According to http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC002ZM/A?mco=MzE2OTkzMQ
The new graphics card for the Mac Pro 09 doesn't work in the Early 08 or original Mac Pro.... WTF?

I can understand the EFI 32 mac pro not having the option but the 08 not being allowed because it doesnt have DDR3?

"Compatibility:

• Requires Mac Pro (Early 2009 with 1066MHz DDR3 memory) with PCI Express 2.0 slot
• Requires Mac OS X v10.5.6 or later"

How long will the Mac Pro users need to wait this time to get a better video card again?

Nvidia rom is always 32-bit or 64-bit efi rom, last time releasing 32-bit efi rom took some time for apple

I have no idea why 64-bit efi rom of gt120 (9500gt) wouldnt work in 2008 mp.

btw, efi part of rom for 2600xt was writen in EBC (Efi Byte Code), a platform independent code, so it worked in earlier MP, i guess same will be for 4870.

So does that mean that the chances are high that it would work in the early 08 MP or that Apple will most likely release one modified for us?

Also is that GT120 better for gaming in Windows than the 8800GT I have now?

Well... if u consider that a GT is just a renamed 9500... you will have an answer (i would definitly stay with the 8800)

The 8800gt is much better, stay with it. Damn Nvidia renaming, I actually thought the GT120 was a renamed 8800GT, had to do some research.

renamed 8800GT is 9800GT is GTS 240 (poor card, renamed twice)

That is dumb... oh well I guess we will just have to wait and see if anything officially compatible ever tops the 8800gt in the mac pro...
I dont like the new naming scheme.

The newly released ATI 4870 - Available for the old Mac Pro too.

I have stayed away from ATI for a few years is that card better than the 8800GT?

Oh yes
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341

Full review - but skip to the tests, it puts the smack down on the 8800gt

You were not kidding at all (8800GT info from http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3140&p=3 )

.............................ATI Radeon HD 4870...........8800GT

Stream Processors ...........800 ............................112
Texture Units ....................40 ..............................56
ROPs.................................16 ..............................16
Core Clock........................750MHz .......................600Mhz
Memory Clock 900MHz GDDR5(3600MHz data rate).....900Mhz GDDR3 (1800Mhz data rate)
Memory Bus Width ...........256-bit....................... 256-bit
Frame Buffer................... 512MB ........................512MB
Transistor Count ..............956M ..........................754M
Manufacturing Process TSMC 55nm ...............TSMC 65nm

mmm...don't be fooled - ATI uses much more stream processors, but they're a different type. Just because the 4870- has 800 stream processors doesn't mean the 4870 is 7 times faster!

But look at the gaming benchmarks later in the article. It will give you a good idea.

Netkas,

Given that the 09 MB's use the 9500GT (GT120), what are the chances that using a 9500 in a Hack Pro would work right out of the box?

Am putting together my Hack Pro soon and have 2 9500's from my old system.

Thanks so very much.

9500GT Works.
http://www.google.co.za/search?rlz=1C1GGLS...insanelymac.com

The gt120 works in my dell inspiron 530 quad. its one from my new mac pro. As stated, the gt120 is a 9500 relabeled.

I think an excellent card for a hackintosh is the asus en9600gt silent. It only needs an efi string to boot and is not ati junk.

Hey, according to this blog, the gt 120 is unofficially supported by 800 Mhz Mac Pros:

http://blog.macsales.com/602-testing-those...-graphics-cards

and this user (comment at the bottom of the above post) has pictures of his 2008 mac pro with dual 24" LED Displays:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29145848@N04/

Can this http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC002ZM/...MA&s=newest MAC Nvidia GT120 work in PC(hackintosh) Q6600,abit x38 but only for OS-X? I want to put it because of the MAC LED 24''

bump

I have the Apple GT120 working on a Hackintosh running on the GA EP45-DS3R motherboard using an EFI string on boot. The card is recognized as a true Apple card. I don't have a 24" Apple LED monitor yet, so I cannot verify that it works with the MiniDisplayPort yet. I plan on getting one in the next six months and will post an update then.

I used the OSx86Tools to create a custom EFI string. The NVCAP string I used to generate it was:

0400000000000300000000000000000700000000

I had a lot of help from this thread:

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php...amp;mode=linear

Look especially at posts #39 (for the procedure) and #95 (to get the right NVCAP string).

