Good Graphics Card for Mac Pro

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Level 1

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Good Graphics Card for Mac Pro

Hello,

Can anyone well up on graphics cards suggest a decent one that will go in a Mac Pro (mid 2010) that is currently supported, something equivalent to an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980?

My problem is that I have a Mid 2010 Mac Pro which is still a great machine but my graphics card is an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 and since its not supported any more I am stuck on Mac OS High Sierra. This wouldn't be too much of a problem if it weren't for the fact that I want to get the new Logic Pro and Motion but they will only run on Mojave as a minimum.

The reason I ask is that there are so many of them I'm lost and don't really know what to look for. So if anyone more experienced who is clued up on this stuff could point me in the right direction that would be much appreciated. I'm not a gamer so that's not important to me but in my work as a graphic designer I am increasingly doing more video/motion graphics and 3D work, so that would be a consideration. Many Thanks

Dave

Mac Pro, macOS 10.13

Posted on May 15, 2020 3:45 AM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

May 15, 2020 7:15 AM in response to mandarcy

Hi Dave, here's a start for you,,,

According to Apple, the following graphics cards are known to be Metal-capable and compatible with macOS Mojave on the mid-2010 and mid-2012 Mac Pro models:

MSI Gaming Radeon RX 560 128-bit 4GB GDDR5
SAPPHIRE Radeon PULSE RX 580 8GB GDDR5
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 7950 Mac Edition
NVIDIA Quadro K5000 for Mac
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 Mac Edition

Apple also lists other AMD graphics cards that "might" be compatible with macOS Mojave:

AMD Radeon RX 560
AMD Radeon RX 570
AMD Radeon RX 580
AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56
AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
AMD Radeon Pro WX 9100
AMD Radeon Frontier Edition

https://www.macrumors.com/2018/09/24/mojave-2010-2012-mac-pro-metal-graphics-cards/

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Answer 2

mandarcy Author

Level 1

5 points

May 19, 2020 7:54 AM in response to Malcolm J. Rayfield

Hi Malcolm,

Thanks for this. I'm not sure what type mine is but it looks like this;

I can't find anything in the 'About this Mac' section, even in the system report it tells me nothing! No model number or anything, other than its a 20 inch Cinema Display

Anyway I've seen this adapter here online that looks like it might be right:

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/video-converters/1778751?cm_mmc=UK-PLA-DS3A-_-google-_-PLA_UK_EN_Computing_%26_Peripherals_Whoop-_-Video+Converters_Whoop-_-PRODUCT_GROUP&1778751&matchtype=&pla-301383998149&s_kwcid=AL!7457!3!428942741415!!!g!301383998149!&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq7Pog_m_6QIVxrTtCh3eFQAoEAQYASABEgIP0PD_BwE

Do you think this would be the correct one?

Many thanks

Kind Regards

Dave

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Answer 3

May 19, 2020 8:20 AM in response to mandarcy

Yours is a Single-link DVI.

an "ordinary" Mini DisplayPort to (single-link or unspecified) DVI will suffice. [Dual-Link DVI is MUCH more expensive.]

Single-link DVI can have the center six pins of the grid de-populated, as your display connector shows. But it can have those 6 pins present and just not connected.

.

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Answer 4

mandarcy Author

Level 1

5 points

May 15, 2020 7:39 AM in response to BDAqua

Hi BDAqua,

Thanks that's a really interesting article. Oddly though it says here, "Under Graphics/Displays, if "Supported" is listed next to the Metal entry, the graphics card will work with macOS Mojave." I just checked and mine does say supported, but everything I've read online so far has said that my card would not work in Mojave which has led to me to this dilemma! It would be brilliant if it did work, saves me buying another card!

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Answer 5

Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,656 points

May 15, 2020 12:34 PM in response to mandarcy

Your MacPro has four internal bays for HDDS/SSDs, why don't you download and install Mojave onto one of these disks/partitions and see if your current Nvidia card works with Mojave, if it doesn't then you will know to get a new card.

My MacPro has an Nvidia GTX680, remember to get a Mac Edition or flashed for mac card if you need to buy one.

If you buy a non flashed or non Mac Edition then you will not get boot screens on start up or see the

Startup Manager screen.

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Answer 6

mandarcy Author

Level 1

5 points

May 15, 2020 1:07 PM in response to Eau Rouge

Hi Eau Rouge, that's a very good idea, I just may well try that. If I did decide to buy a new supported one such as an AMD, what specs should I be looking at if I'm after good performance for video and 3D apps?

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Answer 7

mandarcy Author

Level 1

5 points

May 17, 2020 8:19 AM in response to BDAqua

Hi all,

Well last night I tried installing Mojave on a different drive and I could not get the GTX 980 drivers to load. The card does work but the proper drivers won't install and the performance is a bit jittery sometimes like on resizing a window. CUDA installed okay but not the NVIDIA drivers and so the CUDA prefs window shows 'No Supported Graphics Cards".

