Replacement Graphics Card for Power Mac G5 (1.6GHz)

[franc1974]

Hello All,
I'm trying to help a friend with a Power Mac G5 (1.6GHz) whose graphics card needs replacing.
The current card is an ATI Radeon 9800 PRO (256MB).
The computer is used for photo-editing in Adobe Photoshop along with other everyday stuff.
The budget is £80 / $120.
I don't understand about flashing PC cards and I'm the techy one I'm afraid.
Can anyone recommend a similar or better replacement graphics card within that budget?
Thanks in advance.

Photo of current (broken) card:

 

[mac.tastic]

The 9800 PRO you have is the fastest card that will work in that machine. $120 will not even afford a replacement of the same card. That budget will only afford the significantly weaker 9700.

What makes you say the card is bad?

 

[sysiphus]

The 9800 PRO you have is the fastest card that will work in that machine.

Nope. The AGP G5s can also take the Geforce 6800 GT, 6800 Ultra, Radeon X800, and X850. Any of the above are massively better than a 9800, and can also drive larger displays (30" ACDs). It'll cost you ~200USD for one, though (~£125)

That budget will only afford the significantly weaker 9700.

The Radeon 9700 for Mac will only work in a MDD G4, NOT in any G5.

 

[mac.tastic]

The Radeon 9700 for Mac will only work in a MDD G4, NOT in any G5.

Nope. I have one in my 1.6.

 

[lhoffstadt]

hi, I also have a Mac G5 1.6 with his standar graphic card and I was planning to upgrade this card.
Im not sure if I will used Ubuntu or keep OSX 10.5.8

So based on what has been said here, my options are;

ATI Radeon 9800 PRO, Geforce 6800 GT, 6800 Ultra, Radeon X800, and X850?


is this correct?

what would be best for Ubuntu or OSX?

Thanks

 

[MacCubed]

hi, I also have a Mac G5 1.6 with his standar graphic card and I was planning to upgrade this card.
Im not sure if I will used Ubuntu or keep OSX 10.5.8

So based on what has been said here, my options are;

ATI Radeon 9800 PRO, Geforce 6800 GT, 6800 Ultra, Radeon X800, and X850?


is this correct?

what would be best for Ubuntu or OSX?

Thanks

For Linux, stay away from nVidia cards, the X850XT is the best card for the AGP G5's

 

[MacCubed]

Also, you can get a PC graphics card for cheaper than a Mac edition card, and flash it with a Mac ROM. I have my eyes on an X850XT for 15$ so don't take it!

 

[lhoffstadt]

hahaha, don´t worry, I wont, thanks again for follow up and help me on this.

 

[bunnspecial]

Honestly, I think at this point if you're going to throw money at a G5 it's probably better spent looking for a higher end, dual processor system.

I'd take a dual 1.8 or better with a Radeon 9800 over a 1.6 with a 6800/X800/X850 any day, and the cost to upgrade will be the same if not less.

 

[lhoffstadt]

yes, I think that is a good idea, but I was thinking on replaced the video card on the G5 1.6 so I can install Ubuntu to have better chance with the video drivers

 

[LightBulbFun]

this should go into the Linux thread Properly but based on my quick research I do not think the R4xx (AKA X800 and 850 cards) is supported in PowerPC linux indeed i have had no luck getting a FireGL X3 or X850XT working in PPC linux (altho I plan to play with it a bit today)