[veryniceguy2002]

About to order a Mac Pro... but I don't know what graphics card I should go for.

I would mainly use the Mac Pro for web, MS Office, photoshop, plus occasionally games like Civilization IV. Intend to connect to one 20" LCD + one 17" LCD.

Should I fork out extra $$$ to get X1900 XT now, or stick with GeForce 7300GT for the time being and upgrade it 2-3 years later??

[mduell]

With only occasional gaming and relatively low res screens, the 7300GT will probably be acceptable.

[silverflyer]

For two screens, I think you need 2 7300GTs and only 1 Radeon X1900XT

[EricTheRed]

I have both a 1900XT and a 7300GT in my Mac. Both cards will drive your two displays. If you want to game with your Mac Pro with boot camp and Windows, I know the 1900XT works well and responds well to the Windows updated drivers. If you don't want to game with Windows then get the 7300GT card. It'll work fine driving both of your displays.

[P]

Civ IV runs fine on a 7300GT. It is actually CPU-limited on my G5 with a 5200U at 1400*900, unless I go crazy with the eyecandy. What won't run on a 7300GT is next generation's games, but you'll probably be better off with an upgrade in a few years.

[TimmyDee51]

Agreed. I've been playing Civ IV almost exclusively on my Mac Pro with the 7300 GT. Works great. If you're really worried, you can always pick up an extra 7300 on the cheap from eBay to run the second monitor (and get the full 256 MB for both screens).

[mduell]

Originally Posted by silverflyer 

For two screens, I think you need 2 7300GTs and only 1 Radeon X1900XT

No, you don't. The 7300GT has two DVI ports.

Only one of them is dual link, so you can only run 1 30" LCD off the 7300GT, but both of the OP's displays are considerably smaller.

[silverflyer]

Heh, ok, I have a 30 inch display, so I thought the others were similar, sorry.

[Thade]

x1900xt all the way + way cheaper BTO

[brokenjago]

X1900xt.

[veryniceguy2002]

Well, I forked out extra $$$ an order XT1900 with my Mac Pro. I saved a bit with the "trade-in" 7300GT with I BTO, so that if I ever play PC games under Windows it won't suffer. Plus I might try Vista Utimate, and some of my friends who have tried say I really need to go for the best graphics card available for Vista Ultimate...

[iMacYouMac]

Originally Posted by veryniceguy2002 

Well, I forked out extra $$$ an order XT1900 with my Mac Pro. I saved a bit with the "trade-in" 7300GT with I BTO, so that if I ever play PC games under Windows it won't suffer. Plus I might try Vista Utimate, and some of my friends who have tried say I really need to go for the best graphics card available for Vista Ultimate...

If you're only playing games like Civilization I'd save your money and stick with the 7300GT. DirectX 10 games are going to start coming out and you'll require a different videocard that supports DX10 (and Vista). Play your civilization now and in a year the DX10 cards should be within reach.

[gen]

XT1900 allow you rotate a screen ?

[Xarthan]

yes, i can rotate mine

[arng1]

I would say x1900 also. In the long run youll be much happier.

[polendo]

Get the 1900. The mac pro that you have deserves it. Yes you can use the 7300 with Civ4, but what about tomorrow's games.
regards

[Xarthan]

just got my mac pro today with the 1900, poped on wow and got 200 FPS

WOW!

[mavherzog]

Originally Posted by Xarthan 

just got my mac pro today with the 1900, poped on wow and got 200 FPS

Nice!

[P]

Originally Posted by polendo 

Get the 1900. The mac pro that you have deserves it. Yes you can use the 7300 with Civ4, but what about tomorrow's games.
regards

The 8900 he'll buy then? Ah, why do I bother. Every thread discussing GPU recommendations ends up with a lot of people advocating the faster option without considering the requirements of the OP and without bringing any sort of arguments to the party. For an iMac, it might be relevant as the graphics are hard/impossible to upgrade later, but here...

OTOH, I think every poster who has asked has eventually gone for the faster option, so maybe they're just looking for moral support in buying what they wanted in the first place.

[veryniceguy2002]

Originally Posted by P 

The 8900 he'll buy then? Ah, why do I bother. Every thread discussing GPU recommendations ends up with a lot of people advocating the faster option without considering the requirements of the OP and without bringing any sort of arguments to the party. For an iMac, it might be relevant as the graphics are hard/impossible to upgrade later, but here...

