[utw-Mephisto]

If you want you can get a High End PC with High End GFX .. get two 8800 and SLI etc. etc.

The only High End part in Mac Pro imho, is RAM and CPU .. since those are actually server parts and considering the price (hell, even the same RAM from HP cost 700 bucks / 2 GB) its everything but low end ..

I am not owner of a Mac Pro just yet, I started to use Mac the first time when I got my MacBook and since its addictive, I would like to buy a Mac Pro at the end of the year too.

But the GFX I really hope Apple introduces the upper class of NVIDIA / ATI cards as well including the possibility for SLI ... not everybody is using a Mac for Video Editing or similar. Some people also want to use it for gaming like me

So gimme gimme gimme ...

[utw-Mephisto]

I just read you could stick in a 2nd GFX, like a 8800 and use it in Windows using bootcamp .. that would be a solution, although there would be still no SLI possible but a start.

However, I could not find a post saying someone actually tried it successfully so it could be an expensive test ..

[wei]

Actually SLi works on Bootcamp + Windows.
If nVidia and Apple are unable to come out with a rotation (pivot) support for the nVidia drivers for so many years. I wonder if they'll ever make OSX SLI driver. Maybe Crossfire will come sooner.

But hey, we can always hope.

[mduell]

It's just a matter of drivers... OSX's video drivers are stinkers in terms of performance and features.

[Leonard]

Doesn't the Nvidia 8800 require 2 auxillary power connectors? The Mac Pro motherboard only has 2 auxillary power connectors so the current Mac Pro motherboard couldn't handle 2 Nvidia 8800 graphics cards, only 1 Nvidia 8800.

Time for the graphics companies to follow Intel's trend and start using less power.

[utw-Mephisto]

Its not just a matter of drivers ..

Each motherboard comes with a SLI bridge since obviously the distance between the cards are important .. Even if in theory SLI would work on Windows using bootcamp, where do you get the bridge with the exact measurements to connect those two cards

You won't .... and yes, the power will be a problem too ..

[mduell]

Originally Posted by utw-Mephisto 

Each motherboard comes with a SLI bridge since obviously the distance between the cards are important .. Even if in theory SLI would work on Windows using bootcamp, where do you get the bridge with the exact measurements to connect those two cards

The spacing between cards in an industry standard figure... I can't recall it off the top of my head, but the two video cards are either going to be in adjacent slots or one further (for thicker cards), so there are only 2 standard bridge sizes needed.

[Leonard]

The bridge is obviously not a problem as we've had people test SLI and they didn't mention modding the SLI bridge. Apple probably has the distance between the graphics card slot and the next PCIe slot the standard distance OR people are using flexible SLI bridges which can vary in size.

[utw-Mephisto]

Originally Posted by Leonard 

The bridge is obviously not a problem as we've had people test SLI and they didn't mention modding the SLI bridge. Apple probably has the distance between the graphics card slot and the next PCIe slot the standard distance OR people are using flexible SLI bridges which can vary in size.

I have build two PCs for friends of mine .. both PCIe slots on both motherboards were different and therefore you get the bridge with the motherboard but not with the cards !!

Maybe it changed by now (been a few month) but when I build those two stations it was different

Anyway, the point is : It would be great if it would be supported straight out of the box

[hmurchison2001]

I'm pretty sure Apple will support SLI soon. There's little point now as mduell said drivers aren't that hot. I'm sure Apple's done a lot of work on the new stuff coming in Leopard with multithreaded OpenGL 2.1. Leopard should be a much better gaming platform than any preceding OS. The goal in Leopard is to keep the GPU fed at all times. They are certainly going to get a workout and SLI configs may just prove to the the superior setup.

[utw-Mephisto]

Well, I guess the good thing is that I won't buy a Mac Pro at least until x-mas .. so there is enough time for Apple to release new stuff to get me hooked

One good thing though : I have about 16 sticks of 2 GB RAM required for the Mac Pro .. so I will save A LOT of money ...

[normang]

Depending on what your planning to do, the current graphic solutions are not that bad, there is always room for improvement, however spending big bucks for graphic capabilities that you may not make complete use of, seems like it would be a waste of $$..

[Bob Marley]

Seriously, if 256 mb isnt good enough for you, GET A LIFE.

Most games today can be played with a 256 mb graphics card, and hell, 128mb is good enough for me.


I wish macbook would come with a 128mb graphics card. Is there anyway to mod around it and disable the gma950 and insert a better one(and change how it looks)

[mduell]

Originally Posted by Bob Marley 

Seriously, if 256 mb isnt good enough for you, GET A LIFE.

