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Upgrading old Mac Pro to 8800 GT graphics?

I've just downloaded the CoD 2 demo and had to set everything to medium to make it playable. Also tried it on my MacBookPro and there wasn't much of a difference!! The card clearly is an improvement but not by much!
 
I solved the Crysis crashing problem. Download Rivatuner, set the fan speed to 100%, and up the memory clock speed to 1000 Mhz. It stopped all the problems I was having.
 
Og Oggilby said:
The video card shouldn't help exporting...
Click to expand...

Don't know, it wasn't a specific benchmark I ran, but I exported a couple hundred jpgs and it was definitely clipping along faster than I normally see. I know aperture uses the video card for things other programs don't, but it could have just been the particular files I was working on.

I asked around before I installed my card to see if anyone could tell me a way to benchmark Aperture - I'd be happy to do so and would even reinstall my ATI card to measure and report, but nobody gave me any objective way to do so.

Cheers.
 
I feel I should point out that not all of us are upgrading from an ATI 1900 card with -supposedly- little differences to be seen.

I upgraded from a 7300, and F#$% me, it's night and day...

Installation was a breeze since it's the same company, no drivers to remove, plug in, restart, bam... And it clears the chassis by a couple microns, so no vibrations, no noise, same old silence from the outside...

Couldn't be happier ! Now I'm going to be able to ditch my gaming PC !!! Off to the bootcamp side now ;-)
 
I'm thinking this card is going to smoke in Leo once the 10.5.3 update rolls out. Guess they released the second developer's test version, and we should see the update soon. I was going to wait, but if Fed Ex delivers as promised tomorrow, it will be installed. I update the Bootcamp 2.1 for vista 64 yesterday, and didn't really see any differences although it did update ati and nvidia drivers. Reports I've read revealed other nvidia 8800gt users re-installing the force beta drivers after the update. ?????????????? Guess it wasn't much help
 
I think I got a dud - plugged it in the bottom most slot, fan works very fast, but no display. Plugged in my 7300 back in slot 2 and that gives me display but nothing from the 8800 (plugged second monitor into it to see if it would work but still nothing). Should it show up in the System Profiler ('cos it doesn't)?
 
So, any Halo players HERE?

Does anyone in this thread play Halo? I'm having some visual garbage on the screen and I'm trying to find out if it's the drivers or just my card is a bum one.

BTW, Halo is noticeably faster.

Maury
 
Had mine 2 days. OSX improvements from my 7300GT are not what I expected, sure I get more fps and whatnot but I was expecting much more. It just doesn't feel as fast as it should. Now on Vista, WOW!, this thing is awesome. I play unreal tourney 3 (maxed settings) and world in conflict (high) with DX10 rendering and they run like glass. Graphics are amazing and fan ramps up nicely during gameplay. Very pleased with my windows performance. I am using the 3dguru 174.93 beta drivers on vista x86. Now if Apple would provide us some decent drivers......
 
I've been playing Enemy Territory: Quake Wars on the MAC side and this card is doing just fine. I have the resolution to match my native setting on my monitor 1280 x 1024. The detail on it is great and no fragmentation on any glitches.
 
Got my fingers crossed, hope I'm pleased. Just in on mail:

Apr 26, 2008 7:22 AM

On FedEx vehicle for delivery

NORTHBROOK, IL


7:09 AM

At local FedEx facility

NORTHBROOK, IL


12:10 AM

Departed FedEx location

CHAMPAIGN, IL


Apr 25, 2008 4:56 PM

Arrived at FedEx location

CHAMPAIGN, IL


Apr 23, 2008 11:09 AM

In transit

RENO, NV


7:53 AM

Departed FedEx location

SACRAMENTO, CA


1:16 AM

Arrived at FedEx location

SACRAMENTO, CA


Apr 22, 2008 3:54 PM

Package data transmitted to FedEx
 
Colossus said:
Is there a MAC program to monitor the temperature of a graphic card?
Click to expand...

