Multiple graphics cards on 2008 mac pro, won't work

Hi, I have a 2008 Mac Pro 2 x 2.8 GHz Quad Core Intel Xeon with 14 GB 800 MHz DDR2 FB-DIMM. I have used a ATI Radeon HD 2600 Graphics card connected to 2 x BenQ E2400HD screens. Now, I want 4 screens so I bought a NVidia Geforce 8800 GT graphics card as I found these to be compatible with my setup on Ebay (only place I could find it). Got it in a brand new condition in a Apple graphics card box so should be all good. Put it in PCI-E slot 2. Now when I started my Mac after installing I could hear a loud fan noise (fan going on max speed) and tracked it to the new graphics card. When I open the system profiler it shows up as a display. The screen connected to the graphics card with a DVDI-cable does not show an image and the screen indicates that it does not have an input. Any ideas what's wrong here? Is my graphics card broken?

More than likely you got wrong verion.
1,1 and 2,1 Mac Pros are EFI32, and for Nvidia cards need proper version.
If your machine is a 3,1 or later you need an EFI64 version.
Contact the seller and clarify.
If you install "ATY_Init" and are running 10.6.8 you will find the card will work once machine boots all the way.
You could then flash the card into proper version if you were especially clever with things like that.
But your seller should help you.
You need to know "Model Identifier"
http://macvidcards.com/macpro/which-mac-pro-do-you-own/

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2nd graphics card for 2008 Mac Pro 3.1

I need to connect a third monitor to my 2008 Mac Pro 3.1 - 2.8/8 core - so I can view and control Logic from my vocal booth. I don't want a monster card. Just the bare minimum. The monitor will only be on when I'm recording by myself. I appreciate suggestions and any warnings of pssible problems.
Thanks for the help.

ATI Radeon 5770
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC742ZM/A
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-ATI-Radeon-5770-MC742ZM/dp/B003Z6QH6M
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/726537-REG/Apple_MC742ZM_A_ATI_Radeon_HD_5 770.html
How To Install and Remove Memory Mac Pro
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT4433
2x2GB FBDIMM DDR2 667MHz @ $32http://www.amazon.com/BUFFERED-PC2-5300-FB-DIMM-APPLE-Memory/dp/B002ORUUAC/
Hardware Monitor
http://www.bresink.com/osx/HardwareMonitor.html

Which New Graphic Card For 2008 Mac Pro?

I'm going to buy Final Cut X, so I'll need a new graphic card for my 2008 MacPro. My current card is an ATI Radeon HD 2600.
I asked AppleCare and they sent me a link to a lot of compatible cards (copied below).
But it turns out that most of these cards need Windows - at least according to specs - and the rest don't have the (2) DVI-D connections I need - so which card should I buy?
The card has to work with my 2 Acer P243W 24" screens at 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz.
Here's Apple's list:
•    NVIDIA
o    GeForce 320M
o    GeForce GT 330M
o    GeForce 9400M
o    GeForce 9600M GT
o    GeForce 8600M GT Note: OpenCL compatible, but does not meet system requirements for Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5 and Compressor.
o    GeForce GT 120
o    GeForce GT 130
o    GeForce GTX 285
o    GeForce 8800 GT
o    GeForce 8800 GS
o    Quadro FX 4800
o    Quadro FX5600
•    ATI
o    Radeon HD 4670
o    Radeon HD 4850
o    Radeon HD 4870
o    Radeon HD 5670
o    Radeon HD 5750
o    Radeon HD 5770

Once you look at what is sold, limits the list. None of those listed require Windows though. What specs? I don't see any specs. And of course nothing listed are Windows, that would be strange. Why you pasted notebook and iMac graphic adapters... unless Apple is selling FCPX for Windows.
Forget the GT120 though some use it with FCPX and are okay with it, save a little though I think 5770 has more processing, bandwidth and of course 1GB DDR5.
support for 6870 PC card is looking like a possible option now, too.
It is more mainly just 5770 vs 5870. Or Quadro 4000.
Amazon has PNY Mac Pro edition $790 vs Apple's $1195 for same card
PNY Quadro 4000 2 GB DDR5 Mac Pro
When FCX came out we had a couple threads on same topic.
Apple Graphics Cards
OSX and Graphics Cards
Radeon 6870 3DMark 30% gain on 5870
Flashed PC Radeon HD5870 Mac Pro 2008
Flashed PC Radeon HD5870 Mac Pro 2008 - dual DVI works
I include the above for same reason why when the 4870 came out, PC card was 1/2 price and $450 for 5870? really? when XFX and Saffire are under $199.
Radeon 5870 vs 5770 GTX 285 4870
Three Video Displays one card
Display Adapters Needed

