OEM Radeon 4870 working on First Gen Mac Pro

[Pressure]

640GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s 065-8538
640GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s 065-8539
640GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s 065-8540
Two 18x SuperDrives 065-7924
8GB (4x2GB) 065-7889
MobileMe - Family Pack BE038LL/A
AppleCare Protection Plan for Mac Pro (w/or w/o Display)

You could easily have saved a lot of money by not buying those things at Apple.

Just out of curiosity, what do you expect to use this computer for?

 

[jazz1]

I installed the OEM Radeon HD 4870 in a First Generation "Clovertown" 3.0GHz 8-core Mac Pro. It's working. This is the model I mean (see right column).
http://support.apple.com/kb/SP30

(I pulled the card from a Nehalem.) I booted from the drive that came with the Nehalem. (Easier than cloning the system or trying to get the drivers to copy over - which gave an error on boot.)

It runs with no problems. I'm busily running 3D Game benchmarks which I will report back on later tonight or tomorrow morning.

The link was helpful. I see my MacPro 2.66 listed. Does this mean I could run the 4870 in it too?

 

[stevenhaddox]

The link was helpful. I see my MacPro 2.66 listed. Does this mean I could run the 4870 in it too?

That seems to be the theory. There have been at least two instances I've read about where running the 4870 is possible as long as they were using the hard drive from the 2009 Mac Pro's (already has the driver's installed). Rumor is that 10.5.7 will have drivers to support the 4870 card, so unless Apple has intentionally crippled it for 2006 Mac Pro's it should still work (I'm really hoping so at least!)

 

[jazz1]

That seems to be the theory. There have been at least two instances I've read about where running the 4870 is possible as long as they were using the hard drive from the 2009 Mac Pro's (already has the driver's installed). Rumor is that 10.5.7 will have drivers to support the 4870 card, so unless Apple has intentionally crippled it for 2006 Mac Pro's it should still work (I'm really hoping so at least!)

That would be sweet! Where do I sign up

 

[miasis]

thanks for all the info everyone!

my old 23" ACD died last night and i've been searching everywhere for info on what to do. i've got a MacPro 1,1 and wanted to simply go out and buy a new 24" ACD but because of the mini display port and new graphic card problems on a MacPro 1,1 i'm kind of lost.

i'm hoping 10.5.7 is out soon with new drivers and will allow us older MacPro users to upgrade our video cards to the 4870 and enable us to use a monitor with a mini display port.

i'd still rather spend $1200-$1300 for a new ATI card and 24" ACD then $1800 for a 30" ACD.

why did Apple make buying a new apple display so difficult?

 

[syth]

We (the lowly 2006 Mac Pro users) are hoping that 10.5.7 includes the drivers so the card can be used in all Mac Pro models, whether Apple 'officially' supports it or not.

So, now that 10.5.7 is out do we know if the 4870 will work in the 2006 Mac Pro? I have a quad xeon I wouldn't mine upgrading.

 

[jnc]

You could easily have saved a lot of money by not buying those things at Apple.

Just out of curiosity, what do you expect to use this computer for?

I can appreciate buying the Cinema Display and AppleCare, as that coverage then includes the display.

As for the RAM, ordering that config saved being leftover with 1GB modules.

I can't explain the extra HDs though...

 

[benborman]

Anyone?

So, now that 10.5.7 is out do we know if the 4870 will work in the 2006 Mac Pro? I have a quad xeon I wouldn't mine upgrading.

I'm still waiting/searching for a definite answer on this. I too have the Woodcrest Quad Xeon and I want to upgrade to something less laughable than the 7300GT while I still can. Can one of you with tons of old and new systems lying around throw us a bone?

 

[hugodrax]

You would think by now someone would test this. And are extra cables needed or will one be included in the box and I just use the old one on the 1900 + the other that ships in the box?

 

[MacVidCards]

I have posted over and over agin....I have run both the OEM & flashed 4870s in a 1st gen....works fine.

Should come from Apple with the 2 power cables.

Quit worrying.