bagerr
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Q: Graphic card upgrade for MacPro 1.1

I want to upgrade the graphics card on my MacPro Model 1.1. It came with a Nividia GForce 7300GT. I thought theATI Radeon 5770 would work but I can only get that to display one monitor. Is there another card that will work with this Mac's architecture?

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on May 15, 2012 1:09 PM

by bagerr,Solvedanswer
bagerr bagerr
Level 1 (0 points)
A:

Finally found the answer. On my machine, which is a 2006-20007 model, only the DVI port is supported with the Radeon 5770:

 

2006-2007 Mac Pro:

  • Sorry to say it, but the 5870 is not…repeat…NOT compatible.
  • The 5770 is compatible, but only with the DVI connection.

2008 Mac Pro:

  • Both the 5870 and 5770 cards work with both the DVI and MiniDisplay Port connections in any combination of two displays. So, you can have two displays with MiniDisplay connections, or one with a DVI connection and one with a MiniDisplay connection.
  • Adding a third display will override the DVI connection, causing it to deactivate.

2009-2010 Mac Pro:

  • Both the 5870 and 5770 cards work with both the DVI and MiniDisplay Port connections in any combination of two displays. So, you can have two displays with MiniDisplay connections, or one with a DVI connection and one with a MiniDisplay connection.
  • Adding a third display will override the DVI connection, causing it to deactivate.

 

Original article here:

http://blog.macsales.com/6856-owc-reveals-which-radeon-video-cards-work-with-200 6-2009-mac-pros

Posted on May 24, 2012 6:13 AM

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Q: Graphic card upgrade for MacPro 1.1

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  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter May 15, 2012 1:17 PM in response to bagerr
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    May 15, 2012 1:17 PM in response to bagerr

    What resolution?

    What output ports?

    What adapters?

    This is an Apple card, right? not non apple version.

  • by bagerr,

    bagerr bagerr May 15, 2012 1:22 PM in response to The hatter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 15, 2012 1:22 PM in response to The hatter

    1920 X1080

    DVI or Mini-port   

     

    This is an Apple card. It took it to the Apple store the the Pro specialist  was pretty sure it was incompatible with the Pro 1.1, though he wasn't certain.

  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter May 15, 2012 1:32 PM in response to bagerr
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    May 15, 2012 1:32 PM in response to bagerr

    Needs 10.6.8

     

    Is 95% compatible. There are a few small glitches. But find me an alternative that is being sold for us that isn't.

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4279

     

    Connected to DVI? HDMI?

     

    MDP is fussy. Maybe the monitor is at issue?

     

    FAQs Adapters needed

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3382

  • by bagerr,

    bagerr bagerr May 15, 2012 1:51 PM in response to The hatter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 15, 2012 1:51 PM in response to The hatter

    I can't go to 10.6.8 yet due to a QuickTime issue with my video editing software. I will go to Lion soon.

    It was the MDP ports that would not send the signal. The DVI works fine.

     

    My Mac is precedes the 2009 models. I purchased it new in Oct 2007

    (Apple Mac Pro MA356LL/A Desktop PC  (Two 2.66 GHz Dual-Core Intel

    Xeon Processors, 1 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive)

     

    So are you sure the Radeon will work with that model?

     

    Message was edited by: bagerr

  • by The hatter,Helpful

    The hatter The hatter May 15, 2012 2:01 PM in response to bagerr
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    May 15, 2012 2:01 PM in response to bagerr

    It is still a 1,1 (or even 2,1) even if you didn't purchase it until just before the 2008 (which would have been a lot sweeter deal with EFI64 and support for 64-bit kernel).

     

    Hopefully you have 8GB RAM and new hard drives by now. Some even upgrade the processor set to 5355 or 45 to have 8 cores.

     

    You only get all the security updates and such if you have 10.6.8.

    Dual boot and try - but you need a minimum 10.6.5 drivers for the 5770.

     

    I think it a PITA that the user hardware profile sig is not on every post - removed because any search turned up... profiles instead of thread content.

     

    MDP to HDMI http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4241

     

    Active adapters cost but work, though req'd for dual-link DVI displays don't think yours is one of those.

  • by bagerr,

    bagerr bagerr May 15, 2012 2:09 PM in response to The hatter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 15, 2012 2:09 PM in response to The hatter

    I have the 9GB of RAM, and new drives. I have the adapter. I don't know what you mean by "dual boot."

     

    Thanks for the help BTW.

