mac pro + NEC 3090WQXi + Samsung 244T = video cards?

[rgbmaster]

I am buying MacPro for Photoshop, Illustrator, photo editing, print ads, etc... no games. I narrowed my choice to 30" NEC 3090 monitor and since I already have the 244T I would also like to use it. So from Apple online store I can get either 2 x ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT 256MB or 1 x NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 512MB.

Should I go with 2 2600's or will this not be enough? Or get 8800 to run that 30" beast and buy some other card for the Sammy like the X1900?
I've heard that ATIs are better than Nvidea for Macs...

I need advice please.

 

[kahine]

I'd honestly just buy it with one 2600 and order an ATI 3870 to use for the 30" especially - I sold my 8800gt on Ebay and have two 3870's now with 3 Gateway 2401's and enjoy the quality of the 3870's over the 8800gt I had previously in it

 

[Umbongo]

Kahine's suggestion is a better one, but wait before ordering anything. A single 2600 should drive both displays without issue with what you are doing. If you do find your workflow distrupted you can get something else in the future.

And good choice on the NEC.

 

[jjahshik32]

I honestly think you should go with 2x ati 3870.

 

[NotChemist]

I honestly think you should go with 2x ati 3870.

Why do you suggest two ATI 3870's for the original poster, when a single 3870 (or probably even a single 2600XT) would perform quite adequately within the scope of their requirements?

 

[rgbmaster]

Thanks for all you comments!

So is this confirmed - a single 2600XT can power 30" and another 24" with no problems? Hmmm... Anybody got this/similar setup?

 

[kahine]

Not sure myself for those apps - I do know that that 3870 seems to win over everything including the core apps

Since you have to order the 2600 or 8800 to begin with I'd go with the 2600 , try it and if it seems that the 30" chokes it any then order the 3870 from ATI which is what you'd have to do anyway to get one

 

[Bubba Satori]

Yeah, the 2600 will be better for non gaming applications. But jeebus, it's a TWO generation old video card. Doesn't Apple have any pride about the video cards they limit people to choose from in their PRO computer. Come on Apple. All the latest video cards please. You're a big company. You can do.

 

[jjahshik32]

I'm curious, how is the nec 3090 going for you? Is the screen evenly lit? Is the display very nice in colors? Is it hardly any color shifting??

I love my 23" ACD but I'm heavily thinking about returning it and going cheaper monitors in the 22" or 24"x2 or getting a nice 1x 30" dell or nec. (I've tried 30" ACD and its horribly unevenly lit and been through 3.. its a *itch trying to carry that monitor to the 3rd floor.. 3 times).

 

[nightfly13]

FWIW I run 2 Dells, a 30" and a 24" from my X1900 on my older Mac Pro without issue. I used to also run the 7300 (old stock card) for the 24", but had some power consumption issues (used to run on batteries 8 hours per day) so I pulled the card and ran both from one card and it was totally fine. They're made for it. High end cards can run 2x30" and any other Pro card can run 1x30 and 1x24 or smaller.

I totally agree with the admonition to start simple and see if it's fine and only upgrade if you really feel the need.

 

[rgbmaster]

nightfly13: thanks for the info, I agree with you and Umbongo

jjahshik32: I haven't got it yet and still doing some research. Although now there are rumors of new Cinema displays in January but I don't think I have _that_ much patience!

NEC 3090 is not perfect either but...

 

[jjahshik32]

Yea since the rumors have hit I'm thinking about returning my cinema display and buying a cheap monitor for now and wait.