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)
What resolution?
What output ports?
What adapters?
This is an Apple card, right? not non apple version.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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??
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:
2008 Mac Pro:
2009-2010 Mac Pro:
Original article here:
http://blog.macsales.com/6856-owc-reveals-which-radeon-video-cards-work-with-200 6-2009-mac-pros
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.
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?
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?
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.
Yes. On at least the 2006 if using the DVI dual link port, the MDP will not have the power for DVI, hence the black screens, I also found buried, confusing Apple support articles on this. I bought and tried passive MDP to DVI, no go. I tried an expensive Dual link powered adapter, no go. Apple said use MDP to VGA, since my DVI port was in dual mode to feed the 30" Cinema Display. My 2nd and 3rd monitors had VGA. So I bought from Monoprice two MDP to VGA cables and vola, three monitors running!
Graphic card upgrade for MacPro 1.1
