Mac Pro 2010 - Adding Additional Graphics Card

[MAC4SU]

Do you think it would be possible to get the 'AMD Radeon™ HD 6870' to run on a 2010 Mac Pro?

 

[Transporteur]

I don't see any reason why not.

Just get another power supply (modular for optical bay) and you're good to go.
You can even skip that if you replace your current 5770 with a card that doesn't require additional power (like the GT120).

 

[MAC4SU]

I don't see any reason why not.

Just get another power supply (modular for optical bay) and you're good to go.
You can even skip that if you replace your current 5770 with a card that doesn't require additional power (like the GT120).

I was just reading that the only graphics card that you can use in the Mac Pro are the ones that apple sell. Is there any truth to it?

Can anyone recommend an additional power supply to run the AMD Radeon™ HD 6870?

I have built and modded PC's before, but this if my first time modding a Mac.

 

[DualShock]

If you are going to use the Mac Pro strictly for Windows, then yes, any PCI Express graphics card will work.

However, if you are going to use OS X, the short answer is that you will need either an Apple graphics card, or flash a PC graphics card.

See here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/877441/

 

[goMac]

The 5870 is nearly identical, and Apple sells a version of that for Mac. (There is no speed difference.)

 

[schulmaster]

The 6870 is most 'nearly identical' to the HD5850, which is the card it is replacing. The HD5870 is a more powerful performer than the HD6870 and will not be replaced until the release of the HD6890. Replacing an Apple HD5870 with a flashed or not flashed 6870 would be a downgrade.

 

[southnc]

I just checked with the Apple store about adding an additional 5870 and they told me it could not be done. 🙁

 

[goMac]

I just checked with the Apple store about adding an additional 5870 and they told me it could not be done. 🙁

No, you can't add two 5870s. You also can't add a 6870 if you already have a 5870.

(Not without a bunch of power tricks.)

 

[vuzz]

Is it possible to install both the ATI 5870 and the Nvidia 4000 once it's out?

 

[schulmaster]

The Mac Pro only has 2 6-pin aux power connectors available. The HD5870 uses both of them by itself. If you want to run both cards, ie have both connected at the same time, you will have to pull off the additional PSU shenanigans mentioned in this thread and forum.

 

[goMac]

Is it possible to install both the ATI 5870 and the Nvidia 4000 once it's out?

Not without some hacking.

The Mac Pro has two power connectors. The 5870 takes two, the Quadro 4000 takes one, so you're one short.

Not sure why you'd want the Quadro 4000 anyway. It's much slower than the 5870.

 

[nanofrog]

There is an inexpensive ($27 shipped), simple, and clean solution to the power problem (here). 😉