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Apple's ATI Radeon HD 5870 Works in 2008 Mac Pro
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You can also use dual PCI-E Y-splitters on 2x 4870 on the 2008 MP. So far no power drain problems on GPUs doing 4 screens.
Not sure if anyone tested it on two 5870's. They idle 25w lower but also peak higher which might be bad for intense usage
I put alot of thought into this when I did my 4870x2 setup. The PSU can handle it..Im trying to find the specs again as to how many Amps per rail it was. From that I determined efficiency and load on each rail, it did come close so the 5870 may have an adverse effect under load. I went the safe route of a secondary PSU which has proven to work well.
Who buys a Macpro to play video games
Someone with more money than brains. For games only, get a Windoz machine.
They are attracted to bashing anything Apple. They know it will stir up some fans.
Although I am not using two monitors, technically, my 8800 has one monitor and one 52-inch TV connected.
If this 5870 were to have the same capability (2 displays), it might make sense to spend $450 for double the size ... IF it actually performed that much better.
And you also noted the price of the 12-core machine?
You have been reading the posts here. It's simple to understand that Apple cannot state that the 5870 will work with the 2008 machines when it is advertised as a card for the new models.
Out of curiosity, did the 8800 simple stop functioning, or did a power surge get through to it?
My 2008 MP also has an 8800 card, but whenever a lightning storm approaches, I disconnect everything. The system costs too much to have to replace it. One close / in the yard lightning strike can fry absolutely every computer chip / microchip in every device in a house.
Just buy them from NCIX or something like that, you dont have to buy from Apple. Do you?
8800
I am really hoping that the 5870 issue with dual monitors gets worked out. I really want to replace my 8800.
I have already burned through two 8800s, probably doing nothing more than what other Mac Pro owners do with theirs. I've been on the prowl for a newer different card, because I will not be surprised if the newish 8800 card I have in my Mac Pro currently fries in the not too distant future, although that would be okay with me.
I am really hoping that the 5870 issue with dual monitors gets worked out. I really want to replace my 8800.
I have already burned through two 8800s, probably doing nothing more than what other Mac Pro owners do with theirs. I've been on the prowl for a newer different card, because I will not be surprised if the newish 8800 card I have in my Mac Pro currently fries in the not too distant future, although that would be okay with me.
What logic would that be? What prevents Apple from saying that it would work with the 2008 machines? Are you referring to greed from Apple's side? That they simply want you to buy new?
It's about respect for their customers. If it does work on the 2008 machine, then it should be clearly stated. It if doesn't work on older machines, the reason should also be clearly stated.
Mini DisplayPort -- Good News; 2006 MP -- Mixed
Two new developments overnight.
1. I tried a different display (23" LCD) on the 2008 and 2009 Mac Pro. The Mini DisplayPort *DOES* work on the both. Furthermore, I have reports from readers that the Mini DisplayPort works fine on their 2006 Mac Pro with the 4870. Therefore, I rescind my caveat that the Mini DisplayPort isn't compatible with the older Mac Pros.
2. I have access to a 2006 Mac Pro in a day or so. I'll be trying the 5870 on it. OWC has the 5770 working on their 2006 but the 5870 was a "no." Yet I have another source that says it is working reliably on their 2006. Seems like I remember there being a Boot ROM or SMC difference in the earliest Mac Pros that affected the ability to use the 4870 --- but that should also apply to the 5770. Also in 2007 the 8-core "2006" was released with a different Boot ROM or SMC version. Still digging.
Two new developments overnight.
1. I tried a different display (23" LCD) on the 2008 and 2009 Mac Pro. The Mini DisplayPort *DOES* work on the both. Furthermore, I have reports from readers that the Mini DisplayPort works fine on their 2006 Mac Pro with the 4870. Therefore, I rescind my caveat that the Mini DisplayPort isn't compatible with the older Mac Pros.
2. I have access to a 2006 Mac Pro in a day or so. I'll be trying the 5870 on it. OWC has the 5770 working on their 2006 but the 5870 was a "no." Yet I have another source that says it is working reliably on their 2006. Seems like I remember there being a Boot ROM or SMC difference in the earliest Mac Pros that affected the ability to use the 4870 --- but that should also apply to the 5770. Also in 2007 the 8-core "2006" was released with a different Boot ROM or SMC version. Still digging.