So it looks like I should purchase a new compatible one. The SAPPHIRE Radeon PULSE RX 580 8GB GDDR5 looks to be a direct equivalent to the GTX 980 I currently have, in fact on one review site I looked at, the guy compared the Radeon RX 580 directly to the GTX 980 saying it was practically the same in terms of performance.

I'm just a bit confused though, when shopping around for one, I can never find a Mac version? Is this because you don't need to get one specifically for Mac? If its natively supported does that mean I can buy this card from anywhere and it would work in Mac just same as in Windows?

Many thanks.

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Answer 8

May 17, 2020 8:54 AM in response to mandarcy

You can install a non-Mac version.

However, it's first picture will be at the login screen. No "boot up"screens will be shown.

Many users are selling cards that have been 'flashed" (firmware-modified) to provide Mac Boot screens, and if you use Windows or often debug, you may prefer a card with Mac firmware to allow the Startup Manager (aka boot picker) to be seen as well.

I think the best-known factory Metal-capable Mac-Firmware card was the Sapphire 7950 Mac Edition.

Also, on Mac Pro silver tower (2006-2012) you can not also use FileVault encryption, even if you have a factory Mac-firmware Metal-capable card. On these Mac Pro models, with FileVault enabled, the login screen is completely black.

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Answer 9

mandarcy Author

Level 1

5 points

May 17, 2020 10:15 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hi Grant,

Thanks for this, so I could buy the Radeon RX 580 or Sapphire 7950 from anywhere regardless of wether it is a Mac edition or not, and it will work, but just without a boot screen? Also, what if I did get a non Mac one but later found I wanted a boot screen, how do you get it flashed for Mac? Thanks for your advice, Dave

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Answer 10

mandarcy Author

Level 1

5 points

May 19, 2020 5:30 AM in response to mandarcy

Aarrghh! So I ordered the Sapphire Radeon Pulse RX 580 and it just arrived. I never thought about the flipping connectors! Its got two DisplayPort and two HDMI sockets but my ancient Apple Cinema Display has one big fat plug!! I hope there is a connector of some sort available because I can't stretch to new monitor as well right now 🙄

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Answer 11

May 19, 2020 6:31 AM in response to mandarcy

Exactly which cinema display do you have?

Does it use DVI?

https https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Apple_Desktop_Connector_766

If so, you will need a DisplayPort to DVI Video Adapter.

https://www.startech.com/AV/display-and-video-adapters/Displayport-Adapters/DisplayPort-to-DVI-Video-Adapter-Converter~DP2DVI2

If it's the 30" Apple display you need a Dual_link Adapter.

https://www.startech.com/AV/display-and-video-adapters/Displayport-Adapters/Active-DisplayPort-Dual-Link-DVI-Video-Adapter-Converter~DP2DVID2

Does it use ADC (Apple Display Connector)?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Apple_Desktop_Connector_7669.jpg

If it does, you will need a DVI to ADC adapter

https://www.ebay.com/c/666355056?iid=362992917812

in addition to the Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter.

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Answer 12

mandarcy Author

Level 1

5 points

May 19, 2020 8:01 AM in response to mandarcy

Actually no its not right! The DisplayPort end is different! I just looked at the Radeon card and the plug looks like that in the link you posted above. I don't get it?? On your link and mine, they both say DisplayPort so why are they both different?

Kind Regards

Dave

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Answer 13

mandarcy Author

Level 1

5 points

May 19, 2020 8:21 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Aah so there is 'DisplayPort' and 'Mini DisplayPort', I'd never even heard of it until this card arrived today! So I've found this one then on Amazon that should be right? Looks like the one in your first link but I'm in the UK and can get this in a few days

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rankie-DisplayPort-Adapter-1080P-Converter/dp/B00ZMUL6SI/ref=asc_df_B00ZMUL6SI/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=205210909091&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5904464795667874674&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007194&hvtargid=pla-310353623901&psc=1

Kind Regards

Dave

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Answer 14

May 19, 2020 8:27 AM in response to mandarcy

The first one you posted is Mini DisplayPort to (single-lInk) DVI; the second is [Full Size] DisplayPort to (single-link) DVI, both under about US$20 or 20 pounds Sterling.

Dual Link DVI (required for displays OVER 1920 wide) cost US$100 when new, and requires additional power from a USB pigtail lead, so is not to be taken so lightly.

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Answer 15

mandarcy Author

Level 1

5 points

May 19, 2020 8:32 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hi Grant,

Yes as I say I've only just discovered that there is mini and a full size DisplayPort. On that last link I posted, both ends look like they fit my monitor (DVI) and the DisplayPort on my new GPU, so that one should be right for me yes?

Kind Regards

Dave

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Good Graphics Card for Mac Pro

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