How does having 2 Graphics Cards in a Mac pro help if it doesnt have something like Crossfire??

Hi,
I am thinking of buying a Mac pro for visual effects & graphics work.
My question is quite simple, what are the benifits of having to graphic cards in a Mac Pro,
For instance, i am thinking of putting in a Quadro 4000 with a 5870 in my mac pro.
now is it possible for me to set say the ATI 5870 for powering my display and my Quadro 4000 for graphic processing tasks such as rendering stuff, and so on and so forth.
Any thouights will be great.
Cheers.
Ani

You need to find a way to add 3rd aux power connector.
Mac Pro only comes with a mere 2 6-pin connectors, not a lot of power.
Apple has had multiple problems with Nvidia drivers, with support, with say using two 4000s together, which sounds nice and makes more sense (and especially if one wants to run Windows at all where mixing ATI and Nvidia use to be against all the rules, now it seems like it is an Apple issue).
Yes, there can be processing improvements, Adobe Mercury Engine for one, CUDA still has advantage over ATI-Apple OpenCL.

USB3 card for 2008 Mac Pro

am considering adding USB 3 capability to my 2008 Mac Pro (which still works great ... I had it overhauled last year...)
I imagine the best way to do this would be a PCI Express card? I still have two unused slots in the back.
Can anyone advise which would be be the best card to get?
I'm currently running Mavericks - currently everything is working, including my four e-SATA ports currently on two PCI-X cards...
w

yes! thank you.
a google search would show lots of options, but for someone like me (who is less savvy than most of the contributors to this discussion board) it's hard to know exactly what card will work with my machine.
Looking at the Sonnet cards, this one seems like a very good bargain -
<https://www.google.com/shopping/product/11936350470791125384?q=Allegro+USB+3.0+P CIe&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.59568121,d.cWc,pv.xjs.s.en_US.1EneOJbgwUk.O&bi w=980&bih=868&tch=1&ech=1&psi=ikrZUv6xAurlsASmpICgCg.1389972106495.5&ei=k0rZUs-N DOKosASy5ICgCg&ved=0CJcEEKYrMAE>
would this work for me? the price is less than I expected for real true USB 3.0
thanks again
will

I want to upgrade the graphics card on my Mac pro 8 core 2008

The reason for it is because I want to use final cut x on it, is it possible to upgrade and what card should I upgrade to?

The Apple version of the 5x70 cards should work.
Sample Google searches for just these Apple forums:
5770 in a 2008 mac pro site:discussions.apple.com
5870 in a 2008 mac pro site:discussions.apple.com
ati radeon in a mac pro site:discussions.apple.com

Can you upgrade the graphics card in a mac pro xeon

i am wondering if i bought a 2006 mac pro xeon could i upgrade the horrible graphic card to at least a 1.5 graphic card

Yes
User Tip: Mac Pro silver tower (2006-2012) Replacement Graphics cards
graphics card for 2006-07 Mac Pro system
If you do not have the Mac Pro I would find a 2008 or later but preferably, a 2009 or later one.

Early 2008 Mac Pro won't boot after installing 2nd DVD drive

All,
I purchased a Pioneer DVR-117D from Mac Sales and after installing it in my new refurbished 2008 Mac Pro it won't boot. My MP will boot if I remove the drive. According to the Mac Sales website this drive should work fine in my MP. Any ideas as to why this is happening. I literally just got my MP today and installed the drive. Is it the drive or the Mac Pro. Thank you all.

The drive was set to master, I switched it to CS before I left for work but haven't tried reinstalling it. I will try when I get back and let you know if it worked. Thank you again.

