Mixing Video Cards in MacPro

I have the Apple ATI X1900 powering two 24" Dell monitors for editing and want to add an Apple Geforce 7300 for sending VGA to a 32" LCD TV (3rd monitor) for clients to view my work. Using a firewire device for the TV works for FinalCut Pro but does not work for other programs such as Safari or PowerPoint.
The Mac Pro only has three video card options... Geforce 7800 GT, ATI X1900 XT and the GeForce Quadro FX 4500. Apple supports multiple Geforce 7800 GT cards but does not have any info about mixing cards at this time. The problem is that the Geforce will have to be set to 8 lanes so the ATI can use 16 lanes. Has anyone tried this with success?

I'd talk to the mfrs.
There are more specific hardware forums here on apple.com, all over the Net, too.
We use simultaneous feed to several monitors on occasion. We find this much more convenient than using three or more discrete monitor spaces. I'm not sure that the box is (it magically appears from our IT people when needed) but it seems to be a simple scalar. It simply intercepts the monitor signal and creates two outputs.
bogiesan

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Black screen after deinterlacing, 2 video cards inside MacPro

Hi!
I'm using QT 7.2 Working with HDV1080i footage.
When I select Deinterlace option I get black screen...
I'm using two video cards X1900 (2x30" cinema) and GF7300 (1x23"cinema)
Please help...
regards
ARTI

Hi,
Safe Mode just loads basic video, it seems your graphic card doesn’t work properly with your computer.
For this situation, this seems a hardware issue, before you send device back to ASUS, you can update your BIOS to the latest version for a check.
Alex Zhao
TechNet Community Support

Options for adding 2nd video card to MacPro 1,1?

I want to add a second video card to my Mac Pro 1,1 so I can connect a third display.
I currently have a Radeon 4870 in the PCIe x16 slot, and the three other PCI x8 slots are still open.
What are my options for adding a second ATI card to one of the PCI x8 slots? Would prefer a Mac native card that doesn't require any flashing.
I'm running latest version of OS X Lion.
Thanks,
Robert

You have different ways of configuring the PCIe slots, but you don't have 16x along with 3 x 8x,
One 8x
One 4x
One 1x
One 16x
Is normal setup.
Lots of choices, if you look on Apple Store <g> (5770), or ebay: 8800GT and other 3rd party vendors.
If the 4870 uses just one aux power cable, I'd get the 5770 as primary card.
The 5770 can drive 3 displays but depends on resolution and cost of dual-link DVI if req'd.

Mixing Video Cards ATI 9600 and ATI 9200?

I've been using the stock AGP ATI card that came with the G5 and 2 PCI ATI 7000s to run 3 monitors. The problem is that I'm tired of going over to my Intel MINI to use iMovie. So what I'm doing is getting the ATI 9600 Pro with dual DVI/256MB for 2 of the 3 24in digital flats I use. My real question is about that 9200 PCI card, the specs say it supports OpenGL, Quartz and QuickTime, all fine but will it work with iMovie? Will the two conflict with each other? All of the scared to spend money hate to loose the third 24in monitor wet my pants questions we all have in these tough money times. I haven't been able to use iMovie on the G5 since version 6. I'm cross posting this on the G5 forum.
Thanks
J.

My G5 is the first generation only had the PCI slots not PCI-X alas. The DVI Splitter sounds good on the surface but what it does is mirror the signal from what i can see reading the manual at the Gefen site. What I have now are three independent desktops. The dual head ATI 9600 will give me 2 desktops and it looks like I will be the proud owner of a third 24in monitor that sits in the closet incase one of the others dies. Thanks for the information though. I've been really spoiled having a 3 monitor set up since the days of my old PowerMac 9600/350 with 3 20in Apple CRTs on it.
J.

Question About graphics video card for Macpro 1,1 and Final Cut Pro X

Hi, I have Mac pro 1,1 and I want to install Final Cut Pro X, I want to know the graphics video that i need to buy to use. Thank you!Pro

See if this is of any help. http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/335/8157
Russ

How do I replace an ATI Radeon video card on my MacPro?

