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Upgrading old Mac Pro to 8800 GT graphics?
- Thread starter Fezzy
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Yikes...people are talking about class action lawsuits over a video card that hasn't even gotten into the hands of the consumer yet? I have to admit I was pretty disappointed when news struck of the 8800GT not being compatible with the older generation Mac Pros but not to the point where I'm losing sleep. I'm actually quite an avid gamer, but since having come over to the Mac when the MP first came out, I've been focusing more on Logic Pro than games.
With the announcement of the 8800GT for the Early 2008 Mac Pros, I thought maybe I can finally play Half-Life 2: The Orange Box, which I purchased about a month ago in attempts to run on my version 00004 ATI Radeon 1900XT. Unfortunately the version 00004s are known to be faulty. There are strange artifacts and polygons that appear on screen when trying to play games such as World of Warcraft, Warcraft III, and many games do not even work for more than 5 mins. in Windows using Bootcamp. Most games ultimately result in crashing my system.
*on a side note it seems people with Applecare are getting these 00004 cards replaced with the mention of Apple knowledge base 305637*
The 8800GT was my means to finally being able to play the games I wanted to play on my Mac while not recording music or sound engineering...that is until news struck of this whole EFI32 vs EFI64 fiasco.
Disappointed? Yes, but I'm not going to cry about it. Even if this does in fact turn out to be true in the end, there are ALWAYS other ways in my opinion. You just have to dig deeper like some of those who flash their cards to work in their systems. Who knows, when the 8800GTs are finally shipped, maybe they'll work without a hitch in the older Mac Pros.
With the announcement of the 8800GT for the Early 2008 Mac Pros, I thought maybe I can finally play Half-Life 2: The Orange Box, which I purchased about a month ago in attempts to run on my version 00004 ATI Radeon 1900XT. Unfortunately the version 00004s are known to be faulty. There are strange artifacts and polygons that appear on screen when trying to play games such as World of Warcraft, Warcraft III, and many games do not even work for more than 5 mins. in Windows using Bootcamp. Most games ultimately result in crashing my system.
*on a side note it seems people with Applecare are getting these 00004 cards replaced with the mention of Apple knowledge base 305637*
The 8800GT was my means to finally being able to play the games I wanted to play on my Mac while not recording music or sound engineering...that is until news struck of this whole EFI32 vs EFI64 fiasco.
Disappointed? Yes, but I'm not going to cry about it. Even if this does in fact turn out to be true in the end, there are ALWAYS other ways in my opinion. You just have to dig deeper like some of those who flash their cards to work in their systems. Who knows, when the 8800GTs are finally shipped, maybe they'll work without a hitch in the older Mac Pros.
All these ati problems boggle my mind, i had a problem where the card overheated but after the card was replaced in oct 2006 i have had no problems with it. And it plays half life at the highest possible settings with no problems. The problem for me is one game,,,,, crysis. That game brings my computer to its knees.
As it does most, although I'm doing OK with the medium settings.
The 1900s have a choked air intake, and you have to blow it out with compressed air once a month or so to prevent it from overheating.
medium? i'm running everything on high except shadows on low, water on low, post processing on medium and game effects on medium. I'm getting around 27-40 fps. Then again i'm running the catalyst drivers and overclocked the memory by 120mhz and the gpu by 50
No doubt! I haven't played with it much yet. So haven't experimented with different settings. I'll follow your suggestions and see how it goes. Thanks.
All we can do is wait until the first costumers get a Mac version of the 8800 GT in their hands.
The wierd part is that if it's true it's cheaper for me to buy a new Mac Pro with an 8800 GT installed. Cause My current Mac Pro is still worth 2000 euro for sure, given that fact it wil cost me a little more then 2300 euro to configure a Mac Pro with one Quad 2.8 and a 8800 GT installed. I have a faster computer in many ways but only less hard drive space. But somehow this all goes against my principles, principles like not helping Apple a hand in screwing over their most loyal fans and buyers. And also it's most likely thinkable that this so called upgradeable machine will be outdated when the Mac Pro 2009 update is released and you still can't get the new stuff that is ment for an upgradeable EXPENSIVE machine.