Early 2008 mac pro won't boot from hdd when ssd is installed

I have Mountain Lion 10.8.3 installed on my 1TB HDD in my early 2008 mac pro. That is the only OS install on my mac. I have an OWC SSD formatted but left as an empty drive that I am trying to use but when it's installed my mac hangs on the blank gray screen.
My mac cold boots fine and runs fine when the SSD is *not* installed. When I shut down and put the SSD into a drive bay the mac does seem to boot ok the first time, but when the computer is off for a while it will not boot. It just hangs on the blank gray screen (no apple logo). As soon as I pull out the SSD, the computer boots fine and runs fine again. I am not trying to boot off the SSD, I am booting off the HDD. The correct drive (1tb hdd) is selected in startup disk.
OWC has been helping me and I have tested 3 SSD's. So it does not appear to be a problem with their drive.
The mac will boot into safe mode with the SSD installed. It will boot if I choose the boot drive with the option key at startup.
Mountain Lion was clean installed.
Could it be some sort of library pref or cache issue?
Any recommendations on what to try?

A HT does not find a lot of errors.
It doesn't look for bad sectors or directory or file problems.
Clone your SSD now that you have a clean OS and has the Apple updates on it. Before you make changes.
Install TRIM Enabler 2.2+ on it and any boot volume, to enable TRIM and so that Disk Utility's Repair Disk will trim cells. Mountain Lion Recovery won't which is a shame, so...
Clone and keep bootable backup clone of your system to use for maintenance.
A really bad directory on a system drive will cause interference from booting.
SSDs really need extra care, and even with TRIM, to be repaired from time to time and couple times a year, to do an erase and restore from a current image.
Of course Mac OS system even iwth apps is small and doesn't need to have any data or media and fits on 120GB usually just fine and still have a good enough amount free so TRIM and Garbage Collection can work properly and not get low on free pages. But 20GB free should be the minimum free, and better to have more, at least whatever total amount is written out in a month.

Installing Airport extreme card for 2008 Mac Pro

After some searching I finally found which airport extreme card to get for my 2008 Mac Pro that I just purchased recently . According to the the link below in the Apple archives it is part number MB363Z/A. However the link further down in the thread for the instructions on installing the card doesn't seem to work any more. Anyone know where to find another link for some detailed instructions or pics on installing the card. I haven't found any as of yet. I installed the old extreme card in my G5 pretty easily, but this seems a little more involved in the Mac pro from what I've read so far.
thanks, Craig
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6563623

Ok never mind I found the old link seems to work now with detailed pics and instructions. Sounds like it's a bit of a pain but can be done with patience. Just have to get the card now.
http://meanderingpassage.com/2007/07/18/how-to-installing-an-airport-extreme-car d-in-an-intel-mac-pro/

Help with new video card for 2008 mac pro

I was looking to upgrade the speed of my 2008 Mac Pro Video
I currently have a nvidea 8800 512mb
Looking for any suggestions?
I need something that will not block the 2nd 2.0 pci slot?
From my understanding my mac has two 2.0 pci slots and one is used by the video card?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Nvidia-GTX-780-3-GB-for-Apple-Mac-Pro-/331071998403?n ma=true&si=TLQfb78DRSdpDaz0cZAp4FFlvP8%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p204767 5.l2557
this Nvidia GTX 780 is the best your mac can handle safely, the card can work on 1 slot at around 95% according to another site:
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Intel/Ivy_Bridge_PCI-Express_Scaling/3.html
this is what i plan to use in my mac pro 3,1

Basic video card for 2008 Mac Pro?

An old question, I suppose, but products change....
The video card in my Early 2008 Mac Pro seems to be flaking out -- hardware crashes and the like. I'm just using it as a server, and don't need a particularly high end (= expensive) replacement. Any suggestions? Thanks!

