Gaming Video Card for new Mac Pro

[Pressure]

Sorry guys. I was really considering switching sides from PC to MAC. I love the MAC OS!!!!!!

I had thought the new Pro would also have the capability of accepting the high end graphics cards. Evidently not. So,,,,, maybe I'll reconsider in a year or two. We'll see what's in the cards then.

I'll still visit the forum to see what develops and I wish all of you out there the very best enjoyment with your new Pro's!!!!!!

Buying Mac Pro just for gaming is...silly. Besides the Geforce 8800GT outperforms the old Geforce 8800GTS 640MB all the way up to 2560 x 1600.

At 1920 x 1200 with 4 x Full Screen Anti-Aliasing and 8 x Anisotropic Filtering the Geforce 8800GT are within a few frames of the Geforce 8800GTX.

 

[AnotherPCGamer]

I actually had sli going for a bit but it was more trouble that it was worth and dumped it for a single card. Again all of this is looking to the future for gaming and most current games would be fine.

I currently need a powerful MAC for Aperature and video editing since the mini isn't cutting it. I also know that Apple won't keep up with my needs for a video gaming card. Multi-cores will probably start being utilized by gaming companies so that is a plus. EFI and bios are allowed in vista, or so i think, and the future for that is a plus since companies might start making EFI cards for Vista.

I just want to drop updated video cards into the MAC as time goes on so my MP isn't outdated, for gaming, in 6 months. I understand that the MAC would not recognize this new hardware but was hoping I could get it to work when I boot into bootcamp.

Most likely I will buy the MP for evertyhing besides gaming and keep my PC to game and buy a KVM switcher for my screen if I cannot get the MP to accept new video cards. I was just hoping someone with experience, successful or failure, in what I want to do would have some insight.

 

[-Noodles]

I want to switch my last Windows box(my gaming rig) to a Mac Pro, however running visualhub and aperature on my mac mini is killing me so i'd like to buy a new mac pro with the 8800gt card, move aperature and visualhub over to the new MP, and add another faster video card in another pcie slot for a bootcamp windowsxp/vista gaming partition.

Can I put a second video card into the Mac for the Windows bootcamp partition?
I'd end up having the stock 8800gt card in one slot and put my 8800gtx in another slot and upgrading it when the next big card hits the streets.

is this Possible? Issues?

looks like this guy did:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/250851/

 

[Topper]

I had thought the new Pro would also have the capability of accepting the high end graphics cards. Evidently not. So,,,,, maybe I'll reconsider in a year or two. We'll see what's in the cards then.

nVidia is launching the 9800 GTX in March or April.
It will smoke the 8800 GTX or 8800 Ultra.

Now for the bad news...Apple will never consider that card for the Mac Pro.
The main reason being that it will be too expensive.

The Nehalem Mac Pro will have a very powerful video card.
But it's video card will never be as powerful as those that are available for PCs.

 

[chewietobbacca]

If you want to game, there is no substitute for the PC right now. Period. I know, it sucks, you want to use the Mac OS, etc. But if you want the widest selection of games + the best performance for those games, you will have to get a PC. There's just far more games, support for games, video cards and hardware out there for the PC.

But honestly, if you want to build a PC gaming rig that will last a while and will be cheap, you can get it for a half the cost of the Mac Pro and get another Mac for the OS if you want. Get a switch or a multiple-input monitor (such as the Dell 24's or the new 3008WFP) to hook up multiple computers if you want as well.

Sample build if you're interested: Intel P35 motherboard, Intel Quad Core processor, 4 GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, 8800GT (or ATI 3870), quality power supply (500W or less is fine if its quality), case, etc. Total cost will be less than $1300 and you will be able to play every game but Crysis maxed out up to 1920 x 1200 pretty easily.

 

[aaronw1986]

If you want to game, there is no substitute for the PC right now. Period. I know, it sucks, you want to use the Mac OS, etc. But if you want the widest selection of games + the best performance for those games, you will have to get a PC. There's just far more games, support for games, video cards and hardware out there for the PC.

