Additional Power For Video Card in Mac Pro

[mynameismatt89]

Hey,

A friend just recently purchased a NVIDIA Video Card and went to install it in his new Mac Pro but could not find a source to hook up additional power to the card. He called Apple and they weren't able to tell him how to connect to the Mac power supply.

Does the motherboard provide the necessary power so that he doesn't need to hook up the extra power cable to the card or does he need a booster cable etc?

cheers

 

[Can]

What kind og MacPro does he have. I have limited experience with MacPro´s but at least the newest MacPro have support for up to two additional power sources for the gfx card.

 

[mynameismatt89]

He has the newest Mac Pro (2008). It appears that power supply is sealed off. How can he connect to it? Any further suggestions?

 

[brand]

Define

NVIDIA Video Card

because it is pretty generic.

 

[acearchie]

Well if the card is not supported by apple (and I assume its not since apple could give you no help) then apple may have been crafty and limited its expandability!

Try ringing again and ask for one of the Mac Pro techies, some of the basic answers only have a limited knowledge!

 

[Pressure]

You need a cable that runs from the motherboard to the graphic card.

It can be had at welovemacs.com if I recall correctly.

 

[thagomizer]

There are two connectors on the motherboard, to the left, and slightly above, the slot for the video card.

On the prev-generation Mac Pro, you needed a custom cable for this (or the one that came with Apple-branded video cards). This is how to make one:

http://www.tenthousandpercent.com/?article=96&section=other

On the newest Mac Pro models, I'm not sure if they are still using this nonstandard connector...

 

[forumbob]

second graphics card power

I'm having a similar problem - I have a mac pro and want to install a second graphics card. (nvidia) I need another 2 (i think they are pci 6 pin) power plugs. The mac pro doesn't seem to have any extras (i've used the 2 obvious ones for the first card)- unless they are hiding under something.
The optical drive has a sata combo power/signal plug and there doesn't seem to be an adapter to hijack this power. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated



thanks

bob

 

[ucpete]

I had the same problem...

After looking around a lot, I found the cord in a number of places.

MacProOnline seems to be the cheapest non-eBay source

I ended up using the "Make Offer" button on eBay and one seller agreed to send me two of them, with shipping included, for $25.00.