LOL that sentiment could only come from a str8 Mac user and a non gamer. I guarantee people will shell out the $400 in record numbers in june. Mark it down.
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 Mac Version Due in June
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LOL that sentiment could only come from a str8 Mac user and a non gamer. I guarantee people will shell out the $400 in record numbers in june. Mark it down.
You generally get three things with the Quadro/FireGL(Pro) lines: more complete/faster/better debugged OpenGL drivers, more memory and much better manufacturer support. Gaming cards generally have poor quality OpenGL drivers (especially ATI) that render virtually identical hardware (beyond memory) nearly useless for workstation apps.
To be honest I just don't see the point. This video card is made for pc gaming. You can't argue that. Nvidia makes a workstation videocard for a reason. I really don't understand the point of this product. So you can get the same gaming performance out of a $4000 MAC as a $1500 or less PC?
EXACTLY.
What segment of users are going to use a gtx285 for gaming if they own a mac pro? Better question, what do mac pro owners use their rigs for? Gaming? That doesn't seem to be the consensus here, but people want a gaming card for non-gaming applications?
For what reason?
Again, are people REALLY spending 2500-3200 on a quad or dual quad system to run games? If so, they have some money to burn on mainstream hardware, eh?
Sadly you won't get to touch a HD 58xx until Apple revises the Mac Pro.
At least under OS X.
There are plenty of people out there with Mac Pro's who's primary role is not graphically intensive but would like to play games on their machine.
Personally I got one so I could build virtualised environments on it (lots of RAM and CPU), doesn't mean I don't want to play games on it now and then.
I'm sure there are plenty of other people in a similar position who'd like a fast graphics card but don't need the power or expense of a Quadro.
Personally I got one so I could build virtualised environments on it (lots of RAM and CPU), doesn't mean I don't want to play games on it now and then.
I'm sure there are plenty of other people in a similar position who'd like a fast graphics card but don't need the power or expense of a Quadro.
I know it's easier for you to call him an idiot and feel good about yourself, but maybe you could instead point out where he went wrong? Otherwise you're just saying "hurr I know and you don't", which is no help.
Did you install a Vista partition or something? This card seems like overkill for most if not all mac games.
The cards are meant for entirely different things. You really can't compare the two. GTX285 is a gaming card while quadro is meant for workstation type applications.
Who in the heck buys a Mac Pro so they have access to being able to install one of these cards?
I'm sorry, I know this going to sound like a rant (and maybe even a bit like someone trolling) but until or unless Apple puts out a tower that's within the realm of normalcy for the general public, it's not like you're going to see that many people buying these class of systems. It's stupid and unnecessary to spend that much money on a tower system, fancy case notwithstanding.
</rant>
I'm sorry, I know this going to sound like a rant (and maybe even a bit like someone trolling) but until or unless Apple puts out a tower that's within the realm of normalcy for the general public, it's not like you're going to see that many people buying these class of systems. It's stupid and unnecessary to spend that much money on a tower system, fancy case notwithstanding.
</rant>
This is why I don't understand ANY of the arguments people here are using.
Lets sell a gaming card for a small fraction of the apple user base.
Stupid.
Yeah XP. I guess a standard PC card might be able to be installed in a different slot but then I'd be swapping cables about all the time.
Yeah that's kind of my point. The people who don't need the hardcore 3d modeling performance can buy the GTX285 to have some fun with. People seemed to be saying that there was no market for this as all Mac Pro users would be wanting to Quadro to do 3D modeling or whatever, I was just saying that there are plenty of Mac Pro owners who don't need a Quadro but this GTX would fit just nicely.
Sorry to ruffle your feathers, dude. I did leave it open ended so you should not shoot off wild baseless accusations. You haven't a clue as to my knowledge. If you have a few minutes I will school you.
So to be fair, I should have also mentioned that workstation cards would not game well. As to the asking prices of workstation cards, you are partially correct. It is mainly a result of lower sales numbers but is not anything to do with what a buyer is willing to "shell out". It's about volume. Business 101.
There are a number of strict graphic requirements for CAD/CAM/CAE applications such as NX, Pro Engineer and Catia. The certified HCL lists are accompanied by certified OS levels, certified patches and very importantly, certified graphics drivers. Strict adherence to OpenGL, anti aliasing and other standards is mandatory. Every single driver has to be certified.
