Will any of these Graphic Cards work with a Mac Pro 1.1 ?

[d3vCr0w]

Hi people, thsis is my first post in the forum, I hope I get some help, thanks in advance.

I recently got a first generation Mac Pro and I'm looking forward to upgrade the Graphics Card in order to be able to at least install Mavericks or Yosemite on it, since most software I need is not compatible with Lion.

I'm on a budget right now, so I'm going cheap with this, searching for local stores I found this cards (in order from the cheapest one):

- Sapphire HD 4550 1GB
- nVidia GT 210 1GB
- nVidia Geforce 8400 GS 1GB
- nVidia GT 520 1GB
- AMD ATI Radeon Sapphire HD 5670 1GB
- AMD Radeon 6450 1GB
- AMD Radeon 8570 1GB
- ATI Radeon HD 8490 1GB

Honestly I don't know much about graphic cards, Can somebody please tell me if any of these cards will work on the original Mac Pro? I don't care if I don't see the boot logo, as long as they work and mean at least an improvement in comparison to the actual nVidia GeForce 7300 GT 256MB it currently has.

I hope the are still available by the time I get any reply.

Thanks

 

[fendersrule]

None of those cards probably give native support, but I'm sure a pro here will be able to tell you which has a chance. Why don't you just use what Apple has been using in their Mac Pros?

Cheapies:

8800GT
4870 HD
5770 HD

 

[d3vCr0w]

None of those cards probably give native support, but I'm sure a pro here will be able to tell you which has a chance. Why don't you just use what Apple has been using in their Mac Pros?

Cheapies:

8800GT
4870 HD
5770 HD

But will they at least work? These are not that cheap in my country and importing them from the USA is quite expensive, that's why I was looking for something I could purchase here locally

 

[joeteu]

Hello, d3vCr0w
I am wondering if you ever had luck replacing your Mac Pro 1,1 graphics card. I am into a similar situation today with this old - but still very useful - computer, wondering if there could be a somehow available replacement for the original NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT... any feedback will be very much appreciated. Regards!

 

[jbarley]

Hello, d3vCr0w
I am wondering if you ever had luck replacing your Mac Pro 1,1 graphics card. I am into a similar situation today with this old - but still very useful - computer, wondering if there could be a somehow available replacement for the original NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT... any feedback will be very much appreciated. Regards!

Here you go, take your pick...
the first on the list is brand new and appears to the best price.
I've had good success purchasing from China, you just have to be patient.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...TRS0&_nkw=nvidia+geforce+7300+gt+mac&_sacat=0

 

[joeteu]

Here you go, take your pick...
the first on the list is brand new and appears to the best price.
I've had good success purchasing from China, you just have to be patient.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...TRS0&_nkw=nvidia+geforce+7300+gt+mac&_sacat=0

Thanks so much, jbarley ! On my way.

 

[d3vCr0w]

Hello, d3vCr0w
I am wondering if you ever had luck replacing your Mac Pro 1,1 graphics card. I am into a similar situation today with this old - but still very useful - computer, wondering if there could be a somehow available replacement for the original NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT... any feedback will be very much appreciated. Regards!

Hey joeteu, sorry for the late reply, I purchased an EVGA GeForce GT 640 2GB DDR3 and it worked with my Mac Pro, the thing is that when I turn it on I just see a black screen (no Apple loading screen), but besides that, it works fine. Regarding the replacement for the original graphics card, jbarley already covered you up.

 

[joeteu]

Hey joeteu, sorry for the late reply, I purchased an EVGA GeForce GT 640 2GB DDR3 and it worked with my Mac Pro, the thing is that when I turn it on I just see a black screen (no Apple loading screen), but besides that, it works fine. Regarding the replacement for the original graphics card, jbarley already covered you up.

Thank you for sharing this, d3vCr0w. Interesting stuff the no-apple-loading issue, but as long as it works... good luck to you!

 

[jbarley]

I picked up a GeForce GT 640 2GB off eBay and it works, plus I get the boot screen.
Just by luck the card I purchased had been flashed to get the boot screen.

 

[tsialex]

I picked up a GeForce GT 640 2GB off eBay and it works, plus I get the boot screen.
Just by luck the card I purchased had been flashed to get the boot screen.

View attachment 779960

Did you buy lottery tickets too? You’re a lucky one.

 

[d3vCr0w]

I picked up a GeForce GT 640 2GB off eBay and it works, plus I get the boot screen.
Just by luck the card I purchased had been flashed to get the boot screen.

View attachment 779960

Do you know any guide on how to flash it? I didn't know that card could be flashed, wouln't have spent so much money on the flashed Radeon HD 5870.

 

[jbarley]

Do you know any guide on how to flash it? I didn't know that card could be flashed, wouln't have spent so much money on the flashed Radeon HD 5870.

Sorry but I can't help you with that, maybe you'll get lucky and someone else on this forum can offer more info.