The wierd part is that if it's true it's cheaper for me to buy a new Mac Pro with an 8800 GT installed. Cause My current Mac Pro is still worth 2000 euro for sure, given that fact it wil cost me a little more then 2300 euro to configure a Mac Pro with one Quad 2.8 and a 8800 GT installed. I have a faster computer in many ways but only less hard drive space. But somehow this all goes against my principles, principles like not helping Apple a hand in screwing over their most loyal fans and buyers. And also it's most likely thinkable that this so called upgradeable machine will be outdated when the Mac Pro 2009 update is released and you still can't get the new stuff that is ment for an upgradeable EXPENSIVE machine.
This is a disaster!
Is the new 8800GT card with EFI64 is not working, because the old mac Pro use EFI32? Or because the new Pro has PCIExpress 2.0 and the old only 1.0?
And what is with the next Video Cards in 1 or 2 years? Can I upgrade the Mac Pro (early 2008)?
Is the new 8800GT card with EFI64 is not working, because the old mac Pro use EFI32? Or because the new Pro has PCIExpress 2.0 and the old only 1.0?
And what is with the next Video Cards in 1 or 2 years? Can I upgrade the Mac Pro (early 2008)?
I know Apple probably don't care, but that would be my concern if I were them. Graphics cards are advancing pretty fast at the moment, and while this may purely be over a firmware issue that may not be present in the future it doesn't look good for potential buyers.
This may be jumping ahead a bit but I'm getting ready to take Apple to Trading Standards in the UK.
As I've already mentioned on this thread I purchased my MP a few months ago after being told in the shop that new graphics cards would become available. I've just tried to phone Treading Standards (in the UK) and got through to an organisation called Consumer Direct who vet the calls initially and pass on cases to Trading Standards.
They told me that there could be a case for 'Verbal Misrepresentation' but it would be much stronger if I had something in writing saying the MPs would be upgradeable.
First of all, does anyone know of any documentation from Apple that talks about upgradeability (of the 'old' MPs)
Second I would urge anyone in the UK who feels similarly to ring Consumer Direct with version of the situation - the more calls they get the more likely they will put a case to the Trading Standards and hopefully the more chance Apple will take note. Their number is:
0845 4040506 (from the UK)
As I've already mentioned on this thread I purchased my MP a few months ago after being told in the shop that new graphics cards would become available. I've just tried to phone Treading Standards (in the UK) and got through to an organisation called Consumer Direct who vet the calls initially and pass on cases to Trading Standards.
They told me that there could be a case for 'Verbal Misrepresentation' but it would be much stronger if I had something in writing saying the MPs would be upgradeable.
First of all, does anyone know of any documentation from Apple that talks about upgradeability (of the 'old' MPs)
Second I would urge anyone in the UK who feels similarly to ring Consumer Direct with version of the situation - the more calls they get the more likely they will put a case to the Trading Standards and hopefully the more chance Apple will take note. Their number is:
0845 4040506 (from the UK)
Upgrading the videocard is something you expect you can do, but I guess Apple will avoid putting effort into making things backwards compatible, unless a huge number of people complain. I don't know all the facts in this case, but most companies will try to fool you of your money if they can.
Following on from my post above regarding going to the Trading Standards, I would also recommend as many people as possible go into their nearest Apple Shop, demand to see the manager and cause a stink telling him/her that you demand your money back unless he/she can guarantee an upgrade card (that works!).
Seriously, this will help get the message through to Apple.
Seriously, this will help get the message through to Apple.
Yes indeed, this thread is so out of control. Why do people think their "I have this" and "I want that" statements, their fps or why they want to upgrade really matters to anybody? IT DOESN'T ! honestly!
This thread started off so good and became rapidly **** - nobody bothers to read whats above ...
Message to apple ? Law suite ... let the card be released - please ....
Jesus, what kind of school work do you do? Advanced scientific and mathematic algorithms? You couldn't buy a Mac Mini to hold you over?
Any advanced engineering course or A/V course would make use of a Mac Pro's power.
ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT Graphics Card in 'old' Mac Pro
From the Apple Mac Pro discussion boards regarding the HD2600XT in 1st gen Mac Pro:
I have tested it. It works (Mac Pro 2,66, first edition). But... the card is SLOWER as the build-in NVIDIA 7300! OpenGL is (a bit faster) but all otherthings run slower (Cinebench 9,5 en XBench 1.3) like the OS X interface elements.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1335086&tstart=0
From the Apple Mac Pro discussion boards regarding the HD2600XT in 1st gen Mac Pro:
I have tested it. It works (Mac Pro 2,66, first edition). But... the card is SLOWER as the build-in NVIDIA 7300! OpenGL is (a bit faster) but all otherthings run slower (Cinebench 9,5 en XBench 1.3) like the OS X interface elements.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1335086&tstart=0
Sure, we need to wait and see if the card actually works in an older Mac Pro. In my opinion, even if the card works in an older Mac Pro, it doesn't absolve Apple of wrong doing in this incident.
