Questions & Answers for ATI Radeon HD 5870 Graphics Upgrade Kit for Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or Early 2009)
ATI Radeon HD 5870 Graphics Upgrade Kit for Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or Early 2009)
86 Questions + 175 Answers
86 Questions from the Community
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may i use this kit for macbook pro 13 inch late 2011 with core i5 2.4ghz
Im confused with my macbook pro because i dont have enough card graphic with intel hd3000 ... so i want to update my graphic card for my macbook pro... so i want to ask may i use this kit for my macbook pro 13 inch late 2011 :
letting me know if i can.. so i will buy this kits...
Thanks- Asked by Elvin Alvian S from Cimahi
- Apr 17, 2013
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Will this Radion HD 5870 work with the MacPro 12 Core Mid 2012 system? If not, is there a 5870 option for the MacPro 12 core Mid 2012 system?
- Asked by Richard P B from Los Angeles
- Apr 11, 2013
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Will this work in the first generation Mac Pro (2007) ?
- Asked by Gabriel B from Deux-montagnes
- Aug 9, 2010
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Answer
Yes, many people have gotten it to work with their MacPro 1,1. You will need 10.6.4 or higher though
- Answered by Jonathan F from Hemet
- Feb 12, 2013
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performance difference between dual HD 5770's and a single HD 5870
in the 2010 8-core mac pro what is the performance difference between dual HD 5770's and a single HD 5870 when doing things such as 3D rendering or gaming on the 27" cinema display?
- Asked by Zak N from Canberra
- Jan 14, 2011
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Answer
This is really going to depend greatly on the system you have. Final Cut Studio can utilize multiple graphics cards for rendering. Most 3D modeling software is not optimized in Mac OS X for this function. The best practice of multiple video cards on a Mac Pro is for powering multiple monitors. Software is not designed to support this like on Linux or Windows and without Crossover or SLI technology, the hardware benefits of linking are not available. With one monitor, I recommend the 5870. WIth more than one monitor, you should really ask on forums devoted to the software you are using.
- Answered by Jay C from New Orleans
- Jan 31, 2011
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Can the HD 5870 coexist with the default NVIDIA GT 120 in the 2009 Mac PRO?
Any conflict between the NVIDIA and AMD drivers?
- Asked by Sorin V from Toronto
- Aug 9, 2010
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Best Answer
Yes it can, you'd want to place the gt120 in the third pci-e slot and the 5870 in slot one.
- Answered by Christopher O from Fort George G Meade
- Aug 9, 2010
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Will the ATI Radeon™ HD 5870 upgrade card work in my 1st Gen. MacPro (2006)?
ATI Radeon™ HD 5870 upgrade card, MacPro 2006
- Asked by Richard P from Los Angeles
- Nov 11, 2012
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Answer
if you read the other questions, one user says:
"This card can be confirmed to run in a Mac Pro 1,1 model. I have it installed and am using it right now. The only thing that has yet to function ia audio output via the mini displayports.
Yuki Leopard 10.6.4 AND the Yuki Leopard Graphics Update are required for this card to function as a 3D renderer (will function as a 2D raster device in 10.5.8, and in 10.6.3 and below, at least allowing you to install the card first and then update the software)."- Answered by Abrahim L from Savannah
- Dec 3, 2012
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Answer
No.
This requires a PCIe slot that the no iMac has.
Mac Pro computers only 2009-2010 (works in 2008 but not supported).- Answered by Ken G from Beaverton
- Mar 4, 2011
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how do i determine if i have a pci express 2.0 slot
i want to use a 42 inch panasonic tv as a monitor for my mac pro.
i purchased the computer in 2008- Asked by Chris M from Coalville
- Dec 8, 2012
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Early 2009 Quad Core compatibility with the new ATI Radeon 5870 and Dual Displays
Its been 2 about 2 years since I bought my Mac Pro... Currently running an early 2009 2.66 Ghz Quad-Core Intel Xeon with the ATI Radeon HD 4870... Looking to make a couple upgrades to the system
1) Is it as simple as just swapping the two cards? or do I need additional hardware to make the upgrade?
2) Will the 5870 be compatible with my current 24 inch Mac LED Cinema Display (late 2008)?
3) If I were to run 2 monitors (was looking at the new thunderbolt display)... would it be possible to run one at 1920x1200 and the other at 2560x1440 or do they both need to be running at the same resolution off the 5870? OR would I be better off buying an additional Nvidia GT 120 to run the other monitor??
4) If I did run this setup would my current 8gigs of ram be enough? (I do a lot of HDR photography editing and processing involving multiple layers on very large format files)
any help would be greatly appreciated- Asked by Chris E from Summit
- Jul 24, 2011
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Best Answer
1) Yes, just a straight swap.
2) Yes, it's compatible
3) Your access to the correct cables and adapters aside, you should have no issues running two monitors at different resolutions.
4) You will not need to install any additional RAM after this upgrade.- Answered by Aaron C from Temple City
- Jul 25, 2011
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I have MacPro 3,1 Quad-Core 2008. Will ATI Radeon HD 5870 Upgrade Kit work?
- Asked by Paul E from Victoria
- Jan 27, 2012
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Best Answer
Yes. I'm using one in a 2008 Mac Pro Quad core now.
If you buy one, note the instructions are a little different as they are for a later model, but the principles are the same. The kit comes with two cables that both need to be plugged into the mother board. The sockets are located on the top left hand side. Removing hard drive 2 makes it easier to see them. You will also need to release your old card by pressing the black clip at the back of the card. You can see identical clips on any empty sockets you may have. You will also need to remove the second blanking plate at the back (it just slides out).
The card produces a lot more heat than the ATI 2600XT I had before, so make sure the back is kept clear to let out the fan's exhaust air.
