Could they be doing this just because they can't meet demand for 2008 MP? And it happening at the expense of the <2007 MP 😕 Anyone have any further hope that these cards will ever work on the old MP> 😕😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
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Upgrading old Mac Pro to 8800 GT graphics?
- Thread starter Fezzy
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Could they be doing this just because they can't meet demand for 2008 MP? And it happening at the expense of the <2007 MP 😕 Anyone have any further hope that these cards will ever work on the old MP> 😕😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
Bad news if true - but nothing new...Apple have a different view of video cards from the rest if the PC world.
Very disappointed. 🙁
cal6n
macrumors 68020
Certainly I am. There's no real risk involved. I'm confident that I can get it working with some help from teh internets! Whether I can get it to work in OS X remains to be seen. Apple have to be made to realise that the Intel transition cuts 2 ways. I used to be tied to OS X as much by my hardware as by my choice but I can now switch to windows (XP: I may be annoyed, but I'm not stupid!) or linux any time Apple aren't delivering the goods! My Mac Pro already triple-boots.
Last night, as an experiment, I formatted one of my four hard drives as FAT32 and moved my iTunes library over. I can now use iTunes (OS X), iTunes (XP), WinAmp (XP, including milkdrop 😎 ) and Rythmbox (Ubuntu 64bit) to play my tunes. If I can't get my 8800GT working in OS X, then I can see more files being moved to this "multi-boot readable" section of my system and OS X becoming less relevant to me by the day.
Some may see this as "cutting my nose off to spite my face" but it isn't. At the end of the day, I can do what I do (Theoretical Chemistry/Physics based Nano-science) on any operating system. I will not allow the choice of that system to cripple my hardware.
nihilisticmonk
macrumors 6502
I see,
I'm quite invested in Mac software wise now, and if it turned out the card simply wouldn't boot in os x I'd be gutted. Even if it worked in windows, I can't be bothered to swap my graphics cards around every time I want to play a game.
I guess I'll be canceling my order with apple, unless someone receives a delivery of one promptly and confirms that they work and apples telling porkie pies.
= Teh epic fail.//edit
I've made a new forum post purely to discuss the graphics card upgrade packs from apple not being compatible with the old macpro's.
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=4780578
re: Bioshock?
I own Bioshock and DO play it on my Mac Pro under Windows (via Boot Camp of course.... you can't get anywhere NEAR usable performance in a virtual environment).
I've played it for over an hour at a time with no video issues. (What resolution are you running it in though? Maybe that's part of the issue? I can't recall what mine was set to, but I think I picked something less than the native res. for my 24" LCD panel, just so frame-rates wouldn't suffer too much. Whatever I picked, it was a mode my LCD was able to upscale nicely to fill the display without looking too blocky.)
PCI card fans have been shown to do very little in the way of cooling down systems (PC or Mac). At best, you see maybe a 2 degree (F) drop in overall internal case temps. Pushing air out a little card slot vent hole just doesn't seem to do all that much, unfortunately.
I own Bioshock and DO play it on my Mac Pro under Windows (via Boot Camp of course.... you can't get anywhere NEAR usable performance in a virtual environment).
I've played it for over an hour at a time with no video issues. (What resolution are you running it in though? Maybe that's part of the issue? I can't recall what mine was set to, but I think I picked something less than the native res. for my 24" LCD panel, just so frame-rates wouldn't suffer too much. Whatever I picked, it was a mode my LCD was able to upscale nicely to fill the display without looking too blocky.)
PCI card fans have been shown to do very little in the way of cooling down systems (PC or Mac). At best, you see maybe a 2 degree (F) drop in overall internal case temps. Pushing air out a little card slot vent hole just doesn't seem to do all that much, unfortunately.
Is not compatible with Bootcamp
But Cal6N, Nihilisticmonk, you know that if is a firmware problem Is no compatible with Osx but nor with Bootcamp, with both is incompatible.
The only version that are at least compatible with bootcamp are the PC Market's 8800GTs. At this moment. I think that always finally we will have available Apple 8800 compatible with old macpros but you can wait sitted.
But Cal6N, Nihilisticmonk, you know that if is a firmware problem Is no compatible with Osx but nor with Bootcamp, with both is incompatible.
The only version that are at least compatible with bootcamp are the PC Market's 8800GTs. At this moment. I think that always finally we will have available Apple 8800 compatible with old macpros but you can wait sitted.
For someone who doesn't own a Mac Pro you really have quite an opinion on this matter.
I looked back over your past 15 posts and they are nothing but condescending garbage with nothing but an air of arrogance attached.
You've made your point and obviously have no sympathy for those affected by this unfortunate issue. No sense visiting every thread regarding the 8800GT debacle and e-crapping on everyone's hopes that this will get resolved.
Take your own advice and get a life, or at least take the suggestion of an attitude adjustment and leave this people be. If they end up CHANGING this situation then they have actually accomplished something. Can you say the same?
Oh, to stay on topic I have a Mac Pro affected by this and I am also concerned with the outcome too.
Cheers.
antzona
macrumors regular
I just got off the phone with Nate Doss, in Apple Customer relations. He said he had talked to engineers and all they could tell him was that the 1900XT is the only card I could upgrade to (I have a 7300), and that there are no plans to make the 8800GT compatible with older Mac Pros.
