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Apple's ATI Radeon HD 5870 Works in 2008 Mac Pro

There is not a need for me to get it (but a want :)).

I want to be able to drive 3 displays, without having to use a second video card, and also to use in Windows as well (for some sim-racing games).
 
Pegasusrjf said:
There is not a need for me to get it (but a want :)).

I want to be able to drive 3 displays, without having to use a second video card, and also to use in Windows as well (for some sim-racing games).
Click to expand...

Here here! I want this thing bad, for the same reasons basically. Hopefully they'll open up the ordering soon.
 
I just wanted to give a little update. I have a 2008 Mac Pro and I ended up getting the 5770 as I probably did not need the 5870 and saved $200. I have 3 displays (1 30" cinema and 2 24" Dell's) and I bought two Apple MDP to Dual-Link DVI adapters on ebay for $45 each. 2 displays was no problem but as soon as I hooked up the third display my computer had the fritz. I shut down, connected the three displays and turned on the computer and it seemed fine, except one display was having odd stuttering issues. I opened up system preferences, changed the resolution and changed it back and it was fine. Now it is working fine. The only issue is that it sometimes comes back when all displays go to sleep. Maybe this is an issue that will be resolved with an update at some point so I am overall happy with my decision.
 
Available for Shipping NOW!!!

Get em while they're hot guys! Just ordered mine, delivery next week!!!!!!! Early 2008 Mac Pro baby, I love it!!!!!!!!!!
 
alent1234 said:
A PCI express card works in a computer with a PCI express slot. stop the presses, this is amazing
Click to expand...

Actually, no.

Wild-Bill said:
Same thing happened with the nVidia 8800GT and the 2006 Mac Pro. Apple was hounded by angry 2006 MP owners and they eventually came up with a solution. I think it was EFI related but not sure.
Click to expand...

No. The 8800GT required a Pci-e 1.1 slot, the 2006 only had Pci-e 1.0. This was a known issue/fault that affected all 8800GT's.

The eventual solution was for Nvidia to produce a 8800GT with a Pci-e 1.0 connector, which apple then sold for those with a 06 MP.

Not surprised the 5870 works though, as far as I'm aware there's no technical reason it shouldn't. :)
 
Rodimus Prime said:
fanboys? I mean you should always be bying the newest apple product the day it comes out. The older product belongs in the trash. Apple should not provide any support to older products.

*Mind of a fanboy*
Click to expand...

Wouldn't it be the opposite though?

That Apple should support products right back to 1984.....unlike other manufacturers

regardless of that little tangent...

Part of the reason for buying a MacPro is its upgradeability, swap out cards, drives, memory as newer and better stuff comes along

Apple should be offering software and hardware upgrades, a clear path for these older users, for....whatever is a reasonable time frame....5 years?


The cost of buying a new MP for most people is a considerable outlay, so you want to get as many years from it as possible
 
So glad this is out finally. Just receiving my new Refurb Pro on this coming Tuesday, but it will have the 5770. Haven't seen any refurbs with the 5870.

Now to try my luck selling an unused 5770.
 
Joe The Dragon said:
The bigger question is why it costs $450 when you can get 5870 cards for $330
Click to expand...

The EFI code is blessed for Apple by Bizantine monks, and the die used to produce that glorious red hue is mixed with ox blood to produce this "special" product. Four-fitty??? Sign me up!!!!!!

Sincerely,
Suckah
 
who ever buys this is stupid, the 5xxx is already out of date, the 68xx series is already on the shelves for like $200 bux

also isnt the macpro a "server" class workstation as many of you put it? WTF is the firePro cards?
 
pr5owner said:
who ever buys this is stupid, the 5xxx is already out of date, the 68xx series is already on the shelves for like $200 bux

also isnt the macpro a "server" class workstation as many of you put it? WTF is the firePro cards?
Click to expand...

hey, genius, some of us want a better graphics performance than we currently have on our high end workstation Mac Pro's, and no, we don't expect this card to be the "best" (whatever that is), but it certainly will be better for many of us than what we had previously in the way of graphics performance. So, yeah, for what my time is worth, this card is actually reasonably priced, and I don't bat an eye purchasing it. But keep playing, cause the world needs more of you geniuses. Thanks for gracing us with your presence.
 
The paradox is that Apple market the Mac Pro as a workstation with the ultimate expandability. Then drag their feet, and then finally come out with an out of date, overpriced graphics card, and act like they've done you a favour.

The point of having an expandable/upgradeable system, is that you can do this whenever you feel you need it. Also having industry standard slots means you should be able to fit any standard card in it and benefit from the economies of scale.

Apple are basically telling you when and with what you can expand your system. How is that flexibility?

I know this is standard Apple practice, but not one that will go on for long, as I'm very sure the Mac Pro's days are numbered.
 
ManWithAPlan said:
hey, genius, some of us want a better graphics performance than we currently have on our high end workstation Mac Pro's, and no, we don't expect this card to be the "best" (whatever that is), but it certainly will be better for many of us than what we had previously in the way of graphics performance. So, yeah, for what my time is worth, this card is actually reasonably priced, and I don't bat an eye purchasing it. But keep playing, cause the world needs more of you geniuses. Thanks for gracing us with your presence.
Click to expand...

im sorry what?

