Hi folks - not to beat a dead horse, but before ordering a brand spanking new 4870 for the ridiculously high price of $350, I just wanted to make sure that it's going to work in my dual-core, first-gen Mac Pro 2.66? Also considering a 3870 for about $200 at OWC.
I'm going to primarily be using it for Motion, Photoshop, and FCP, and I'm currently working with a 7800GT.
Well I've heard enough to take the plunge, purchased Apple's ATI 4870 and Leopard 10.5.6 today for my 1.1. I do hope it works! I'm driven to it as I'm doing an awful lot of HD editing, and Motion has always creaked on my 1900XT, to the point where I avoided it for HD projects.
Fingers crossed. I hope it all works with my 24" Benq monitor!
Right then. Upgraded to Leopard, now it did it's own software update, and found the server for the first time, never found the 'local server' on Tiger always had to go looking on for the updates manually. Relieved I didn't have to reinstall any software, as the Leopard install says the Boot Drive is going to be wiped clean and everything lost. In point of fact, everything remains as it was prior to install.
Decided to install the Apple supplied HD4870 myself. The documentation could be clearer, only found the graphic card latch (behind the graphics card where you can't see but only feel the latch) after just forcing the the card out. Anyway couldn't remove the original power supply cable off the motherboard, so left it and just connected with it and another cable to connect power, to the card Card pushed in okay.
Turned on the power booted up fine.
Only just done it an hour ago, but seems fine. Final Cut Pro, fine, not much extra performance noted, but maybe it looked a little better. Motion on the other hand was a revelation, with RAM previews flying compared to 1900XT. Think Motion now has engine, for my edit suite, that I might endeavour to get into it properly, I've only had it for 2 years!
So in short, 1st Gen Mac Pro 1.1 can use be upgraded with Apple's HD4870, it does work, and on Motion certainly. You could fit it yourself, but you do need to upgrade to Leopard first.
Well, just got my Radeon 4870 card and popped it in and it works like a charm.
I have dual monitors too and I am not seeing the jumpy mouse issue others are seeing. Here are the spec's on my MacPro. As you can see I have two Dell monitors. My mouse is a Logitech MX Revolution wireless 3 button mouse.
I know the card is not running as fast as it could but it is still going a darn sight faster than what I had. As Einstein said, all things are relative.
Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro1,1
Processor Name: Dual-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz
Number Of Processors: 2
Total Number Of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB
Memory: 9 GB
ATI Radeon HD 4870:
Chipset Model: ATI Radeon HD 4870
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
Slot: Slot-1
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 512 MB
ROM Revision: 113-B7710C-176
EFI Driver Version: 01.00.318
Displays:
DELL 2405FPW:
Resolution: 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
Depth: 32-Bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Rotation: Supported
DELL 2001FP:
Resolution: 1600 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
Depth: 32-Bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Rotation: Supported
After reading this thread, I took the plunge on a 4870 that I bought at the Apple Store. It installed easily on my mid-late 2007 Mac Pro Dual-Core 2.66 GHz system. I fired up the system and everything works perfectly on my 30" Apple Cinema Display. No jerky mouse movements. Photoshop works fine too, even with very large image files. Looking forward to upgrading my system to Snow Leopard a little later.
That's nice to hear. I have just purchased ATI 4780 and will receive it after the Bank Holiday weekend. I can't wait then I can upgrade to now Leopard. Will this card work with the new 24" Apple monitors? does anyone know
Northern Munkee wrote:
Right then.
Decided to install the Apple supplied HD4870 myself.
Only just done it an hour ago, but seems fine. Final Cut Pro, fine, not much extra performance noted, but maybe it looked a little better. Motion on the other hand was a revelation, with RAM previews flying compared to 1900XT. Think Motion now has engine, for my edit suite, that I might endeavour to get into it properly, I've only had it for 2 years!
So in short, 1st Gen Mac Pro 1.1 can use be upgraded with Apple's HD4870, it does work, and on Motion certainly. You could fit it yourself, but you do need to upgrade to Leopard first.
Greetings from Boise ID where I am faced with the same issues. We've had Motion for many years and simply cannot use it because of our old lame nvidia 7300 cards. Motion 1 through 3 have been painful but when Motion 4 arrived a few weeks ago we were excited about the new shadows and depth of field features but, of course, they are fundamentally useless. I want new machines for our FCP suites but that's never gonna fly so I'm lobbying for 4870 cards. You have provided me with the memo I needed for my boss.
Drop me a note offline if you wouldn't mind me asking a few Motion-specific questions.
I think there are some tests over on MacRumors forum comparing how a flashed 1GB PC version works. CS4 definitely benefits from double the RAM and would be even better if there was even 2GB.
Nividia GTX 285 is another beast. And $100 above 4870 which is already 2x what its PC cousin goes for.
But both ATI and Nvidia are getting ready to duke it out this fall with conferences from each this month.
Unlikely to see new cards from Apple this soon; but GTX 300s and Radeon 5xxx this year or winter. And something would almost happen with the next iteration of Mac Pro line in 2010. But also, more pressure on prices on PC side to fall. Of course Apple still sells the X1900 for $399 which speaks volumes to how we won't see any price advantage over time.
Is Motion optimized for Snow Leopard? OpenCL? if not now it surely will eventually.
for the records:
Updated the 7300GT in my MacPro 1.1 to ATI 4870 yesterday. My Eizo L795 is working on leopard + XPSP3 (latest catalyst drivers) without any problems. No juming mouse here.
Has anyone who has made this upgrade attempted any of the recently released benchmarking and testing tools to test whether or not OpenCL os properly functioning with the upgrade? It would be easy, for example, to download the galaxies test app and give it a whirl. It might help along the upgrade decision of many on the board. Thanks.
Did I post this? Sorry, I'm watching too many Motion and Mac hardware forums where this question has come up.
I have successfully installed a new 4870 in a first generation MacPro 1,1.
All drivers are included with OS10.5+, no software is needed for the card to work.
You need to know the 4870 has two display ports, a DVI and one of those mini thingies for the new Apple LED display; you may need a second card or an adapter to run your multiple display setup.
I got the card to make Apple Motion useful and I am delighted to say things are running well. All Final Cut Studio apps run well. No issues yet with CS4 but I haven't had time to test everything in all possible combinations.
Can anyone assist me? I just installed the HD 4870 Apple upgrade kit it my Mac Pro 1,1. I also attached a brand new 24" LED display. The computer boots up, but nothing from the display. Any ideas? I am runnning snow leopard which from the discussion above seems to work fine for everyone. Any help you could provide would be great. Thanks!
