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MAD SCIENCE: Originally posted May 12th, 2006, by rob-ART
morgan, mad scientist We G5 Power Mac owners are constantly looking over the fence at what the Windoze Pee Cee owners have for upgrade options. When I hear about "killer" graphics cards like the GeForce 7800 GTX with 512MB of GDDR3 running at 550Mhz or the 7900 GTX running at 650MHz or the Radeon X1900 XT running at xxx, I turn green with envy. Why can't we have those as options on the Dual-Core or Quad-Core or Single-Core Power Macs? Thankfully, my mad scientist buddies never sleep. They have conjured up the "world's fastest Mac graphics card" and sent it to us for testing. It skareems! First look at the specs compared to the OEM cards: Graph Legend: 3D GAMING COMMENTARY With prices as low as $550, the 7800 GTX 512MB card is a compelling alternative to the $1650 Quadro FX 4500 -- which can only be purchased when you custom order your new Dual-Core or Quad-Core G5 tower. We've said before that if you are buying a new Dual-Core or Quad-Core G5 Power Mac, you should order the optional $350 GeForce 7800 GT. To us it's a "no-brainer." If you neglect to select that CTO option, you won't be able to buy the 7800 GT later. It's not available as an aftermarket upgrade. Some readers reported that their local dealer was willing to order the 7800 GT as "spare parts" but would have to charge them $650 to $700. You can get a 256MB 7800 GT or GTX (PC version) for under $300. In defense of the Quadro's expense, it does support TWO 30" Cinema displays (versus one) and includes an integrated stereo 3D port for mad scientists with stereo goggles and stereo 3D applications. It's the only PCIe card "qualified" by Alias/AutoDesk for use with advanced functions of Maya 7 (like hardware support for anti-aliased points and lines, accelerated clip planes, and two-sided lighting). Our 7800 GTX sample had the same heatsink/fan assembly as the Quadro FX, and therefore encroaches on the adjacent slot. Like the Quadro FX and 7800 GT, the 7800 GTX requires its own power feed. You'll need a splitter connected to the SuperDrive along with a 4 pin to 6 pin adapter. That's because the custom power cable Apple includes with the GeForce 7800 and Quadro FX plugs into a special main logic board connector. That cable is proprietary and unavailable for purchase separately. THE FLASH DEBATE There is a lot of frustration with the dirth of really fast aftermarket graphics cards for the various G4 and G5 Power Macs. And when a truly fast retail card appears, it's often much more costly than the PC equivalent. We feel Apple Inc. has created a lot of frustration by either NOT offering aftermarket upgrades (like the GeForce 7800 GT) -- or -- by offering them at high prices and then pulling them off the market even before the current model goes out of production (like they did with the GeForce 6800 GT and Ultra). These practices have made many consumers feel justified in experimenting with the flashing of PC graphics cards. I commend ATI Technology for their continued efforts and investment in providing aftermarket, affordable GPUs for the Mac community including the $199 Radeon 9600 PC and Mac Edition, the $299 Radeon 9800 Pro Mac Edition, and the $399 Radeon X800 XT. I hope they will soon release the Radeon X1800 PCIe card that they were demonstrating at MacWorld SF in January 2006. Better yet, make mine an X1900 XT. Also encouraging was the announcement by XFX Graphics that they have signed a licensing agreement with Apple to develop and bring to market a range of NVIDIA GeForce-based Shader Model 3.0 graphics accelerators to for AGP Power Macs. The initial offering in June 2006 will be a GeForce 6600 GT, though more powerful, higher-end variants are planned. RELATED ARTICLES GeForce 7800 GS on a Single-Core G5/2.5MP Power Mac (AGP 8X) GeForce 7800 GS on a QuickSilver G4/2.0GHz Power Mac (AGP 4X) GeForce 6600 on a Dual G4/1.42GHz Power Mac (AGP 4X) Geforce 6200 on a Dual G4/1.4Ghz Cube WHERE TO ORDER YOUR MAC WHERE TO BUY REFURBISHED or CLOSEOUT MACS (12 month warranty) WHERE TO BUY VARIOUS GRAPHICS CARDS FOR YOUR POWER MAC and MAC PRO For your Mac Pro, you have the following 16X PCI Express (PCIe) options: If you didn't order the Radeon X1900 XT with your Mac Pro, you can order the Radeon X1900 XT as an aftermarket kit for your Mac Pro, go to the Apple Store and click on DISPLAYS in the left margin or do a search on "X1900." NOTE: Mac Pro PCIe graphics cards will not work in Power Mac G5s with PCIe slots -- and vice versa. Nor will Windows PC PCIe graphics cards work in the Mac Pro. Graphics Card Options for the Dual-Core or Quad-Core G5 with 16X PCI Express slot: It's also sold by Small Dog Electronics and Other World Computing. The following cards only work on a G5 Power Mac with 8X AGP slot: Apple's Online Store is no longer selling the GeForce 6800 GT or Ultra, which had Dual-Dual-Link DVI ports (for two 30" Cinemas). The "G5 only" Radeon 9800 Pro Mac Special Edition (8X AGP, 256MB, ADC + DVI port) is no longer made by ATI. The following cards work on both the G5 Power Mac (8X AGP) and G4 Power Macs with 2X or 4X AGP: ATI Online Store, Buy.com and Other World Computing have the Radeon 9600 Pro PC and Mac Edition (4X AGP, 256MB, DVI + Dual-Link DVI port) as well. It's compatible with late model G4 Power Macs and all G5 Power Macs with AGP slots. Priced at $199 MSRP it is the lowest priced AGP graphics card with Dual-Link DVI support. Has Bare Feats helped you? How about helping Bare Feats? © 2006 Rob Art Morgan |
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