to connect the new line of Displays with Display Port. Mine is DVI only...and the frustrations evident with the DVI-->DP issues keeps me waiting out the new card. No interest in the 5770 though.

Absolutely..>I'll sign the new petition! This remains my ONE frustration with Apple...their ridiculous choice of Graphic options...and even with their limited choices...it's very hard to find them in the wild! Lame!!!!

I'm really looking forward to the new 27" panels...i'm going to order two of them (I'm using 23" ACDs right now)...but I can't do it until I have a way to connect them, reliably:)

J
 
Apple consistently "screws the pooch" with their offerings of available graphics cards. They're normally over a year behind current offerings then charge a substantial amount higher than the cards are going for on the PC side. How can they justify the price increase? Surely neither the EFI or MDP make it worth the bonus money they tie to the card. I suppose if you have a Mac you can just eat their "happy meal" or you have the option of going without.
 
Cynicalone said:
Mac Parts Online seems to have some in stock.

http://www.macpartsonline.com/661-5...0-video-card-1-gb-mac-pro-mid-2010-a1289.html

I've never heard of these guys so I don't know if it would be safe to order from them.
Click to expand...




I noticed that they have "Mac Pro Early 2008" included in the "Compatible Macs" area.
Kind of surprised because normally stores only post "official" data.


Compatible Macs
Mac Pro Mid 2010, Mac Pro Early 2009, Mac Pro Early 2008
Click to expand...
 
Caviar said:
I noticed that they have "Mac Pro Early 2008" included in the "Compatible Macs" area.
Kind of surprised because normally stores only post "official" data.
Click to expand...

I'm desperate to get a new gfx card but not $100 over retail desperate!

Situations like this make me want to be a Windows user again if only to gain access to readily available options.
 
I caved, I hope MacPartsOnline comes through, or my credit card company is getting a call.
 
I want a 5870 badly, but paying a 100$ over retail price is just out of the question. Plus, I've never heard of macpartsonline so I don't know whether or not they are reliable. I just placed my order for a 5870 with a local Apple authorized reseller for 479$ CAD. They told me wait time should be between 1-2 weeks.
 
Got the card from Macpartsonline

Only problem is it doesn't work.

Are 5870s supposed to come with only one power cable? This one did.

I plugged it in, and it turns on, my Mac Pro boots, I can tell the 5870 fans are on, but I get no display. No matter what I try (resetting nvram etc) I get no display.

Does this thing need two cables? Because I am screwed if so, gonna contact the seller to see what is up.

Update: Resolved, see post below for the great response I got from Macpartsonline
 
No it requires two power cables, the 5770 only requires one.


ovrlrd said:
Got the card from Macpartsonline

Only problem is it doesn't work.

Are 5870s supposed to come with only one power cable? This one did.

I plugged it in, and it turns on, my Mac Pro boots, I can tell the 5870 fans are on, but I get no display. No matter what I try (resetting nvram etc) I get no display.

Does this thing need two cables? Because I am screwed if so, gonna contact the seller to see what is up.
Click to expand...
 
1) Yes, it needs 2 power cords. That's why a BTO Pro has an option of one 5870s or two 5770s.

2) That website has links back to this forum regarding compatibility. That's not bad, but circular logic is a redflag in my book.

3) They're selling it for $95 more than Apple, which is $100 more than a PC card.

4) That site lists the 2008 MP as compatible, but Apple does not. That is another redflag.

You could try to find a 2nd cable to see if the card works. Good luck, I do hope it works out for you.
 
ovrlrd said:
Got the card from Macpartsonline

Are 5870s supposed to come with only one power cable? This one did.

Does this thing need two cables? Because I am screwed if so, gonna contact the seller to see what is up.
Click to expand...

Is says two cables right in the specifications near the bottom of the page so they should have included the second one so it would work...

Edit: Too slow to post I guess its a duplicate now.
 
Yeah not looking good. :(

I sent an email so hopefully I will get a good response. Not sure where I can find a spare cable either. It sucks I used to have tons of them from spare PSUs but now I got nothing but a card that won't work.
 
Just got a call from Macpartsonline.

The guy was really nice and understood my issue. He said that Apple only shipped them with one cable and that they do indeed require two power cables in order to work.

He is shipping me a spare cable next day air (saturday delivery) so I should have the cable tomorrow no problem.

It seems like Apple screwed up and did not supply the correct number of cables, not at all the fault of Macpartsonline.

Great response and service from Macpartsonline! The card came very quickly and my issue was resolved within 24 hours. I am satisified now and look forward to playing with my new card tomorrow. :)
 
I'll be interested to see if you get it working.

How did the card arrive? Apple typically ships graphics cards in rather plain packaging. Simple white boxes for the GT120 for example.

Does the card appear to be a legitimate Apple card?
 
Cynicalone said:
I'll be interested to see if you get it working.

How did the card arrive? Apple typically ships graphics cards in rather plain packaging. Simple white boxes for the GT120 for example.

Does the card appear to be a legitimate Apple card?
Click to expand...

It shipped in a plain cardboard box, but it has a seal on it that says "Do not break seal unless using parts" and there is a label that says the correct part number. The label is in a common font Apple uses for shipping labels and such.

Inside the box was two booklets, one was an Apple document explaining the return window for defective parts, and the other was an Apple printed install manual for a Radeon 4870. It definitely is a genuine Apple part, but clearly not designed for end users like the 5770s people got from the Apple store.

The fact that the instructions say 4870 is likely because they haven't printed the 5870 one yet. The card itself looks identical to the ones I have seen in photos of people's 2010 Mac Pros. The label on the bottom of the card indicates that it is indeed a Radeon 5870 1GB. It also came in a sealed anti-static bag like brand new cards do.

I am 100% certain it is legit, and Apple just screwed up the power cables. If Apple were to ship this same box from their store they would have a lot of issues with people being confused by the lack of a second cable and the instructions saying 4870.

I am sure the second cable was a minor issue and Apple is not likely to make that mistake again, at the very least Maconlineparts is now aware of it. The instruction booklet will get printed correctly before it ships from Apple to customers.
 
It sounds like things are moving in the right direction.
I'm very curious to hear the final result.

If everything is legit and Apple's suppliers made the mistake of packing the wrong manual and # power cords, then that would explain the delay.

The wrong manual is minor, but the 2nd power cord is a show stopper.
 
Thanks for the info.

It does indeed sound like a proper Apple parts.

If Apple doesn't add them soon I'll have to order one. Should be an easy swap from the 4870, since the cables will already be in place.
 
What do you guys think about these...

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Apple-Mac-Pr...item3f040ef6d1
Ricko101 is offline Report Post Reply With Quote
Click to expand...

Don't buy from AppleCrapcanix. These guys (among others) capitalize on the thankless work grassroots guys do to get PC cards working on Macs and profit from it. What you're essentially getting is a card with a voided warranty (because it's flashed) at an over $100 price premium (or call it $80 if you count the included booster cables).

ROM dumps for the 5870 have been available for some time now and the flash is not too hard to do. If I was considering the hacked card route, I'd do it myself, personally. Several eBay sellers carry Mac-specific PCIe booster cables for around $10 each as well.
 
Just wanted to update and say that I got the power cable as promised and the 5870 is hooked up and working perfectly in my Mac Pro right now.

Macpartsonline came through and I have a nice Radeon 5870 now!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back