SLI works

You should blame ATI and other 3rd parties for not creating video cards and video card drivers, NOT Apple. Apple at least provides a few cards for choice. The third party vendors should get their *** in gear and produce a few other cards. Where is ATI with retail cards for the Mac Pro? What about other third parties that produce cards with the Nvidia Geforce chips? Of course the Mac Pro is new so it will take some time for third parties to create offerings.

Where can get this PCI XPress Utility?

Actually, I believe it isup to Apple. ATI and NVIDIA simply provide the chipsets -Apple manufactures the card - at least that's what NVIDIA tells me when I asked them about SLI - They said it's up to Apple to do that.

I have to admit I am so ****** at Apple right now - They failed to tell us that the Quadro FX 4500 they sold us in the G5 Quad will not work with the Mac Pro...

This morning tech support at apple said - "Yep should work, they are the exact same card" Then he transfered me to the "MacPro guru" who said "Nope, incompatible" So now I have a 1650.00 dollar paper weight. NVIDIA tells me it's up to Apple to make the drivers or firmware update or just to make it compatible to begin with.

I am so discouraged. I have no idea now what cards work and what don't. It ***** that I still can't just go and find a PCI Express card I like and install it. I love Apple but I gotta say this is one area that the Windows world kicks ***. Apple markets "it just works" apparently that only applies to people who use there computers for fun - not those of us who use it to make a living.

It's located under /System/Library/CoreSerivces/ I believe.

Jeff,

is that card PCI-X or PCI-E? You cannot use the PCI-X card in a Mac Pro, obviously, but if it's a PCI-E then with a simple flashing of the ROM (using Quadro ROM from Mac Pro) you might be able to run it.

I believe it is PCI-E. I'll have to look again. It is the card that shipped with the Quad G5, which I think that was the first machine they made the switch to PCI Express. I've heard some rumors about flashing the ROM - perhaps I'll try that.

Sorry Jeff, your wrong, ATI makes all ATI graphics cards for the Mac and the drivers. Apple makes or outsources the Nvidia graphics cards and drivers. There is absolutely NO reason a third party couldn't make a Mac video card and drivers.

Have you even TRIED the Nvidia card you have in a Mac Pro. It's probably the same card as the Mac Pro. I wouldn't trust Apple Support if my life depended on it - half the time you get some numbscull who doesn't know their own product.

I'd like to point out that Apple does not outsource their drivers. If they did the drivers would actually work 100% and support 100% of the graphics chip's features. They do not do that right now. I can elaborate if necessary in a different post.

As matter of fact, third parties did make a driver for a Mac, see http://macvidia.starchaser.org and http://omni.starchaser.org/callisto for NVidia and ATI drivers. It's just that Apple is so stuck up on documenting certain features of OS X in fear of losing market that there aren't that many graphics driver writers. Those guys who wrote them did that without Apple's help.

I agree, asking Apple Support for something on this level is futile to say the least. They wouldn't know their head from their *** when it comes to this subject.

Has anyone tried SLI using two ATI X1900 cards with BootCamp? I'd love to see the benchmarks on that!

Well ATI's implimentation is called Crossfire and requires Crossfire versions of the card which, I believe, Apple does NOT use.

Mac Pro 2.66 Mac OS X (10.4.7)

"... Where is ATI with retail cards for the Mac Pro?..."

Don't hold your breath for this. Now that ATI has been bought out by AMD, I don't think Mac support is going to be a big priority....

CW2k, I am planning to try the same thing with SLI (I need 2 7300s anyway, so why not?).

Two questions for you:

1) where's a good place to get one of these SLI connectors? (I have never seen one before, and Newegg apparently doesn't carry them); AND

2) Is the connector even necessary? The Nvidia website doesn't seem to think you need one, but then again, it assumes you're using a motherboard that supports SLI.

Thanks!

Mac Pro Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Don't hold your breath for this. Now that ATI has
been bought out by AMD, I don't think Mac support is
going to be a big priority....

What are you whining about? The X1900 XT is out for the Mac Pro, though it is sold through Apple. Is that too weak for your liking?



blakespot

The name of the utility is "Expansion Slot Utility" and it's tucked away in System/Library/CoreServices

I get 47fps on the time demo for QUAKE IV in max settings (wide aspect 16:10) on my 30" display... which is very good..

I wonder what the PC Crowd is getting with similar settings/graphics cards?