But honestly, if you want to build a PC gaming rig that will last a while and will be cheap, you can get it for a half the cost of the Mac Pro and get another Mac for the OS if you want. Get a switch or a multiple-input monitor (such as the Dell 24's or the new 3008WFP) to hook up multiple computers if you want as well.

Sample build if you're interested: Intel P35 motherboard, Intel Quad Core processor, 4 GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, 8800GT (or ATI 3870), quality power supply (500W or less is fine if its quality), case, etc. Total cost will be less than $1300 and you will be able to play every game but Crysis maxed out up to 1920 x 1200 pretty easily.

Far more games? The games are exactly the same if you use boot camp.

 

[kittiyut]

Does anyone have an idea of how well games would be played using the new FX5600 on the new 8 core with 16GB ram using boot camp?

KK

 

[Topper]

Does anyone have an idea of how well games would be played using the new FX5600 on the new 8 core with 16GB ram using boot camp?

KK

It would probably do pretty well.
It has a memory bandwidth of 76.8 compared to 57.6 for the 8800 GT.
It has 128 shaders compared to 112 shaders for the 8800 GT.
I am guessing it would compare favorably to the new 8800 GTS 512MB G92 video card.
I am also guessing that the 8800 GTX and 8800 Ultra would smoke it.

And the FX 5600 can be yours for just $2850.00!

 

[panzer06]

Far more games? The games are exactly the same if you use boot camp.

I think he means you can get two computers for what you pay for a MacPro. If gaming power under Windows is the only reason to buy a MacPro over a Macbook Pro or iMac, then by all means get two computers. I have a separate PC that I upgrade periodically. It gets turned on about 3 times a week when I have time to play games with my kids over the Internet.

My SR MBP handles everything else and has a bootcamp partition for when I travel. CS2 is the most intense Mac App I run so this is fine for me. When i want to encode video I use my daughter's MacPro.

MacPro is too expensive for a general purpose Mac+gaming platform. Of course, if space is an issue, money is no object and you don't mind limited future video options, a MacPro just might be what you want.

Cheers,

 

[Pressure]

Does anyone have an idea of how well games would be played using the new FX5600 on the new 8 core with 16GB ram using boot camp?

KK

Actually the performance is most likely to be abysmal. The drivers are optimized for professional 3D applications and not games. They use a specialized driver and that is one of the reasons why it is so expensive.

 

[Topper]

Actually the performance is most likely to be abysmal. The drivers are optimized for professional 3D applications and not games. They use a specialized driver and that is one of the reasons why it is so expensive.

Barefeats pitted the FX 4500 against the X1900 XT.
The FX 4500 did very well considering it has less memory bandwidth than the X1900 XT and (as you say) it's driver is not optimized for gaming.
For that reason I think the FX 5600 would represent itself pretty well in gaming also.

http://www.barefeats.com/octopro2.html

 

[diamond.g]

Barefeats pitted the FX 4500 against the X1900 XT.
The FX 4500 did very well considering it has less memory bandwidth than the X1900 XT and (as you say) it's driver is not optimized for gaming.
For that reason I think the FX 5600 would represent itself pretty well in gaming also.

http://www.barefeats.com/octopro2.html

I think the other person was talking about in Windows. Traditionally Nvidia has had a separate driver path from the normal unified drivers for the Quadro cards. This is due to optimizations. In OpenGL I am pretty sure there really isn't too much different between them (exposed feature wise, I think there are a couple things the Quadro can do that the 8 series can't and vise versa). I do notice at least on Nvidia's page that the Quadro isn't listed as having DX10 support on the drivers page. How odd.

 

[Pressure]

Barefeats pitted the FX 4500 against the X1900 XT.
The FX 4500 did very well considering it has less memory bandwidth than the X1900 XT and (as you say) it's driver is not optimized for gaming.
For that reason I think the FX 5600 would represent itself pretty well in gaming also.

http://www.barefeats.com/octopro2.html

That's like comparing apples to oranges.

