can mac pro 3,1 have 2 graphics cards installed same time? at DVinfo.net

Rob Katz · February 24th, 2016, 03:21 PM

i have a mac pro 3,1.

the stock card is a nvidia 8800gt/512

i want to also install the larger, more powerful ati radeon 5770/1024.

can i install both cards and have their joint graphics power?

is there such a thing as "joint graphics power"?

i am hoping to using the 5770 as part of a fcp7/fcpx/premiere pro cc edit station.

thanks in advance.

be well.

rob
smalltalk.productions

Noa Put · February 24th, 2016, 04:04 PM

As far as I know you need a motherboard that supports it, you need identical GPU's and a bridge to connect the cards, for nvidia that's called SLI and for AMD Crossfire. The ati radeon 5770 is actually a quite slow card to todays' standards as it came out in 2009, on PassMark - G3D Mark it has a score of 1700 while the gtx980ti almost reaches 12000 points. You are better of getting just one more recent card.

Stephen Brenner · February 24th, 2016, 05:42 PM

You can install two different type graphics cards to support more monitors.
But I doubt if that configuration will boost your graphics computing power.

Dave Farrants · February 24th, 2016, 11:15 PM

FCP 7 does not work well with 2 GFX cards, I can't answer for FCPX or PP.

William Hohauser · February 25th, 2016, 04:51 PM

The ATI is really needed for FCPX, the nVidia card chokes up with FCPX. I have not heard about programs spreading their processing over two user installed graphic cards. I'm sure it has been done. FCPX does that with the new MacPro dual graphic cards but those are Apple specific cards that they have programmed for.

John C. Chu · February 25th, 2016, 04:59 PM

Final Cut Pro X will take advantage of both graphics cards if they are identical and support Open CL.

Check out this thread on FCP.co FCP.co Forum :: Topic: Dual GPUs in old (Classic!) Mac Pros (1/3)

In my very limited experience and from research, I would rather have a single AMD 7950 instead of dual 5770s in terms of bang for buck for Final Cut Pro X.

Even better is a dual 7950 set up, but that is a different story as it requires an auxiliary power supply.

William Hohauser · February 26th, 2016, 11:43 AM

And just by coincidence, a PCI graphic card sale:
Search Results for garage.sale at MacSales.com

Noa Put · February 26th, 2016, 12:40 PM

Are those prices for real? I see a used ati hd5770 for 259 dollar while you can still get this one new for 80 dollar.

Rob Katz · February 26th, 2016, 03:55 PM

noa-

sadly, the apple "approved" ati 5770 always has a pricing premium attached.

be well.

rob
smalltalk.productions

Noa Put · February 26th, 2016, 04:28 PM

But it's a second hand card! and also a very slow one, what is it's new price then?

William Hohauser · February 26th, 2016, 10:01 PM

Around here there are no new 5770 cards, just used, starting around $150. Maybe less on eBay but at least this company tests the equipment and gives a guarantee. I paid quite a bit more for a new one years ago.

Noa Put · February 27th, 2016, 01:48 AM

So if I understand it right is that if you want fcpx to use a graphic card in the best way it has to be one that Apple has modified themselves, hence the premium prices? If they made modifications, is that on driver level or hardware side?

John C. Chu · February 27th, 2016, 05:46 AM

PC versions of those AMD-ATI video cards will work fine on the Mac if you are running the more recent Macintosh Operating Systems. Please research first. The only caveat is that you won't have the grey apple boot screen.

There are people that flash the cards or sell modified cards (i.e. eBay or MacVidCards.com - Home) that supports the grey apple boot screen.

William Hohauser · February 27th, 2016, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noa Put

So if I understand it right is that if you want fcpx to use a graphic card in the best way it has to be one that Apple has modified themselves, hence the premium prices? If they made modifications, is that on driver level or hardware side?

There are graphics cards that Apple has some sort of agreement with the manufacturer so that it is cooperative to the system software so you have Mac versions of the same card that is available for PCs that are essentially the same card. Over the years people have found that PC only cards can work or need some hacking to work with Mac programs. I saw some experiments with PC based cards in the early days of FCPX. The general conclusion was that it was more trouble then it was worth for FCPX although other programs such as AE or 3D modeling programs had some success. I have no idea where those web pages are now.

Pete Cofrancesco · March 7th, 2016, 02:15 PM

It's frustrating paying through the nose for older slower video cards because they're mac compatible. But such is life.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202239

Mac Pro Default Video Cards & Video Card Upgrades @ EveryMac.com

February 24th, 2016, 03:21 PM	#1
Rob Katz Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: new york city, new york Posts: 594	can mac pro 3,1 have 2 graphics cards installed same time? i have a mac pro 3,1. the stock card is a nvidia 8800gt/512 i want to also install the larger, more powerful ati radeon 5770/1024. can i install both cards and have their joint graphics power? is there such a thing as "joint graphics power"? i am hoping to using the 5770 as part of a fcp7/fcpx/premiere pro cc edit station. thanks in advance. be well. rob smalltalk.productions

February 24th, 2016, 04:04 PM	#2
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	Re: can mac pro 3,1 have 2 graphics cards installed same time? As far as I know you need a motherboard that supports it, you need identical GPU's and a bridge to connect the cards, for nvidia that's called SLI and for AMD Crossfire. The ati radeon 5770 is actually a quite slow card to todays' standards as it came out in 2009, on PassMark - G3D Mark it has a score of 1700 while the gtx980ti almost reaches 12000 points. You are better of getting just one more recent card.

