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Help me find a working video card that I can buy asap.


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I'm putting together a Dell530 OSX install using Kalyway 10.5.2 (LINK to my install) However, one of the things I need to test out is whether or not FCP will run well on this machine and I can't do that with my onboard video.

 

FCP requires a card with QE or the software won't even install. I know there are a bunch of cards listed in the wiki and I've read a million posts where people mention one card or another, but I'm looking for a specific recommendation that fills the following:

 

- I want to buy it locally (Best Buy, Circuit City, Microcenter) so I can install it today or tomorrow

- I need dual monitor support. I don't care if it's DVI or VGA or whatever.

- It has to work with QE working as well

- I'd like it to be pci-e so I can use it in my Dell Inspiron 530. It COULD be a PCI card, but pci-e is preferred due to the fact I only have two PCI slots

- I'd LOVE for it to be under $75

 

I'm not looking for the newest, fastest, bestest. I just need something that works and something that I can buy asap.

 

Thanks a ton!

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I have a few HD2600Pro Pcie cards and they have worked great for me. I am pretty sure you could find them for fairly reasonable prices localy.

http://ati.amd.com/products/radeonhd2600/index.html

 

I also have a few 3000 series cards that work great as well, though they may be more readily available, they will cost you a little more.

http://ati.amd.com/products/radeonhd3800/index.html

 

Couldn't tell ya about anything NVidia but alot of people seem to have good experiences with some of those cards as well.

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Thanks for the quick replies y'all. Below is what I've found that are/should be available at local B&M stores (I'll be updating this post as I gather more buying info/links)

 

HD2600Pro Pcie cards

Radeon HD 2600 Pro Overclock Version 256MB GDDR3 PCIe Graphics Card - $89.99 / $69.99 after rebate

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_...duct_id=0283105

 

Radeon HD 2600 Pro 256MB GDDR2 PCIe Graphics Card - $79.99 / $49.99 after rebate (out of stock in my area)

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_...duct_id=0263923

 

Geforece 8500GT 512

PNY - Verto GeForce 8500 GT Graphics Card - $87.54

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1176507039580

 

e-GeForce 8500 GT 512MB DDR2 PCIe Graphics Card - $89.99 / $59.99 after rebate

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_...duct_id=0263677

 

 

Supported Radeon HD cards:

Radeon HD 2400

 

Sapphire Radeon HD 2400PRO 256MB DDR2 - $59.00 (just called local OM and they don't have them in store)

http://www.officemax.com/omax/catalog/sku....ategory_Id=null

 

Sapphire Radeon HD 2400XT XT 256MB - $79.00 (just called local OM and they don't have them in store)

http://www.officemax.com/omax/catalog/sku....category_Id=359

 

VisionTek - ATI RADEON HD2400 Pro Edition Graphics Card - $69.99 (OOS in my local area :()

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1188558965234

 

Radeon HD 2600 Pro, Radeon HD 2600 XT

Radeon HD 2900 Pro, Radeon HD 2900 XT

Radeon HD 3850

Radeon HD 3870

Radeon HD 3870x2

Other Radeon HD 2x00/38x0 cards might work as well

 

 

 

QUESTIONABLE OPTIONS - means I found these for sale but I'm not 100% sure they'd work

nVidea GeForce 8400 - Some success reported in the WIki here: http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.ph...#Graphics_Cards

 

nVidia by EVGA e-GeForce 8400GS 512MB DDR2 Graphics Card - $69.99 / $29.99 after rebate

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/nVidia-by-E...roductDetail.do

 

nVidea GeForce 8600 - Some success reported with 256MB version in the WIki here: http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.ph...#Graphics_Cards

nVidia by EVGA e-GeForce 8600 GT 512MB DDR3 Video Card - $99.96 / 39.96 after rebate

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/nVidia-by-E...roductDetail.do

 

 

Radeon 3450 - Not 100% it'll work. It's mentioned here but I've found other posts indicating it doesn't quite work yet.

 

Viper Radeon 3450 512MB GDDR2 PCIe Graphics Card - $69.99 / $54.99 after rebate

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_...duct_id=0281108

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Well, after about an hour of searching websites and seeing what was in stock in my area, it looks like my decision might almost be made for me.

