Single Slot Graphics Card Recommendation for 10.8

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Level 1

1 points

Single Slot Graphics Card Recommendation for 10.8

Can anyone recommend a low powered single slot video card that supports Mountain Lion? I need to run 4 monitors. I have a flashed single slot 5770 in slot 1 and it works fine and drives a 30 inch and 24 inch display, but when I try to add a second identical card I get a bunch of issues. It is tricky assigning PCI power to them in the expansion utility as none of the available options seem to work well. I ultimately get the displays on the Slot 4 card powering off and freezing my desktop.

If someone can recommend a card that operates fine at 4x that would be great. I have to connect to monitors to it. a 19" at 1280X1024 and a 24" at 1920X1080.

I just need a card that supports Mountain Lion because my two 7300GTs no longer do so.

Thanks

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5), Model ID 2,1 8-Core Xeon 3Ghz

Posted on Sep 7, 2013 1:32 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

kaz-k

Level 8

49,062 points

Sep 7, 2013 1:57 AM in response to drwebmail

GT120 mayt be a choice, though it's not available at Apple Store.

You can find at eBay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mac-Pro-Edition-nVidia-GeForce-GT-120-A1310-512MB-PCIe-D VI-mini-DisplayPort-/171121160500?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item27d79db134

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Answer 2

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Sep 7, 2013 5:53 AM in response to drwebmail

ML is not supported on a 2,1

An Apple 5770 with the right active power adapter will drive 3.

MacVidCards on ebay is your best source

7300GT only came in 2006-7 Mac Pro which only support up to Lion

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Answer 3

drwebmail Author

Level 1

1 points

Sep 7, 2013 10:49 AM in response to The hatter

Thank you Kaz K. I'll look into that one.

Hatter: I don't have room for a 2 slot card which it's my understanding the Apple 5770 is. I also mentioned that I have one flashed 5770 single slot card in my machine which supports 2 displays. I tried 2 of those cards (the second in slot 4, but it doesn't work). I also need a less resource hungry card which the 5770 is not. I can email macvidcards but if you have any other suggestions that would be great.

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Answer 4

Sep 7, 2013 5:54 PM in response to drwebmail

High power cards, such as the 5770 have to go in slot 1 or 2. Slots 3 and 4 don't provide enough power.

You can put the Apple 5770 in slot 1 (lowest slot) for three displays. It is a double width card, but there is extra space between slots 1 ans 2, so you can still use the other three slots. It uses one of the two auxiliary power connectors.

The GT120 may be a problem since it is EFI-64, which does not match your Mac's EFI-32. It might work after the computer is booted, and since it uses little power, can use any slot.

Your 7300s should work in slots 1 or 2. Their incompatiblity with Mountain Lion doesn't matter since your computer can't run it anyway.

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Answer 5

drwebmail Author

Level 1

1 points

Sep 7, 2013 10:21 PM in response to Malcolm J. Rayfield

This is the card I have been using which seems to support Model ID 1,1 onward:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-XFX-ATI-Radeon-HD5770-1GB-GDDR5-PCI-e-for-Mac-Pro- 1-1-5-1-2006-2012-/121137167460?ViewItem=&rd=1&item=121137167460&nma=true&si=I4J SxSRZ%252BT8QFsWClLOj02RSSlc%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I am not sure if the above is EFI 32 or 64 but it works great. In the description it says it works with 2006 to 2012 Mac Pros. That is ideal

My second empty non-PCI slot is used for ESATA ports with this adaptor:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/MPQXES2/?utm_source=google&utm _medium=shoppingengine&utm_campaign=googlebase&gclid=CKrl__yEu7kCFWXZQgod1k0APQ

Then I have a SCSI card in Slot 2 for legacy devices and a Firewire800/ESATA card in Slot 3 because I needed upgraded firewire in my machine for some audio hardware and I use all 4 ESATA ports for External Drives.

I understand my machine wont support Mountain Lion without significant hacks but I just need a card that supports 10.8 because certain software wont work properly with a 7300GT installed in Lion.

I wonder if either of these will work:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nvidia-GT120-for-2006-07-1st-Gen-Mac-Pro-Dual-DVI-EFI32- works-with-ML-/330781491052

The above says it is EFI32 but I wonder if that matters...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GT-120-1GB-1024-MB-Dual-DVI-for-Apple-Mac-Pro-2008-2012- Nvidia-Geforce-Flashed-/261278573427?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item3cd56aa373

The above doesnt include my machine. As you can see I am quite a bit confused. Just trying to get by here until the new mac pros are available and the kinks are worked out.

Thanks again to everyone for their suggestions.

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