What Video Card for my 2006 Mac Pro?

[Wakashizuma]

Hello everyone,
I have a 2006 Mac Pro with 7300GT and I'm thinking about upgrading the video card since Photoshop takes advantage of GPU and Lightroom will also in not too distant future. The system is still fast for my needs so all I want is a GPU upgrade
What are my options?

Thank you in advance

 

[Eidorian]

3870 else flashed 4870.

 

[bozz2006]

4870

 

[Wakashizuma]

4870

Apple's website says that it is not compatible with my Mac Pro (Only supporting 2008 and 2009 models). Does this work my Mac? Is it supported by Snow Leopard for GPU processing?

 

[Cindori]

Yes the 4870 works fine if you have 10.5.7.


And btw, there are like 10 of these threads "what vid card for my mac" on only page 1 and 2.

 

[gugucom]

3870 else flashed 4870.

3870 needs a better cooler for most users. It is way too loud with the stock cooler.

 

[MacVidCards]

3870 needs a better cooler for most users. It is way too loud with the stock cooler.

There are 3870s on Ebay with the larger, 2 slot cooler.

Couple different vendors

 

[gugucom]

There are 3870s on Ebay with the larger, 2 slot cooler.

Couple different vendors

But when they are original Mac&PC Editions by ATI they are crap too, just like the original x1900XT cooler was. General rule of thumb, it needs heat pipes and a fan with a sophisticated blade geometrie that blows out at the second slot. Akasa makes an excellent one for 19$. Or use an expensive passive sink.

Don't bother with flashing any PC 3870. Most will not work due to EEPROM size and other HW incompatibilities.

 

[JPamplin]

I have the 3870 with the Accelero S1 rev 2 - silent, highly recommended.

Pics: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/745426/

JP