Most games today can be played with a 256 mb graphics card, and hell, 128mb is good enough for me.

I wish macbook would come with a 128mb graphics card. Is there anyway to mod around it and disable the gma950 and insert a better one(and change how it looks)

$foo is good enough for me, therefore nobody needs more than 2*$foo? WTF kinda logic is that?

[Ado]

Apple will ALWAYS be behind PC in adopting professional technology.
This is why pc's are dominant in high end graphics.


The question you should ask yourself is, did apple ever support SLI back in the Voodoo 3 cards? Um no..actually apple half assedly sold them off as PCI and not even AGP...

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Ado 

The question you should ask yourself is, did apple ever support SLI back in the Voodoo 3 cards? Um no..actually apple half assedly sold them off as PCI and not even AGP...

Apple was an ATI shop. And back before 2000, there really weren't many cards that could saturate the PCI bus anyway.

[Leonard]

Originally Posted by Bob Marley 

Seriously, if 256 mb isnt good enough for you, GET A LIFE.

Most games today can be played with a 256 mb graphics card, and hell, 128mb is good enough for me.


I wish macbook would come with a 128mb graphics card. Is there anyway to mod around it and disable the gma950 and insert a better one(and change how it looks)

The argument has little too do with video RAM and more with the improved architecture of the newer cards. After all everyone knows it's about the architecture and not the RAM. A Nvidia 8800 with 256MB of RAM will still beat the pants off a Radeon X1600 with 512MB of RAM.

[wei]

Originally Posted by Bob Marley 

Seriously, if 256 mb isnt good enough for you, GET A LIFE.

Most games today can be played with a 256 mb graphics card, and hell, 128mb is good enough for me.

Lol, I can't stop imagine what type of game you are playing.
Yes 256MB is just enough for most uses. But hey, have you tried dual 30 incher with the punny 256MB? I bet it'll crawl like baby.

Originally Posted by Bob Marley 

I wish macbook would come with a 128mb graphics card. Is there anyway to mod around it and disable the gma950 and insert a better one(and change how it looks)

Oh wait, do you know this is the Desktop section? And we're referring to MacPro here? The whole point of having a MacPro because it's upgradable! No MacPro owner want to underpower the beast with low-end GPU if they could.

The whole point of having disccusion is to know we could or not. It doesn't mean everyone need/want it now.

[Cadaver]

Until Intel has a chipset that supports either SLI (nVidia's solution) or CrossFire (ATI's solution), I doubt we see this in a Mac. Putting SLI in a Mac would mean Apple would have to use an nVidia chipset solution, not an Intel. Same goes for ATI CrossFire. I suspect this wont happen.

If Apple were to put an nVidia chipset in a Mac, you could kiss any & all ATI graphics cards for the Mac goodbye.

[shadowduck]

Originally Posted by Cadaver 

Until Intel has a chipset that supports either SLI (nVidia's solution) or CrossFire (ATI's solution), I doubt we see this in a Mac. Putting SLI in a Mac would mean Apple would have to use an nVidia chipset solution, not an Intel. Same goes for ATI CrossFire. I suspect this wont happen.

If Apple were to put an nVidia chipset in a Mac, you could kiss any & all ATI graphics cards for the Mac goodbye.

975X chipset already supports Crossfire. However, since Apple uses workstation motherboard and CPUs for Mac Pro don't expect that to be included anytime soon. I don't see Apple support Core2 Duo.

[UpQuark]

Originally Posted by shadowduck 

975X chipset already supports Crossfire. However, since Apple uses workstation motherboard and CPUs for Mac Pro don't expect that to be included anytime soon. I don't see Apple support Core2 Duo.

I am using a Core 2 Duo iMac right now. Works great! Yes, the vid card is a bit lame, but 256M is good for now. I do wish it was upgradable, but that is the choice I made when I purchased the iMac.

Apple has brought new technology to market long before the PC market. USB 1/ Firewire/ first PC floppy drive a la Steve Woz / No Floppy / GUI interface / TrueType fonts etc. They may not be the fastest adopter for video cards, sure, but Apple is not shy about adopting and pushing new techology. Don't get me wrong, Apple has been slow on some fronts. Two button mouse anyone?

I am stoked for OpenGL 2 and true 64-bit OS. (For those with 64bit hardware)

[aristotles]

SLI is something for games right? Who is their right mind would spend that much money to play games? Go outside, hook up with someone and have a real adventure in the real world.

