powermac G5 agp pro graphics card upgrade

[drummermanngod]

hi all

i have a standard apple G5

1.66ghz single processor

4 gb memory

2x 250 gb hdd

dvd burner

64mb graphics card think nvidia 5200

the problem i am going to have in the next few months is that im doing a filmmaking course and going to be using final cut studio 2, and i know programs like final cut and dvd studio will be ok but when it comes to using colour and motion it needs a good GPU so really i need to know my options to what i can buy, will a normal agp (pc verison) work or does it have to be a mac version, i know stuff about HDD, memory, dvd burners etc, it is just the GPU im not sure about.

i will have the college macs to use but i wanna be able to do alot of my work at home and i will be buying a macbook pro aswell but want to be ale to do most of my long processor work overnight and weekends when i can leave it on.

so if anyone can help that would be great as i do need to start looking for something very very soon as i have a few weeks till i start the course.

kind regards

adam

[mrelusive978]

<snip>

when it comes to using colour and motion it needs a good GPU so really i need to know my options to what i can buy, will a normal agp (pc verison) work or does it have to be a mac version, i know stuff about HDD, memory, dvd burners etc, it is just the GPU im not sure about.

<snip>

I used to have a 2x2GHz G5 before I upgraded to a Mac Pro, I can help you.

First off, yes, the card HAS to be a Mac version, you cannot just buy any old PC AGP card, Stupid, I know, but ATI likes to rip off their Mac customers. It is a sad fact of life.

ATI manufactures the x800 PRO Mac Edition, I used it in college for just what you are needing it for, and it performed like a champ in Motion, until things got really intensive (talking upwards of 75 elements). Mind you I also had Maya 8 and Shake and FCP and PS CS2 open at the same time, so I was hitting the card hard :p. I would imagine that if you are just working in FCS with one or two GPU intensive apps, it will be perfectly fine. As far as aftermarket cards for the G5 go, not only is it the best one, it is really the ONLY one, as per usual in the Mac market (stupid ATI/nVidia...).

Product link

[sanctified Veteran]

I used to have a 2x2GHz G5 before I upgraded to a Mac Pro, I can help you.

First off, yes, the card HAS to be a Mac version, you cannot just buy any old PC AGP card, Stupid, I know, but ATI likes to rip off their Mac customers. It is a sad fact of life.

ATI manufactures the x800 PRO Mac Edition, I used it in college for just what you are needing it for, and it performed like a champ in Motion, until things got really intensive (talking upwards of 75 elements). Mind you I also had Maya 8 and Shake and FCP and PS CS2 open at the same time, so I was hitting the card hard :p. I would imagine that if you are just working in FCS with one or two GPU intensive apps, it will be perfectly fine. As far as aftermarket cards for the G5 go, not only is it the best one, it is really the ONLY one, as per usual in the Mac market (stupid ATI/nVidia...).

Product link

How about an Nvidia alternative? I heard there are some decent Nvidia cards for the G5 AGP edition too...

Im asking because I am in drummermanngod's exact same position. Im stuck with the original Radeon 9600 pro and I need something better.

[drummermanngod]

i aint botherd which way it goes for me but i know ati cards are really good but right now money is abit of an issue but i can manage anything really

any options im open to and to look into

thanx for the input sanctified

adam

[drummermanngod]

any body else got any other hekpfull info ??

[mrelusive978]

How about an Nvidia alternative? I heard there are some decent Nvidia cards for the G5 AGP edition too...

Im asking because I am in drummermanngod's exact same position. Im stuck with the original Radeon 9600 pro and I need something better.

Unfortunately, unless you were to get an OEM Nvidia card directly from Apple, you are SOL. Nvidia does not manufacture hardware (outside of the GPU) like ATI does...they make the GPU and provide a reference design for the card, but other companies (like Apple) actually manufacture the card itself.

[mrelusive978]

I forgot to mention, it MAY be possible for you to flash the BIOS on a 3rd party NVIDIA card with nvflash.exe...IF you can get a hard that matches the Apple hardware (same GPU) and also obtain a copy of the ROM from the Mac card. You would need a PC to do this, and it would need a second PCI video card to boot from (because you need to be able to see to type the commands and you cant flash the card your booted to). I did this with a Voodoo 2 3000 and have done it with ATI Radeon 7000 PCI 64MB cards. Again, I don't KNOW you could do it with an NVidia card, but it is possible...the biggest limiting factor being obtaining a copy of the ROM from the Mac card, and the 3rd party card having a ROM large enough to fit the Mac ROM onto it.