Anyone using the Ati Graphics Card 5770 with a Mac Pro 2.93Ghz (2009)

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Anyone using the Ati Graphics Card 5770 with a Mac Pro 2.93Ghz (2009)

I would like to upgrade my stock Geforce Gt 120 cards in my Mac Pro 2.93Ghz 8 core (early 2009) to the Ati 5770 card which will be connected to 2 Apple 27inch Retina Displays.

I am aware that Apple states that the 5770 card is not compatible with the 2009 model but I have also read that Barefeats say this is not true and will work on the 2009 machines.

Having read numerous reports from people having problems when using the 5770 in there 2009 models such a faster fan speeds and excessive noise I really don't know what to do?....

Can anyone chime in with their experience and recommendations on the 5770 and also what Mac Pro model and OS version was used?.

I have looked at the Ati 5870 but it is a bit more than my current budget and my graphics power needs.

Many Thanks

Noodlez.

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on May 26, 2013 3:13 AM

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Answer 1

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kaz-k

Level 8

49,038 points

May 26, 2013 3:38 AM in response to noodlez123

As far as I know, it works fine in Mac Pro early 2009 if you installed Mac OSX 10.6.4 or later.

-- kaz-k

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Answer 2

The hatter

Level 9

60,980 points

May 26, 2013 8:17 AM in response to noodlez123

Very few problems. Some try to do something w/ the wrong dual link active adapters or to use HDMI or something else. I know of very few let alone "numerous" reports. But 10's of thousands of Mac Pro 1,1 and above love it and are fine and happy - and you need 10.6.5 (10.6.8 of course has a much improved driver whereas 10.6.4-1/2 was OEM and basic shoddy and not on the retail 10.6.3 DVD).

ML use to be trouble on a 2008 3,1 too. At this day and age unless you have PowerPC apps plugins or drivers and hardware 10.8.3 is the way to go. And 10.8.3 opens up more graphic card choices too. Nvidia GTX series or AMD 79xx and EVGA has Mac Edition as does AMD have 7950.

Barefeasts.com has test results

I think you want to double check but "RETINA" is a MacBook Pro only and might be thinking of Thunderbolt, which will not connect to a Mac Pro. There still is a non-Thunderbolt 27" which is.

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Answer 3

May 26, 2013 8:43 AM in response to The hatter

This article says that the problems are limited to playing copy-protected movies. Otherwise, Readers report it works fine in all models of Mac Pro. Readers who experienced slightly more fan noise were surprised because they were moving from an older, fanless card.

Mac Pro: Using ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics card with Mac Pro released before 2010

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