Sorry, I missed this the first time around, hope you see it!

The answer is "no". Apple, in their infinite wisdom, has not bothered to provide a way to read the temperature in their graphics drivers. It's a real problem.

Maury
 
downset said:
i have the same results, wow everything max, resolution 1680x1050
7300: 15-40 fps
8800: 30-50 fps

doesnt this seem like a very small improvement?
Click to expand...

No, because the Full Screen Glow makes the game look MUCH better, and the game is unplayable with that turned on on the 7300.
 
Og Oggilby said:
Any problems having both cards in the machine at the same time?
Click to expand...

None at all. The 7300 is only running at 8X instead of 16X, but I don't have games on that screen, so no biggee.

I can compare WoW easily though, just drag the window from one screen to the other. With identical settings (FSG enabled) the 7300 is much slower.
 
Well so far I see some improvement in OS X. All my 3d stuff seems more fluid. Like Maya, Cinema 4d etc. Photoshop, Aperture seem to run better. Pixlemator really is smooth doing core effects like bulge, pinch. In photoshop I was amazed moving sliders in filters effects.....thought is was slow but realized thing were in true real time. Windoz was a real pain to install drivers. Kept saying it didn't "see" the card, and that I was trying to put 64bit drivers on a 32bit machine. The latest 174.93 Guru3d drivers worked. Running Cinebench in OS X and Windoz reports way slower preformance although in Windoz, gaming scores and 3d graphics are all pegged at 5.9 in Vista. My R4 visualizer sure looks nice in full 1920 x 1200 doing direct X 10 stuff. Perfectly smooth at a constant 60 fps. I can't even hear my machine anymore
. Even playing Colin McRae Rally in 1920 x 1200 all setting on high. Smooth racing through dirt tracks. Where did the jet engine go when rebooting? At first I thought my machine was broke. (Too quiet) Installing drivers in Linux is turning out to be a hair pulling challenge. Looking forward to better drivers. The lack of noise alone is almost worth the price. With the current drivers, I'd give it a 7......:apple:
 
syth said:
No, because the Full Screen Glow makes the game look MUCH better, and the game is unplayable with that turned on on the 7300.
Click to expand...

Is WoW performance that bad on OSX? I don't know if they added any graphic updates in the latest expansion since I haven't played it, in fact I stopped playing it a while ago. But I got around silky smooth gameplay with everything on high and that resolution a few years ago with my SLI 6800GT cards, I don't remember the FPS exactly, but it was at least 30fps at all times and I think it got into the 60fps range frequently, it looked smooth as butter anyway. I would except the 8800 to perform WAY better than that.

Someone try it on Windows, maybe?
 
Thank you for the feedback.

Maury said:
Sorry, I missed this the first time around, hope you see it!

The answer is "no". Apple, in their infinite wisdom, has not bothered to provide a way to read the temperature in their graphics drivers. It's a real problem.

Maury
Click to expand...
 
Alright. I followed all installation instructions, even printed out and followed the instructions for the MacPro service manual on how to install the graphics card.

BUT I STILL BROKE THE DAMN PLASTIC TAB! ARGH!!!

The only consolation is that everything works well and it appears Aperture 2.0 does run a bit smoother, but I have no benchmarks. One test I did was with Google maps and looked at the satellite terrain maps of the Grand Canyon and panned around the area very smoothly. A big difference compared to the 7300, the 8800 seems quite smooth and updates instantly.

Now my question is this. I have Apple Care for my Mac Pro that I bought in 2007 (MacPro bought Sep 1, 2006) and it extends the warranty out to Sep. 2009. With the 8800, bought from Apple directly, and the broken plastic tab, do I face any service related issues if I have to take my MacPro in for warranty work?
 