The two new cards uses a different architecture all together. But of course, the FX Quadro 5600 can only do better than the Quadro FX 4600 in regards to gaming.

They might have improved the general shape of the driver to be nearly the same for a normal G80. Not sure.

 

[Topper]

That's like comparing apples to oranges.

The two new cards uses a different architecture all together. But of course, the FX Quadro 5600 can only do better than the Quadro FX 4600 in regards to gaming.

They might have improved the general shape of the driver to be nearly the same for a normal G80. Not sure.

I have to look at benchmarks. There is no other way to do it.
Very seldom do you ever see a workstation video card with gaming benchmarks.
I thought it was surprising but according to Barefeats, the FX 4500 did well against the X1900 XT in games.
Therefore, there is no reason to believe the FX 5600 would not do well also especially considering it has good specs even if it isn't optimized for gaming.

Yes, it is apples and oranges.
And I wouldn't spend $2850 to use a workstation card as a gaming card.
But I will bet you that the FX 5600 will out perform the 8800 GT in gaming.

 

[Kuraudo]

I don't know about you guys, but before I went to a gaming /art school I had thought Quadro cards were a necessity. Boy was I wrong.

Originally Quadro/Firegl cards were being used and upgraded regularly in labs, but only in 6 months time, the high end consumer card would beat it, so the school opted for high end consumer cards.

When it came to Maya and 3dsmax, I noticed next to no difference in a 6 month old quadro card vs the newest high dx9 card that they installed in the machines instead. It really came down to processing power, and how much ram we had to complete projects. When I visited game studios and viewed the specs, most of the machines were using the high end gamer cards. The faster consumer video cards helped in realtime matters for producing normal maps.

I think in a higher, professional critical environment or pure animation studio's would need quadro cards, but for the gaming industry that plays on those cards, also can build on those cards. Actually the animation department always had lower spec video cards lol. However, the gaming companies need require the cards earlier than consumers of course so they can build the game upon that engine.

IF you are a student animator or gamer, I'd put the extra money to use for a better consumer gaming video card, more ram and more processors. This made the most difference in rendering projects.
There was many ways to solve the drawing of windows, such as Gelato when it came to Maya.

 

[Pressure]

I have to look at benchmarks. There is no other way to do it.
Very seldom do you ever see a workstation video card with gaming benchmarks.
I thought it was surprising but according to Barefeats, the FX 4500 did well against the X1900 XT in games.
Therefore, there is no reason to believe the FX 5600 would not do well also especially considering it has good specs even if it isn't optimized for gaming.

Yes, it is apples and oranges.
And I wouldn't spend $2850 to use a workstation card as a gaming card.
But I will bet you that the FX 5600 will out perform the 8800 GT in gaming.

Guess time will tell but the Shader domain of the Geforce 8800GT is clocked quite a bit faster than the Geforce 8800GTX/Quadro FX 5600. For all purposes the Quadro FX 5600 is just a faster clocked Quadro FX 4600 with twice as much framebuffer.

Unless we become bandwidth limited they may be quite close, especially considering the old Quadro FX 4600 is neck and neck with the Radeon X1900XT...

 

[LeftoverCrack]

you need the NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600. you'll be happy then. hit up 12gb of ram. flawless gaming.

 

[Topper]

Guess time will tell but the Shader domain of the Geforce 8800GT is clocked quite a bit faster than the Geforce 8800GTX/Quadro FX 5600. For all purposes the Quadro FX 5600 is just a faster clocked Quadro FX 4600 with twice as much framebuffer.

Unless we become bandwidth limited they may be quite close, especially considering the old Quadro FX 4600 is neck and neck with the Radeon X1900XT...

Just remember your signature because I am King Idiot.
I have to admit that it is dumb to argue about how good a $2850 workstation video card would be for gaming.
I don't know about you but I don't have that kind of money.

