M-323
Level 1
(20 points)
Q: compatible video card for G5 "PowerMac"
so apparently my G5 needs a video card. I was not booting and wouldn't shut down. I reinstalled tiger but no differance.
it will boot in safemode but I get lines across the display. they are in "groups of three" small squiggly lines.
Apple store says they think its video card but they will not support it because its "vintage"... I guess "computer years" are similar to dog years
the card it came with is GeForce 6800 Ultra with 256mb ram.
OWC has a Radeon 5770 with 1G of ram for 270.00
but this card is not compatible with my machine. it says it needs 10.6 or later... but I cannot upgrade the OS cuz leopard requires Intel processor.
so my question is, if a 1G card is 270.00... one that is compatible with my machine should be less I would think?
also, even If I could find a compatible 1G card, I think it would be like having a Ferrari and only using 1st gear you know? cuz I would be bottle necked at the processors.. I would think?
so what is compatible with the G5 but more ram than the current 256mb?
any advise would be greatly appreciated
thanks.
G5 Power Mac, Mac OS X (10.4.11), 2x 2.6Ghz DCPs, 8GB Ram, 4+TB storage Acer X243W
japamac
Level 7
(24,390 points)
The 4670 will not work.
Did you look at the list on the webpage of mine that I linked?
AGAIN, No card other than those that I listed can be used.
AGAIN, No card greater than 256 MB VRAM is availble or can be used.
AGAIN, you need an AGP graphics card that is 8X AGP Mac OS X compatible or it will not work.
The second card that you linked, the X800XT, is a flashed (converted) PC version . It can be used in a Mac because the ROM has been replaced with a Mac ROM.
The card is not OEM, but will work. It does need, however, power to be jumped from the optical drive to the card to be useable.
This shows how:
http://themacelite.wikidot.com/local--files/navsubcat/G5_molex.pdf
The OEM Mac Edition Radeon X800XT looks like this.
This seller has the same flashed X800XT (FireGL), but at a better price.
This 6800 Ultra is cheap.
Another 6800 Ultra.
BTW, as I alluded before, you won't notice any improvement over the Ultra with the X800XT.
This article gives some numbers.
http://www.barefeats.com/radx800.html
All the testing that I have done, as well as hands on use, gives the same result.
No dramatic difference, no palpable difference.
