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MP 1,1-5,1 I ordered a Radeon R9 280x video card
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From the GPU wiki
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/gpu-compatibility-list-for-cmp.2174600/
22. AMD Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X 3 Gb
Performance: 100% RPI. A very good card for power / price / performance ratio. ~ 10% faster than GTX 680 2 Gb, has more memory. Supports Metal 2 (Mojave).
Power consumption: 6 pins + 8 pins. Additional power is recommended, as minimum - from SATA port. Possible scheme: 6 pins -> 8 pins and 6 pins + SATA -> 8 pins via dual 6 pins to 8 pins adapter).
Outs: as usual card has DL-DVI + two mDP + HDMI.
Compatibility: DirectX 12.0, OpenGL 4.6, Metal 2.
Other: as usual occupies 2 slots. There are Gigabyte and Sapphire versions that have two slots brackets but don't block the nearest PCIE slot. There are cards with dual BIOS (mac / PC). There are cards with different cooling system. There is an overclocked version AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHZ which is ~ 7% faster.
Unflashed (PC version): additional information is needed, can be flashed.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/gpu-compatibility-list-for-cmp.2174600/
22. AMD Radeon HD 7970 / R9 280X 3 Gb
Performance: 100% RPI. A very good card for power / price / performance ratio. ~ 10% faster than GTX 680 2 Gb, has more memory. Supports Metal 2 (Mojave).
Power consumption: 6 pins + 8 pins. Additional power is recommended, as minimum - from SATA port. Possible scheme: 6 pins -> 8 pins and 6 pins + SATA -> 8 pins via dual 6 pins to 8 pins adapter).
Outs: as usual card has DL-DVI + two mDP + HDMI.
Compatibility: DirectX 12.0, OpenGL 4.6, Metal 2.
Other: as usual occupies 2 slots. There are Gigabyte and Sapphire versions that have two slots brackets but don't block the nearest PCIE slot. There are cards with dual BIOS (mac / PC). There are cards with different cooling system. There is an overclocked version AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHZ which is ~ 7% faster.
Unflashed (PC version): additional information is needed, can be flashed.
The R9 280 X has two power sockets.
BOTH must be powered.
For the GPU 8 pin socket use
2 X Mini 6 pin to 1 x 8 pin
US$7.95 at Amazon
For the GPU 6 pin socket
Remove TWO hard drives from the SATA bays - re-connect them in the upper DVD Drive cage.
Buy this cable ( TWO x SATA to one x 6 pin.)
US$7.99 ( two pack; you only need one cable
NOTE : You will have to "SNIP OFF" one of the locking lugs on each of the SATA cables.
I also recommend putting a sticker on top of each to facilitate correct orientation for insertion into the cMP SATA sockets.
Whenever my cMPs sidecover is removed, I always givemy SATA cables a finger nudge to ensure that they are firmly inserted.
BOTH must be powered.
For the GPU 8 pin socket use
2 X Mini 6 pin to 1 x 8 pin
US$7.95 at Amazon
Dual Mini 6 Pin to 8 Pin PCI Express Video Card Power Adapter Cable
Features: Dual Mini 6 Pin to 8 Pin PCI-e cable is to connect a PCIe video graphics card with 8 pin port to Mac motherboard with mini 6 pin port; Specification: Cable Length: 15-inches/(38cm) ; Connector 1: standard GPU 8 Pin male ; Connector 2 : 2x mini 6 pin male ( not standard 6 pin male); Gaug...
www.amazon.com
For the GPU 6 pin socket
Remove TWO hard drives from the SATA bays - re-connect them in the upper DVD Drive cage.
Buy this cable ( TWO x SATA to one x 6 pin.)
US$7.99 ( two pack; you only need one cable
Cable Matters 2-Pack 6 Pin PCIe to Dual SATA Power Cable 4 Inches, 2X SATA to 6 Pin PCIe
Cable Matters 2-Pack 6 Pin PCIe to Dual SATA Power Cable 4 Inches, 2X SATA to 6 Pin PCIe
www.amazon.com
NOTE : You will have to "SNIP OFF" one of the locking lugs on each of the SATA cables.
I also recommend putting a sticker on top of each to facilitate correct orientation for insertion into the cMP SATA sockets.
Whenever my cMPs sidecover is removed, I always givemy SATA cables a finger nudge to ensure that they are firmly inserted.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
The R9 280 X has two power sockets.
BOTH must be powered.
For the GPU 8 pin socket use
2 X Mini 6 pin to 1 x 8 pin
US$7.95 at Amazon
Dual Mini 6 Pin to 8 Pin PCI Express Video Card Power Adapter Cable
Features: Dual Mini 6 Pin to 8 Pin PCI-e cable is to connect a PCIe video graphics card with 8 pin port to Mac motherboard with mini 6 pin port; Specification: Cable Length: 15-inches/(38cm) ; Connector 1: standard GPU 8 Pin male ; Connector 2 : 2x mini 6 pin male ( not standard 6 pin male); Gaug...www.amazon.com
There are two 8 pin sockets on the card. Is it ok to use just one of the 8 pin connection?
Last edited by a moderator:
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Ideally you would be better with a Pulse RX... card.
The RX560 has 4gb and needs no additional power at all (number 15 in the link).
Even the RX580 only has one 8 pin, which is powered by the two mini 6 on the motherboard.
Most people who are looking for all that extra power are trying really ‘meaty’ cards.
You shouldn’t need all that power for a 3gb card.
No, if AMD put 2 power sockets on the card then one can safely assume that they want BOTH to be powered.
READ POST#4
You can insert the 6 pin ( 2 x SATA cable ) into the RIGHT SIDE of the OTHER R9 280X's 8 pin socket.
( This pic is just an example )
If you are worried about removing two HDDs / SSDs from the SATA bays. . you can remove your DVD Drive and install two HDDs / SSDs in the DVD drive cage, they will fit and there should be spare mounting screws in the DVD drive cage.
( I now use an external ASUS DVD drive )
To reiterate . .. BOTH of your R9 280X's 8 pin sockets MUST be powered.
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A 8-pin PCIe connector signals to the GPU that it can draw up to 150W.
Mac Pro mini-PCIe 6-pin is rated to 75W with the emergency power cut-out by the SMC at around 120W. So, you can't use just one mini-PCIe 6-pin to connect to a 8-pin PCIe GPU input.
While several people successfully draw more power from the mini-PCIe AUX connectors, it's not a god idea to use anything near to the power cut-out.
Around 90W, ok, while 110W+ is asking for a replacement backplane in the near future.
I know, but there is no problem with 280x, it always balances the consumption between both connectors.
The 280X is far from the maximum supported consumption.
It is totally safe to do it this way.
I 100% disagree.
EDIT
Read Post #4 in this thread. = the "SAFEST & easiest" way to power any . . .
. . . . R9289/R9280X HD7950/ HD 7970.
Please do not post information that may damage, disable or cause CMP shutdowns.
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Depending on the manufacturer, the R9 280X draws more than 270 watts (https://www.guru3d.com/articles-pages/asus-radeon-r9-280x-top-review,8.html, https://www.techspot.com/review/841-radeon-r9-280x-roundup/page11.html) and WILL halt the system if stressed to 100% for prolonged time. My Sapphire does halt the system if I run a Windows game on two monitors in 5120*1600 combined resolution on max details.
May be your card does that, but definitely NOT all 280X always balance the power draw between connectors.
In fact, from memory, the very first "bridge" power balancing method (on cMP) was developed on a 280X to avoid hard shutdown (which simply solder a very short cable between the 6 and 8pin on the graphic card's PCB).