You might be fine. Call your local Apple Store to get some clarity, be anonymous LOL. I would ask if there was a way to get that plastic tab replaced too. Don't feel bad I did the same thing and broke that tab (was in a freaking hurry, darn Gin and Tonic) too. Then again I break everything. I'm over all pleased with the card. As for that plastic tab I looked all over the net :rolleyes: to find a replacement part for that tab, if anyone knows a way or how to get that plastic tab replaced let us all know, please. Thanks in advance. As for the tab being broken, its just a retainer clip and its not vital. Just make sure you have the card seated flush in the card slot 1 and firmly snug and have the metal bracket nice and tight. After I installed it I tried to see if I can budge it and its nice and firm in the slot.

MacCurry said:
Alright. I followed all installation instructions, even printed out and followed the instructions for the MacPro service manual on how to install the graphics card.

BUT I STILL BROKE THE DAMN PLASTIC TAB! ARGH!!!

The only consolation is that everything works well and it appears Aperture 2.0 does run a bit smoother, but I have no benchmarks. One test I did was with Google maps and looked at the satellite terrain maps of the Grand Canyon and panned around the area very smoothly. A big difference compared to the 7300, the 8800 seems quite smooth and updates instantly.

Now my question is this. I have Apple Care for my Mac Pro that I bought in 2007 (MacPro bought Sep 1, 2006) and it extends the warranty out to Sep. 2009. With the 8800, bought from Apple directly, and the broken plastic tab, do I face any service related issues if I have to take my MacPro in for warranty work?
Click to expand...
 
On the Mac Pro, the PCIe locking tab is molded into the PCIe slot. Only way you're going to replace it is to replace the motherboard.

I'm really dumbfounded at how many people are breaking this tab off so easily. I've removed and reinstalled PCIe cards on many motherboards with various types of tabs and locking mechanisms and never have broken one. The only thing I can think of is because of the way this locking mechanism is made on the Mac Pro (not unlike some other motherboards, but there are many other variety of locking mechanisms on other motherboards) I'm wondering if it's possibly heat related. The tab on the Mac Pro is just all one piece of molded plastic that you flex away in order to release the card. I'm wondering if heat in the Mac Pro is possibly making the plastic more brittle and making them easier to break.

Either that or perhaps people are just a bit more impatient or using too much force to pull the tab out of the way.
 
I was in a hurry and a dim lighted area so I didn't see it. It wasn't brittle, I was being an impatient dumbazz. Lesson learned. :mad: I'm not worried about it. As long as the MP isn't dropped to jar the card out of the slot, then we are all fine. I do appreciate your info.


tobyg said:
On the Mac Pro, the PCIe locking tab is molded into the PCIe slot. Only way you're going to replace it is to replace the motherboard.

I'm really dumbfounded at how many people are breaking this tab off so easily. I've removed and reinstalled PCIe cards on many motherboards with various types of tabs and locking mechanisms and never have broken one. The only thing I can think of is because of the way this locking mechanism is made on the Mac Pro (not unlike some other motherboards, but there are many other variety of locking mechanisms on other motherboards) I'm wondering if it's possibly heat related. The tab on the Mac Pro is just all one piece of molded plastic that you flex away in order to release the card. I'm wondering if heat in the Mac Pro is possibly making the plastic more brittle and making them easier to break.

Either that or perhaps people are just a bit more impatient or using too much force to pull the tab out of the way.
Click to expand...
 
Colossus said:
I was in a hurry and a dim lighted area so I didn't see it. It wasn't brittle, I was being an impatient dumbazz. Lesson learned. :mad: I'm not worried about it. As long as the MP isn't dropped to jar the card out of the slot, then we are all fine. I do appreciate your info.
Click to expand...

Same crap here.. Ha, I was being careful too. Maybe they are brittle from x1900 heat.. After clamping the back down with the screw plate, I don't see any issues. Even if it was upside down. My card is firmly in place. The piece broke off clean. Maybe next time I clean/organize wires, I'll JB Weld it back in place.

Back to the Linux mission soon. One would think by now Linux would have a Mac like installer....Whatever :rolleyes:
 
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