To blatantly steal from SnarkNL:

- Open OSX86Tools
- Add EFI Strings
- Click on GFX Strings
- Choose Custom GeForce (you need to scroll the list)
- Enter your video card name (in my case: "nVidia GeForce GT120"
- enter memory size (in my case: "512MB")
- NOW choosing your display configuration, choose "Custom..."
- Enter the custom NVCAP string: ("0400000000000300000000000000000700000000")

A hex string will be generated for you to put into the com.apple.Boot.plist file in your /Extras folder. My file looks like this with the long hex string added at the appropriate point marked:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Paduck - Thanks for the above information as it was very helpful. I also have the nVidia GeForce GT120 working on a GA-P35-DS31 board. I copied your method above and can now get QE/CI via DVI Port. Many thanks

nVidia GeForce 120 GT:

Chipset Model: nVidia GeForce 120 GT
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 512 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0640
Revision ID: 0x00a1
ROM Revision: nVidia GeForce 120 GT OpenGL Engine [EFI]
Displays:
DELL 1505FP:
Resolution: 1024 x 768 @ 75 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Rotation: Supported
Display Connector:
Status: No display connected

I also had the same idea as you, with the 24 inch Apple Cinema Display. I purchased it the other week!

When i use the mini display port adapter i can see the boot loader perfect (1920x1200) and after it finished the screen goes black?!!

I thouht u might want to know this information as you said you were getting one in a few months. Also i was wondering if you have any suggestions to get me out of jail ?!!!!!

just to add, if i turn on the machine with both DVI + mini Display port i get back (with or without DVI plugged in)
on the plus side if i turn on with DVI then add the mini display port once the machine is on the cinema display works perfecto ! ( i am on 10 5 6 ipc )

the below shows :when cinema display is plugged in after boot

nVidia GeForce 120 GT:

Chipset Model: nVidia GeForce 120 GT
Type: Display
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 512 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0640
Revision ID: 0x00a1
ROM Revision: nVidia GeForce 120 GT OpenGL Engine [EFI]
Displays:
DELL 1505FP:
Resolution: 1024 x 768 @ 75 Hz
Depth: 32-Bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Rotation: Supported
LED Cinema Display:
Resolution: 1920 x 1200
Depth: 32-Bit Color
Core Image: Hardware Accelerated
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Rotation: Supported
Connection Type: DisplayPort

many thanks ricci

Ricci- What is your configuration? I am running SL 10.6.2 with a retail install, EFI string for the graphics card, and ChameleonRC2 as the bootloader.

Here is a link where someone had a similar problem as you. It might help. I haven't gotten a 24" LED yet, so I can't say for sure. I am would really like to test one out before I buy, but I think I am going to have to assume the risk...

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=158852&st=0&gopid=1182286&#entry1182286

My System Profiler looks a little different than yours - it may be monitor dependent or because your are running 10.5:

nVidia GeForce GT120:

Chipset Model: nVidia GeForce GT120
Type: GPU
Bus: PCIe
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 512 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0640
Revision ID: 0x00a1
ROM Revision: nVidia GeForce GT120 OpenGL Engine [EFI]
Displays:
V223W:
Resolution: 1344 x 840 @ 60 Hz
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Rotation: Supported
Display Connector:
Status: No Display Connected

Hello, I am going to DL snow lep tonight, and start fresh. Will get back to you asap. No point with 10 5 x any more.


I used Chameleon 2.0 RC2 today with the same results. No luck!!! (YET!))

I removed
<key>GraphicsEnabler</key>
<string>yes</string>

and it boots via the mini display port with correct resolution but no qi ce
again perfect with the DVI port thought! typical !

cheers mate


Ricci

Core 2 Quad 2.4GHz e6600 @3.0GHz
Mobo GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L
Gfx nvidia GeForce 120 GT
RAM 4X2GB DDR2 800MHz Corsiar
WLAN Lynksys with Broardcom driver

Today I moved around my Samsung HDTV, put on a mini Displayport -> HDMI converter and checked out the GT120 hooked to that monitor/HDTV. Not quite the same as hooking up an Apple 24" LED, but a good test of the mini Displayport. The results were, for the most part, satisfactory.

1. My HDTV and Acer monitor do not really share the same resolutions, so mirroring did not work.

2. Booting with just the HDTV connected worked fine.

3. Setting the monitors up separately, but adjacent to one another worked fine.

If I want to splurge on a 24" Apple LED, I have the confidence now that the video out will at least work. I also have a nice connection via 15' HDMI cable to my HDTV, although I will not leave it connected all the time.

Hope this helps. Still running Chameleon RC1 and Snow Leopard 10.6.2.