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User profile for user: James Borzak
James Borzak Author
User level: Level 2
476 points

Graphics Card Mac Pro early 2008

I need/want to upgrade my video card in my early 2008 Mac Pro. I am still running the ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT 256 MB card. I recently purchased the

Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 OC with Boost 3GB DDR5 DL-DVI-I/SL-DVI-D/HDMI/DP PCI-Express Graphics Card 11197-03-40G. After reading several post I thought this would work. I either got the wrong card or it's missing appropriate cables to connect. I have also watched a few installs on you tube. They are not in a early 2008 because I have to connector plugs where they show.

Please advice me on a good graphics card for my Mac Pro. I'm not a gamer but do a lot of photography work on my computer. It locks up sometimes when working with graphics.


Mac Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2), Acer 24 inch, 300, 500,2x 1000 GB drives, 2TB backup

Posted on Feb 27, 2015 8:03 AM

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User profile for user: The hatter
The hatter
User level: Level 9
60,990 points

Posted on Feb 27, 2015 8:11 AM

You need 6-pin power cables to drive most and Apple's is proprietary and unlike standard PC cable


http://www.amazon.com/JacobsParts-Express-6-pin-PCI-e-Video/dp/B00OSLGBIC/ref=sr _1_11?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1425053223&sr=1-11&keywords=6-pin+power+adapter+ cable+for+pci-express+video+cards


or


http://www.amazon.com/PCI-e-Power-Cable-nVidia-Video/dp/B002UR1654/ref=sr_1_4?s= electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1425053403&sr=1-4&keywords=Mac+6-pin+power+adapter+cable +for+pci-express+video+cards


Or OWC but they charge more (still very low cost)


And you need two such cables.

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User profile for user: The hatter
The hatter
User level: Level 9
60,990 points

Feb 27, 2015 8:11 AM in response to James Borzak

You need 6-pin power cables to drive most and Apple's is proprietary and unlike standard PC cable


http://www.amazon.com/JacobsParts-Express-6-pin-PCI-e-Video/dp/B00OSLGBIC/ref=sr _1_11?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1425053223&sr=1-11&keywords=6-pin+power+adapter+ cable+for+pci-express+video+cards


or


http://www.amazon.com/PCI-e-Power-Cable-nVidia-Video/dp/B002UR1654/ref=sr_1_4?s= electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1425053403&sr=1-4&keywords=Mac+6-pin+power+adapter+cable +for+pci-express+video+cards


Or OWC but they charge more (still very low cost)


And you need two such cables.

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User profile for user: The hatter
The hatter
User level: Level 9
60,990 points

Feb 27, 2015 8:39 AM in response to James Borzak

You wanted to look for a version similar to the AMD Mac Edition that uses 2 x 6-pin cables.


http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Sapphire/100352MAC/


8-pin means that it is expecting to see 150W on each.


I recommended the 2nd link for this reason:


PCI-E PCIe PCI Express 6 pin Video Card Power Cable Adaptor Convertor for Mac Pro Dual Quad Core G5

Provide prower from internal logic board mini 6 Pin to PCI Express Vdieo Card standard 6 pin

Works with any PCI Express-based Intel Mac Pro Tower machines

and any MAC video card with starndard 6 pin power connectors

such as but not limited to ATI Radeon 4870, 3870, 3850, 1900 GT/XT


How many watts is your card rated for? the only reason for 2x8-pin is it needs 225-300W

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Graphics Card Mac Pro early 2008

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