  • by The hatter,Helpful

    The hatter The hatter May 15, 2012 2:32 PM in response to bagerr
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    May 15, 2012 2:32 PM in response to bagerr

    Leave 10.x as is on one drive and clone to and run 10.6.8 on 2nd drive (or partition)

     

    You could have Lion and Snow Leopard

     

    But you should have bootable backups aka clone - of your system

  • by MacFire,

    MacFire MacFire May 15, 2012 10:28 PM in response to bagerr
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 15, 2012 10:28 PM in response to bagerr

    Many of us have this card running with no issues, search this forum.

    I have a sept 2006 MacPro 1.1 with this card and run three monitors. An Apple 30" cinema display using dual DVI and the two MDP's output VGA to two legacy 15" monitors. Get from Monoprice a MDP to VGA connector. Per Apple, (again search is your friend) when the DVI port is used, the MDP's will ONLY output VGA. I tried all the other cables and adapters until I stumbled onto this fact.

  • by bagerr,

    bagerr bagerr May 16, 2012 1:15 PM in response to The hatter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 16, 2012 1:15 PM in response to The hatter

    So, just to make sure I'm understanding you, you believe that the card requires 10.6.8 as opposed to 10.6.7? If so, why the heck would that be? Certainly it worked for 10.6.7 users when that was the latest version??

     

  • by bagerr,Solvedanswer

    bagerr bagerr May 24, 2012 6:13 AM in response to bagerr
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 24, 2012 6:13 AM in response to bagerr

    Finally found the answer. On my machine, which is a 2006-20007 model, only the DVI port is supported with the Radeon 5770:

     

    2006-2007 Mac Pro:

    • Sorry to say it, but the 5870 is not…repeat…NOT compatible.
    • The 5770 is compatible, but only with the DVI connection.

    2008 Mac Pro:

    • Both the 5870 and 5770 cards work with both the DVI and MiniDisplay Port connections in any combination of two displays. So, you can have two displays with MiniDisplay connections, or one with a DVI connection and one with a MiniDisplay connection.
    • Adding a third display will override the DVI connection, causing it to deactivate.

    2009-2010 Mac Pro:

    • Both the 5870 and 5770 cards work with both the DVI and MiniDisplay Port connections in any combination of two displays. So, you can have two displays with MiniDisplay connections, or one with a DVI connection and one with a MiniDisplay connection.
    • Adding a third display will override the DVI connection, causing it to deactivate.

     

    Original article here:

    http://blog.macsales.com/6856-owc-reveals-which-radeon-video-cards-work-with-200 6-2009-mac-pros

  • by The hatter,

    The hatter The hatter May 24, 2012 6:24 AM in response to bagerr
    Level 9 (60,935 points)
    May 24, 2012 6:24 AM in response to bagerr

    That article came out right after the Mac Pro 2010 and is not current and up to date.

     

    Barefeats tested all the cards to see how they perform.

     

    Using 3 displays is always on any model a challenge.

  • by bagerr,

    bagerr bagerr May 24, 2012 6:24 AM in response to MacFire
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 24, 2012 6:24 AM in response to MacFire

    So are you saying that the MDPs will work with a 2006 model if I use a MDP ro VGA adapter, instead of a MDP to HMI adapter?

     

  • by bagerr,

    bagerr bagerr May 24, 2012 6:28 AM in response to The hatter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 24, 2012 6:28 AM in response to The hatter

    All I can say is that the MDAs on my machine would not work with the 5770 and that is consistent with what's stated in the article. But MacFire seems to imply that if I use a VGA adapter there it would work. Does that sound correct?

  • by MikeK5117,

    MikeK5117 MikeK5117 May 24, 2012 6:32 AM in response to MacFire
    Level 2 (169 points)
    Notebooks
    May 24, 2012 6:32 AM in response to MacFire

    Not sure what I can add to this discussion other than either more confirmation or confusion, but I just upgraded my (2007) Mac Pro 2,1 8x3.0ghz to a Radeon 5770 after the original Radeon X1900 XT started losing one monitor on a regular basis.

     

    I am running the latest update of Lion. I have 2x ACD 23", last aluminum models.

     

    I am running one ACD from the DVI port, and the second from one of the MDP using a passive MDP to DVI adapter. Based on all the forums that I had read, this was what I was expecting and even though not officially supported, has been working flawlessly for me.

     

    Re the version of OS X required, I believe it is tied to when Apple delivered the necessary drivers to support these cards.

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