I am upset that they have not actively pursued the creation of graphics cards for older Mac Pros. This was a computer that was advertised as "expandable". It is now 16 months later and they are releasing a revised Mac Pro with new graphics card options and they don't know if they will work in older Mac Pros. Actually they are calling people and telling them that they won't work, after ambiguously advertising them on their online store. That is frustrating and unacceptable to me. They should have known long before these cards went on sale that they wouldn't work in an older Mac Pro and advertised them as such. They should have also already worked out a way to make sure that all their customers who spent good money on Mac Pros as little as two weeks ago would also have a way to upgrade their graphics cards. Even if the card happens to work in older Mac Pros I am still going to be upset that Apple left this detail to chance. It shows a total disregard for their loyal customers. Call it whining and childish if you want. I can handle that.
I am upset that they have not actively pursued the creation of graphics cards for older Mac Pros. This was a computer that was advertised as "expandable". It is now 16 months later and they are releasing a revised Mac Pro with new graphics card options and they don't know if they will work in older Mac Pros. Actually they are calling people and telling them that they won't work, after ambiguously advertising them on their online store. That is frustrating and unacceptable to me. They should have known long before these cards went on sale that they wouldn't work in an older Mac Pro and advertised them as such. They should have also already worked out a way to make sure that all their customers who spent good money on Mac Pros as little as two weeks ago would also have a way to upgrade their graphics cards. Even if the card happens to work in older Mac Pros I am still going to be upset that Apple left this detail to chance. It shows a total disregard for their loyal customers. Call it whining and childish if you want. I can handle that.
Apple cancelled my order for the 8800 yesterday
As of today, If older mac pros can be converted then the fix won't be from Apple. I ordered the card and a day later (yesterday), they called to tell me that it's not compatible. My Mac Pro is only a few months old so it's really annoying!!!!
::I::
As of today, If older mac pros can be converted then the fix won't be from Apple. I ordered the card and a day later (yesterday), they called to tell me that it's not compatible. My Mac Pro is only a few months old so it's really annoying!!!!
::I::You mean owning a workstation is a requirement for enrolling in an engineerring curriculum? Wow! I would think that any respectable school would have a computer lab available to students 24/7 for this type of stuff. Owning a Mac Pro is really just a luxury, let's not kid ourselves. Anybody that says "I knew new MPs were just around a corner, but I had to have one right that minute" is delusional.
I put up my order the other day with the release, and the euro store just confirmed the order, to be delivered by 23-24 jan. They didn't call or email as of yet to tell me anything. I'm not cancelling, so if there's nothing new until then, you'll know that day if it's compatible or not. My MP is from November of 2006, model MacPro1,1.
I just know I'm not buying an ATI card ever again, even if upgrading my system depends on a Nvidia card being ort not in the new tower model that may come whenever I look to upgrade.
I just know I'm not buying an ATI card ever again, even if upgrading my system depends on a Nvidia card being ort not in the new tower model that may come whenever I look to upgrade.
No, I just gave an example of where a Mac Pro would be useful. I never said anything about it being required or a necessity. I got by fine with a Macbook Pro when I did video editing, but I could have just as easily have used a Macbook like my professor did.
Good. Lord. People have completely and totally lost their minds of this "issue" which may not even be one.
http://www.macnn.com/articles/08/01/11/8800gt.not.for.old.pros/
I am sorry to say, as I have in these forums in the past, Apple's intent is to LIMIT what, when and at what price we obtain upgrades. Sink a fortune on any Apple product only to have few if any upgrade options.
Instead of a large upgrade market since the Intel move, Mac's options seem fewer than ever. If Apple doesn't stand to make a twisted buck, well then you won't get it. My guess is the firmware or retail version of the 8800GT for the older Mac Pro will appear eventually.
Mac users should let Apple know we won't stand for this kind of manipulation.
You mean you don't need to run through several jobs of bach processing 'cause you just landed a big job and you will not meet your dateline since your MBP or iMac is taking so long you spent two night without sleep watching the screen process your PSD files?
Then yes, you are correct, having a MP is a luxury item. Wish i could include my self in that sort of wishful thinking.
Enjoy your Mac and Apple give the F#$% card I need! Please?