Help! Mac Pro and GPU's

[MattRJH]

Hi guys, I've got a question or two to run by you all.

I have a Mac Pro...
Model Identifier: MacPro1,1,
Processor: 2.66GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon
Processors: 2 - Cores: 4

...for which I have recently bought an n9600GT, only to find the damn thing doesn't work anyway. Thanks Apple.

After a bit of research I found out the 8800GT (which is compatible) is better than the 9600GT anyway, and I am now on the hunt for a good 8800GT card.

I am currently looking at the Asus EN8800GT, with the following specs:
Grapics Engine: NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT
Memory Size: DDR3 1G
Engine Clock: 600 MHz
Memory Clock: 1.8 GHz ( 900 MHz DDR3 )
Memory Interface: 256-bit
Max. Resolution: 2560 x 1600
Bus Standard: PCI Express 2.0

I think it is a factory overclock... not too sure.

My questions are, 1) will I be able to use this card in my model Mac Pro, and 2) will any 8800GT card work with my Mac Pro, or is it specifically the apple version only?

Thanks for the assistance guys.

 

[Olivier L.]

As far as I understood, only the video card "prepared by apple" will work on your Mac Pro under Mac OS X. However, any video card should be working properly under Windows / bootcamp.

 

[Tallest Skil]

You buy an Apple card. End of story. Nothing else works in OS X.

 

[Pressure]

This will not work in Mac OS X either, only in Windows.

Unless you want to flash the firmware on the card, replacing the stock firmware with the Apple Geforce 8800GT firmware.

Read these treads amply named 8800 EFI32 ROM, 8800gt EFI64 ROM or Race to dump the 4870 ROM, Who's first? for further information.

 

[chas0001]

You can flash 'Windows' only graphics cards to work under os x. Be careful as not all models work properly. I have the 8800GT (Mac Edition) and I can say that it is very poor (in my experience). It is noisy and causes artifacts on the screen when it gets too hot.

 

[MattRJH]

Gives me an idea....
Could I install the 8800gt or another equivalent card in slot 2 and use it for windows, and then use my current card in slot a for os x? Main reason behind me trying to get a better card is for gaming.

 

[clownjuggles]

Gives me an idea....
Could I install the 8800gt or another equivalent card in slot 2 and use it for windows, and then use my current card in slot a for os x? Main reason behind me trying to get a better card is for gaming.

That would work as long as you have an empty slot and the card is the proper size for the slot.

 

[bozz2006]

not optimal because the first lane in the mac pro is the only fast one.