Expanding Mac Pro video card with (non-stock) GeForce 7300 GT?

OK, I've done some Googling and can't really find what I'm looking for, so I thought I would pose the question here as I continue to search around. Here's the situation:
I have a late 2007 Mac Pro with a GeForce 7300GT graphics card that has been working just fine
I wanted to add an additional card in order to output to a TV in my office, so I figured I'd just look for another 7300GT
Found one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/121062296751?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m149 7.l2649
Bought it, installed it. Nothing.
I feel like I should know this already, but does it really matter who the manufacturer is as long as the chipset is the 7300GT? Is there anything I can do to get this situation working or was I a little hasty in buying a card that I didn't fully understand?
Like I said, I'll keep searching around, but any help that anyone could provide would be much appreciated.

The card you have already has two ports on it, and can support two displays at once, according to Apple:
PCI Express graphics
NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT 256MB (single-link DVI and dual-link DVI)
To convert DVI to HDMI for a TV, all you should need is a DVI --> HDMI cable.
If you are going to buy a new card, the Apple-firmware 5770 (as hatter recommends) can replace your current 7300 card. Works in all models of mac Pro. Accelerated drivers in 10.6.5 and later.
• Only genuine Apple cards are guaranteed to show a picture at power on.
• PC cards flashed with Apple firmware may not show a picture until the login screen, making debugging difficult when your Mac will not boot right up.
• PC-only cards will not show a picture under Mac OS X.
• Note: [This may be changing with some advanced NVIDIA cards in to 600 and 700 series, but they are overkill for this application.]

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So, I'm looking to upgrade the video card in my mac pro from the stock nVidia 7300 GT to something else. I've basically ruled out the 1.5GB Quadra fx 4500 (because it's a bit above my price point), so looking at the other options, I have the following questions.
1. I've heard you can put 2 of the same video cards in a computer and get an increase in performance in that way. How hard is this to do and will it be comparable in performance to a 512 mb card? Additionally, can this be done with 2 different cards or does it have to be 2 of the same cards?
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3. Someone in my other question thread mentioned "flashing" a video card. What does that mean?
Thanks in advance for the help. I've never really tried upgrading a video card before and so really don't know much about them.

1. I've heard you can put 2 of the same video cards in a computer and get an increase in performance in that way.
Not with Macs.
2. The 3 512 cards I'm looking at, based on what I've heard are compatible in this forum, are the ATI X1900 XT, the ATI 4870, and the nVidia 8800GT (I know this has to be apple part number MB560Z/A). What are the differences between these cards (prices are all fairly similar)? What should I be looking at besides the card's memory size?
The ATI 4870 is the only one currently being sold. Be sure to get the Apple version.
3. Someone in my other question thread mentioned "flashing" a video card. What does that mean?
That means making a non-Apple card work in a Mac. Don't try it unless you know what you are doing.

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So Steve Jobs said that the mac pros would offer greater expansion when they were reased a couple years back.
Its been 3 months since the Geforce 8800 GT has been 'available' on the 2008 mac pro and 3 months since it hasnt been available for the mac pros which jobs referred to as 'expandable.' I'm in need of a new monitor, and will be needing a better video card, I have a 2 x geforce 7300 overclocked setup for gaming in windows. This experience will be painful once I step up to 1920x1200 resolution some time SOON.
So I have a few questions:
1) How does the ATI 2600 XT perform compared to my setup? Is a single 2600 XT going to outperform my SLI setup?
2) Would a Crossfire 2600 XT outperform it?
3) Is the 3870x2 compatible with my computer? Can I at least boot into windows with it, but boot into OS X with my 7300 without physically removing the video card from the PCIe slot? I suppose a KVM switch would be needed unless I bought a dual input monitor?
4) Are there any video cards made for PC that will work in windows on my mac BUT still allowing me to boot into OS X without me having to remove the card out of the PCIe slot?
Thanks for all your responses in advance!
ps. funny how steve jobs got deals with EA to produce games for the mac os platform while doing nothing about offering a required component to play games at decent settings and framerates. this is going to be a failure guaranteed if apple doesnt do anything (or, at least acquire PROPER ported games)

You can find benchmarks for the ATI 2600GT at Bare Feats.
You cannot use a third-party card to boot OS X, but you can use any compatible video card for Windows as long as you install the Windows drivers. A third-party video card simply won't boot OS X because it does not have an EFI compatible ROM. It will, however, work fine for booting Windows.
ps. funny how steve jobs got deals with EA to produce games for the mac os platform while doing nothing about offering a required component to play games at decent settings and framerates. this is going to be a failure guaranteed if apple doesnt do anything (or, at least acquire PROPER ported games)
As the Discussions are not intended for complaints, you can omit comments like these in the future.

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Have you tried blowing the dust out?
Also the suggestion about running machine with side off and seeing if fan is running.
Video cards are cooled by an array of small metal fins connected to the GPU chip. The fan blows air through these fins. Over time, the fins build up a layer of dust. This is especially true if you have animals, keep your Mac on the floor, live in a dusty area or if you smoke.
The symptoms you describe are similar to an overheating card. They have thermal overload protection which simply shuts the card off when it reaches a temp above 100 C or so. If you are lucky, you just need to blow some compressed air BACKWARDs through the fan to knock the dust off the front face of the fins. I have seen these fins completely covered with dust, at which point the fan can only do so much to cool the card.

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http://www.barefeats.com/nehal06.html
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I have 2 mac pro (early 2008) that installed Nvidia geforce 7300 GT on it.. Now the graphic card wont display anything..I don't know which graphic card is compatible with my mac ,I cant get the original graphic card here in my country.. I can hear boot up hard noise sound ,so i think it log in to OS but there is no display..
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Are you certain on your MP being a 2008? The 2008 MP came stock with the ATI 2600. The 2006 MP came stock with the 7300gt. Afaik, you can't install a 7300gt (EFI32) on a 2008 MP (EFI64).
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I'll be gone for a four-day weekend trip, which is longer than the 72 hours claimed for the Mac Pro RAID Card battery. If I shut down and come back four days later, the battery will presumably be discharged. What will happen when I restart?
Asked another way ... is 72 hours the maximum amount of time that the computer should be shut down or do I simply restart and wait for the battery to recharge and the write caches to be re-enabled?
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Regards,
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Regards,
iPhoton

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I plan on using two 19" flat screens that I already have for my monitors. Obviously this can be accomplished without a card upgrade, but I would prefer to have as much video RAM as possible. If I went with a second GeForce 7300, in addition to the stock card, and output only one monitor from each card, would that in effect enable 256 mb of RAM per display? As upgrading to the X 1900, which has 512 mb of RAM, would be the same amout of RAM per display (512mb/2 displays).... I realize that the cards have different chips, engines, etc... I'm just trying to get the most bang for my buck and am wondering if that extra hundred dollars is really worth it. Much thanks, cheers!

I have a NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500 on my MacPro with two ACD 30" connected to it. No glitch, works perfect. But I would say that the X1900 is the best value to get when you'll perchase your MacPro. You don't say enough details about the usage you want from your computer (i.e. 3d or just e-mails...). But if it's just for internet browsing and e-mails, a NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT is more than enough to handle your two 19". If you think one day you'll have two 30" on you video card, go for the ATI card. If you do video rendering that needs VRAM or play 3D games, take the ATI card. If you have a lot of money to blow or just a geek take the FX4500. Anything else, just stick to the 7300 GT, it's more than enough for average users, less heat, quiet, and less electric consuption than the two others.
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Expanding Mac Pro video card with (non-stock) GeForce 7300 GT?

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