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Installing a GTX280

B

Bigpurp

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 13, 2008
32
0
[EDIT] Ok so I got my GTX 280 in and ordered the correct cables. Someone told me at bestbuy that the card requires too much power for the PSU in the mac pro 1,1 to handle over a long period of time. He also said that I would need an additional cooler for the card, and so I would need an external psu to power this cooler. I already figured this was the case, but not sure if I need to spend so much money on a power supply.

Do you guys think this is true? I was thinking of powering the cooler from the optical bay 4-pin but this guy said all of this would make my mac pretty much fail. Just wondering whats the best route to go since I know some of you are successfully using this card (with no extra psu)

[EDIT] I didn't want to start a new thread for such simple questions so ya.

Thnx again!
 
Bigpurp said:
Hello all, first off I know theirs a few threads on this topic but they didn't make a few things clear enough for me.

I'm looking to put this evga gtx 280 in my 3rd gen mac pro.

Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130365

I read on the other threads that you must connect the 6-pin to the two 6-pins on the motherboard, which is easy. I have also located the 4-pin connector in the optical bay. What I dont understand is how you go from the 8-pin on the card, to the 4-pin in the optical bay. Please forgive me if this is a repost but I'm guessing all I need is 1 cable since the card comes with the 6's?

Also, to anyone who has installed it successfully. I was told this will overheat like crazy in the mac. So should I buy another fan for it? (and maybe split the power from the bay?) Thank you
Click to expand...
For cabling, use two (2x) of these, and connect them to the PCIe (mini) power sockets on the logic board.
Then connect the PCIe 6 pin end into on of these to adapt it to an 8 pin PCIe end.
Then feed into the 280GTX, and you're done. ;)

Nice, neat, and another member proved it works. :)
The only downside, is that you have to obtain the cables, and they are about ~$36USD, not including shipping. :(
 
lol this is true, I was originally gonna get a 9800 for 200$ but for 130 more I can get the 280 so why not rite? (going out of business sales FTW)

So ur saying I dont need to use the cables that come with the card? ty for the help
 
m1stake said:
If you're considering a GTX 280, you won't have a problem with another $36+ dollars.
Click to expand...
Some might. :eek: :p
I'm just used to OEM (whether sold that way or not), and get the cables anyway. ;)
Bigpurp said:
lol this is true, I was originally gonna get a 9800 for 200$ but for 130 more I can get the 280 so why not rite? (going out of business sales FTW)

So ur saying I dont need to use the cables that come with the card? ty for the help
Click to expand...
Others have posted that they had problems attempting to use the 4 pin Molex connector in optical bay 2 with the included cables. :(
Worst case, you'll have to wait a few days or so for the cables. :p

Glad it helped. :)
 
kk I'll take your word for it. Better to get them now instead of having to wait when I find out the card doesn't work with the included cables!

I was also thinking of ordering a 120mm cooler for the card but I'm not too sure I would have any power cables left for it. Think I would have to get a 4-pin Y splitter?

Thanks again
 
Bigpurp said:
kk I'll take your word for it. Better to get them now instead of having to wait when I find out the card doesn't work with the included cables!

I was also thinking of ordering a 120mm cooler for the card but I'm not too sure I would have any power cables left for it. Think I would have to get a 4-pin Y splitter?

Thanks again
Click to expand...
A Y splitter would be fine for running a fan, as they don't draw much power.
Really power hungry graphics cards tend to be another story, unless you have multiple rails available (Mac Pro doesn't). :p
m1stake said:
Oh Circuit City, you're prices no longer [totally] suck :p
Click to expand...
LOL! :D
Do you have a story to share?
 
wait so If I use two of these, and connect them to the PCIe (mini) power sockets on the logic board, then how do I make the 2 6-pin ends go into the card? Their is only one 6 fem and one 8 fem on the gtx.

E145-282-call02-jd.jpg


Does this mean I dont even need to use the optical bay 2? sry if I seem like a total noob but I must figure this out.
 
Bigpurp said:
wait so If I use two of these, and connect them to the PCIe (mini) power sockets on the logic board, then how do I make the 2 6-pin ends go into the card? Their is only one 6 fem and one 8 fem on the gtx.

Does this mean I dont even need to use the optical bay 2? sry if I seem like a total noob but I must figure this out.
Click to expand...
You use a 6 pin to 8 pin adapter cable (the second link in the cable links I posted). ;)
This converts one of the 6 pin ends from the ATI cables into the necessary 8 pin end you need to power the card. The end result of the 3 cables gives you an 8 pin and 6 pin power connections. :D
Exactly what you need for success. :p
 
oOo k think I get it now rofl. So I'm only plugging the card into the two 6 pins on the motherboard? no bay rite?
 
Soo I'm gonna hook the card up when the cables come in but I don't want this thing to over heat too much. Someone suggested keeping the case open, but won't that damage the organs?

Anyway, just checking how hot these cards get in the mac and if I should actually buy a cooler / psu or can I just power all of this from the mac?
(two 6 pins on motherboard for the card & optical bay for the fan) Thnx
 
it wont damage it, but it will be louder and dustier.
also, do some measurements if you really gain much because controlled airflow is sometimes better than "all over the place"
 
'darnet' so u must install the card on the bottom slot only? sux
how can I cool this thing?
can't you put the cooler on top? Im such a nub
 
can i sli 2 gtx 260 or 280 with my mac pro, even if i have to use it only on windows?
also can i crossfire 2 ati 4870 or 4850 with my mac pro on windows?
 
^dang I got excited, thought sum1 actually had an answer but it was just another lame-o, oh wells. sry for using such bad language though :confused:
thnx for quoting me so I get banned though, hopefully I can get some help before that happens
 
Bigpurp said:
'darnet' so u must install the card on the bottom slot only? sux
how can I cool this thing?
can't you put the cooler on top? Im such a nub
Click to expand...
From posts of those who've installed the 280GTX, no mention of a 3rd party cooler was even mentioned.

So I assumed that they were relying on the stock cooling solution. No posts showed up concerning any thermal issues anyway. :eek: ;)

Maybe they just haven't self destructed yet. :p

Hope this helps. :)
 
nanofrog said:
For cabling, use two (2x) of these, and connect them to the PCIe (mini) power sockets on the logic board.
Then connect the PCIe 6 pin end into on of these to adapt it to an 8 pin PCIe end.
Then feed into the 280GTX, and you're done. ;)

Nice, neat, and another member proved it works. :)
The only downside, is that you have to obtain the cables, and they are about ~$36USD, not including shipping. :(
Click to expand...

Any idea where to source these in the UK? ATi's US website won't ship to here as far as I could tell, and the UK site doesn't have them. I'm wanting to stick a 280 or one of the new 260s in my Mac Pro.
 
peskaa said:
Any idea where to source these in the UK? ATi's US website won't ship to here as far as I could tell, and the UK site doesn't have them. I'm wanting to stick a 280 or one of the new 260s in my Mac Pro.
Click to expand...
UK supplier, No. :( But Yes to where you can get one sent to you. :p

Radeon X1900 Mac G5 Edition 6 pin Power Cable


They are US based IIRC, but sent an e-mail previously about shipping. (This has come up before). ;)

They do ship internationally. :D
 
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