Nvidia Geforce 120 vs ATI radeonX800XT

I just purchased a new Mac Pro with the Nvidia card. I have the X800XT from the old G5 Powermac that it is replacing. I know Aperture like a fast video card, which should I use, the newer low end Nvidia or the older higher end ATI? I can't seem to find a direct comparison.

The X800XT won't physically fit in your new Mac Pro, so it's a non-issue.
That said, the GeForce 120 is the slowest card you can get for the new Mac Pro. If you want a fast card, get the GeForce GT 285 or whatever that is now available on the store, if you find performance on your new machine wanting. But, try what you have first

Similar Messages

  • NVIDIA GeForce 120 or ATI Radeon X1900... which is better?

    Hi-
    I currently have the ATI Radeon X1900 graphics card installed in my Mac Pro 2.26 Nehalem. I'm not having any issue's with the card except that the fans turn On quite frequently, and they're a little loud.
    I'm not using it for any games, etc... My primary use is with Pro Tools (a music DAW application).
    The ATI Radeon X1900 is running a Apple 30" display and a Sony Bravia 46" LCD.
    If I replaced the ATI Radeon X1900 with a NVIDIA GeForce 120, would I be asking for trouble?
    Thanks in advance.

    If I replaced the ATI Radeon X1900 with a NVIDIA GeForce 120, would I be asking for trouble?
    If your Mac Pro came with ATI Radeon X1900, then it needs a card with EFI-32 firmware. The NVIDIA GeForce 120 has EFI-64 firmware, and won't work in the pre 2008 Mac Pro. The only upgrade for early Mac Pros is the ATI Radeon HD 4870
    <http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB999ZM/A?fnode=MTY1NDA5OQ&mco=MTA4MzU2NTc>
    (Despite what Apple says, it will work in any Mac Pro.)
    You will need a Mini DisplayPort adapter for the second display,

  • PowerDVD, Blu-ray, NVIDIA GeForce 120 GT and BootCamp

    Hello Everyone,
    I am interested in purchasing PowerDVD 9 to play-back Blu-Ray movies with my Mac Pro and its GeForce 120 GT graphics card under BootCamp. Does anyone know if this combination works? I've gone to Cyberlink's support pages, and it has as minimums and recommended, GPUs that are in between the 120 GT but doesn't specifically state support for it. Can anyone confirm if this will work? Thanks.

    I have a word for the GT120, "neutered." As low as you can go on the food chain in graphics.
    You can't mix ATI and Nvidia, and the 8800GT is EOL. The ATI 4870 is a nice option.

  • Automatic monitor calibration with NVidia GT 120 and ATI 4870

    I am considering purchase of a Mac Pro to use with a LaCie monitor and the Blue Eye Pro calibrator / software. Auto calibration of the monitor is possible if the calibrator / software can communicate directly via the graphics cards with the monitor. DDC CI - a communication standard is used for this. My question is are these cards able to use this standard.
    I have tried Apple Service and Support by telephone and I have tried to find information on the NVidia and ATI websites without success. Neither site seems to provide a way to email such a question to them.
    I am surprised that Apple are unable to provide information of this type to help a prospective purchaser.
    Has anyone any advice or or experience to offer me - it would be gratefully received!

    Have you asked Blu Eye?

  • DVI to video MacPro with a NVIDIA GeForce GT 120

    Hi All
    I am currently trying to connect an external projector to create a second desktop.
    I have tried using the DVI to Video adapter, but this doesn't seem to work. The adapter works fine with macbook pro though.
    Is it something to do with the graphics card being a NVIDIA GeForce GT 120, and not a ATI X1900 XT - which seems to be what is suggested under the product description in the apple store?
    If this is the case, what cable will allow me to create a video (preferably a composite) out from the DVI connector on the back of this MacPro.
    The MacPro has one DVI video out and one MiniDisplay out. The monitor is using the MiniDisplay port out and I would prefer to not convert this i.e. DVI to a mini Display out for the monitor, and then use a MiniDisplay port as the video out for the projector - attaching some kind of MiniDP to video adapter. Although I don't know if that is possible.
    Any suggestions as to the best solutions are much appreciated.
    Neil

    Conversion of the signals provided on a DVD-I connector to Composite Video and/or S-Video requires some circuitry in the adapter. To support that, the DVI port would have to supply power. My suspicion is that only the X1900 does this, but some research may determine whether your GT120 supplies power or not.
    VGA requires no additional circuitry, because the VGA signals are present at the end of the connector, in the bar and four pins directly around it.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DigitalVisualInterface

  • Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT and ATI Radeon X1900 XT

    I have a Mac Pro 2,1 running 10.6.1 and BootCamp.
    I had a Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT video card in it and it ran well under BootCamp.
    I installed a ATI Radeon X1900 XT.
    Under BootCamp the 2 cards seem incompatible, with an error message that the driver on the Nvidia card has been disables due to an incompatibility with the other card.
    Is there a solution for this?
    If I wanted 2 cards inside would they both need to be the ATI's or Nvidia's?
    Thanks

    Hi I would maybe get a Apple Upgrade Kit the GT 120 is 512MB's & dose not use all 16 lanes as it like to make you think & will work on 2006 Mac Pro's at $149.00 I would say if you just want more displays get two & eBay your old cards. Please know if you game you will want more power but if only for more displays this 1 slot card is great.
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 Graphics Upgrade Kit for Mac Pro (early 2009)
    View all Questions
    It as well as the much better 4870 both work with the Mac Pro 1,1 & 2,1
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 Graphics Upgrade Kit for Mac Pro (early 2009)
    The NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 includes 512MB of GDDR3 memory, uses the PCI Express 2.0 interface, and includes one Mini DisplayPort and one dual-link DVI port.
    Learn more Questions & Answers
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    Based on 11 reviews
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    Overview
    The NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512 MB of GDDR3 memory delivers excellent all-around performance whether your playing games or dealing with creative and scientific applications. With up to four NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 graphics cards installed, a Mac Pro can support up to eight displays simultaneously.
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 includes two video ports: one Mini DisplayPort and one dual-link DVI port. This allows you to connect both the 24-inch Apple LED Cinema Display or another Mini DisplayPort-based display, and a DVI-based display such as the 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display. Display adapters are available to connect VGA displays.
    Good Luck man
    Thomas

  • ATI Radeon HD 4870 not better than the Nvidea Geforce 120?

    I bought av new ATI Radeon HD 4870 card to my MacPro. But are wery disappointed. My old NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 performes almost better than ATI. I ran Cinebench test and this is the results:
    *NVIDIA GeForce*
    Rendering (Single CPU): 3225 CB-CPU
    Rendering (Multiple CPU): 18880 CB-CPU
    Multiprocessor Speedup: 5.85
    Shading (OpenGL Standard): 6107 CB-GFX
    *ATI Radeon HD 4870*
    Rendering (Single CPU): 3218 CB-CPU
    Rendering (Multiple CPU): 18852 CB-CPU
    Multiprocessor Speedup: 5.86
    Shading (OpenGL Standard): 5846 CB-GFX
    I also ran the Photoshop Actiontest from www.retouchartists.com on a large .tiff file, and my ATI Radeon used 1,10,2 and NVidea used 1,09,4. That is almost 1 second better for the old card.
    Apple says that the ATI 4870 card performs 2x better than the Nvidea 120. That is not my experience!

    Hello,
    I currently have a 2008 3.0Ghz Harpertown mac pro and I am trying to figure out what to do here. I just purchased the 24 inch cinema display, but yet I have a nice 1GB 4870 ati radeon I got off ebay. Its more powerful than the Apple version, but lacks the mini-display port.
    Currently, I have the ATI RADEON 2600 XT connected, though inactive, while my 4870 is active.
    So, should I just get the Nvidia GT 120 and keep my 1GB 4870, or should I get rid of the 4870 I have and just buy Apple's? Either way, the GT 120 works in a 2008 mac pro despite what Apple says on their site that it only works in 2009 mac pros.

  • Ere are the specs on the Mac I need more power on.  Mac Tower Processor  2 x 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon Memory  6 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC Graphics  NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 512 MB Serial Number  H00354XF20G Software  OS X 10.8.5 (12F45)  Harddive 640 GB SATA