By the way, Pressure, you keep mentioning the FX 4600.
The older Mac Pro has the FX 4500. I only mention it just in case you are looking at the wrong stats.

 

[Pressure]

Just remember your signature because I am King Idiot.
I have to admit that it is dumb to argue about how good a $2850 workstation video card would be for gaming.
I don't know about you but I don't have that kind of money.

By the way, Pressure, you keep mentioning the FX 4600.
The older Mac Pro has the FX 4500. I only mention it just in case you are looking at the wrong stats.

Oh dang do I feel stupid now heh

 

[Umbongo]

I have to look at benchmarks. There is no other way to do it.
Very seldom do you ever see a workstation video card with gaming benchmarks.
I thought it was surprising but according to Barefeats, the FX 4500 did well against the X1900 XT in games.
Therefore, there is no reason to believe the FX 5600 would not do well also especially considering it has good specs even if it isn't optimized for gaming.

Yes, it is apples and oranges.
And I wouldn't spend $2850 to use a workstation card as a gaming card.
But I will bet you that the FX 5600 will out perform the 8800 GT in gaming.

The 3Dmark06 scores I've seen for both were pretty similar, with the 8800GT taking the edge.

 

[Topper]

The 3Dmark06 scores I've seen for both were pretty similar, with the 8800GT taking the edge.

The 8800GT can beat the 8800GTX in 3Dmark06 scores also.

 

[Hurricane44]

Mac Pro for Gaming

I have just such a system. A Mac Pro 2008 2 x3.0Ghz 8 core syetem with
an 8800GT and 14 GB ram. I also plan to install a faster video card for better gaming. Probably the ATI 4870. However, the performance while playing Crysis is good. I have Vista 32 bit and 64 bit installations.
The performance with Grid and Crysis is great. I play at 1680x1050 resolutions most of the time. So, some posters have said: "hobbling" and "don't buy a Mac for gaming" Hogwash...
I'm in the process of obtaining info to add the PC version of the 4870. I have heard that a Mac version of this card is coming out. I hope so!

 

[nanofrog]

I have just such a system. A Mac Pro 2008 2 x3.0Ghz 8 core syetem with
an 8800GT and 14 GB ram. I also plan to install a faster video card for better gaming. Probably the ATI 4870. However, the performance while playing Crysis is good. I have Vista 32 bit and 64 bit installations.
The performance with Grid and Crysis is great. I play at 1680x1050 resolutions most of the time. So, some posters have said: "hobbling" and "don't buy a Mac for gaming" Hogwash...
I'm in the process of obtaining info to add the PC version of the 4870. I have heard that a Mac version of this card is coming out. I hope so!

Even if the info on the 4870 release for Mac is true, there's still no info on a date.

 

[sneezymarble]

This has been the case for a very long time, and will likely continue to be the case for a long time to come. Simply put: if you want a kick-ass gaming rig - build it yourself and install Windblows (XP). Don't buy a Mac.

Buy a Mac for photo/video/3d modeling/etc type work. Not games. It seems (to me) to be a foolish waste of money to buy a very-powerful Mac Pro, and then hobble it with Windows.

I can hear it now. "Waaah. I don't want 2 systems. I only want one! And I want to be able to run the latest K-rad K00l D000000DZ! game on it as well as Maya! At the same time!" Sorry. The world doesn't work that way right now.

jas

Just build a powerful gaming machine and then install Windows and OSX on it. Problem solved. You'll get a machine that performs better than a Mac in photo/video/3D modeling and in games. Win Win.

 

[nanofrog]

Just build a powerful gaming machine and then install Windows and OSX on it. Problem solved. You'll get a machine that performs better than a Mac in photo/video/3D modeling and in games. Win Win.

Not an easy thing to do, as I've been looking into this for awhile.

But, I think I've managed to crack it. Dual Harpertowns (exact part determined by individual budget), and cheaper. A little over clocking is required though.