The ATI Radeon x1900 video card on my MacPro is failing. I need to replace it with a new/used model. Has anyone ever done this and if so, can you recommend a reliable source for a replacement card, AND, do you know where I can find instructions on how to replace the card? Thank you.

Happy to hear that. Good luck!
Please note the items listed under Legend in the right sidebar of this page.

Six Spare Monitors...MacPro Video Card Advice?

Greetings,
I have six spare monitors (Dell 19" 4ea and Dell 24" 2ea) leftover from a PC and I would like to get some advice on MacPro video cards to conncect all six monitors to a single machine. When I had my PC, I purchased a single eVGA 9500 (two DVI video ports built-in) and two eVGA PCI cards (2 video ports each for four ports). Once installed, these cards worked flawlessly with the six monitors under Windows Vista and the Aero interface. The 9500 was $99.00 and the PCI video cards were around $50 each.
I currently have a late 2009 iMac i7 with an external display, but I find having two screens is somewhat limiting since I had six with my PC. I've enabled Spaces in Snow Leopard, but all the screen flipping gets on my nerves. I miss being able to dedicate a monitor to email, another to iTunes, another to the Calendar, another for web browsing, etc.
Unlike Wintel PCs, the selection of video cards seems to be limited and specialized for MacPros.
How would someone go about adding video cards to a MacPro to drive six monitors?
I've read that the older MacPro video cards aren't very good. My late 2009 iMac i7 has a Radeon 4850, and I've never had a single problem with it, so I would probably want something similar in my MacPro if that is possible.
I'm considering buying a used MacPro off eBay in the $1,000 to $1,500 price range. I'm planning on using the machine the same way I'm using my iMac today which consists of basic photo editing with iPhoto & Aperture and light video editing with iMovie.
Thank you,
Derrick

there is a similar discussion over here;
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3319068?start=0&tstart=0
where these two pages are mentioned;
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4279
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3477
but you can add another (or more) card in a mac pro for more monitors.
yes, the choice in cards is limited.
some PC cards can be flashed, but with no garantees.
then there is USB, where you can add up to 4 monitors;
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/VIDU2DVIA/
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/VIDU2DVIA/
im using the owc one at the moment, it works fine.
there is also this discussion;
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3317583?tstart=30
imagine, you hook up 6 monitors, activate 12 'spaces', that makes for 72 workspaces. Now youre cooking!

New MACpro Configuration - Video Cards

hello,
i am trying to configure my macPro online, my question is about the VideoCards, is it better to have 4x the Nvidia Card on the ATI with 512 MB??
I am mainly using Apeture, After effects,Motion and PS.
What should i do?
Thank you

the only main reason to have more than 1 video card is if you need to hook up more than 2 monitors.
there is a minority of users that know how to and can utilize two of the 7300 in SLI while running Windows in Bootcamp, but the performance of the SLI'd 7300 is much much less than the single ATI X1900.
the X1900 is much more powerful than the 7300, so if you are going to do a lot of work in Apeture and Motion, and you aren't going to use 3 or more monitors, then the right choice for you is the ATI X1900 hands down.
If you were only the occassional Aperture / Motion user, then you would not see a day to day difference between the 7300 and the X1900, as the faster card really only shows its muscle with certain tasks, it does not help while performing more mundane duties.

MacPro 1,1 Video card died ! Options ?

Hey all, I'm having some problems with my MacPro and I'm suspecting the video card at this point.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2558303&tstart=0
I was looking at the Apple store website and see only 2 listed in my price range, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 120, and the ATI Radeon HD 5770.
Will both these cards work in a MacPro 1,1 (2006 model) I've done a search but have found conflicting information. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
- Jay

DP Art is right I expect and the table appearing on this page that compares the 5770 and the 5870 presents it in "black and white":
http://www.apple.com/macpro/features/graphics.html
I've got a 4870 card on backorder ($349) with Apple and am seriously considering forking out another $100 to get the 5870, if reports continue to be positive about the use of the 5870 in a Mac Pro 1,1.
I've been on an upgrade path the last few months to help my MP Xeon give me a few more good years doing design work in CS apps. (New hard drives, SL upgrade, new NEC PA241W monitor, soon the card and then more RAM.) Seems wise to go for the best I can get with the card - hoping the 5870 reports continue to confirm I can. Need to decide before Apple ships the 4870 to me.
If anyone that is now reading my post in this designers' thread possesses new info on the wisdom of my thinking, please comment. Thanks!