Full HD video (1080p) runs really smoothly now.- Answered by John M
- Mar 8, 2012
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can powermac G5 upgrade to this grafic card
can i upgrade my mac G5, i'm using it for my home studio, i can't install logic pro 9 software, i need to know how
- Asked by Wan Azim W from Wilayah Persekutuan
- Dec 4, 2012
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will this work with a sonnet thunderbolt expansion chassis?
I am thinking of a portable workstation controlled by my thunderbolt equipped macbook air, and was wondering if matching this with a RED Rocket card in a Sonnet Echo Express Pro Thunderbolt Expansion Chassis would be of help with graphics rendering.
- Asked by Garth W from Calgary
- May 8, 2012
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Best Answer
No. As clearly stated in Sonnet's product specs, the expansion chassis you mention accepts 7.75" long cards maximum. This graphics card is far too long to physically fit. Furthermore, this card alone requires a MINIMUM of 150 watts. As this is the total available power for the expansion chassis, even if it fit, you would not have enough power for another expansion card.
- Answered by Matthew R from Santa Fe
- May 13, 2012
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WARNING: only compatible with HDCP capable displays!
As a warning to all that try and upgrade a older machine, this card performs great but you will loose access to all iTunes HD content if you do not have a HDCP capable display. So it is either the nice Apple 30" display or the HD 5870 card but not both.
Any suggestions would be nice before I send the HD 5870 back?- Asked by Craig N from Cambridge
- Nov 24, 2010
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Best Answer
The 30" ACD will still work with the 5870, but only if the monitor is driven from the MDP using a MDP->DVI dual link adapter ($99 from Apple). That adapter is HDCP compliant.
- Answered by Howard M from Deerwood
- Nov 27, 2010
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Will the ATI Radeon HD 5870 Graphics Upgrade Kit work in a Mac Pro 1.1 (2006)?
- Asked by Brian C from Los Angeles
- Aug 9, 2010
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Best Answer
This card *may* not work. What the initial answerer to this question failed to mention was that if this card has an EBC type ROM onboard, it can indeed boot in EFI32 systems. That doesn't mean that there won't be issues - there may well be some big ones that we can't foresee. The only thing that would keep this card from booting in the 1,1 Mac Pro models is if the card itself has only an EFI64 enabled ROM onboard. And we won't find out until somebody gets ahold of either a final production unit or a late beta model that is close to final.
This card appears to be based on the Sapphire Cypress XT design, minus the extra VRAM. Assuming EBC ROM type, it could well boot a 1,1 Mac Pro easily. :)- Answered by Eric R from Hayward
- Aug 11, 2010
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Will the HD 5870 video card support 10-bit output via miniDisplayPort to 10-bit capable monitors like the HP DreamColor LP2840zx or the NEC PA271W?
- Asked by Richard W from Tucson
- Nov 16, 2010
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Best Answer
Apple at this time does not support 10 bit output. I have spoken to apple product specialist support, and that is the official word as of 12/10.2010 from the engineering department.
- Answered by Ian B from Buckley
- Dec 10, 2010
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Is there a power connector that needs plugging into the LB?
Is there a power connector that needs plugging into the LB?
Or does all the power come from the PCIe bus.
Mac Pro early 2008 3,1.
Thanks ... Ken- Asked by Kenny G from Beaverton
- Sep 6, 2010
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Best Answer
Yes. The 5770 needs one extra power cable (included with the upgrade kit) and the 5870 requires two (both included with the kit).
- Answered by Dylan N from Toronto
- Sep 7, 2010
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Installing a second ATI Radeon HD 5870 video card to work together in an ATI-crossfire configuration?
If I were to install a second HD Radeon 5870 card, to go with my existing HD 5870 card (using a Y-splitter to get power to both cards from the single pair of PCIe power-plugs), could I get them to work together in an ATI cross-fire configuration?
I'm looking to get twice the GPU power on a single monitor -- not drive two monitors separately. Like what I had with my nVidia SLI setup on my old PC.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
L.- Asked by Laurence M from Mableton
- Feb 20, 2012
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Answer
OS X doesn't support Crossfire so unless you're using it for games in bootcamp there's no point in doing that. That being said it would work in bootcamp however. You'll have to use a fan utility to increase your system fan speeds as you're going to be generating a lot of extra heat running two cards. You can use smcfancontrol in os x then boot windows and the fans will stay at increased speeds. good luck
- Answered by Karsten A from Rochester
- Feb 24, 2012
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will the ATI Radeon HD 5870 work in a Mac Pro 3,1 8 Core early 2008
- Asked by Walter V from Everett
- Nov 27, 2011
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Best Answer
Yes, I have been using it for many months in the same machine driving two 27 inch Apple Cinema displays. Have also used a 285 and an 8800. The 5870 wins by a mile.
- Answered by David M from Morgan
- Nov 29, 2011
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Will this drive 2 27" monitors at 2560x1440, like 2 new Cinema Displays?
- Asked by Eric C from South Lyon
- Aug 15, 2010
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Best Answer
The 5870 and 5770 can both power 3 Displays no matter the size or resolution.
- Answered by Tracey R from Immokalee
- Aug 19, 2010
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Does this work with the Mac Pro 2,1 8 core?
Since I don't see this specific mac mentioned yet, Does this card work in the 2,1?
- Asked by Edgars K from Redmond
- Apr 20, 2011
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Best Answer
I broke down and decided to risk it, as people say it works with the 1,1. I replaced my dead X1900 with it, and works like a charm. I have a monitor in the DVI and one of the mini-display ports. I have not tried boot camp, though.
- Answered by Edgars K from Redmond
- Apr 20, 2011
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