The SAPPHIRE HD 7950 3GB GDDR5 MAC Edition is suitable for a Mac Pro 3,1?

It calls for PCIe 2.0 I assume, but it also requires 10.8.3 does it not?

Many users of older Mac Pro models are installing the Apple-firmware 5770, about US$250. It works in every model Mac Pro, supports modern Graphics Standards, and Drivers are in 10.6.5.

Apple does not suggest the 5770 for older Mac Pro models because of this small problem with playing copy-protected DVDs. Most users do not think this is a problem, install the 5770 anyway, and are happy:

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

Sapphire don't show a complete information,

I think they do.

They say their card requires a 2009 model.

IF you have a CD reader to install their added software, you can run 10.7.5.

Otherwise, Drivers included in 10.8.2 and later:

SAPPHIRE HD 7950 3GB GDDR5 MAC Edition

System Requirements Mac Pro with Mac OS X 10.7.5 CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive for installing software Mac Pro with Mac OS X 10.8.2 or later 2 GB RAM, Early 2009 Mac Pro (MacPro4,1)

But another reviewer, Barefeats.com, compares it to other Mac Pro cards and claims it DOES work in the 2008 Mac Pro;

PART DEUX: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 versus other Mac Pro GPUs

Perhaps the answer is that it works, but not quite at full speed in the 2008.

, but not quite at full speed in the 2008.

Do you have more information about this performance issue?

Thanks!

My link above points to the wrong place. It should point to these articles on bareFeats:

http://barefeats.com/gpu7950.html

http://barefeats.com/gpu7950b.html

http://barefeats.com/gpu7950c.html

As indicated above, some unflashed GPUs don't run at the full PCIe 2.0 bus speed (e.g. Radeon HD 7970 GHz and GeForce GTX 690.) That may or may not limit performance, depending on what apps and what functions you choose.

NOTE: The Radeon HD 7950 is compatible with all existing Mac Pros from 2008 - 2012 (though Sapphire is officially specifying 2010 and after). It can run under Lion 10.7.5 and Mt. Lion 10.8.2 by installing special driver that comes on a disc. No special driver install needed for 10.8.3.

Some pundits are saying that although the Mac Pro 3,1 appears to have good PCIe 2 slots, its total PCIe bandwidth is limited. Because of this, PCIe 2 cards like this one may perform at slightly less than expected speeds.

I have some strange issues with this card - see https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5223856 for details.

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