[GottaBeTheJuice]

Ok, i am new here. So hello macnn users! mm
anyways I plan on getting a Mac Pro and plan on running games on the system as well.

however i don't know about the different setups benefits. For example :

There is these two different nvidia options in my price range. Would having TWO Nvidia geforce cards improve my gaming performance or is that only if you want two displays?
basically, does having two of those GFX cards improve gaming performance or only the ability to connect two monitors at once or what?

NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT 256MB (single-link DVI/dual-link DVI)
2 x NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT 256MB [Add $149]

Which would be better: A mac pro with the x1900 Ati radeon graphics card. or the TWO Nvidia GeForce cards? (for gaming

And yes i know that their isnt much of a gaming scene on the Mac but, lets throw that piece of information out the window. (=

Thank you.

[Big Mac]

You'll get better performance from the ATI card, but it's been notoriously problematic. OS X doesn't take advantage of multiple cards in order to provide speed increases in applications. Also, you're probably better off waiting for the next Mac Pro revision that everyone is clamoring for around here.

[GottaBeTheJuice]

Well It was supposed to be for christmas and my current computer is DIEING! like it maybe has a week it seems. lol.

Well, i think apple should've released the latest mac pro revisions just before christmas rather than after. Cause this way, their screwing people over pretty much in my opinion.

Anyways how long would it be until the next mac pro revision is released?
And about the problematic ATI Card. What kind of problems? Is it a low percentage, so is it a good risk to take to get the ATI card for the performance increase over the Nvidia?

[silver]

The NVIDIA 7300 is on the lower end( close to scraping the bottom of the barrel) while the ATI x1900 is tops for now in the Mac world. Yes the ATI x1900 has had a few problems just check out the Apple forums or search the MacNN forums.

Really if you plan on getting a new MacPro you should wait, with the Expo starting on Jan 14 ATI and NVIDIA should have NEW offerings for us folks that crave power from our Video Cards.

If you don't plan on waiting, then i'd just get the ATI x1900 and just hope that it's not a lemon. Although there are many people that have problems with the card there are also many many people that are very happy with it.

So in the end YMMV when considering the latest offerings on the MacPro.

[Big Mac]

Most people point to Macworld in January as the time new Mac Pros will be announced, but Mac towers seldom get released at the consumer-oriented Macworld. In the past we've seen releases a month or two after Macworld, however.

[SierraDragon]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

Most people point to Macworld in January as the time new Mac Pros will be announced, but Mac towers seldom get released at the consumer-oriented Macworld. In the past we've seen releases a month or two after Macworld, however.

In December it is appropriate to wait to see what happens at Mac Expo SF in January prior to making major Apple purchases. A plethora of new hardware/software of all types from scores of vendors is introduced at Mac Expo. The Mac landscape always goes through a major evolution whether or not any one specific product is updated.

E.g. note that even if new Mac Pros somehow were not introduced, new graphics cards and/or hard drive solutions will probably become available that would affect the configuration-optimizing of a tower purchase.

I strongly recommend Mac Expo SF to all. Hundreds of Mac vendors and the opportunity to individually talk to folks high up the food chain makes a couple of days there a good annual grounding for understanding the state of the Mac world.

Important other non-Mac vendors also present (e.g. wanna handle a New Nikon D3 or D300; or bitch out one of Microsoft's Office engineers; or personally test Epson's latest printers, scanners?). Often engineers and product managers will, one-on-one, advise the future direction that products are going, the kind of info never published.

Watching the very latest product demos by great presenters on optimized hardware can provide really good info as to the relative competence of different apps. One app may shine while a competitive app falters, allowing prescient insight into which app one should commit to. E.g. folks considering modernizing DSLR workflows should carefully watch the Aperture and Lightroom presentations.

-Allen Wicks

[Big Mac]

RIght, Sierra. It's just that I don't want people to get their hopes up for MWSF. I'm pretty sure no Pro announcement will come then but that it will come in February or March.

[Seaking]

You know, if you're really looking for gaming on a desktop, you really should stick to PCs.. But I know where you're coming from.. I am picking up my new Mac Pro tonight, it has the 7300GT in it and yeah, this isn't meant for gaming at all.. well low end gfx games perhaps, but as powerfull and expandable as these Mac Pros are, a gaming machine it isn't. Luckily I have an awesome gaming machine so my situation is already taken care of..

However, if I were to find myself in your shoes, I would go for the Mac Pro configuration for your WORK and put together a PC for gaming. You would be surprised how low cost a solid gaming machine can be with a high end vid card.. Depending how old your existing PC is (the dying one), you can salvage parts from it to rebuild a new gaming PC.. A new Mobo, vid card, HDD and DVD and you're there.. And I daresay you'll really appreciate it more..

Of course JUST after I purchased the Mac Pro that's when I find out about the possibility of the NEW ones coming out soon.. but like you I also had to replace my video editing PC and went Mac Pro.. But I'm hoping some of the newer offerings for Mac Pros will be backward compatible with the 2007 models.. Newer vid cards? Hmmmmmmmm

Best of luck with your choices, it's never an easy one with soooo many choices available to us..

Originally Posted by GottaBeTheJuice 

Ok, i am new here. So hello macnn users! mm anyways I plan on getting a Mac Pro and plan on running games on the system as well. however i don't know about the different setups benefits. For example :

There is these two different nvidia options in my price range. Would having TWO Nvidia geforce cards improve my gaming performance or is that only if you want two displays?
basically, does having two of those GFX cards improve gaming performance or only the ability to connect two monitors at once or what?

NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT 256MB (single-link DVI/dual-link DVI)2 x NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT 256MB [Add $149]
Which would be better: A mac pro with the x1900 Ati radeon graphics card. or the TWO Nvidia GeForce cards? (for gaming
And yes i know that their isnt much of a gaming scene on the Mac but, lets throw that piece of information out the window. (=
Thank you.