ATI 5870 card the best? at DVinfo.net

Kent Beeson · February 16th, 2011, 02:00 PM

Hi

I have an early 2008 Mac Pro, 2 x 3GHz, quad-Core Xeon, 8GB ram, latest OS, latest FC Studio, with original Nvidia 8800 GT card…Would you recommend the ATI 5870 card for my set up? Would it work well in this set up for both FCP 7 and MOTION 4, and would I notice a definite speed/reliability improvement over the 8800 GT?

If so, where best to purchase the ATI 5870?

Thanks
K

David Elkins · February 24th, 2011, 06:44 PM

Kent,

I'm in the same boat as you except I have an ATI Radeon HD2600 card. Badly need to upgrade but I can't find any solid info on what's best. All reviews seem to address gaming with graphics cards, but not editing. Would love to know what others are using. Tired of getting this message from FCP "Your hardware cannot render at the requested size and depth."

Kent Beeson · February 24th, 2011, 06:46 PM

Well, it seems this is the current answer - The Chock of the Titans in Motion: ATI 5870 vs Quadro 4000 | Übermedia

Bout $500 once you add tax/shipping

Craig Seeman · February 24th, 2011, 09:10 PM

Currently you won't see much difference between 5870 and 5770 on Pro Apps but that could change with the next Final Cut Studio in spring.

5870 vs Quadra 4000 similar to the tests you point to.
Quadro 4000 for Mac > Pro Apps

5870 vs 5770 on various Mac Pros not much of a difference on Pro Apps.
Radeon 5770 and 5870 on various Mac Pro models

Bit a bigger difference in other tests. This using 2008 Mac Pro
http://barefeats.com/wst10g6.html

Kent Beeson · February 24th, 2011, 09:22 PM

Very helpful - Thanks Craig

David Elkins · February 25th, 2011, 01:33 AM

Thanks, guys. This is a big help.

Allen White · March 4th, 2011, 06:28 AM

I use an 8-core Mac Pro with a 5870 card, and I've been working a lot with After Effects, which runs quite nicely -- and AE requires much more power than Motion. I haven't cranked up Motion on my new box yet, but have no doubt it would run at screaming speeds, since I've run Motion on systems that totally choke on AE.

February 16th, 2011, 02:00 PM	#1
Kent Beeson Major Player Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Texas Posts: 266	ATI 5870 card the best? Hi I have an early 2008 Mac Pro, 2 x 3GHz, quad-Core Xeon, 8GB ram, latest OS, latest FC Studio, with original Nvidia 8800 GT card…Would you recommend the ATI 5870 card for my set up? Would it work well in this set up for both FCP 7 and MOTION 4, and would I notice a definite speed/reliability improvement over the 8800 GT? If so, where best to purchase the ATI 5870? Thanks K

February 24th, 2011, 06:44 PM	#2
David Elkins Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 147	Re: ATI 5870 card the best? Kent, I'm in the same boat as you except I have an ATI Radeon HD2600 card. Badly need to upgrade but I can't find any solid info on what's best. All reviews seem to address gaming with graphics cards, but not editing. Would love to know what others are using. Tired of getting this message from FCP "Your hardware cannot render at the requested size and depth." __________________ www.elkinseye.com

February 24th, 2011, 06:46 PM	#3
Kent Beeson Major Player Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Texas Posts: 266	Re: ATI 5870 card the best? Well, it seems this is the current answer - The Chock of the Titans in Motion: ATI 5870 vs Quadro 4000 \| Übermedia Bout $500 once you add tax/shipping

February 24th, 2011, 09:10 PM	#4
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	Re: ATI 5870 card the best? Currently you won't see much difference between 5870 and 5770 on Pro Apps but that could change with the next Final Cut Studio in spring. 5870 vs Quadra 4000 similar to the tests you point to. Quadro 4000 for Mac > Pro Apps 5870 vs 5770 on various Mac Pros not much of a difference on Pro Apps. Radeon 5770 and 5870 on various Mac Pro models Bit a bigger difference in other tests. This using 2008 Mac Pro http://barefeats.com/wst10g6.html

February 24th, 2011, 09:22 PM	#5
Kent Beeson Major Player Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Texas Posts: 266	Re: ATI 5870 card the best? Very helpful - Thanks Craig

February 25th, 2011, 01:33 AM	#6
David Elkins Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 147	Re: ATI 5870 card the best? Thanks, guys. This is a big help. __________________ www.elkinseye.com

March 4th, 2011, 06:28 AM	#7
Allen White Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 60	Re: ATI 5870 card the best? I use an 8-core Mac Pro with a 5870 card, and I've been working a lot with After Effects, which runs quite nicely -- and AE requires much more power than Motion. I haven't cranked up Motion on my new box yet, but have no doubt it would run at screaming speeds, since I've run Motion on systems that totally choke on AE.