February 24th, 2016, 05:42 PM	#3
Stephen Brenner Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Brownsville, OR Posts: 116	Re: can mac pro 3,1 have 2 graphics cards installed same time? You can install two different type graphics cards to support more monitors. But I doubt if that configuration will boost your graphics computing power.

February 24th, 2016, 11:15 PM	#4
Dave Farrants Major Player Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Gloucs, UK Posts: 216	Re: can mac pro 3,1 have 2 graphics cards installed same time? FCP 7 does not work well with 2 GFX cards, I can't answer for FCPX or PP. __________________ https://www.foxvideo.co.uk

February 25th, 2016, 04:51 PM	#5
William Hohauser Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,650	Re: can mac pro 3,1 have 2 graphics cards installed same time? The ATI is really needed for FCPX, the nVidia card chokes up with FCPX. I have not heard about programs spreading their processing over two user installed graphic cards. I'm sure it has been done. FCPX does that with the new MacPro dual graphic cards but those are Apple specific cards that they have programmed for. __________________ William Hohauser - New York City Producer/Edit/Camera/Animation

February 25th, 2016, 04:59 PM	#6
John C. Chu Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Rego Park , NYC Posts: 665	Re: can mac pro 3,1 have 2 graphics cards installed same time? Final Cut Pro X will take advantage of both graphics cards if they are identical and support Open CL. Check out this thread on FCP.co FCP.co Forum :: Topic: Dual GPUs in old (Classic!) Mac Pros (1/3) In my very limited experience and from research, I would rather have a single AMD 7950 instead of dual 5770s in terms of bang for buck for Final Cut Pro X. Even better is a dual 7950 set up, but that is a different story as it requires an auxiliary power supply.

February 26th, 2016, 11:43 AM	#7
William Hohauser Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,650	Re: can mac pro 3,1 have 2 graphics cards installed same time? And just by coincidence, a PCI graphic card sale: Search Results for garage.sale at MacSales.com __________________ William Hohauser - New York City Producer/Edit/Camera/Animation

February 26th, 2016, 12:40 PM	#8
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	Re: can mac pro 3,1 have 2 graphics cards installed same time? Are those prices for real? I see a used ati hd5770 for 259 dollar while you can still get this one new for 80 dollar.

February 26th, 2016, 03:55 PM	#9
Rob Katz Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: new york city, new york Posts: 594	Re: can mac pro 3,1 have 2 graphics cards installed same time? noa- sadly, the apple "approved" ati 5770 always has a pricing premium attached. be well. rob smalltalk.productions

February 26th, 2016, 04:28 PM	#10
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	Re: can mac pro 3,1 have 2 graphics cards installed same time? But it's a second hand card! and also a very slow one, what is it's new price then?

February 26th, 2016, 10:01 PM	#11
William Hohauser Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,650	Re: can mac pro 3,1 have 2 graphics cards installed same time? Around here there are no new 5770 cards, just used, starting around $150. Maybe less on eBay but at least this company tests the equipment and gives a guarantee. I paid quite a bit more for a new one years ago. __________________ William Hohauser - New York City Producer/Edit/Camera/Animation

February 27th, 2016, 01:48 AM	#12
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	Re: can mac pro 3,1 have 2 graphics cards installed same time? So if I understand it right is that if you want fcpx to use a graphic card in the best way it has to be one that Apple has modified themselves, hence the premium prices? If they made modifications, is that on driver level or hardware side?

February 27th, 2016, 05:46 AM	#13
John C. Chu Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Rego Park , NYC Posts: 665	Re: can mac pro 3,1 have 2 graphics cards installed same time? PC versions of those AMD-ATI video cards will work fine on the Mac if you are running the more recent Macintosh Operating Systems. Please research first. The only caveat is that you won't have the grey apple boot screen. There are people that flash the cards or sell modified cards (i.e. eBay or MacVidCards.com - Home) that supports the grey apple boot screen.

March 7th, 2016, 02:15 PM	#15
Pete Cofrancesco Inner Circle Join Date: May 2004 Location: USA Posts: 3,005	Re: can mac pro 3,1 have 2 graphics cards installed same time? It's frustrating paying through the nose for older slower video cards because they're mac compatible. But such is life. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202239 Mac Pro Default Video Cards & Video Card Upgrades @ EveryMac.com