Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
by the way I cant seem to get it to work in crossfire via vista ultimate 64 also my screen is not in the highest resolution its in like 1600 by something can someone help!!! Also catayst wont install
 
Should anyone be concerned with driver updates as Apple releases further point upgrades to Leopard? The box of the 3870 says 10.5.2 or higher. So should I be fine with 10.5.4?
 
This card does look exactly like the sapphire card that you can buy from New Egg for $146 before a $20 rebate... With rebate that's nearly $100 less than Mac editition, which is nothing more than a ROM burn, I would bet.

I really hope that someone correctly downloads the ROM soon, and provides drivers. I had 2 of the Mac boards on order from OWC but canceled my order after it was postponed another week. I figured that the ROM would be up on the net before my order was fulfilled, and I would have felt like an ass paying almost $200 more than I had to.

By the way, here's the image from New Egg compared with the picture Edd.Dantes provided (New Egg product link:SAPPHIRE 100225L Radeon HD 3870 512MB):
14-102-719-08.jpg

dsc0478svz9.jpg
 
I've got one of the Sapphire 3870 boards and it is nearly identical. Mine looks slightly different to that one though - some of the capacitors are different or have been moved around a teeny bit on the top board.

Looking into the BIOS file (Windows part only) indicates that the board manufacturer is in fact Sapphire.

I would say though that you still would need to purchase a Mac Pro compatible power cable, which I believe cost $30 + the warranty you'd lose. Personally, I'd want my primary card to be an official one, which is why I'm keeping my order down even though I have a PC one. I want to flash my PC one to hold me over until the Mac one arrives and also to use as my second card for crossfire in Windows (even if it doesn't work in OS X ever, I would only ever need its use in Windows for crossfire).

You could always try and do the same as me and get one of each - you'd have everything you'd need to do the flashing etc yourself! You can get an official card a lot quicker than I can!
 
Just got an update from OWC:

"The current eta that ATI has given us is 10 days. However please note they have pushed back the eta a couple of time now on us already, so it is possible they may push it again."
 
Just got an update from OWC:

"The current eta that ATI has given us is 10 days. However please note they have pushed back the eta a couple of time now on us already, so it is possible they may push it again."

I just canceled my 3870 order with OWC.
The sales rep said, "Oh yes, the much delayed Radeon card."
I told him, "Yes, I'll give someone else a chance."

I am glad it was delayed so I could cancel and save myself some bucks.
My 8800GT will run X-Plane faster than the 3870 and my 8800GT is fast enough for running pro apps.
If the 4870 becomes available, I'll buy that.
If the GTX 280 becomes available, I'll buy that.
It all depends on what the Nehalem Mac Pro brings to the table.
 
I just canceled my 3870 order with OWC.
The sales rep said, "Oh yes, the much delayed Radeon card."
I told him, "Yes, I'll give someone else a chance."

I am glad it was delayed so I could cancel and save myself some bucks.
My 8800GT will run X-Plane faster than the 3870 and my 8800GT is fast enough for running pro apps.
If the 4870 becomes available, I'll buy that.
If the GTX 280 becomes available, I'll buy that.
It all depends on what the Nehalem Mac Pro brings to the table.
Yea I just canceled too and tried with the ATI Store. Here's hoping they get it out sooner.
 
Just got an update from OWC:

"The current eta that ATI has given us is 10 days. However please note they have pushed back the eta a couple of time now on us already, so it is possible they may push it again."

It wouldn't be so urgent for me if my X1900 wasn't in its death throes. Ever since my X1900 got wind of its replacement, it's been acting very passive agressive with stray pixels and line tears and expose' freeze-ups.
 
Just got an update from OWC:

"The current eta that ATI has given us is 10 days. However please note they have pushed back the eta a couple of time now on us already, so it is possible they may push it again."

I have one on order from OWC for a couple weeks also and I talked to them today. I was told they got a shipment and fulfilled orders until they were out of stock again, and now they are waiting for more stock from ATI. I was told I am now near the top of the list for next batch.

I am tempted to cancel the order, but I don't see a better option out there right now in this price range.
 
I've had mine installed for a week or two at least - they are shipping. Got mine from ATI about 4-5 days after ordering.
 
Sigh, I wish OWC would go ahead and ship this, it's been over two weeks since I ordered.

That kind of statement like that assumes they have something to ship. I see no reason to think that OWC would be holding back if they had something to ship.
 
It wouldn't be so urgent for me if my X1900 wasn't in its death throes. Ever since my X1900 got wind of its replacement, it's been acting very passive agressive with stray pixels and line tears and expose' freeze-ups.

Ugg, I'm in the same situation. I'm going to be on my 4th X1900 replacement call soon if I don't get a new card. I'm so tired of dealing with these flakey cards. I really want something more like a 4870 or a 4850, though. The 4850/4870 reviews I keep seeing cause the 3870 to pale in comparison.
 
Ugg, I'm in the same situation. I'm going to be on my 4th X1900 replacement call soon if I don't get a new card. I'm so tired of dealing with these flakey cards. I really want something more like a 4870 or a 4850, though. The 4850/4870 reviews I keep seeing cause the 3870 to pale in comparison.

The bitter irony of it all is that by the time I do get my 3870, a Mac 4850/4870 will be announced a week later.
 
The bitter irony of it all is that by the time I do get my 3870, a Mac 4850/4870 will be announced a week later.

When you are about to place down the cash to get the 3870, immediately smack yourself and wait one week then reconsider. :D

If you do get the 3870 now, you have roughly 14 days (or even 30 days, depending on the store) to return it for a full refund at most places. Then with the returned $$, you can get the 4870.
 
Mac Pro 1 Gen, 3870

Hi Guys,

could somebody please tell me if this card works in the Mac Pro 1. Gen apart from the x16 Slot?
 
Why did you get rid of the picture you attached?

And why would you WANT to keep the 7300 GT in the first slot if you had the 3870?

1.Traffic Reasons

2. I attached a silent cooler which doesnt fit in the x16 slot because there is no space left.
 
Anyone know anywhere that has this in stock in the UK?

Also, will i get a massive jump from a Nvidia 7300?
 
3870 flash

Can somebody please post the Hardware Overview of a Mac Pro 1. Gen running the 3870

hm2.gif


I exchanged the standard PC Romchip with a 128kb one, flashed it with the 128kb Mac 3870 Rom but i dont get any signal.

This it what it shows in OSX (picture taken with 7300GT)

hm.gif


So i guess either my Mac Pro is missing an Firmware Update or the Rom is crap?
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.