Graphics card update, More RAM, what to do?

At the risk of replicating Amg Video Productions post below http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=537641&tstart=0 I just wanted to add this. We're in a similar situation - bought a new Power Mac 2.5 Ghz with 2.5 G RAM and GeoForce FX 5200 last spring and Motion is just a dog on it. Endless renders, 3-4 FPS real time play back, everything gummy as he**. My question is -- what does anyone suggest? Do we plow another $800 into a new graphics card when the Intel Core Duos are coming out for the towers? Do we whack in more RAM? Or what's the solve here? We're growing fast and using Motion increasingly for things we used to outsource, which is a huge save for us - not to mention that the clients love it. So it's becoming an indispensible part of our creative arsenal. But if we pimp this machine out to run Motion well that means we've blown almost a grand that could go toward a new Intel-based PowerMac (or whatever they're going to be called).

I'm not gonna presume to tell you which option is best for you, but I will say that the FX5200 is the slowest card that will run Motion by far. Slower by a factor of 3 or 4 over the next higher up ATI 9600. You could get one of those for $65. You could go for an ATI 9800 for somewhere areound $269. Running the same project and comparing gfx cards, (the thread is here) shows:
nVidia 5200....1.5 fps
ATI 9600.......4 fps
ATI 9800.......10 fps
ATI x800.......17 fps
nVidia 6800....18 fps
nVidia 7800....21 fps
So you can see that there is quite a bit of room for improvement over your FX5200 for less than a grand...
Patrick

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P6310y Graphics Card Update - What I bought as an upgrade

p6310y Graphics Card Update
Hi Everyone!
I wanted to give back to the community on this one since I got such great support when I asked. I am a casual gamer, and do a little video work from time to time. Byeond that, this PC is used for web surfing, email, documents, etc. I was considering upgrading my graphcs card, which I had already upgraded to the XFX ATI 4350 1GB several years ago. When I posted the question, Big Dave was especially helpful and suggested that I look at the MSI nVidia N750 TI or TF. They both looked like great choices, but were both north of $100 which I had set as a limit. ( At some point, you just have to consider upgrading the desktop ) I went to my local Tiger Direct and found what has turned out to be a great solution! I bought a Zotac nVidia GeForce GT 730 2 GB. ( Zotac GT730 LP 2GB 64 bit DDR3 ) I used the FireStorm software ( included with the card ) to overclock it just a little, and it has turned out to be great! It was about $75, and has allowed me to play World of Tanks with much higher settings while maintaining good FPS ( frames per second ).
I hope that helps some of you that are still using this quite capable desktop if you are looking for an upgrade.

@Big_Dave
Here is one for you!
@gsmitchell
Thank you for posting your outcome. We always appreciate hearing what solution was reached when asked for help. It sounds like you made the best choice for you. Good gaming.
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PPC Quad G5 Graphic Card Update from 6600

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I just got a new EOS 40D, and am wondering if anyone has any info whether Apple will provide graphics card updates for Quad PPC G5 users who have the 6600?
Is this something they will be doing, ever?

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http://www.apple.com/feedback/macpro.html
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Does anyone know what role if any a computers graphics card, processing power and ram has in the quality of conversions? I don't mean cases where a computer is unable to run a program (or handle a conversion in a reasonable time period). I mean will the same conversions (same settings, files, formats) look better if done on more powerful computers. I'm using final cut studio and downconverting from HD to SD using quicktime and converting from PAL to NTSC using compressor.
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3D Graphics Cards for Video Editing (what's the real deal?)

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I've known for some time that 3D graphic cards offers no REAL significant improvements to VIDEO EDITING and RENDERING.
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In terms of impact on performance, you can rate the various components from most important to least important:
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Graphics card update for hp pavilion 061 version 00x0211RE101LITHI00

Hi what graphics card would I need for an upgrade for this system :
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Many thanks.

