Upgrading old Mac Pro to 8800 GT graphics?

[Kuraudo]

My options right now.
Only solutions.

A. Sell Mac Pro , buy q6600, 8800GT based PC with high upgradeability.
Use alternative apps such as Avisynth instead of final Cut, Sony Acid Music instead of Garageband..
Make a profit still and use the rest for a ps3 that I so want so badly, live comfortably.

B. Wait for an EFI . I wonder how long that will be
and pay for an overpriced 8800GT and sell the x1900 xt.
Still remembering the past incident with the insecurity if Mac Pro is really a machine that will have future gfx expansion.

C. Sell the Mac Pro and have a huge cut in my wallet to upgrade
to a new machine, but it very well could have the same scenario without a "good" gfx card upgrade path.

I deal primarily in 3d graphics and windows based Audio editing. I was a Mac convert from the PC world and also a gamer. In my opinion, a simple mistake for not clarifying the situation with the 8800GT and IF there is no upgrade path for the older Mac pro (unconfirmed) then I'm positive Apple has lost all of their PC gamer converts.

Anyways, some people are extreme in their anger, but the truth of the matter is that the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
If no one complained well, I'm sure Apple would save money and not allow us to upgrade to 8800GT if we don't care.

So whats the big deal making an efi? Is it hard to make? If guys on this site know how to do it, I'm sure apple can copy and paste your code if they are lazy to do it.

 

[Pressure]

That is offensive. You are quite an ass. To mock those of us who have been shafted by apple is one thing, but to make light of 9/11 is quite another. You should be ashamed.

I've always heard people rail against apple fanboys, but I'm seeing a real taste of it firsthand in this thread.

I found it quite funny.

Although I would have liked it more like this

 

[Sean Dempsey]

If you think I'm making light of 9-11, you are very, very misguided.

I am making light of people treating 8800gate like it's a real life tragedy. Hopefully I don't offend any Nixon fans with this gem:

 

[yellow]

OK, message received. You can stop now.

 

[AdvocateUK]

I just tried asking an Applestore representative via their online chat here in the UK if the 8800GT will work in my Mac Pro. He gave me their tech support number which is unfortunately now closed

I'll give them a ring tomorrow and let you all know what they say.

 

[cal6n]

I just tried asking an Applestore representative via their online chat here in the UK if the 8800GT will work in my Mac Pro. He gave me their tech support number which is unfortunately now closed

I'll give them a ring tomorrow and let you all know what they say.

Personally, I reckon that'll prove nothing. Until someone physically brings the two halves of this equation together, the result will remain unknown.

Exciting though, isn't it?

 

[technocoy]

the fact is...

If you don't own a mac pro and don't know any of these people's individual trials and tribulations with it and their current cards, customer service, warranty issues, etc, then just stay the hell out of the thread instead of antagonizing everyone else who DO feel the need for concern.

Obviously we are all logic-less creatures who don't deserve the presence of such an all-knowing, level-headed, logical god such as yourself. Please, leave us to wallow in our own self pity over the 3000 dollar machine that we bought with our non-godlike limited cash flows.

It's not about a simple card, it's about a 3000 dollar machine that was purchased with the implied and anticipated idea that it would be upgradeable through manufacturer supplied parts within a reasonable limit.

And so far, mister logic, all roads point to it NOT being an upgrade option for current users. By your logic, when something seems wrong or messed up we should all give it infinite time before we even begin to suspect something is afoul, which, by all reason would actually put us in the realm of our machines actually being outdated and therefore not warranting an upgrade solution, thereby making out arguments truly null.

In every visible way AT THE MOMENT it appears that we are being screwed. IF in 6 months to a decade apple decides to give us another option, well then I'll risk looking like an ass for being inappropriately upset NOW.

 

[TransientWolf]

Conspiracy theory...........

The cards work in old Mac Pros but because they are in short supply, and Apple need them for the BTO on the new MP's, they are phoning everybody up telling them they won't work and to cancel their orders.....

Seriously though. They may not want old Mac Pro users grabbing all the 8800 cards until they finish with the initial rush of new orders for the new machine. So they don't allow it to work initially but once they have made shedloads of cash on the initial orders for new ones, and things calm down, they will then release a $25 unlocking software EFI update thingymibob that means the card will work!