[utw-Mephisto]

Originally Posted by aristotles 

SLI is something for games right? Who is their right mind would spend that much money to play games? Go outside, hook up with someone and have a real adventure in the real world.

The fact you read and write in those forums and the fact you take the time to post in this thread is not really real life either now is it .. thinking or bright that is.. and you talk about spending money ? Have you recently compared Apple hardware to "normal" PC hardware with similar configuration ?

My point ? Yes, it is for gaming, and yes, not everybody needs / want it but hell for prices like this (cost of Apple) I'd like to have at least the option ...

Now leave ...

[Leonard]

Originally Posted by Cadaver 

Until Intel has a chipset that supports either SLI (nVidia's solution) or CrossFire (ATI's solution), I doubt we see this in a Mac. Putting SLI in a Mac would mean Apple would have to use an nVidia chipset solution, not an Intel. Same goes for ATI CrossFire. I suspect this wont happen.

If Apple were to put an nVidia chipset in a Mac, you could kiss any & all ATI graphics cards for the Mac goodbye.

I thought Intel hooked up with Apple to innovate!?! Well now they can stick they're R&D where their mouth is and innovate.

Originally Posted by aristotles

SLI is something for games right? Who is their right mind would spend that much money to play games? Go outside, hook up with someone and have a real adventure in the real world.

As politely as I can say it. You're in the wrong forum or that's the worst cop out on a debate I've EVER seen.

That's the equivalent of saying "games suck" which adds nothing to the debate.

[utw-Mephisto]

Originally Posted by Leonard 

That's the equivalent of saying "games suck" which adds nothing to the debate.

Yeah, but having 12000 post in a gaming forum or something ..

[shadowduck]

Originally Posted by UpQuark 

I am using a Core 2 Duo iMac right now. Works great! Yes, the vid card is a bit lame, but 256M is good for now. I do wish it was upgradable, but that is the choice I made when I purchased the iMac.

Apple has brought new technology to market long before the PC market. USB 1/ Firewire/ first PC floppy drive a la Steve Woz / No Floppy / GUI interface / TrueType fonts etc. They may not be the fastest adopter for video cards, sure, but Apple is not shy about adopting and pushing new techology. Don't get me wrong, Apple has been slow on some fronts. Two button mouse anyone?

I am stoked for OpenGL 2 and true 64-bit OS. (For those with 64bit hardware)

Let me be more specific. Core 2 Duo for desktops. (Conroe) The iMac is basically a laptop (using Meroms) in a desktop shell. Apple does not sell a computer based on Conroe or 975X right now.

[kiwigadget]

I suggest you check out the OpenGL.org website under job postings.

NVIDIA have the following ad placed:

Job Title: OPENGL SOFTWARE ENGINEER - MAC
Date Posted: 27-02-2007
Location: Austin, TX
Description: OPENGL SOFTWARE ENGINEER - MAC #782559

RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Apply your skills to develop the best OpenGL implementation in the industry
- Develop of new OpenGL software features under the OSX operating system. Examples: GLSL, SLI, etc.
- Maintenance and bug fixes for NVIDIA?s OSX OpenGL driver
- Support / bring-up of OSX OpenGL drivers on new NVIDIA GPUs / Architectures

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- BSEE/CS.
- Experience with 3D graphics, OpenGL, API, OSX and/or Windows operating systems.
- Thorough knowledge of C/C++ required.
- Kernel driver experience is highly desirable
- Team player

Interesting that it specifically mentions SLI - so maybe there are plans afoot that for the new MacPro with NVIDIA graphics leading the charge instead of ATI - especially now that ATI is part of AMD, Intel's Arch enemy.

my 2c

[wei]

Cool, this is getting more interesting.
Now that we have rotation support with 10.4.9. Things are getting much better.

[fire3500]

good lord... what a kerfuffle....

if you need something different... buy something different... nobody forces a person to buy a MacBook or whatever... buy the thing that's fit for purpose and stop wanking over niche requirements that would not be profitable to service...

Apple will make consumer notebooks to reach the widest possible addressable audience in that segment and return value to the shareholders. The "gig" with Apple is design and innovation and as long as the market continues to view Apple as they'd wish from a brand perspective then they'll not over-engineer or over-deliver, especially in the consumer segment...

Bang for buck, nice design with one or two innovative features or features branded to look innovative. If Apple wants to really rock our worlds then improve QA and stop shipping so many faulty machines, innovate in the QA space.

So many whiny WoW'ers bitching about graphics cards... bloody children.

[utw-Mephisto]

I think its time now to remove my email notification for this thread again ...