Sorry, I was unable to locate a "hp pavilion 061 version 00x0211RE101LITHI00" on HP's support pages. When requesting assistance, please provide the full HP model name and/or product number of the computer in question. This information can be found on a sticker on the side, bottom, or back of the computer case. Examples of a model name are "a1632x", "p6130y", "p7-1026", "HPE-180t", "h9-1150", etc. and examples of a product number are "QW790AA", "AZ222AV", "QN595AA", "NY464AA", "RC659AA", etc. Please post back with the requested information.
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Et1331g-03w graphics card update

I have the et1331g-03w.
http://www.emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=ET1331G-03w
It has pci and pci express card slots
Power supply is 300 or less
I want to be able to play games on the computer. Currently I can play Left 4 Dead 2 on the computer at low settings, but I want to play something more like Battlefield: Bad Company 2. I pass all the requrements for the game other then the graphics card.
So my question is what graphics card (And power supply) should I get so I can get the best preformance.
Because at some point the cards are better then the CPU (AMD Athlon™ II X2 dual-core processor 235e (2.7GHz, 2MB L2 cache)) and it would be a wast to spend more money on a card that out preformes the CPU.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

PNY NVIDIA GT 220 1024MB DDR2 PCI Express Graphics Card
Model: VCGGT2201XPB | SKU: 9543363
Enjoy gaming with this graphics card that features NVIDIA PhysX technology and DirectX 10.1 support for stunning realism and detail. NVIDIA PureVideo HD technology ensures high-definition compatibility.
4.4 Read reviews (10)
Sale: $99.99
This "requires" a 350watt PSU, but, you should be able to get by with a 300 as that's a pretty loose requirement.
I'm currently using one of these in a HTPC box and it does great. Mind you, it's NOT future proof, and won't make your head spin in games, but it's a decent upgrade.
If you like my post, or solution to your issue/question, go ahead and click on the little star by my name and/or accept the post as the Solution. It makes me happy.
I'm NOT an employee of Best Buy, or Geek Squad, though I did work as an Agent for a year 5 years ago. None of my posts are to be taken as the official stance that Best Buy will take on your situation. My advice is just that, advice.
Unfortunately, that's the bad luck of any electronic, there's going to be bad Apples... wait that's a horrible pun.

Can't install more RAM, what will help?

OK need a bit of help.
My elderly iMac has been a bit problematic lately, spinning beach balls, laggy, that chuggy noise which I always think is Spotlight indexing... (can't think of a more technical way to describe it!). I've just nosed around and saw a thread saying take a look in Activity Monitor at System Momory. This is what mine shows.
The thread I looked at kept saying 'are there a lot of pageouts, without actually defining what 'A lot' of page outs were! Nosed a bit more and think I may have too many page outs?
Now, thing is, I'm maxed out on RAM, in fact this machine should only take 4GB but I managed to get it to accept 6MB, after doing some research and finding it was possible. So, I can't install any more RAM. Am also on Mountain Lion.
I have to trundle on with this Mac for a while longer. What can I do to improve my page outs and general speed of machine? Is it purely not having lots of applications open at once? I'm a designer so have CS6 installed, and use InDesign, Illust. and Photoshop. Is there anything I can do to get a bit more life out of this trusty warrior? Everything else on it works just fine.
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Spec of iMac: Alu 2.8GHz C2D 6GB SDRAM (should only take 4GB SDRAM but found out that it can take 6) 1TB HD

There is excessive swapping of data between physical memory and virtual memory. That can happen for two reasons:
You have a long-running process with a memory leak (i.e., a bug), or
You don't have enough memory installed for your usage pattern.
Tracking down a memory leak can be difficult, and it may come down to a process of elimination.
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If one process (excluding "kernel_task") is using much more memory than all the others, that could be an indication of a leak. A better indication would be a process that continually grabs more and more real memory over time without ever releasing it. Here is an example of how it's done.
The process named "Safari Web Content" renders web pages for Safari and other applications. It uses a lot of memory and may leak if certain Safari extensions or third-party web plugins are installed. Consider it a prime suspect.
Another process often implicated in memory leaks is "inkjet8," which is a component of the HP printing softwre. If it's present, force-quit the process in Activity Monitor to solve the problem temporarily. If you don't use an HP printer, remove the software. Otherwise, if the problem is recurrent, update the software (which may not help) or contact HP support.
If you don't have an obvious memory leak, your options are to install more memory (if possible) or to run fewer programs simultaneously.
The next suggestion is only for users familiar with the shell. For a more precise, but potentially misleading, test, run the following command:
sudo leaks -nocontext -nostacks process | grep total
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I need to add more RAM, what do I do and how much do I need?