As for higher clock speeds of gaming cards outperforming gaming cards, well, they don't outperform much of anything when you can't see your model on the screen. Gaming cards just need to make things look nice and have a decent frame rate, that's it. Workstation cards have higher graphic requirements when it comes to CAD/CAM/CAE applications. I know people in CAD groups who use gaming rigs. Usually the performance is bearable but sometime there are driver conflicts and the graphic issues can range from minor anomalies to not working at all.
You seem sort torked about pricing. All I can say is they are two totally different worlds. It's not uncommon to spend $20K-$40K on top tier CAD/CAM/CAM software. Add another $5K-$15K for a 8-core Xeon rig with lots-O-ram, a 3D controller and a ridiculously large monitor. Throw in some database collaboration software and other support software too. There are some people making workstation rigs using four socket server boards.
How much to build a nice gaming rig? Don't forget to add 20 bucks for Counter Strike Source.
Google workstation vs. gaming
No Apple mini-display port again
WHO CARES? Having Mini-DP means you have to use adapters, ones that do not latch, etc. etc. Mini-DP = FAIL on a desktop/workstation. The ONLY point of having a Mini-DP is so you don't have to have the physical size of a DVI port on a Laptop. Yes, it could theoretically output audio too. Again, who cares, when you can put in something like a high-end audio card that will sound better anyway?
Drop the Mini-DP love. It is STUPID to have on desktops.
I've always heard that workstation cards are fail for gaming, and gaming cards are fail for CAD and other workstation-type uses. What exactly makes them different, or better optimized?
My guess is the way they are optimized. Gaming cards are massively over-clocked to get you maximum GHz out of the GPU, and maximum throughput on the RAM. Workstation cards are throttled to the point that they will be bomb-proof reliable while still being crazy fast. Perhaps piping data in a way that is more conducive to renders, etc. rather than frame rates.
Oh, and the $$$ aspect, too. Most gamers have a budget, maybe high, but still, MOST will call it quits at $5000. But when a firm who's bread is butter by the work that machine will do, they are likely willing to shell out much more for what is "better". Maybe not much of a difference in reality, but if you can make a higher margin, why not do it?
The Apple Gaping Lineup Hole.
You have totally pinned The Apple Gaping Lineup Hole.
There is no mid tower in the Apple line so you have to take a huge leap from the iMac (dual core mobile chip?) to the full tower Mac Pro with xeon cores. There is no core 2 quad or i7 available. It would be like BMW not having any models between the 3 and 7 series.
Shame on Apple!
You have totally pinned The Apple Gaping Lineup Hole.
There is no mid tower in the Apple line so you have to take a huge leap from the iMac (dual core mobile chip?) to the full tower Mac Pro with xeon cores. There is no core 2 quad or i7 available. It would be like BMW not having any models between the 3 and 7 series.
Shame on Apple!
In Windows, you can use Rivatuner to softmod a GeForce card into a Quadro quite easily and get similar SPECapc test numbers. At least this was true for older gen cards. I believe Nvidia has closed that loop.
The only reason a regular Nvidia card doesn't perform as well as a Quadro card in professional opengl is because Nvidia cripples it. There really is no reason why it costs x amount more than a regular card. Same applies to ATI.
I'm surprised somebody hasn't figured out how to hack a regular Nvidia card into a Quadro (or regular ATI into FireGL) to be used on a Mac Pro. The cards that Apple provides are garbage in comparison to gaming and professional graphics available on the Windows side.
The only reason a regular Nvidia card doesn't perform as well as a Quadro card in professional opengl is because Nvidia cripples it. There really is no reason why it costs x amount more than a regular card. Same applies to ATI.
I'm surprised somebody hasn't figured out how to hack a regular Nvidia card into a Quadro (or regular ATI into FireGL) to be used on a Mac Pro. The cards that Apple provides are garbage in comparison to gaming and professional graphics available on the Windows side.
I despair at some of the later comments. I WILL buy one of these to try and then another 6 or more if it works out, for various other machines. I want them for affordable CUDA programming under OS X and to exploit the power of OpenCL for general system and application acceleration, as well as programming OpenCL itself. Others may be excited about CUDA/OpenCL plugins for Photoshop and Video apps - core Mac Pro business or what?I don't play computer games. I have not even bothered to load some of the free games that came with a 260 and 285 I already have in my Mac Pros for using CUDA under bootcamp. The release of this card might generate a few game ports to the Mac but for some of us it is irrelevant.