Upgrade path for nVidia FX 4500

Question

Upgrade path for nVidia FX 4500

Anyone have any experience upgrading from a nVidia 4500 to a nVidia 4500 X2 or the nVidia 5500? Has Apple blessed these cards? I'm a bit new to the Apple world. With a PC you install the new HW, download the drivers and off you go. Not really sure how to do this with a Mac.

Apple G5 Quad, 8 Gb, nVidia Quadra FX 4500, Mac OS X (10.4.6), Dual 30 inch Apple Cinema HD Displays

Posted on Jul 6, 2006 12:32 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 6, 2006 5:20 PM in response to rainierexpress

nVidia Quadro 4500 is the top of the line card for PCIe based Macs, GeForce 5500 would be a down grade if it were offered. the only PCIe cards that have Apple ROMS are ,currently , GeForce 6600LE, GeForce 6600GT, GeForce 7800GT and Quadro 4500

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Answer 2

Jul 13, 2006 2:47 PM in response to Forrest McElfresh1

no, the upgrade AFTER the nVidia FX 4500 x2 is the nVidia FX 5500. The GeForce 5500 is an entirely different animal.

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Answer 3

Jul 13, 2006 9:06 PM in response to William Keyser

In any event the FX4500 x2 and FX5500 are not available as upgrades as there are no MAC ROM's for those cards. probably could be hacked by someone with in depth knowlege of fcode but still no Apple drivers to take advantage of improved features so would be, at best, a slightly faster FX4500.

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Answer 4

Jul 14, 2006 12:51 AM in response to rainierexpress

This sight has links to services that can flash PC video cards´ ROMs for Macs. Its risky but it might solve your problem (and I am not sure if they do all cards).

http://www.barefeats.com/mutant4.html

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Answer 5

Jul 14, 2006 9:28 AM in response to Forrest McElfresh1

Let me see if I understand what you are saying.

The nVidia FX 4500 I have now is somewhat custom for the Mac because of the memory used on it. The stock nVidia FX 4500 x2 and the FX 5500 have PC memory and will not work on the a Mac. Is it safe to say that until Apple formulates an upgrade path, there is no path unless you go to a hack?

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Answer 6

Jul 14, 2006 8:59 PM in response to rainierexpress

100% correct

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