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Radeon 5970 Just Released...
- Thread starter Wild-Bill
- Start date
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I'd spend 600 bucks for it but as you say, we'll never see it.
The 4870 X2 and 4890 were never available for Macs either.
The GTX 285 is EVGA, not Apple.
Kinda hard to replace what is not yours.
I don't see why Apple wouldn't use this card in the next Mac Pro. It already has two DVI ports and one MDP so they wouldn't have to pay ATI extra money to develop them a special version of the card like they did for the 4870. Plus imagine if Apple did include it in the Mac Pro they'd hype its graphic abilities even more since 
loves bragging. I may just be hopeful or dreaming in color but I really think Apple might choose either this card or the 5870. Just my 0.02$ 
loves bragging. I may just be hopeful or dreaming in color but I really think Apple might choose either this card or the 5870. Just my 0.02$ 
I don't see why Apple wouldn't use this card in the next Mac Pro. It already has two DVI ports and one MDP so they wouldn't have to pay ATI extra money to develop them a special version of the card like they did for the 4870. Plus imagine if Apple did include it in the Mac Pro they'd hype its graphic abilities even more since
Don't these cards utilize crossfire/SLI drivers to make the package work as one card? If so then I very much doubt we will see anything but single GPU cards for some time.
It's not quite 2x 5870... it's actually got the same silicon as the 5870's but the clocks of the 5850's... effectively they binned 5870's to find ones that run at lower voltages/clocks, all in the interest of keeping the card's power consumption within the 300W TDP ATX spec. A key issue that would prevent them from offering one for the Mac is the fact that it requires a 6pin and an 8pin PCIe power connector, which no Mac Pro is currently equipped to accommodate.
Obviously -- but Apple *does* commission custom cards. And it has to "endorse" even stock cards (with custom EFI) by putting them in the Apple Store, allowing them to be BTO options and covering them under Apple Care. Hence the crazy price tag.
The only exception seems to be the Radeon 3870... I'd like to see more direct manufacturer options like that. Perhaps they fear Apple's wrath (or maybe it isn't profitable).
Would you spend ~$200 for a 4890?
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I would not. Your Link Speed is only 2.5 GT/s.
I much rather spend big bucks on a newer card anyway.
You did good though, that's an excellent price for card with 1GB of vram.
It could be that I am just plain lazier than you are, I'm not going to flash or inject or whatever.
That's a side effect of being flashed, and even a 5870 won't saturate 2.5 GT/s. Also, it literally took me less than two minutes to make the card work perfectly with OS X.
Is It Possible to get a 5970 Powered in the MP?
I have the stock 4870 and a 4890 in my MP. Though I thought I recalled from a thread here that discussed the 4890 said somewhere that it was possible to power a 4870 X2 in the MP. My 4890 is being powered by one of the SATA ports in my MP. Couldn't the same be done to accommodate a 5970? Just curious because I really want of these even if it means bending the rules a little.
I have the stock 4870 and a 4890 in my MP. Though I thought I recalled from a thread here that discussed the 4890 said somewhere that it was possible to power a 4870 X2 in the MP. My 4890 is being powered by one of the SATA ports in my MP. Couldn't the same be done to accommodate a 5970? Just curious because I really want of these even if it means bending the rules a little.
Looks like the 5970 might be designed with the Mac Pro in mind.
This does have a mini displayport in between the two dvi ports.
![ATrHD5970_3-4_lg.png]()
The 5870 with regular displayport and hdmi
![ATrHD5870_3_4_242.jpg]()
"To enable a third display you require one panel with a DisplayPort connector or an active DisplayPort adapter"
Drivers for windows 7 will be available in 2010.
Either that or ATI is adopting the new VESA certified minidisplay port.
This does have a mini displayport in between the two dvi ports.
The 5870 with regular displayport and hdmi
"To enable a third display you require one panel with a DisplayPort connector or an active DisplayPort adapter"
Drivers for windows 7 will be available in 2010.
Either that or ATI is adopting the new VESA certified minidisplay port.
That's true however, if Apple does choose to offer it in their next upgrade or even as an upgrade to older Mac Pros many people would run to buy one, including me.
The 4870 is ok but only a company like Apple can get away with selling it at 450$. It's about time they begin offering us not OK but great graphics cards like the ATI 5970 or GTX 380,
which is expected in Q1 of 2010. I think it would be highly profitable for
to offer this card as it packs a whole bunch of power and remains under their 300W limit for PCI-express slots along with the fact that theywouldn't have to pay ATI extra money to incorporate MDP as they wouldhave to with NVIDIA.
I know that if Apple would offer it I'd run to buy one as I am sure many others would.
As I mentioned earlier, this card requires a 8pin and 6pin PCIe power connector... not currently available on the Mac Pro. Forget about it.
This card will not physically fit in a Mac Pro. At least, not in the 2008 model. The card is 13.5" long. The Mac Pro can accomodate a 12" card, max.