Who buys a Macpro to play video games
It's the other way around:
If you have a sweet Mac Pro for some reason, why not stick in a good gaming card and have fun too?
Me getting this baby for my 2008 2.8
What surprises me is the performance of the 3.2 being faster in Portal than the Westmere 3.33..???
Radeon 5870: One Card, Three Macs
Here goes, gang. Seven games at 2560x1600 and 1920x1200 in the 2008, 2009, and 2010 Mac Pro -- all three with the Radeon HD 5870:
http://barefeats.com/wst10g2.html
Here goes, gang. Seven games at 2560x1600 and 1920x1200 in the 2008, 2009, and 2010 Mac Pro -- all three with the Radeon HD 5870:
http://barefeats.com/wst10g2.html
Just wanted to thank you for your tests. I'm relieved to read that the 5870 works 100% with older Mac Pro's, so I'm psyched and can't wait to get the 5770 for my 2008 Pro. Thanks again!
Thanks for all your testing - so are you saying that having one screen using the DVI connection, and a 2nd using a MDP->DVI adaptor will in fact work fine in a 2008 machine?
Thanks. Interesting to see there the '10 Mac Pro is the fastest in 10 of the 14 tests. Panic averted..
Looking at the test-results, it seems that it gets better results when the game is GPU-limited. Like in WoW, where 2008 MP get 114FPS, while 2010 MP get 110. The difference is not that big, because the component that is the bottleneck (GPU) is same on both systems.
Then we have games like Doom3, where 2008 MP gets 123FPS, while 2010MP gets 186FPS. That's a sizable difference, and the reason is that the component that is the bottleneck (CPU) is different in the two.
EDIT: X-plane is another good example: 109FPS on the 2008MP, 194FPS on the 2010 MP. And flight-simulators are traditionally bottlenecked by the CPU.
Yes. I'll have a 24" LED Cinema in the lab tomorrow so I'll try it as the third alternative (direct MDP vs adapter).
Educational Discounts!
Just out of curiosity I checked these cards out under the Educational Apple store, and they were discounted! $404.00 for the 5870! http://store.apple.com/us_edu_192894/product/MC743ZM/A?mco=MTY3ODQ5OTY
Just out of curiosity I checked these cards out under the Educational Apple store, and they were discounted! $404.00 for the 5870! http://store.apple.com/us_edu_192894/product/MC743ZM/A?mco=MTY3ODQ5OTY
hmmm
I think it's sad that these cards cost $100 more than the "PC" versions. I also think its funny that people are amazed that a computer with a better graphic card gives you better frame rates. It's not ALL about the CPU.......duh. I like apple and all, but they are pretty goofy when it comes to their mac pro line, i just don't get it.
I think it's sad that these cards cost $100 more than the "PC" versions. I also think its funny that people are amazed that a computer with a better graphic card gives you better frame rates. It's not ALL about the CPU.......duh. I like apple and all, but they are pretty goofy when it comes to their mac pro line, i just don't get it.
I'm really curious as to why a 2008 8c 3.2Ghz MP gets better frame rates than a 2010 6c 3.3GHz MP?
The only difference I see is 8c>6c and perhaps dual CPU vs single CPU but I wouldn't think that core or cpu # would matter for these games.
I'm sure there is some sort of technical explanation as to why a slower clocked 2008 CPU outperforms a slightly faster clocked 2010 (Westmere) CPU? Can someone with more technical knowledge explain this?
The only difference I see is 8c>6c and perhaps dual CPU vs single CPU but I wouldn't think that core or cpu # would matter for these games.
I'm sure there is some sort of technical explanation as to why a slower clocked 2008 CPU outperforms a slightly faster clocked 2010 (Westmere) CPU?
Can someone with more technical knowledge explain this?So this is very exciting barefeats, thank you for doing the testing. I didn't notice a comment about this so I will ask. You say that the minidisplay ports do work with the 2008 mac pro, but do they all work ok if you connect 3 displays at once? Two minidisplayports and one dvi?
I ran two 23" Cinemas on the 2008. I'll try a third one tomorrow when I get a 24" LED Cinema in the lab. I want to see if a display without the MDP to DVI adapter works just as well.
Of course it's natural that better graphics-card drives up FPS. What people were wondering is the reason why two year old machine gets better results than state of the art machine does with identicaL GPU.