I have an imac. It is a 21" 2011, 10.8 op system with 4 gigs of ram. It has begun to show the "colored wheel" and a few of the programs that require a lot of ram lock up. I was told I needed more RAM. Where do I buy it, what kind do I need, and how much do I need?
Do I need to buy it in pairs?
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Many people on these forums speak well of the following supplier.
For North America contact OWC …        Upgrade Apple iMac Memory
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The only thing I can think of is maybe Apple doesn't have a Lion compatible Firmware installer?
If nobody else hops in here with another idea then the only thing I can think of is to get an external HD and install 10.6 back on to it and boot from there and give it ago. If anything you now have a back up disk?
Maybe try the iMac forums to see how they did it. Just mention you were here already.
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P6310y graphic card update?

I was wondering if I can put a better graphics card in my HP p6310y without it conflicting with the built in GeForce 9100

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How to replace a power supply.
How to replace a video card.
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Should I upgrade my graphics card? If so, what model?

This is my machine: Mac Pro Dual-Core Intel 3 GHz 16GB RAM / current graphics card: ATI Radeon X1900 XT
I edit a lot of HD using Final Cut Pro 6.0.4, Motion and every other application that comes with Final Cut Studio 2. I ALSO use Modul8 (a real time video mixing and compositing application for VJs and live performers) and this program in particular doesn't seem to be performing as well as I'd like it to.
The Modul8 manual says this about graphics cards:
"It is critical that you use graphic card with 3D acceleration. These cards usually have two DVI video outputs, which means up to eight outputs on one single machine."
Please suggest a graphics card that works with my machine and improve its performance. I was thinking about purchasing the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT, is that a good card for my purposes? Please advise. Thanks.

The nVidia 8800 has proven to be, umm, not worth the money.
You could try the new ATI 3870. http://barefeats.com/harper16.html
Reading the specs for Modul8, it claims real time performance in anything from a G4 to the new Intel Macs. Perhaps this is something to bring up with Modul8's tech support folks? Perhaps there's something in your workflow that it isn't liking?

Futur Graphic Card update

Hi,
I would like to know if in the future i could upgrade my current graphic card (Ati X1600 256mb) to a newer one??....
Thx a bunch,
Robbie
iMac (intel) Mac OS X (10.4.4)
iMac intel core duo Mac OS X (10.4.4)

Sorry but no. From the pictures I've seen, the graphics processor is soldered onto the logic board, just as in all previous iMacs, and so cannot be replaced or upgraded.

Recommendations for graphics card update

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Hi-
The ATI Technologies RADEON 9800 PRO MAC EDITION 4x AGP graphics card will give you the performance boost you're looking for. Core Image and Quartz Extreme are supported with this card, which are needed for embedded OS effects.

What do they mean Early Mac? about graphic card update.

What do they mean Early Mac?
I want to buy ati radeon hd 4870.
I bought this machine and I can not find the papers anymore.
Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro1,1
Processor Name: Dual-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed: 2 GHz
Number Of Processors: 2
Total Number Of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per processor): 4 MB
Memory: 8 GB
*Type: DDR2 FB-DIMM*
*Speed: 667 MHz*
Bus Speed: 1.33 GHz
On mac website they write about the upgrade.
Compatibility:
Requires Mac Pro (Early 2009 with 1066MHz DDR3 memory) or Mac Pro (Early 2008 with *800MHz DDR2 FB-DIMM memory*) with PCI Express 2.0 slot
will the card work on my mac???
If not what are my other options as I have not so great NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT 256MB

It is only when you get to the bottom, and that you want to PLAY GAMES that it is possible to answer.
Having 7300GT is worthless, unless to use 3rd monitor.
Only Windows has better Nvidia graphics and drivers for games. And if you run Windows, you can use PC card and leave the 7300GT for OS X alone.
http://www.barefeats.com/harper17.html
or
http://www.barefeats.com/harper15.html
and
http://www.barefeats.com/harper11.html
Even last year you could use 4870 in Vista, just not in OS X
http://www.barefeats.com/harper19.html
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3415

Graphics card update, More RAM, what to do?

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