Getting bored with all this now - think I'll just wait till the 21st and then I'll know for sure

 

[akadmon]

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?

In case you didn't notice, I was talking about college students, not people who are in business for themselves

For me my MP is a luxury. I bought it because I could afford it.Same with the new MBP I'll be buying for my college bound kid. She'd probably be fine with a MB. Oh well, silly me

BTW, I'm so glad I got my 2006 MP with the lowly Nvidia 7300 video card. I get a chuckle every time I hear the stories of people being on their second, third, or fourth ATI card. He laughs who laughs last

 

[Kuraudo]

Thats a nice theory you have. The 21st huh?
Is that when Mac world is?

Conspiracy theory...........

The cards work in old Mac Pros but because they are in short supply, and Apple need them for the BTO on the new MP's, they are phoning everybody up telling them they won't work and to cancel their orders.....

Seriously though. They may not want old Mac Pro users grabbing all the 8800 cards until they finish with the initial rush of new orders for the new machine. So they don't allow it to work initially but once they have made shedloads of cash on the initial orders for new ones, and things calm down, they will then release a $25 unlocking software EFI update thingymibob that means the card will work!

Getting bored with all this now - think I'll just wait till the 21st and then I'll know for sure

 

[AdvocateUK]

Thats a nice theory you have. The 21st huh?
Is that when Mac world is?

I think that's when he's due to get his 8800GT, mine is due 23-24th.

 

[AdvocateUK]

Personally, I reckon that'll prove nothing. Until someone physically brings the two halves of this equation together, the result will remain unknown.

Exciting though, isn't it?

Actually although part of me is angry at Apple for all this confusion, yeah it is a bit exciting lol

Now I must go and get ready for work (I hate night shifts). Hopefully the patients will stay away like last night and I can continue to post through the night

 

[Umbongo]

Conspiracy theory...........

The cards work in old Mac Pros but because they are in short supply, and Apple need them for the BTO on the new MP's, they are phoning everybody up telling them they won't work and to cancel their orders.....

Seriously though. They may not want old Mac Pro users grabbing all the 8800 cards until they finish with the initial rush of new orders for the new machine. So they don't allow it to work initially but once they have made shedloads of cash on the initial orders for new ones, and things calm down, they will then release a $25 unlocking software EFI update thingymibob that means the card will work!

Getting bored with all this now - think I'll just wait till the 21st and then I'll know for sure

I think you may well be spot on with this.

 

[Kuraudo]

How often does Steve Jobs pull jokes?
I've heard somewhere that Steve Jobs pulls off the oddest ideas, that may sound ludicrous in the beginning just before Mac World, that may cause huge spurts of anger, confusion and excitement and draw attention to Apple. But then later bringing something better and unexpected

Is this one of them?

I don't know how to react , but I have very little time to make a decision, to cash in some huge offers.
By selling my Mac on Ebay, I have the opportunity to have leftover cash to pay some bills, to get a ps3,(the 5 free Blu Ray movies ends at the end January) still have a good PC computer , and possibly run osx in vmware? The special sales of the computers might end soon too.

 

[MikeL]

Some of you people think the world begins and ends with Apple. It doesn't. Apple has never made a video card upgrade for hardware it no-longer sells.

Lobby Nvidia's card makers. If you're not stuck on Nvidia, lobby ATI to release a current higher-end card. That's the way this market has traditionally been satisfied.

Show manufacturers that there is sufficient demand, and they will satisfy it. Lobbying Apple will accomplish nothing.

 

[Kuraudo]

You're right. ATi if they are smart they could take this golden opportunity and release a video card with just a small efi update and everyone would flee to ATi. Nvidia would lose this sales opportunity to Ati, realize the loss and try to fix it too.
But doesn't Apple have to approve of it and if they don't they cant release it?

Some of you people think the world begins and ends with Apple. It doesn't. Apple has never made a video card upgrade for hardware it no-longer sells.

Lobby Nvidia's card makers. If you're not stuck on Nvidia, lobby ATI to release a current higher-end card. That's the way this market has traditionally been satisfied.

Show manufacturers that there is sufficient demand, and they will satisfy it. Lobbying Apple will accomplish nothing.

 

[MikeL]

You're right. ATI if they are smart they could take this golden opportunity and release a video card with just a small efi update and everyone would flee to ATi, thus Nvidia would lose this sales opportunity , realize the loss and try to fix it too.
But doesn't Apple have to approve of it ?

