where can I buy the new NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT for my existing Mac Pro?

You wouldn't? Why ever not? Let's see, WOW 116fps, the HD2600 32. UT2004, 230fps versus 110.

But it's the WoW test that really clinches it for me, the HD2600 is obviously not a card for games.

I just found out about this -- very frustrating! I desperately need to upgrade my video card for Aperture.. 😟 Anyone heard any updates about them releasing a compatible card?? The last I saw was a mention in January on appleinsider about "in a few weeks" ... but I've seen nothing since then.

Will,

If you want it for Aperture (not gaming ) then the 2600 is as good as or better than the 8800 according to Rob_Art's tests at Barefeats

Mike

I bought a EVGA 8800GT I had to put the mac pro firmware on the graphics card but it works fine after that.

Can you provide details on how you got the rom, how you installed the rom, and if you needed a PC to do it on?

Also, specific model info and or SKU would be great.

Yea to be honest I am very new to Macs.. So for me it was a rather painful process to find out what the deal was.. My main problem was getting a boot cd and the flash files on the same CD and make it usable.. I eventually just formatted one of my drives as a FAT partition and that worked. Once I had the method it was no big deal.
I just bought my Mac a couple days ago.


What you need:
-DOS boot CD or MS-DOS or USB dos boot something that will recognize a internally formated FAT partition with the flash program and the rom..
Boot CD I used http://gog33k.com/MS-DOSBootCD.nrg (it is a nero image)
-nvflash.exe (flash program)
-mp8800gt.rom (mac pro rom)
-8800GT with 1024 kb of flashable rom memory.. (which you can check with nvflash)
-Power cable for motherboard if you don't have it from here
http://shop.ati.com/product.asp?sku=3280778
You can also use the split 4 pin cables to 6 pin if you have it and use your extra CD rom power cable to power that.. but you can't close the cover that way.
Optional -
If you have another ATI video card or some other card you can put in as well I think that would be helpful if your flash does not take to flash it back.. Though I had no problems. If your other card is another nvidia you will need to specify which card you are working with the nvflash commands. like "nvflash --index=0 -4 -5 -6 mc8800gt.rom"
the --index=0 would be your first device..

Warning: Someone on some of these forums suggested booting with one video card and taking it out while the machine is running and putting in another card.. I cannot stress how incredibly dumb of a idea that is for what should be obvious reason of damage to hardware and electrocution.

Download the files for the flash and MacPro rom
http://www.palmirapdc.ca/8800GTflashtoMac.zip

Instructions..
1. format a hard drive to fat with disk utility
2. copy the flash and rom files to the hard drive. Make sure you uncompress them. 3. boot from dos CD
4. c: (or change to wherever the files are)
5. nvflash --check (around the last line it will show you how much rom memory you have to work with you need 128Kx8S, 64 will not work..
EXAMPLE : NOT GOOD = EEPROM ID (9D, 7B) : PMC Pm25LV512 2.7-3.6V 64Kx8S, page <-- the key part that was important was the 64K you want it to say 128K
if(you have 128K)
6. nvflash --save BackupofOld.rom (backs up your old rom)
7. nvflash.exe -4 -5 -6 mp8800gt.rom (flashes new rom you will be prompted just select y for yes over and over..

That should be it..
If it doesn't work flash back to your backup
nvflash.exe -4 -5 -6 BackupofOld.rom


List of working cards

millisecond: PNY VCG88512GXPB green pcb 128k
aLoC: Inno3d 64k
aLoC: Inno3d reference model (no overclock) 128k
smgfreak: PNY VCG88512GXPB 64k
SuperGrobi: XFX 8800GT alphadog XXX PV-T88P-YHD4 64k
AGDenton: Gainward 8800GT 1G red pcb 64k
smgfreak: Sparkle 512MB 600MHz 64k
smgfreak: PNY VCG88512GXPB 64k
mrcandy: EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR 128k
giantsfan1975: E-VGA 8800 GT 128k
smgfreak: Sparkle 8800GT FEB 2008 REV 1.2 64k
abisai: E-VGA e-GeForce 8800 GT Superclocked 128k
smgfreak: ZOTAC with blue pcb 64k
rhildinger: BFG BFGR88512GTOCE 128k
antsh: XFX PVT88PYDD4 alphadog 128k
vortigern: Inno3d i-8800GT-H5GTCDS green pcb 64k
smgfreak: LEADTEK PX8800GT 512MB ZL (A JAN 2008) 128k
AGDenton: BFG BFGR88512GTOCE 128k
SuperGrobi: XFX alphadog PV-T88P-YDDA black pcb 128k
hadleydb: BFG BFGR88512GTOCE 64k
hadleydb: MSI NX8800GT-T2D512E-OC Nov. green pcb 128k
bartdesign: eVGA 8800 GT KO 512-P3-E802-AE 128k
inCider: eVGA 512-P3-N801-FR (image problems) 128k
inCider: XFX PVT88PYDE4 (image problems) 128k
thagomizer: PNY VCG88512GXPB 64k
slackpacker: PNY VCG88512GXPB 64k
HansG: MSI NX8800GT-T2D512E-OC 128k
Spybreak: XFX alphadog PV-T88P-YDE4 black 01/08 128k





Sources-
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=9689
Probably more detailed..
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=434092&page=10

About flashing the mac firmware onto a PC version 8800 -- the impression I got was that that solution still won't get a card working on older Mac Pros, and (like Apple's card) will only work for recent (2008) Mac Pros. Particularly from this page of the thread:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=434092&page=11

Yes I agree with that.. If that would have fixed it for old mac pros then apple would be offering the upgrade.. Maybe if they release a new firmware in the future though..

How come, no official response from apple on this subject? It has been widely discussed on many forums..

It is odd that there has been silence. It's my understanding that they are waiting on nVidia to produce the legacy version which Apple will sell as a kit on their site.

It's an easy fix to replace the 64-bit EFI driver with a 32-bit EFI driver -- unless they changed their mind and decided to make a version that works on all Mac Pros (with both EFI drivers). That is a little more involved than just a legacy version.

wheres the card, Apple?

any update from apple??

Thanks Mike. After enough reading I decided not to wait for an 8800, and went ahead and ordered a 2600. Note to others though -- apparently Apple doesn't actually SUPPORT the 2600 in older mac pros, although plenty of people seem to report it working fine under Leopard. And note that it does NOT work under Tiger, as there are no drivers for it under 10.4 (it boots up, but no quartz extreme or second monitor). I'm having to install leopard now..

I think that it is important that Apple see this at the top of their forums list everyday. They regularly do a great job.
In this instance they are not. They do read these forums and should listen to their customers, especially when it is as important as this.

I wish apple stop expecting:
1. us buy a new Mac Pro every time a new model arrives, we don't have the money.
2. Stop saying it upgradeable if you can't use the latest graphic cards - the only difference is with a pro mac you can change the graphic card, as i see it and that 2 years old.

Interestingly another member supplied this link that may again through much speculation.

http://www.neowin.net/news/main/08/01/20/nvidia-8800gt-option-for-older-mac-pros -soon

This is crazy. I am in Europe, the card for my Jan 2007 Mac pro PCIe arrived, (I had ATI1900) and it doesnt work. I called Apple support and after a long hour they called the main ingeneer and he said it should work. I keep reading that PCIe is not compatible with PCI 2.0 card. Also read: http://bindapple.com/nvidia-will-update-8800gt-cards-to-work-with-older-mac-pros /

Help!