MacPro Early 2008 Display/Video Card Problem

*Hello, I have a Dual Quad-Core 2.8Ghz MacPro (Early 2008) with the stock ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT 256MB Video Card. I believe I am having the exact same symptoms listed on the topic "Mac Pro 2008 Video Card Problem".*
*MacPro has been working fine. Until one day, I power it on and the display stays black. There is nothing you can do besides holding down the power button and rebooting the computer. I have tried to do this many times and the display will not come up. I have also tried resetting the VRAM and PRAM settings - still did not work. I have had my MacPro for about one year and a half. It is in very good condition (no damage/no liquid/no overheating). From time to time, you power on the computer and the display works! It is very random. I am scared to turn off the computer or put it to sleep as this can also trigger the problem.*
*I did not get the extended AppleCare (the MacPro itself already cost me about $3400!) I tested the Cinema Display and it is fine, therefore the problem is not coming from the display.*
*I went to the Apple Store and they kept my MacPro for one night. Called me the next day telling me it was going to cost me approximately $800 in order to fix this problem. They claimed that either my Bluetooth module or my Main Logic Board was causing the display not to show. I am out of warranty, and I think it is very expensive. I am doing my research online in order to try and find a cheaper solution. After reading the discussions and checking out some other websites. I have a few questions:*
*If I buy a NEW* ATI Radeon HD 2600 and install it in my MacPro - will it fix my problem?*
*OR - I also heard about the ATI Radeon HD 4870 - Is that graphic card compatible with my MacPro - will that resolve the problem?*
*Do you think I should give it a shot? Are there any other things I can try?*
*I am thinking that I should try to replace the graphic card first and see if that is causing the problem instead of replacing the Main Logic Board right away (which will cost me over $500)*
*Please let me know of any thoughts that come in mind. I really need some support. I am a college student studying Audio Engineering and I use my MacPro everyday on Pro Tools and Logic. This machine is my life.*
*Thank You,*
*Kevin C.*

Glad you solved your problem Gaunja. Here's an update on my own.
When last heard from I had diagnosed the failure of my displays to boot up to graphics card problem in my early 2008 Mac Pro with my stock ATI Radeon HD 2600 by swapping out the same card from my son's Mac Pro and seeing the displays boot up fine. Before heading off to the Apple store for a new card I reinstalled my suspect video card just to see what would happen. The displays booted up fine. Now, two weeks later, again no video display--black screens--no signal from the graphics card. I rebooted the computer several times to no avail and was, again, about to head off to the Apple store for a new card. This time "just to see what would happen" I moved the graphics card to another slot and bingo, the displays are up. What can be determined from my experience to date?
1. The graphics card is flirting with death. Like a patient unwilling to die, through a mysterious force, it rallies to live another day.
2. The slot the card came installed in is unreliable--it's dirty, there's a spec of dust in there, a contact has degraded after two years, or some other slot related fault. Note that, until the card failed for the first time, it had never been removed from it's slot, the computer was treated gently, and it operated in a very clean environment.
If anyone has another theory about what may be happening here please feel free. I fully expect the displays to go dark again at some point as my suspicions are that it's the card itself that is the problem. The two replacement cards I'm considering are the ATI Radeon HD 4870 or the Nividia Geo Force GT120. I've read that both work with the early Mac Pros. Some complain that the ATI card is noisy and expensive. Based of Gaunja's post and others I think the Nividia card will suit my needs, be quieter, and cost less. But, for now, my stock ATI Radeon 2600 lives!
Just one man's experience with the "Mac Pro display, black screen" problem.

MacPro 4,1/5,1 video cards and audio support

I have a MacPro5,1 2010 model and I am considering replacing the standard video card with a newer more powerful one which can support 4K displays. I have however seen a lot of reports of problems with Yosemite 10.10.2 and being unable to send audio via the Mini Displayport or HDMI ports on various replacement video cards.
I was wondering if anyone here had better news to report regarding this issue. If so what configuration is working for you?
Am I also right in thinking that all third-party cards regardless of inherent capabilities would be unable to do Displayport MST, and 4K 60Hz via HDMI in OS X?
PS. I would ideally want to retain the Mac boot screen on such a card. (PC flashed cards do not support this.)

