Highest CUDA core GPU in unflashed 4,1?

[echoout]

Hey everyone, I keep searching and going down rabbit holes but have a particular issue I think could warrant its own thread. If not, my apologies.

I'm a professor in a college motion graphics program and have 6 2009 4,1 8-cores I want to utilize as we watch Apple flounder with their releases.

I want to run some Octane and RedShift tests on one of the 4,1s (for starters) and am wondering what mix of OS, GPU, and drivers I can get away with without any flashing of computer or cards? I've kind of gone rogue from our IT department and am comfortable doing this with my own two 4,1s but don't want to take any risks with school property.

Ideally, a 1080Ti would be great but not sure what the minimum OS would be that could run it.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Alex Sanders74]

I use Cinema 4d with Octane and have dabbled with Redshift a bit. Problem with Nvidia cards is the lack of boot screens, but it's not a huge issue. Just keep the Mac firmware GPUs for troubleshooting.

It would be good to flash the 4,1 towers with 5,1 firmware as well.

I run a gtx750ti in mine at the moment and it's been pretty good. Older card, but does the job. You could run a 1080ti in those towers but they draw a lot of juice. Have a read through the link below as it's possible to get around this issue. Many users on here have the same GPU in their 4,1/5,1 machines, so they can likely tell you exactly what to do and their experience with those exact cards.

http://www.macvidcards.com/blog/the-pesky-power-issue-with-pascal-1080ti-and-titan

Edit: I noticed you're running two Titan cards in a 4,1 on your signature? I suppose the link above is irrelevant. : 0

Drivers for the 1080ti was first announced at the beginning of April 2017. You'd likely need Sierra at least to support that GPU.

 

[h9826790]

4,1 can't run 1080Ti natively. So, forget about it if you can't risk the schools computer.

And for max CUDA, I think you can run 5x 980Ti via this Cubix Xpander. (1 internal + 4 external)

https://www.cubix.com/xpander/
https://ibuildmacs.com/products/cubix-xpander-desktop-elite/

Barefeats tested 5 Nvidia GPU setup in Octane render

http://barefeats.com/gpu680v7.html

If they can do 5x GTX680, I think 5x 980Ti also possible.

You should able to do this in 10.11.6, which is natively supported on 4,1. And can run 980Ti with web driver.

 

[Alex Sanders74]

That's damn impressive. Thanks for sharing that info.

 

[echoout]

Yeah, I'm fine with no boot screen as I'll just keep the stock card in there for that.

Just looking for the highest-CUDA-count single card I can add with as little fuss as possible.

Is the 980ti it?