Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Nvidia 8800 for new macpros cheaper than apple?

F

faumble

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 8, 2008
141
0
I saw the news about nvidia working on a 8800 for all macpros and I am about to buy one from apple for my new macpro (2008 model) but do you guys think the one nvidia releases in a few weeks will be cheaper than apples option?
 
faumble said:
I saw the news about nvidia working on a 8800 for all macpros and I am about to buy one from apple for my new macpro (2008 model) but do you guys think the one nvidia releases in a few weeks will be cheaper than apples option?
Click to expand...

No, it'll be more expensive than getting one BTO.
 
nVidia OEM's GPU's to other vendors, they do not market cards at the retail level. So this work will either benefit Apple or some retail vendor, but is doubtful to make for a less expensive source for a MP compatible 8800GT.
 
Hm. But then wouldn't it later be possible to flash a PC 8800GT once Apple's 8800 ROM surfaces? Or is it larger than the PC ROM?
 
Firefly2002 said:
Hm. But then wouldn't it later be possible to flash a PC 8800GT once Apple's 8800 ROM surfaces? Or is it larger than the PC ROM?
Click to expand...

Odds are it'll be 64K; worse case (if it's 128K) we can just extract the EFI only portion.

Read: Yes, we'll be able to flash a PC version once we get our hands on the ROM.
 
timb said:
Odds are it'll be 64K; worse case (if it's 128K) we can just extract the EFI only portion.

Read: Yes, we'll be able to flash a PC version once we get our hands on the ROM.
Click to expand...

Just keep in mind that from my understanding, the EFI for those that works in the older Mac Pro will be different than the EFI for the new Mac Pro, so unless nVidia provide both, you need to check to make sure the one you get will work on your Mac Pro.
 
mrcandy said:
Try here. For some strange reason Apple is putting all the graphics upgrades in the 'storage' section of the Apple store.
Click to expand...

Wow, that's a logical location.

Thanks for that. Not a bad price either. Anyone know of a benchmark site on Mac OS X that shows how much improvement that card offers?

Edit: Nevermind, found it here and the 1900 I have is faster still. Though would be a good upgrade for my brother.
 
Trekkie said:
Wow, that's a logical location.

Thanks for that. Not a bad price either. Anyone know of a benchmark site on Mac OS X that shows how much improvement that card offers?

Edit: Nevermind, found it here and the 1900 I have is faster still. Though would be a good upgrade for my brother.
Click to expand...

Beat me to it!

I've got my 2008 MP enroute, ordered the 2600 because I didn't want to wait. I'll use it for a couple of months and see what happens with
i) 9xxx series
ii) flashing a PC 8800GT once the Apple ones are available for a ROM image
iii) buy an Apple 8800GT once the delay gets down to 'in stock'
 
macenforcer said:
Funny how it says "Requires Mac Pro with PCI-Express 2.0"
Click to expand...

I thought that to be strange also since I thought that PCI-Express 2.0 was only in the Mac Pro (early 2008) and not in the previous Mac Pros. But I don't have either Mac Pro, so I'm not sure. Apple does list the card as an upgrade kit for Mac Pro:

"ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT Graphics Upgrade Kit for Mac Pro"
 
MSI has just released info on new PC mainboards that will ship with EFI instead of BIOS. More mobo manufacturers will probably supply similiar solutions in the future which might lead to increased availibility of MP compatible 3rd party graphics solutions in the mid term.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back