OTOH, I think every poster who has asked has eventually gone for the faster option, so maybe they're just looking for moral support in buying what they wanted in the first place.

Well, I wasn't looking for moral support; I was looking for $$$ support in the forum

Seriously, I was weighting up spend more $$$ now and get X1900 XT up front, or spend even more $$$$$ 2-3 years later to upgrade it. Sure I will get X1900 XT (or even better) at some stage, but I try to figure out whether I save a bit by "trade-in" my 7300GT for my BTO Mac Pro or just have a surplus 7300GT 2-3 years later.

It wasn't easy choice for X1900XT for me, because I actually have to ditch my AppleCare option which is actually in my original budget (for now, get it 11 months later).

[polendo]

Originally Posted by P 

The 8900 he'll buy then? Ah, why do I bother. Every thread discussing GPU recommendations ends up with a lot of people advocating the faster option without considering the requirements of the OP and without bringing any sort of arguments to the party. For an iMac, it might be relevant as the graphics are hard/impossible to upgrade later, but here...

OTOH, I think every poster who has asked has eventually gone for the faster option, so maybe they're just looking for moral support in buying what they wanted in the first place.

inform yourself first what recomended graphic requirements do Civ4 needs.

[The Ancient One]

I went for the X1900 XT. Perfectly satisfied with the way it runs Civ IV (the game does have a few performance issues of its own, though, even with the new patch, although it's very, very good). If you play these types of games, there will be others you may want to try down the road that will benefit from the faster card. BTW, did you know that HoMM V is shipping soon for the Intel Macs only?

[P]

Originally Posted by polendo 

inform yourself first what recomended graphic requirements do Civ4 needs.

I suppose I shouldn't expect much from a one line post with bad spelling and worse grammar, but that was pretty dumb even so. You didn't link the specs, you didn't quote the specs and you certainly didn't read the specs:

Sid Meier's Civilization® IV
Platforms: Mac
Genre: Strategy/Simulation
ESRB: Everyone 10+
Mac Release Date: June 2006

Operating System: Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later
CPU Processor: PowerPC G5 or Intel chipset
CPU Speed: 1.8 GHz or faster
Memory: 512 MB or higher
Hard Disk Space: 3.5 GB free disk space
Video Card (ATI): Radeon 9600 or better
Video Card (NVidia): GeForce FX 5200 or better
Video Memory (VRam): 64 MB or higher
Multiplayer: Internet (TCP/IP) and LAN (TCP/IP) play supported. Internet play requires broadband connection.
Media Required: DVD Drive

Supported Video cards:
NVIDIA GeForce 5200, 6600, 6800, 7800
ATI Radeon 9600, 9650, 9700, 9800, X600, X800, X850, X1600

Recommended System Requirements:
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4.6 or later
CPU Processor: PowerPC G5 or Intel chipset
CPU Speed: 2.0 GHz or faster
Video RAM: 128 MB

Where in those recommendations does it state that the X1900 is preferrable? The only recommendation is that it should have 128 MB Video RAM, which the 7300GT in the 24" iMac does. Have you played Civ4 on a 7300 GT and found it lacking? It actually works acceptably on my 5200 U, which is pathetic by comparison.

Recommending the fastest board or the fastest CPU available is always easy, because you know that the buyer will be happy with the performance. It's saying that something slower is good enough that's hard.

[polendo]

Do not suppose anything from me.

Nowhere. I don't take advice from the game publisher recommendations. I recommend what I believe is the best for whatever is being asked. If you wish to recommend slower video cards that is your opinion, not mine. Good luck believing and recommending that any 128 MB video card will cut it (as per the recommended specs).

Before criticizing my grammar, pay attention to your sentences with double I's and triple you's. I'm done arguing with you.

[Rassie]

what do you plan on using your mac for? are you using it for gaming or digital imaging or graphics? Both graphics cards are good, most macs are installed with the higher end ATI Radeon, which is great for all types of work requiring a high end graphics card. The high end MacBook pro comes with the ATI Radeon and as a computer system swpecialist, I would recommend the Radeon, but it just a matter of preference and price.

Rassie

[blakespot]

Originally Posted by gen 

XT1900 allow you rotate a screen ?

Yes. Have a look at my setup - I'm driving a rotated 4:3 screen (left) and a 30" Cinema (right) with the X1900 XT in my 3GHz MacPro. Works great.







blakespot

[gen]

Thanks,

This is I am plannig with Acer L2223W, cinema display 20" and Dualcore G5.

gen.