"PC cards flashed to Mac Firmware do not show a picture until Mac OS X is fully up and running, so debugging, alternate booting, running Utility DVD or Recovery HD are extremely difficult."
Grant is right about many flashed cards. Specifically, flashed 5770 and 5870 cards show no EFI boot screens unless you hapen to use a VGA display connected via lower DVI port. Not very handy.
Many flashed Nvidia cards DO show the boot screens and thus function like a card you bought from Apple store.
There are now flashed GT120 cards available as well. You need to be certain that you are clear on whether your Mac Pro is EFI64 or EFI32. (Mac Pro 1,1 ad 2,1 are 32, all of the newer ones are EFI64)
The EFI64 machines have a much better array of options. If you are unclear, it is always better to ask questions before rather than guess, especially if the ad you are looking at seems ambiguous.
The screens before the desktop shows up are called the "Boot screens" typically and are there due to EFI drivers on card. From desktop on the OSX drivers take over.

Video cards for 2008 Mac Pro with 4 20 inch Cinema Displays

I have an early 2008 Mac Pro Quad Core with 16GB RAM. I run a 4 (20 inch Mac Cinema Display) monitor configuration off of it. one of my video cards just failed. They were never very good at handling FX in FCP anyway. I want to upgrade and get good cards for 2 displays each and if possible, video cards that will facilitate FCP X as well. What should I get?

OS X has drivers in 10.6.5
It is the ROM firmware that makes it work though there is help there too now for PC cards and flashing.
OWC is over pricing.
100s of threads asking the same question for the last yr.
5870 also, but costs $200 more.
More about using 6870 and others:
netkas.org
PS: the 'short' url for the Apple ATI 5770 w/o any user/cid - Product /MC742ZM/A
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC742ZM/A
Radeon 5870 vs 5770 GTX 285 4870
ATI Radeon HD 5770 - specs etc

Radeon 5770 in 2008 Mac Pro, won't boot - hangs at Apple logo screen??

Okay, so I had the Radeon 2600 XT and it kept giving me issues with pink & white checkerboards and freezing, then eventually wouldn't let me boot past the white/grey apple logo loading screen. Now, today I installed Apple Radeon 5770, just installed, got the MiniDisplay to DVI-D adapter and everything, but it STILL won't let me get past the white/grey apple screen! I can't seem to get the DVD drive to open either. Both of my hard drives have been working fine and I've even swapped slots and i still can't get past the white screen! What gives? I just dropped over $300 for this, so you can imagine my dismay and frustration. Can someone please help me with some ideas? Would be GREATLY appreciated.
It's a 2008 Mac Pro dual 2.8Ghz (3,1), running 10.5.8
M

Yeah, ok thanks for the response about the screen! So, I don't have 10.6.5. I'm running 10.5.8, which the Radeon 5770 says it needs 10.6.5, but -finally- I got my computer to boot up with the 5770 in it, on 10.5. Al I did was hold OPTION+ Power button and it took me to a blue screen, then to my 500 GB new HD. I then switched over to my other username on Macintosh HD (drive that came with the MacPro) and OSX loads fine! I can tell that it still needs to be on 10.6.5, so I can download the drivers because the text is ever so slightly fuzzy, and the color isn't tuned well (too much contrast) and images take a little longer to load/ are a bit laggy. I'm just glad it's up and running! No more pink transparent checkerboards, and loud *** fan sounds! I am wondering though, what was causing this hold up? Is it only booting up because I have the 10.5.2 install disc in the SuperDrive? I almost don't want to take it out and try without it, after the trouble i've had, just in case lol. I'd like to have an idea as to why, because I don't want to mask a problem, and have it eventually turn into a catastrophe.

Best graphics card compatible with Mac Pro?

I still have the stock ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series from 2010 that shipped with it. Everything else is holding up but I'm noticing the graphics card is starting to get a bit dated. I've never upgraded a graphics card on a mac so I'm wandering what kind of cards I can and cant buy.

Windows and games then you can use whatever you can power.
That could be GTX 570 or ATI 7xxx
Only issue is you only have 2 x 6-pin auxillary cables.
you might buy a flashed GTX from MacVidCards
http://www.ebay.com/sch/macvidcards/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25&_trksid =p3686
You'll find more about 3rd party cards and how to install and support...
http://forums.macrumors.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1
http://forum.netkas.org/
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1360927
http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=03G-P3-1588-AR
The Mac Pro limitations for serious gaming make it much more of a challenge.

Multiple graphics cards on 2008 mac pro, won't work

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