ATI Radeon X1900 graphics card not working

Question

ATI Radeon X1900 graphics card not working

My 2006 Mac Pro was diagnosed as having a faulty card. The engineer advised of 4 possible cards suitable for replacement. I managed to get a tested ATI Radeon X1900. Didn't work as it needed its own power supply, and the cable which came with it dodn't fit. So bout the correct one and plugged it in to one of the 2 (have tried both) plugs at the top left as you look into the computer, but still black screen!

Any help appreciated, been without it for nearly 2 weeks and shed loads of work to catch up on and the engineer is now closed for Xmas!

Thanks

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Dec 18, 2013 10:42 AM

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Answer 1

RatVega™

Level 4

2,005 points

Dec 18, 2013 11:38 AM in response to my splitty is a 1962

Your best bet for a satisfying and lasting fix is to get a ATI Radeon HD 5770 for Mac. It works with all Mac Pros and is much more powerful than an X1900. They go for about $250 from the Apple Store or Amazon, etc.

You won't regret it.

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Answer 2

Dec 18, 2013 11:43 AM in response to RatVega™

RatVega™ wrote:

Your best bet for a satisfying and lasting fix is to get a ATI Radeon HD 5770 for Mac. It works with all Mac Pros and is much more powerful than an X1900. They go for about $250 from the Apple Store or Amazon, etc.

You won't regret it.

That's all very well but was considering upgrading to a new Mac soon anyway, that's 5x what I've just paid and was tols would work, (plus bought a cable). And th eengineer told me that the X1900 was more powerful than the original one anyway, which more than sufficed for my needs, so I don't really need even more powerful that the X1900. But if my options are that the X1900 will never work then guess if that;s my only option I'll have to, or is there another option?

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Answer 3

RatVega™

Level 4

2,005 points

Dec 18, 2013 12:11 PM in response to my splitty is a 1962

my splitty is a 1962 wrote:

That's all very well but was considering upgrading to a new Mac soon anyway, that's 5x what I've just paid and was tols would work, (plus bought a cable). And th eengineer told me that the X1900 was more powerful than the original one anyway, which more than sufficed for my needs, so I don't really need even more powerful that the X1900. But if my options are that the X1900 will never work then guess if that;s my only option I'll have to, or is there another option?

The 5770 is what everyone is using because you can get one from a reputable source (with a warranty) and it's vastly superior. Yes, it's 5X the price of a non-working solution, but if it were my decision, I'd return the X1900 ASAP and get something that would allow me to use my Mac.

Yes, there are several other obsolete boards that might work in your Mac, but the risks are the same as the X1900. That kind of info would be in the Technical Specs archiuve.

good luck

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Answer 4

Dec 18, 2013 12:22 PM in response to my splitty is a 1962

What about a tested working one?... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/360691312467?limghlpsr=true&lpid=102&device=c&adt ype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=102&ff19=0

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Answer 5

Dec 18, 2013 12:37 PM in response to my splitty is a 1962

the cable which came with it dodn't fit.

If it came with the wrong cable it probably wasn't the Apple version of the card. That would explain it not working, even with a new cable.

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Answer 6

Dec 18, 2013 12:41 PM in response to Malcolm J. Rayfield

If it came with the wrong cable it probably wasn't the Apple version of the card. That would explain it not working, even with a new cable.

But it was an engineer who told me...?! Proper Apple certified engineer, don't get it! So annoying cos closed for Christmas now!

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Answer 7

Dec 18, 2013 12:55 PM in response to my splitty is a 1962

I don't understand, here's a 512MB version, it does suit my Mac (or am I missing trick?):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Apple-Mac-Pro-ATI-Radeon-X1900-XT-512MB-Video-Graphics -Card-MacPro-2006-07-/181283094233?pt=UK_Computing_Other_Computing_Networking&ha sh=item2a35507ed9

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Answer 8

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Dec 18, 2013 1:59 PM in response to my splitty is a 1962

Way to many issues with 1900. Get the 5770.

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/Graphics/X1900XT_Overheating/ATI_X1900_artifacts.html

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/Graphics/radeon_X1900XT/X1900XT_dust_buildup.html#sto rytop

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Answer 9

Dec 18, 2013 2:24 PM in response to The hatter

The hatter wrote:

Way to many issues with 1900. Get the 5770.

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/Graphics/X1900XT_Overheating/ATI_X1900_artifacts.html

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/Graphics/radeon_X1900XT/X1900XT_dust_buildup.html#sto rytop

Well I was warned that they overheat and to raise it off the floor to avoid too much dust intake.... however, that doesn't explain why it doesn't even work in the first place?

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Answer 10

RatVega™

Level 4

2,005 points

Dec 18, 2013 5:38 PM in response to my splitty is a 1962

my splitty is a 1962 wrote:

What about a tested working one?... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/360691312467?limghlpsr=true&lpid=102&device=c&adt ype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=102&ff19=0

Well, at least this one's a model known to work well... but you seem to put a lot of faith in the veracity of eBay sellers. You are (again) buying a used product from a stranger who is saying it was only used by a little old lady from Pasadena to surf Christian web sites for an hour a week. How could that not be a great deal?

One thing to understand on this site: no one here is an Apple employee, no one here gets paid. When you come looking for advice and a guy like The Hatter with over 57,000 help points offers advice, heed it. Odds are extraordinarily high that anyone who has helped 10-20 thousand others solve their problems is gonna be right.

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