It looks like it's down to one of the following:

 

e-GeForce 8500 GT 512MB DDR2 PCIe Graphics Card - $89.99 / $59.99 after rebate

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_...duct_id=0263677

 

Radeon HD 2600 Pro Overclock Version 256MB GDDR3 PCIe Graphics Card - $89.99 / $69.99 after rebate

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_...duct_id=0283105

 

PNY - Verto GeForce 8500 GT Graphics Card - $87.54

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1176507039580

 

 

Any thoughts on these is welcome. I'm off to do more forum searching to see if any one has any known pitfalls.

Thanks

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I have no actual experience with many NVidia cards, but as for the hd2600pro, I have 2 installed in computers atm and I use one with Macos everyday. Easy to get it up and running, QE and all supported resolutions are fine, and I haven't had any problems.

Mine are 512mb, but that shouldn't make any difference as far as compatiblity.

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I have no actual experience with many NVidia cards, but as for the hd2600pro, I have 2 installed in computers atm and I use one with Macos everyday. Easy to get it up and running, QE and all supported resolutions are fine, and I haven't had any problems.

Mine are 512mb, but that shouldn't make any difference as far as compatiblity.

 

Thanks splits. Here's what I found in the wiki (haven't made it through all possible posts yet). There's not a specific entry for the 256MB Sapphire version of this card (or for any other 256MB versions of this card) but there are a number of good reports of people getting the 512MB version working, including one made by Sapphire.

 

Sappihire's Radeon HD 2600 Pro Overclock Version 256MB ($89.99 / $69.99) this SPECIFIC version with 256MB has no specific mentions in the wiki, but there is one sapphire listed

SAPPHIRE - ATI RADEON HD 2600 PRO 512 - TRIAKIS AND WHITE MENU

ONDA - ATI Radeon HD 2600pro - New ATIRadeonX2000_Leopard.pkg from here (only one package with netkas's natit 2/26/08 and white menu fix)

Visiontek - ATI Radeon HD 2600pro 512MB - Yes With ATIRadeonX2000_Leopard.pkg

ASUS - ATI Radeon HD 2600Pro 512Mb - White Menu Fix from and adding device id to ATIRadeonX2000.kext

Gigabyte - ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro 512MB - Used ATIRadeonX2000 Leopard.pkg

 

PNY - Verto GeForce 8500 GT ($87.54)has no mentions in the wiki.

GALAXY's does: GeForce 8500GT 512MB - apparantely works with NvInject 0.2.1 with 512MB patch

Sparkle's does: GeForce 8500GT 512MB (SILENT) - NvInject 0.2.0 (256MB Recognized)

 

EVGA's e-GeForce 8500 GT 512MB DDR2 ($89.99 / $59.99) has no mentions in the wiki

GALAXY's does: GeForce 8500GT 512MB - apparantely works with NvInject 0.2.1 with 512MB patch

Sparkle's does: GeForce 8500GT 512MB (SILENT) - NvInject 0.2.0 (256MB Recognized)

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Okay, I'm off to buy the Sapphire HD2600. The reviews I've read say it's an okay card overall, not great, but not bad, and it looks like it's installable under OSX, so I'm giving it a shot. Thanks for the help and sorry for posting in the wrong forum. Still a newbie :)

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Everything went GREAT!

 

This is the card I bought:

SAPPHIRE 1014L Radeon HD 2600PRO 512MB(256MB on board) 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814102765

It was $34.99 with $6.99 for Shipping and Handling

 

Unfortunately, I literally must have gotten the last one in the bin because this item is now "deactivated", meaning that NewEgg doesn't sell it anymore :(

 

I installed it into my Dell 530 running OSX 10.5.2 that was installed from a Kalyway DVD. I ran the installer that I got out of the thread that splits linked above (ATI Radeon HD pkg installers 10.5.x, Easy to install !!) and I am GOOOOOOOOD to go!!!

 

In fact I can even put my computer to 'sleep' now and I couldn't previously. Don't know how or why, but I'm not complaining!

 

Thanks for the 2600 recommendation, splits. It worked out to be a great low-cost solution for me.

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