What a crock. I am in total disbelief.
What a crock. I am in total disbelief.
I don't supose you got this guy's e-mail address. I wouldn't mind sending him an e-mail! - I think everyone who's concerned should as well. Does anyone have any other e-mail addresses of people in Apple Comms?
antzona
macrumors regular
No I just have his phone number. 1-916-399-7032
He called me after I sent an email to a rep I dealt with back when I got my Mac Pro DOA.
antzona
macrumors regular
I think it would be fantastic if he had dozens of messages to listen to by the time he comes in to work tomorrow morning. He probably won't be too happy with me, but what do I care? Who knows if he gets bothered enough he might insure that something happens with this issue. Either that or he'll have his phone number changed.
Nate Doss
1-916-399-7032
8am to 5pm (Pacific)
Pressure
macrumors 603
I hope you will consider this. He is just working at Apple and it is not his decision that you cannot upgrade your old Mac Pro model with the new Geforce 8800GT card.
While I agree with you. I do think that he can at least convey the concerns we all have as consumers of Apple Corp. products. If you do not speak up you do not get heard. You have to express your concerns at every outlet available to you. Wether it be via email, discussion boards or phone numbers.
antzona
macrumors regular
Exactly. All Apple employees are just working at Apple. He just happens to be one who is a position that handles customer complaints and concerns. I have no problem with him personally, in fact, he seems like a decent guy. However, I feel like as many people as possible need to express their opinion in this matter to give Apple a realistic idea of what their loyal customers are feeling. Without our feedback they will have no idea how this decision has affected us.
Pressure
macrumors 603
Ok, I was just concerned people would not do it in a polite and thoughtful manner.
Voltaic
macrumors regular
If someone has the time and resources...
I absolutely agree with you (see my previous posts). I sure hope someone is working on a class action against Apple's practices of late, it is just getting out of hand and will bite Mr. Jobs in the ass. And we thought Microsoft was bad...
Where do I sign?!
I absolutely agree with you (see my previous posts). I sure hope someone is working on a class action against Apple's practices of late, it is just getting out of hand and will bite Mr. Jobs in the ass. And we thought Microsoft was bad...
Where do I sign?!
Question: If one was to get a Mac Pro (older or newer I guess) and pops in a PC 8800GT card, would it be possible to install XP or Vista CD natively without bootcamp and just not have OSX on the machine at all? If so, I dont get why any old PC video card wont work then or cant work within OSX on that same computer. Is it not a matter of someone just writing the proper driver?
Question about 8800 cards
Normally the PCs 8800GT come with the necesary cable to connect to Macpro?
Or I need buy some special cable or conversor...?
thanks in advance
Normally the PCs 8800GT come with the necesary cable to connect to Macpro?
Or I need buy some special cable or conversor...?
thanks in advance
Vista 64Bit Edition with SP1 is rumored to support EFI. So I'd assume that you would be able to install a slipstreamed copy natively.
Driver support... well thats another issue!
OK. Got the same email and order put on hold.
As I see it I may as well get it and I then have 14 days for somebody to work out a solution. My downside risk is only £20 restocking fee to return it to Apple and that is if I can't find a buyer who wants to take it off my hands for their new Mac Pro rather than wait 7 weeks from Apple.
As I see it I may as well get it and I then have 14 days for somebody to work out a solution. My downside risk is only £20 restocking fee to return it to Apple and that is if I can't find a buyer who wants to take it off my hands for their new Mac Pro rather than wait 7 weeks from Apple.
TBi
macrumors 68030
The main problem you have here is getting the mac to boot from CD. Without a native mac card you'll only see a black screen on boot up (if it will boot up at all without a mac card) but as soon as it starts booting the windows CD you will get a display and it will work perfectly in windows.
To make sure it boots what you can do is leave the card your mac came with in the machine and when windows is installed you can set windows to use the 8800GT as your main graphics card.
Vista 64 already has EFI. Driver support is there because the card is supported under windows by nVidia.
Dang.
Got contacted by apple finally. Canceled the card as the work schedules dont allow any tinkering in the next few weeks.Pity.
Well,now I have time to watch how this pandoras box unfolds in the forth coming weeks...
Got contacted by apple finally. Canceled the card as the work schedules dont allow any tinkering in the next few weeks.Pity.
Well,now I have time to watch how this pandoras box unfolds in the forth coming weeks...
Digg this article if you own an old Mac Pro...
http://digg.com/apple/Apple_sends_mixed_messages_about_8800_GT
Apple already knows they are screwing this consumer base so they probably couldnt care less that a bunch of old Mac Pro owners are co-miserating privately in some obscure forum. Put this on the front page of Digg for a couple of days and Apple will take note. Digg is a notoriously pro-Apple site with a huge readership including many of its light/ipod consumers. Apple will take note if this gets alot of Diggs. Register and Digg this article up and leave a comment.
http://digg.com/apple/Apple_sends_mixed_messages_about_8800_GT
Apple already knows they are screwing this consumer base so they probably couldnt care less that a bunch of old Mac Pro owners are co-miserating privately in some obscure forum. Put this on the front page of Digg for a couple of days and Apple will take note. Digg is a notoriously pro-Apple site with a huge readership including many of its light/ipod consumers. Apple will take note if this gets alot of Diggs. Register and Digg this article up and leave a comment.