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Matthew Attoe · Mar 24, 2009, 02:36 PM

Hi,

I was looking at buying a new Mac Mini and maxing out the RAM and throwing in a 500GB 7200RPM drive it in, but I may possibly be able to be a very barely used (and I do mean very barely!) Mac Pro Dual Quad 2.8 for not much more.

The Mac Pro in question is listed in System Profiler as a 3,1 model and my questions are:

1) I have an internal Belkin 5-port USB PCI card that I had running flawlessly in my dual 2.5 G5. Will I be able to use this in the Mac Pro or are the slots different?

2) I will also have the opportunity to get an 8800 (GT I think) video card to go along with the Mac Pro which may be useful for gaming under Bootcamp. However, is there a better-performing video card than the 8800 that will fit in to this particular 3,1 model of Mac Pro - perhaps one of the new ATI cards that ship with the brand-new Nahelem(sp) Mac Pros? Don't mind spending the money if a better card is available and offers a good performance boost.

As always, many thanks,

Matthew

mduell · Mar 24, 2009, 07:04 PM

1) No, different slots.

2) If you're looking for a Windows-only gaming card, buy an off-the-shelf 9800GTX+ or similar. If you want a decent gaming card for OS X and Windows, then get the Radeon 4870; it's not any faster and it's a lot more expensive, but it works in OS X.

Matthew Attoe · Mar 25, 2009, 03:14 AM

Thanks, Mduell!

Is the Mac Pro I'm looking at (3,1) commonly referred to as the Early 2008 model?

Also, do I need to be looking for a PCI-X internal USB Card?

Finally, just for clarification, when you say that the ATI 4870 isn't any faster do you mean it isn't any faster than the 9800GTX that you mentioned or that it isn't any faster than 8800?

Thanks again,

Matthew

Big Mac · Mar 25, 2009, 03:44 AM

No, not PCI-X. Mac Pros take PCI Express (abbreviated as PCIe) cards.

mduell meant that the 4870 isn't faster than the 9800.

Simon · Mar 25, 2009, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by Matthew Attoe

Is the Mac Pro I'm looking at (3,1) commonly referred to as the Early 2008 model?

Yes. The dual 2.8 GHz MP is an Early 2008 model.

Also, do I need to be looking for a PCI-X internal USB Card?

No, you need PCI Express (PCIe).

Finally, just for clarification, when you say that the ATI 4870 isn't any faster do you mean it isn't any faster than the 9800GTX that you mentioned or that it isn't any faster than 8800?

For Windows games the 9800GTX is faster than the 4870. For Mac gaming the 4870 is better than the 8800. But for Core Image pro apps the 8800 is still doing well actually.

http://www.barefeats.com/nehal05.html
http://www.barefeats.com/nehal06.html

Matthew Attoe · Mar 25, 2009, 11:04 AM

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I now have the Mac Pro and the 8800 video but I think I MAY have made a small error fitting the 8800.

Basically, I powered down the MP and touched the case to discharge any static. BUT I didn't turn the power off at the wall d'oh!!!

I have run the Apple Hardware Test through several extended tests (memory, main logic board, storage) and it passes every time - but there doesn't seem to be a Video test now and I'm sure that there used to be one.

How much damage do you think I have done? Any does anyone know whereabout the Video test should appear in the Apple Hardware Test sequence - maybe I'm just missing it?

And finally, any other ways of testing for any damage that I may have caused?

Many thanks,

Matt

mduell · Mar 25, 2009, 11:59 AM

What leads you to think you did damage?

Matthew Attoe · Mar 25, 2009, 12:11 PM

Hi again, Mduell.

I don't think i damaged any leads as such, but I didn't turn the power off at the wall socket when I fitted the 8800 video card. I had shut down the Mac Pro but just forgot to turn the socket off.

The Mac Pro user manual said to shut down the MP (done), discharge static (done) and unplug the cable/turn off at the wall (didn't do!)

So far everything seems to be functioning fine, booting up, passing Apple Hardware test every time.

I was just worried about the fact that i hadn't pulled the power cable from the wall or turned it off at the socket when i fitted the card.

Thank you,

Matthew

Big Mac · Mar 25, 2009, 05:21 PM

Don't worry, Matthew, if you had caused a problem you would know it. I think Apple says to unplug just in case you somehow manage to press the power button while you're working on the internals. The manual for the Power Mac 8600 (and other Macs of that vintage I'm sure) actually says to leave the computer plugged in for proper grounding.

Matthew Attoe · Mar 26, 2009, 04:12 AM

Hi again,

Thanks for the reassuring comment. I do hope nothing has been damaged - like I say all seems to be good with no funny start-up noises.

The thing that did concern me is that these Mac Pro's and my previous G5 draw about 5 watts of power even when they are shut down and that is what alarmed me a bit. Although I don't really know where this 5 watts goes!

Thanks again,

Matthew

Matthew Attoe · Mar 29, 2009, 10:00 AM

Just an update -

Everything seems to be working fine so for, so fingers crossed!

The only thing I'm a bit disappointed with the the 8800GT performance in X-Plane 9 - but hey, that just means an upgrade to a 4870 or whatever comes next

Thanks again,

Matthew

Matthew Attoe · Apr 3, 2009, 12:52 PM

Hi again,

I've just had the first problem...

Just tried booting up and all I got was the grey startup screen (no Apple or whirly wheel). As soon as I pressed the power button on the front the MP shut down (no having to wait for 7 seconds!) and I restarted it again with the same result.

I tried resetting the PRAM a few times and it let me boot up and it would appear to be working fine now. Do you think this could just be a random glitch or related to my improper install of the 8800 video card and lead to something even more serious down the line?

Many thanks,

Matthew