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rocky2 · Aug 1, 2004, 01:11 AM

What is the miminimum ATi card that will support most of the CoreImage functionality and can be installed in a G4 PowerMac?

Commodus · Aug 1, 2004, 07:21 AM

http://www.apple.com/macosx/tiger/core.html

Seen that yet?

Most of the video chipsets there are either specific to the G5 or the PowerBooks. In short, you'd want a Radeon 9700 Pro or 9800 Pro. Earlier G4-compatible cards (such as the GeForce 4 Ti) might still be able to accelerate CoreImage to some degree, but it's pretty clear that their ideal is something that has truly flexible pixel shaders. Those only really came about when the Radeon 9700 Pro was launched.

Luca Rescigno · Aug 1, 2004, 09:51 AM

I guess the minimum with FULL support for all CoreImage functionality would be the Radeon 9600 Pro, which can be made compatible if you modify the card slightly. These cards aren't as expensive as the 9800 Pro, which is the only other video card available for PowerMac G4s with full CoreImage support. However, if you have a Mirrored Drive Door G4, you can also use the Radeon 9700.

Weezer · Aug 9, 2004, 02:15 PM

Originally posted by Luca Rescigno:
I guess the minimum with FULL support for all CoreImage functionality would be the Radeon 9600 Pro, which can be made compatible if you modify the card slightly. These cards aren't as expensive as the 9800 Pro, which is the only other video card available for PowerMac G4s with full CoreImage support. However, if you have a Mirrored Drive Door G4, you can also use the Radeon 9700.

The Radeon 9700 will fit into a quicksilver 933 G4 as well correct?

Weezer · Aug 9, 2004, 11:47 PM

anyone?

Link · Aug 9, 2004, 11:48 PM

You can stick a 9800 in just about anything. 9700s and 600s are more picky

Weezer · Aug 9, 2004, 11:57 PM

Originally posted by Link:
You can stick a 9800 in just about anything. 9700s and 600s are more picky

meaning what? I might be getting one tomorrow and dont wanna spend a ton of money if it wont even work...

Luca Rescigno · Aug 10, 2004, 12:43 AM

9700 = MDD only. Nothing else. A friend of mine learned this the hard way and had to eat a 15% restock fee.

9600 = Will work, if you modify it. All you need is a piece of tape though, so you should be fine.

9800 = Works out of the box. Most expensive, but easiest.

Disgruntled Head of C-3PO · Aug 10, 2004, 01:38 AM

Originally posted by Luca Rescigno:

9600 = Will work, if you modify it. All you need is a piece of tape though, so you should be fine.

Wadda you mean?

sideus · Aug 10, 2004, 02:09 AM

Has something to do with the ADC power connector next to the AGP slot me thinks.

Link · Aug 10, 2004, 03:17 AM

In the 9600 it all depends on if you plan on using ADC or not.

If not, just pop it in (I think you might have to do a piece of electrical tape, there's a tutorial for this somewhere)...

If you do, that requires a solder job and some work

GoGoReggieXPowars · Aug 10, 2004, 10:30 AM

Originally posted by Weezer:
anyone?

Did you miss this? http://www.apple.com/macosx/tiger/core.html

Weezer · Aug 10, 2004, 11:03 AM

Originally posted by GoGoReggieXPowars:
Did you miss this? http://www.apple.com/macosx/tiger/core.html

No I saw it...I want a card that will do core image etc, and be able to drive dual digital displays. It seems like there is no card that will do that for me in my machine

I have an adc monitor so I will not be soldering, and the converter won't work bc I will be adding a DVI monitor eventually. Frustrating...Why won't the 9800 let you drive an ADC and a DVI monitor??

Weezer · Aug 10, 2004, 02:14 PM

So as a resolution for those that care: I went down to microcenter today and they had one Geforce4 Ti left, which works well for me bc it can drive 2 digital dispays unlike the 9800. I haggled them down to $260, so I think I made out alright. I'm looking forward to installing it and giving my quicksilver a little bost.

Luca Rescigno · Aug 10, 2004, 02:26 PM

Well, the GeForce 4 Titanium is an excellent card. Try playing Halo on it sometime

. My brother's Mac (with GF4 Ti) actually runs Halo BETTER than any PC I've seen! Pretty amazing, really. Unfortunately, it is a bit too old to support full GPU control of CoreImage. However, Tiger will automatically give as much control to the GPU as it can when doing CoreImage, and it's a super fast GPU, so you should be in good shape.

$260 isn't a really bad deal, it's actually fairly okay. Terrible compared to the PC side (I think Ti4600s are worth about $50-$80 for a PC version), but it's the second best card that will go in a G4, and it's the fastest that will drive an ADC display.

Weezer · Aug 10, 2004, 02:32 PM

Originally posted by Luca Rescigno:
it's the second best card that will go in a G4, and it's the fastest that will drive an ADC display.

That's why I went with it over the 9800. I also figured it should retain pretty good resale value when I eventually upgrade my entire system. Thanks for your help. What do you think a good price would be to sell my 4 MX for?

Link · Aug 10, 2004, 03:13 PM

Originally posted by Luca Rescigno:
$260 isn't a really bad deal, it's actually fairly okay. Terrible compared to the PC side (I think Ti4600s are worth about $50-$80 for a PC version), but it's the second best card that will go in a G4, and it's the fastest that will drive an ADC display.

*sigh* unfortunately. If you wanted to pay for the (minor) improvement the 9800 would provide it's like $500 including the DVI to ADC adaptor