The hatter wrote:
Ask MACVIDCARDS
I have already sent them an email and I am awaiting a reply but they will only be able to speak regarding the particular models of card they deal with, there maybe other models they don't handle that have better results - at least with regards to my list of requirements.

If I upgade to my macpro 3,1 with a video card Nvidia Quadro FX 4801 can I still use my Cinema HD Display? Will I need an adaptor?

My video card ATI Radeon 2600 is sick. Works only some days. I would like to upgrade to Nvidia Quadro FX 4801 but it looks like it might have different video connections. I would like to continue to use my 2008 Cinema HD Display. Are these items complatable?

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2662687?start=0&tstart=0
You don't need to spend $400, the 5770 will do fine, or I would go with Apple 5870 $449
Barefeats isn't testing the 4800 in any of their tests or since about 2009 before the 5770/5870 came out and the Quadro 4000.
But you can interpolate comparing where it sits to 8800 and others
http://www.barefeats.com/nehal10.html
Using DVI is not an issue. Not with any graphic cards.

Bad video card ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT 2008 early macpro?

I get the green squiggles on the screen when i connect the right hand side dvi port to a monitor. left side is fine. currently only using one dvi port port, but i am looking to upgrade to a apple 30" with the dual-dvi connection for maximum resolution.
does this indicate a possible failure of the video card?
I've only heard good things about this video card, how can i tell for certain?
might'n it be time to put in a newer video card that'd run the 27" Apple LED if that were the case?

After 4 years, my 2008 Mac Pro just experienced a grey screen, then black screen failure with the ATI 2600XT graphics card ... the usual troubleshooting methods pointed to a hardware problem.
Using the info on TS3630 from the link above, I determined the card's serial number was among those affected. I went to the Apple store this weekend, and they swapped the bad card for a good replacement at no cost to me. So, as of Sept. 2012, they are still honoring the replacement program.
Be sure to bring a copy of the tech doc + all your pertinent system info (the store was not aware of the program until I showed them the document). Also, do check in advance whether they have the replacement in stock ... I was lucky that my local store did, otherwise, they have to order and you'll need top make a return trip as they will not ship the replacement card to you.
kudos to Apple for handling this so well after all this time!

Cintiqs, Monitors, and Video card problems.

Hi all,
Alright so first of all. I have a 2008 MacPro 3,1 QuadCore.
I'm an animator so I have a duel monitor setup. They're both pretty crappy but run really nicely with my graphics card. I currently have just one ATI Radeon HD 5770 1024 MB video card. It has three outputs, two mini display ports and one DVI-I port. So I always have an extra output.
Alright now that I've set the scene, one MacPro, two monitors. Enter one Cintiq. I finally pulled the trigger on getting a Cintiq. I know! Its awesome, I love it.
It works great I couldn't ask more from the machine.
Just one problem. Even though I have three video outputs, I'm not able to connect all three (2 monitors 1 cinitq) all at once. Its super annoying to have to swith out the cords everytime I want to do anything with the cintiq. I've had 3 monitors plugged in at the same time so I know its not a faulty card.
I would love to be able to have my cinitq and the other 2 monitors all running at once. From what I've read online it looks like I'll have to get a second graphics card that I can connect the cintiq into.
Any recomendations on a new card? is there any way I can avoid paying the extra $150 for a new one?
Another thought on that. Is it even possible to connect two different types of video cards into the same machine? I'm assuming its just by brand so the drivers don't get mixed up?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
-Dann

No need for a different video card, just some different plumbing.
In order to get all three ports going, you need active adapters on the mini display ports. The Apple part most of us have is passive.
I was having the same problem you discribe except my "CinTiq" was a HD color grading monitor for my post-production work. I got a pair of these: Accell B087B-006B UltraAV Mini DisplayPort to DVI-D Single-Link Active Adapter ATI Certified (Black) and my problems were over.
Your CinTiq may have additional requirements, so check it all out, but I think this'll get the job done.
good luck

Mixing Video Cards in MacPro

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