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theposco Author

Level 1

1 points

How compatible is the EVGA Nvidia GTX 970 graphics card?

Hi. I'm told I could get a Nvidia GTX 970 graphics card for my Mac Pro (Mid 2010 - with Yosemitie 10.10.2) but.....

* If I install drivers for the new card (whilst my old card is in place), can I just pop it in and away I go?

* Is everything required (apart from drivers) included in the box or do I need to buy extra cables?

* If I have to buy extra cables, where do they go, will I find instructions for this in the box?

* What is the likelihood that with a future OS update this card will no longer work?

* Is it completely safe to use with the regular power supply in my Mac, or is there any risk at all?

Sorry if these obvious questions, I am just aware that most people on here are more technical than myself and I want to avoid problems I won't understand how to fix.

Mac Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2), 24GB Ram

Posted on Jun 7, 2015 6:22 AM

Best reply

Johnb-one

Level 6

9,168 points

Posted on Jun 7, 2015 6:55 AM

okay, theposco, maybe I can help you out.

1. yes-probably. Support for the card is built into the OS more than likely

2. yes-everything required should be in the box, and you shouldn't need to buy extra cables (ask the card's seller to make sure)

3. You may.may not not find instructions for this in the box, but the power connectors are easy to find. they are at one end of the logic board closest to the front of yor Mac Pro, about halfway up. 2 8-pin connectors. Bit tricky to get 'em on, but once you do, you're good to go

4. The likelyhood is almost none. I think Apple even support the X2600 and the 8800GT for crying out loud, maybe even the GT120

5.Yes, it's totally safe. Most graphics cards require a power connection of some kind, but that's about it. No addon power supply needed.

Trust me-here there are no obvious or "dumb" questions. We all have to learn somwhere and sometime, and the only way to do that is to find out, get info, and ask questions.

About the only thing I should tell you, theposco, is that with the 2010 Mac Pro, to install a video card, there's this little bar in place. I guess it was put there to stabilize the video card. I couldn't figure out how to get the bar back, to get it to go down and out of the way so I could install a newer video card. Very Annoying. Then I asked a question here, and I found out that there is a button by the fan shroud. If you push that button, then the bar goes back, goes down and out of the way. I wouldn't have known that before. Oh one last thing-if the card has been flashed, or it's a Mac version, you will get a boot screen

but if it's a PC one, it'll work, but you won't see anything until the graphics drivers have been loaded. I think there's a 4 gig version out there, but you have to get it flashed...evga and PNY work fine.

good luck

John B

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21 replies

Feb 1, 2016 8:21 AM in response to hummey

hummey

Moving the card to slot 3 slows it down substantially, as slot 3 does not have the largest, widest connectors feature in slots 1 and 2 (bottom-most slots). That may fix the problems, but it is at a performance price.

theposco Author

Level 1

1 points

Feb 1, 2016 10:43 AM in response to hummey

Are you sure it wasn't to do with the power connectors? Twice now that has tripped me up, they seem to be very sensitive to being seated properly.

Mine works fine in the bottom slot.

Feb 8, 2016 12:04 PM in response to theposco

I am looking at the EVGA GeForce GTX 970, and the card appears to have a 8 pin and a 6 pin power connector, does this require some sort of an adaptor? Or can you merely use a 6 pin cable inserted correctly?

Is anyone familiar with this card, does it work well, in a Mac Pro (have a 3.1 now, may go to a 5.1 down the road)

There are so many different versions of these cards, its hard to know what may or may not work. Is there a different version of this card that's preferred?

Thanks for any feedback..

Feb 8, 2016 12:47 PM in response to Norm Goodger

>>Or can you merely use a 6 pin cable inserted correctly?

the standard 6-pin connection is expected to carry 75Watts. The eight-pin connection provides 150Watts. I don't think they are interchangeable.

>>There are so many different versions of these cards, its hard to know what may or may not work. Is there a different version of this card that's preferred?

look for one that has only two 6-pin connectors required. More than that will require extraordinary measure to get enough power.

Feb 8, 2016 12:55 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks Grant, still not very clear. specially when your making a PC card work in a Mac with or without getting it Flashed with EFI support.

I am still looking around and perhaps a GTX 960will meet my need, not looking for super speed card, want to support a couple HD displays and one 4K display at 60hz.

I know that a 970 will do that If I can find the right model, but its tough for me to spend $400 on a video card. Any thoughts on a 960, its about half the cost of a 970..?

Birck Cox

Level 2

191 points

Sep 3, 2016 3:58 AM in response to theposco

Your question about the power cord is answered accurately. They come with the right connections. But the drivers for Nvidia boards are not included in the OS updates, and judging by the fact that I just now (Sept. 2016) found out the hard way, the drivers won't be included anytime soon. When I decided to install a GTX960, but use a Quadra5000 driver, I was informed that I would need to install a new driver if I decided to upgrade the OS, and would need to keep the old 5770/80/90 board (and cable) around for interim use: install OS upgrade; shut down and swap old board back into computer; restart until a new Quadra driver is available. On the other hand, if you line up all your ducks in advance, it can be a smooth transition. If I'm wrong-and I wish I were- then we're all home free, but that's the kind of goat rodeo you're going to go through if you unthinkingly grab the latest OS upgrade without a driver upgrade in hand. Everything goes black and stays that way.

How compatible is the EVGA Nvidia GTX 970 graphics card?