    ere are the specs on the Mac I need more power on.
    Mac Tower
    Processor  2 x 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
    Memory  6 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC
    Graphics  NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 512 MB
    Serial Number  H00354XF20G
    Software  OS X 10.8.5 (12F45)
    Harddive 640 GB
    SATA Disk
    (2) Harddrives 1 TB
    SATA Disk
    RAM 6 slots total  -- 6 are filled with 1GB
    (3) UAD Quad cards installed
    I use this computer stictly for audio recording. 
    Pro Tools 10.3.7
    Interface Apollo 16
    Pro Tools is curretnly not compatible with Maverick.   Also, I believe that Pro Tools 10 only allows 4GB ram to be utilized (not sure ) 
    I know Pro Tools 11 allows more, but not sure how much more.  Also not sure if the upgrade to Pro Tools 11 I will have to purchase all new plug ins or if my existing ones will continue to work in it.
    The platform changes from 32 bit to 64 with the upgrade to 11
    If it is as simple as adding more ram, what mode-part #l would you recomeend.  Can the processor be upgraded also ?
    The new tube like Macs are non compatible with UAD Cards.  Those cards a must my sessions

    You can use Activity Monitor to check if apps run as 32 or 64 bit - simply look at the "Kind" column (you may need to select it under View -> Columns) and see if the app in question is listed as "Intel" i.e. 32 bit or as "Intel (64 bit)".
    While in Activity Monitor you can also check if Pro Tools is close to the 3-4 GB limit of a 32 bit app - if you aren't you will probably not benefit from more RAM.
    Your MacPro (it appears to be a Early 2009 model) should have come with a small booklet showing how to install RAM and what kind of RAM that you need. Any RAM that fulfills the requirements should work but your safest choice is probably to buy from a retailer/online store that supports Macs as they will usually know what kind of RAM you need for your mac model.
    Upgrading the CPUs should be possible, but I haven't seen Apple document how to do this, so you will probably have to google around a bit to find instructions and CPU part numbers.
    Your choice of CPUs will also be limited by the motherboard and CPU socket so you may be limited to faster version of your current CPU chip and some slightly newer versions.
    Going from your current CPU to the fastest version included in the 2009 MacPros would be going from 2.26 GHz to 2.93 GHz. This would only give a modest 30% speed boost. Using newer and highly clocked CPUs might boost this somewhat more maybe to 50% ?

  • ATI 4870 AND NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT together ?

    hello. i have a mac pro 1.1 with the stock NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT video card. I will receive a new ATI Radeon HD 4870 card today and was wondering if it was possible to have both cards installed and if this wold provide a performance boost (ie will rendering videos utilize the power of both combined etc) . Also, i would like the option of having 3 displays . So 2 questions,
    1. can i have both cards installed at once?
    2. and if yes, will it provide benefits or problems/conflicts ?
    thanks
    Mac Pro 1,1 , 5GB Ram , Latest Snow Leopard , Mac 20ish" Display, and Sony Bravia 52" as display using dvi-hdmi cable .

    I've run the 4870 together with the 7300gt; there were no problems whatsoever. You'll be able to run 4 monitors, other than that there are no other benefits. This is under OSX.
    Note though, if you're running windows under bootcamp, with both cards installed you will likely run into driver conflicts. Best to keep to the same "clan" (ATI or Nvidia) when booting in windows.

  • Is the ATI Radeon HD 4870 quiter than the NVidia GeForce 8800 GT ?

    My NVidia GeForce 8800 GT just died and I have the choice to have the same one installed or to to go for the ATI 4870. (Technically I prefer the ATI but my family would prefer the quieter one!)
    My main concern is the noise. Is the 4870 quieter or noisier?

    I haven't run Photoshop for hours on end or otherwise made such intensive use of my card but I don't hear the 4870 run at all, As the Hatter says there is a noise at startup but no more. I have never used the other card you mention to compare it.

  • Dual Apple LED  Display (24") with NVIDIA GeForce GT120 & ATI RadeonHD4870

    I have recently purchased a MacPro4,1 Processor Name:Quad-Core Intel Xeon Processor Speed: 2.26 GHz with 6GB memory with the NVIDIA GeForce GT120. Then I purchased a ATI Radeon HD 4870 to be able to run the 2 Apple Cinema displays and an external monitor.
    I installed the ATI in slot 1 and the GT120 in slot 3. I use different motion software and the computer seems to recognize as the primary card the GT120 and not the ATI. This creates a problem with the different software I use as it uses for processing and rendering the GT120 and not the ATI faster card.
    This is also visible when I go to system preferences and change the display preferences and try to shift them around, the first display is the one that has the GT120 card (which is in slot 3)!!!
    Also sometimes I get funny characters in some windows.
    I spent the extra dollars to get an ATI card but I am not using its capabilities which is inviting me to disconnect the GT120 card... but then I cannot use the second Apple LED display due to its Apple's miserable connector policy. This is telling me that next time I should not buy the monitors from Apple as its connectors are not trully compatible with the hardware they sell.
    I searched everywhere but cannot find similar cases which is very strange. Any solution friends?

