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BjMcKay Author

Level 1

0 points

Snow Leopard OpenCL support for GeForce 8800GS

Hello.
I have a iMac 8,1 that I purchased late last year. It has a NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS Graphics card with 512MB or Ram.
My questions relates to this 8800 GS card and Snow Leopards new OpenCL technology.
The 8800GS card was not listed on the site http://www.apple.com/macosx/specs.html as a supported card. I'm hoping the the 8800GS card goes by another name that is supported or is it simply not going to utilize OpenCL?
Please have good news for me.
Kind regards

iMac8,1, Mac OS X (10.5.7), Nvidia GeFoforce 8800 GS 512MB, 4GB Ram

Posted on Jun 8, 2009 3:26 PM

22 replies

jcwacky

Level 1

10 points

Aug 25, 2009 3:33 AM in response to Steven Massey

Thank god! Can't wait for Snow Leopard now! Thanks for letting us know.

jcwacky

Level 1

10 points

Aug 25, 2009 3:36 AM in response to Steven Massey

Thank god! Can't wait for Snow Leopard now! Thanks for letting us know.

R C-R

Level 6

17,782 points

Aug 25, 2009 4:22 AM in response to Steven Massey

requires one of the following graphics cards or graphics processors:

* NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, GeForce 9600M GT, GeForce 8600M GT, GeForce GT 120, GeForce GT 130, GeForce GTX 285, GeForce 8800 GT, *GeForce 8800 GS*, Quadro FX 4800, Quadro FX5600
* ATI Radeon 4850, Radeon 4870

This means that the only iMacs to date that will support OpenCL are the "iMac (Early 2008)" model if it was ordered with the BTO 8800GS card & the "iMac (Early 2009)" models, regardless of what graphics card they came with.

USA-iMac

Level 1

0 points

Aug 31, 2009 5:59 PM in response to R C-R

The GeForce 8800 GS was available as a $150 BTO option in the 2.8GHz entry level 24" early 2008 iMac but was standard on the 3.06Ghz early 2008 iMac.

This makes them the oldest iMacs that can take full advantage of ALL new Snow Leopard technology.

R C-R

Level 6

17,782 points

Sep 1, 2009 1:46 AM in response to USA-iMac

I had forgotten that the early 2008 iMac 3.06Ghz version was offered as a standard model. The Apple tech specs page only lists it as a CTO option.

FWIW, those interested in a good deal on this 'oldest iMac' should check out the Refurbished iMac 24-inch 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo from the Apple Store (U.S.) for $1599.

I bought one a few months ago, before the 8800 GS was added to the OpenCL support list, gambling that it would be. It is a very fast iMac: from what I can tell from various benchmarks, almost as fast as the current 3.06GHz model. For me, it is perfect: I wanted its Firewire 400 port & Mini DVI display connector since I have so many things that use those interfaces.

It now even comes with Snow Leopard.

USA-iMac

Level 1

0 points

Sep 2, 2009 12:41 PM in response to R C-R

L.A. Computer Company has a closeout deal on the early 2008 3.06GHz 24" iMac NEW for $1499 (MB398LL/A).

http://www.lacomputercompany.com/cgi-bin/rpcart/index.cgi?command=dispitem&type= sku&sku=26497

BjMcKay Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 24, 2009 12:10 AM in response to Steven Massey

Great news!

Here is the link to snow leopards tech specs so you can all see.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/specs.html

OpenCL
requires one of the following graphics cards or graphics processors:

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, GeForce 9600M GT, GeForce 8600M GT, GeForce GT 120, GeForce GT 130, GeForce GTX 285, GeForce 8800 GT, *GeForce 8800 GS*, Quadro FX 4800, Quadro FX5600
ATI Radeon 4850, Radeon 4870

Snow Leopard OpenCL support for GeForce 8800GS