ATi 5870 "Mac Edition!" - $450
ATi 6870 - $300

you are defending apple in ripping you off? well go right on ahead sir! a fool and his money are soon parted.

for the money you already spent on the macpro, i expect something like an ATi Firepro V8700, not a freaking gaming card.
 
OS X Dude said:
Screw it working on a 2006 MP, I want this on my 2006 MacBook :p ha, even with an external adaptor it would rock my world.

*wakes up in real world* :(
Click to expand...

the 5870 is already in alot of laptops, infact some of them are already decommissioned


obviously a 5870m is not a 5870 but close enough.
 
pr5owner said:
im sorry what?

ATi 5870 "Mac Edition!" - $450
ATi 6870 - $300

you are defending apple in ripping you off? well go right on ahead sir! a fool and his money are soon parted.

for the money you already spent on the macpro, i expect something like an ATi Firepro V8700, not a freaking gaming card.
Click to expand...

True, but the 6870 is NOT the replacement for the 5870, the 6970 is... the 6870=5770
We do have the option of getting true workstation cards...
the quadro 4000 (if it ever shows up again) or the quadro 4800

btw a 5870 on newegg will run between ~370-500 dollars depending on manufacturer and vram. So apple is actually not to far off base with their pricing on this card, the 5770 well that is another story...
 
pr5owner said:
im sorry what?

ATi 5870 "Mac Edition!" - $450
ATi 6870 - $300

you are defending apple in ripping you off? well go right on ahead sir! a fool and his money are soon parted.

for the money you already spent on the macpro, i expect something like an ATi Firepro V8700, not a freaking gaming card.
Click to expand...

USB 3.0? What a joke, total crap technology "leap" there...why not fiber channel? Your cobbled together crap machine is making me laugh...call it being a fanboy, whatever, call it what you want, but I prefer a machine that is near to the fastest out there and consistent as hell...ever heard of 5 9's of reliability? That's 99.999% uptime and actually over the last 2 years, I have far surpassed it. My machine is literally money to me, and for that, I will take consistency and excellent performance any day over the latest whiz bang bandaid-ed together wonder-machine. While you're rebooting your machine, finding drivers, updating crap constantly, whining if you have to pay 50 bucks more for something when the time wasted it takes you to save that 50 dollars far outweighs the savings, I'll just be counting the money coming in. If it means i pay 10-15% more for that hardware to make 25% more money, then well, you do the math.
 
Installing it now!!

This thing weighs a ton! For a video card, it is easily 3 times the wait of a single 8800GT. I love it though, an absolute work of art the way they made this thing, crazy solid construction. And I freed up a PCI slot to boot!! Wooohooo!!!
 
Installed and absolutely rocking performance with 3 screens!

Lovin this card, very very fast. Aperture has noticably improved in speed, as has Final Cut. All 3 displays on 1 card, great stuff, freed up a slot for other uses at the same time...Rest in peace GT8800's...you were good soldiers but it's time to move on.
 
Where to find one

Where is everyone getting their 5870?
also are they flashed or official Apple ones?
Let me know.
Sorry to resurrect this thread. hopefully some can comment.
 
ATI Radeon HD 5780 on MP 2008

when i made the upgrade i was infinitely happy... but a month later my MP started to act strange.

at first when i turned it on the screen stated shuttering.
well i just put it to sleep and back on and the problem was gone.

but now it's worse... when i'm playing Eve Online for several hours or so... suddenly my screen goes black. and the funny thing is when i restart it nothing changes it still stays black. i always have to wait about 15min before i put it back on.

I got a Mac Pro dual Quad core 2.8 GHz with 12 GB RAM. i seriously have no idea what is wrong with it. is it the heat, or the less power?

maybe a MP 2008 doesn't support the ATI Radeon 5870 after all.

if anyone has an idea what i could change or do better i'd be glad to hear it.

Best Regards
VBeacher
 
vbeacher said:
when i made the upgrade i was infinitely happy... but a month later my MP started to act strange.

at first when i turned it on the screen stated shuttering.
well i just put it to sleep and back on and the problem was gone.

but now it's worse... when i'm playing Eve Online for several hours or so... suddenly my screen goes black. and the funny thing is when i restart it nothing changes it still stays black. i always have to wait about 15min before i put it back on.

I got a Mac Pro dual Quad core 2.8 GHz with 12 GB RAM. i seriously have no idea what is wrong with it. is it the heat, or the less power?

maybe a MP 2008 doesn't support the ATI Radeon 5870 after all.

if anyone has an idea what i could change or do better i'd be glad to hear it.

Best Regards
VBeacher
Click to expand...
If you swap the original card back in does the problem persist?
 
ovrlrd said:
Here is the full quote from the post in other thread on the Mac Pro forums.




That seems to indicate that it does work with the 2008, but with the same MDP problem.
Click to expand...

I've got an apple Cinema Display plugged into my 5870 on my macro 3.1 and it works great so can't see a reason why this new card won't work.
 
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