    You could remove the NVIDIA GT120 and connect the second display to the ATI card's DVI port with a DVI to Mini DisplayPort converter.
    <http://www.atlona.com/Atlona-DVI-to-Mini-DisplayPort-Converter-p-17859.html>

  • Running ATI Radeon x1900 XT along with NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT Possible?

    Can I run the ATI Radeon x1900 XT along with NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT together in my mac pro?

    The X1900 would have to go in double wide slot, you would have to run one or both at 8x.
    I think something like ATI 2600 might make more sense. The 8800GT is listed as discontinued (have a thread or two about it being EOL). So unless you have the 8800GT may not be an option anyway.
    The 4870 + 2600 combo would be best I can think of for us with 1st gen now.
    This assumes you simply need to drive 3 monitors. And don't want to wait and see if the Nvidia eVGA GTX 285 (doubtful) will support 1st gen EFI32's.

  • Motion 3 with new iMac 2.8 - ATI card or Nvidia GeForce card?

    I'm considering a new iMac 24" 2.8 penyrn and am wondering if Motion 3 performance would benefit significantly by upgrading the stock card? My options are:
    1. ATI Radeon HD2600 Pro w/256MB (stock)
    2. Nvidia GeForce 8800 GS w/512MB (upgrade)
    The upgrade card is +$135. I've seen on other posts that the ATI is better for 2D applications and the Nvidia for 3D. I've been running Motion 2 so I've never utilized its 3D capabilities.
    Any input appreciated.
    Jeff
    Message was edited by: Jeff Morgan1

    Thanks! I've been trying to ascertain whether Motion 3 will run at all on the new 2.8 iMacs. I was at the Apple Store over the weekend and they had it installed on Mac Pros and MacBook Pros... Not on the iMacs, though. I'm upgrading from Motion 2 on a Powerbook G4. Was NOT impressed with how Motion 3 ran on the MacBook Pro (2.5) they had in the store.
    I'm not a full-time video editor so I need a simple system. Helps to get the input on the GPU cards.

  • Mac Pro 3,1 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 120

    Do The "NVIDIA GeForce GT 120" and the MacPro 3,1 2008 work together?
    The NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 is made for the 2009 MacPro

    Snow Leopard when it came out caused grief and "broke" as in dropped support, for some MacBook Pro owner's external drives.
    10.3.0 Jaguar shipped with a known and fixed bug that was resolved in the testing and GM stage but got shipped and that one DID wipe out Firewire drives on install.
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    It is the old "1.0 is to be avoided" syndrome. Wait for 1.1 or so.
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    "Was hoping problem they had was fixed" with a new OS is wishful. But not if there is hardware or file system or a bad install or directory.
    I think I have seen where some Apple GC's just don't have the support and drivers, or support features in a new OS that didn't exist 5-6 years ago.
    Every new OS has improved but often something that was marginal or seemed to work, is pushed off the edge. Which is why that old RAM is now "bad RAM."
    The more specific the easier it is to rule out or find out why. I think we often play "20 Questions" or "Whack a mole" to get to the bottom.

  • Graphics card for PM G5 AGP-ATI Radeon 800 vs Nvidia Geforce 6800

    Any comments as to which of the two cards ATI Radeon 800 vs Nvidia Geforce 6800 is better suited for Photoshop-Aperture work?
    I need to upgrade from a Nvidia 5200 that does not support Aperture and want to support at least one 30" + one 23" Apple cinema displays.
    My PM is an AGP one, so these are the two high end contenders on the retail market.

    I have the 6800GT, which works fairly well for me. I think the X800 is overall a slightly faster card, depending on what is benchmarked. Here is something you might want to look at:
    http://www.barefeats.com/radx800.html
    I don't know if you should pay more attention to the gaming benchmarks or the Motion rendering benchmark. I haven't seen any Aperture tests of these products. But I imagine if I was upgrading I would probably go for the X800. One thing I like about the 6800GT is it supports two 30 inch monitors. Unfortunately it takes up 2 slots. I have a pair of SATA cards in my Dual 2.5, so there go all my slots.

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