video card replacement for Mac Pro 5,1 2010 12 core on OSX 11 El Capitan

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Level 1

4 points

video card replacement for Mac Pro 5,1 2010 12 core on OSX 11 El Capitan

Hi Apple community,

My mac I use for music is struggling now - I have ATI Radeon HD 5770 in there 1024MB and the screen stretches horizontally if I use VGA and flickers off on and on when I use the mini cinema ports.

I'm hoping it's not the mac, so Iooking to get a new video card for it to support 2 monitors, that is the lowest budget but best bang for buck.

I'm sorry to ask quite a basic question but I'm very low on funds and time so don't want to make a mistake and there is so much conflicting and scattered advice as this system is almost 10 years old.

Thanks !!

Phil

Posted on Aug 14, 2019 5:25 AM

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Answer 1

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Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,554 points

Aug 14, 2019 6:26 AM in response to philthegreek

The cheapest card you can get is the Nvidia GeForce GT120 which was the standard default card the MacPros 4.1 and 5.1 came with, these can be found on line second hand for about £70.00 here in the UK. It only has one DVI and one min display port, so I don't know if that is of any use. If you were interested make sure it is the Apple version which has the light grey cover, here is an example.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-120-512MB-Apple-Mac-Pro-Graphics-Card-2008-2012-Mini-Display/222909174076?hash=item33e66c113c:g:KGAAAOSwvRpaw5U8

It is a very low end card so not exactly suitable if you are editing video or 3d application, but might be ok for audio production.

There are lots of cards out there that you could use, but please try and get a Mac Edition card or 'flashed for Mac' so you will get the boot screens and access to the Startup Manager. My MacPro has an Nvidia GeForce GTX680 with 2Gbs of memory, two DVI

one HDMI and one Displayport, I bought this second hand for £175.00.

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Answer 2

Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,554 points

Aug 14, 2019 6:53 AM in response to philthegreek

I don't know if you are in the UK, but if you are I have just noticed this ad for a GT120, the seller hs one that has never been used, it is still in its original box, and that are only looking for £49.00.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Apple-Graphics-Card-Upgrade-for-Mac-Pro-NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-120-New-In-Box/223508355892?_trkparms=aid%3D888008%26algo%3DDISC.CARDS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131227121020%26meid%3Db83b4aaee8a3453c850a37ab6fa28375%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D2%26sd%3D222909174076%26itm%3D223508355892%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982

I might add I have one of these cards, I bought mine 4 years ago and it was also unused in its original packaging, I bought it when the original card that came with my Mac Pro 3.1 gave up. I use my Mac for photography and watching movies and it was fine so I can certainly vouch for it, although I did replace it with the GTX 680 so I could run Mojave on my old MP.

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