No. Why would they? ATI and other companies have made video upgrades for Apple products for two decades. There's no Apple-mandated certification process.

Why aren't there any MP video upgrades out? In part because the card makers haven't seen enough demand. The last upgrade card to come out was a Radeon 1950 for the PCIe G5s.

I wouldn't at all be surprised to see an ATI card announced at MWSF next week. At the same time, there's no harm in calling/writing ATI and expressing interest. If enough people do that, a product will come out.

There are obviously plenty of people here who want new video cards. Take that desire and direct it in a way that'll actually produce results.

 

[Sean Dempsey]

If you don't own a mac pro and don't know any of these people's individual trials and tribulations with it and their current cards, customer service, warranty issues, etc, then just stay the hell out of the thread instead of antagonizing everyone else who DO feel the need for concern.

I do own a Mac Pro (2006).

I do want a upgraded video card for it, I use it for work but also my addiction to World of Warcraft. An 8800 card would be great. I planned on buying one when I heard them announced on tuesday.

I have had warranty issues: I had a housecall where they replaced my bluetooth card.

I have a much of a right to be here as ANYONE, seeing as how I'm the proposed "victim" of this.

 

[thasoul]

The new HD 2600 works fine in the old mac pro models (!)

This has been confirmed by the german mac forum: http://www.mactechnews.de/forum/thread.html?id=238244&page=2

 

[MacsRgr8]

Holy cr@p!!!

I read this thread until page 14, and then decided to quit reading further and post something.
Some are willing to ditch Apple entirely because of this upgrade not being available now??

Please people! All right!! I understand you lot are disappointed in not getting this 8800 GT card in the 2006 Mac Pro, but that doesn't mean you lot will not get an upgrade at all. Just not this PCI 2.0 EFI64 specific one that is now inside the 2008 Mac Pro.

But there are a couple of options:
- nVidia 8800 GT(S?) card will come for EFI32, or
- ATi will deliver the goods and come up with either a X2900 XT card or maybe the X3xxx series.

Similar stuff has happened to the G5 a few years ago.
Maybe nVidia is not making enough EFI-compatible 8800's to let Apple sell them to the older Mac Pro's.

Please, be patient.

 

[apfhex]

Some are willing to ditch Apple entirely because of this upgrade not being available now??

Not entirely. I think a lot of us would just think twice about future "Pro" machines from Apple — what's the point of upgradeability if there are no upgrades? (and yes, I know there are many OTHER reasons to have a Mac Pro, but the graphics performance is kind of important).

But I know I and others are overreacting and it's entirely too early to know what will happen. It's just frustrating that Apple was unclear about the 8800 upgrade and that's kind of given us who have been waiting quite some time for an upgrade (not just an upgrade, but a card that's not as faulty as the X1900 XT ) a bad vibe.

 

[timb]

Screw it, being polite and patient gets you nowhere with a corporation these days. I think everyone here is well within their right to flip out about this.

The X1900 is a ridiculously bad card, and for Apple to still be trying to squeeze $400 out of us while screwing us over on a better, faster, cheaper card? You're damn right we're pissed.

 

[MacsRgr8]

It's just frustrating that Apple was unclear about the 8800 upgrade and that's kind of given us who have been waiting quite some time for an upgrade

I understand that.
It was very unprofessional to start selling the upgrade, and then stopping it.

There might be another reason for stopping it. Maybe Apple found out that most new Mac Pro customers wanted the optional 8800 as CTO, and started to panic a little, and claimed EFI incompatibility to stop upgrade sales...
Why would Apple have started the upgrade sale of the 8800 in the first place?

Typical Apple... always underestimating the need for better grfx. Now I think they are starting to understand.

So, IMHO they will get a proper grfx upgrade for the 2006 Mac Pro. Either nVidia or ATi.
Just not this 8800 GT card.... they need it too much for the current Mac Pro sales.

 

[MikeL]

Idiots.

 

[exspes]

It's just that in paying a premium for a computer, one expects premium level of support.

What apple SHOULD be doing in constantly working with Ati and NVidia to bring a large quantitity of cards on board and working with OSX.

What they at LEAST should do is release another version of the 8800 with a 32efi rom.