Nvidia GeForce 8800GT compatibility with 2nd gen mac pro

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SG2020 Author

Level 1

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Nvidia GeForce 8800GT compatibility with 2nd gen mac pro

Can anyone help me with this please? I have bought a second hand Nvidia GeForce 8800GT for use with my Early 2008 3.1 Mac Pro. It was listed as being compatible with my machine but it doesn't recognise it. It just shows up as 'Display' in the Video Card section of system properties. The part number on the card is 630-9492/T0027 which I believe is for the previous 'Original' Mac Pro rather than my 3.1. Can anyone confirm if I have been sent the wrong card please? Or how to get it working if not! Thanks!

Mac Pro (Early 2008), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jul 16, 2013 8:57 AM

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Answer 1

sterling r

Community Specialist

Jul 18, 2013 11:48 AM in response to SG2020

Hello SG2020,

I would take a look at this article named Power Mac G5 (Late 2005) and Mac Pro (all models): Graphics card compatibility between models found here http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2848

Graphics cards for Mac Pro (Early 2008)

ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT

NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT (part number 630-9191 or 630-9897)

NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600

ATI Radeon HD 4870, offered as an upgrade kit
Note: The Radeon HD 4870 card requires Mac OS X v10.5.7 or later for use with the Mac Pro (Early 2008).

All the best,

Sterling

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Answer 2

Jul 18, 2013 11:58 AM in response to sterling r

If you go shopping again, ALL Mac Pro owners can use the Apple-firmware 5770, available new for about US$250. Drivers are in 10.6.5 and later.

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Answer 3

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Jul 18, 2013 12:18 PM in response to sterling r

Those cards that Sterling listed are old out of date and even the best of them, the 4870 had trouble in 10.6.4 and does not hold a candle to the 5770.

Bad idea to list them. The 2600XT is loud, a lot of trouble, were being replaced under warranty even beyond normal period and are trouble... and again old low end card 256MB that is now over 5 yrs old (it was old in 2008 already).

Misinformation is worse than none.

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