iindigo3D Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 So I'm looking at building a really cheap OSx86 rig (budget $500, trying to keep total under $350) and I've been shopping through the various graphics cards. Obviously, nVidia seems to be a better choice than ATI when running OS X. If possible, I'd like to be able to run WoW under OS X with most or all settings maxxed at decent performance. I've heard the 8600 GT(S) was good for this, but I'm unsure of compatibility. Is it reasonably easy to set up? Will it require a lot of tinkering? In particular, this is the card I'm considering: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814130394 If you guys have suggestions for other high-performance, cheap cards, feel free to post. Thanks! Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/161981-affordable-good-performance-card-for-osx86/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaap Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 That card is fan-freakin'-tastic for Hackintosh. I've used that exact card for 3 recent builds. All I can say is, get it before it's gone again, because they're hard to keep in stock. Mark my words, it will be unavailable on newegg this time a week from now, or even in a few days. At that price, plus rebate, it's a steal. The next level up of card to this, is an 8800GT- and those are now impossible to find. That, or you need to spend over $100 on a 9800GT, OR go the opposite way and settle for a lesser card that probably costs just as much, even more. In short- yes, get this card! The nice thing I've found about the GTS version, vs. the GT, is that it supports dual monitors with DVI connections in a Hackintosh. In my experience, the 8600GT will only support one monitor via DVI, and the other VGA. Yes, it will work fine for WoW. Setting it up: use EFI strings, using a tool like EFI studio, or the PC Wiz's Universal Installer method. One other thing: make sure to use it with a PSU that has enough juice to support the 6-pin PCI-E power connector, and ideally, that has a 6-pin PCI-E power connector attached. For an example, I used this card in a system with a 420W cheapo PSU that came with the case- it had no 6-pin connector so I tried using the included molex to 6-pin adapter. The system wouldn't start with that connected. The system would boot without the 6-pin connection, but the nVidia driver in Windows (not OSX) warned that the card was operating in a reduced-power mode, and that the full range of features may not work. I have no idea what features those were, but everything did seem to me to work fine. Still, I'd recommend a 500w PSU, and the 6-pin PCI-E connector. If you notice in the system requirments section on this card, it touches on the minimum requirements to run it, but it isn't specific. The 420W PSU I had this issue with, was definitely the minimum spec, which I wouldn't recommend. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/161981-affordable-good-performance-card-for-osx86/#findComment-1132231 Share on other sites More sharing options...
iindigo3D Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 That card is fan-freakin'-tastic for Hackintosh. I've used that exact card for 3 recent builds. All I can say is, get it before it's gone again, because they're hard to keep in stock. Mark my words, it will be unavailable on newegg this time a week from now, or even in a few days. At that price, plus rebate, it's a steal. The next level up of card to this, is an 8800GT- and those are now impossible to find. That, or you need to spend over $100 on a 9800GT, OR go the opposite way and settle for a lesser card that probably costs just as much, even more. In short- yes, get this card! The nice thing I've found about the GTS version, vs. the GT, is that it supports dual monitors with DVI connections in a Hackintosh. In my experience, the 8600GT will only support one monitor via DVI, and the other VGA. Yes, it will work fine for WoW. Setting it up: use EFI strings, using a tool like EFI studio, or the PC Wiz's Universal Installer method. One other thing: make sure to use it with a PSU that has enough juice to support the 6-pin PCI-E power connector, and ideally, that has a 6-pin PCI-E power connector attached. For an example, I used this card in a system with a 420W cheapo PSU that came with the case- it had no 6-pin connector so I tried using the included molex to 6-pin adapter. The system wouldn't start with that connected. The system would boot without the 6-pin connection, but the nVidia driver in Windows (not OSX) warned that the card was operating in a reduced-power mode, and that the full range of features may not work. I have no idea what features those were, but everything did seem to me to work fine. Still, I'd recommend a 500w PSU, and the 6-pin PCI-E connector. If you notice in the system requirments section on this card, it touches on the minimum requirements to run it, but it isn't specific. The 420W PSU I had this issue with, was definitely the minimum spec, which I wouldn't recommend. Thanks for the helpful advice, Zaap! So I'm guessing that this case+PSU combo won't work? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811121049 If so, that means I'll have to get a considerably cheaper case in order to accommodate the price of a separate PSU... Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/161981-affordable-good-performance-card-for-osx86/#findComment-1132440 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaap Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Thanks for the helpful advice, Zaap! So I'm guessing that this case+PSU combo won't work? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811121049 If so, that means I'll have to get a considerably cheaper case in order to accommodate the price of a separate PSU... Hey iindigo3D, The basic problem is, the PSU needs enough power on the 12V rail to fully power the card- the card draws more power than usual, more like a higher-end card. It WILL work with that system, the same as it worked with the 420W PSU I used- you just might see the warning (in Windows if you install it) that the card isn't operating at its full potential. Worst case scenario- if you hook up the included molex-to-6pin PCI-E connector, the machine won't boot if it overloads the 12V rail. I'd highly recommend a setup like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817170017 $25 A decent, cheap PSU that defintely will supply enough power for the card, since it actually can accomodate two PCI-E graphic cards in SLI mode -it has two PCI-E 6-pin connectors. It's overkill actually, but for the price it's great, and more power than needed is far preferable to less power than needed. I looked and didn't really see much in the way of a better deal than this level of PSU with atleast one PCI-E connector and enough voltage on the 12V rail to handle better graphic cards. (Relevant stat: +12V@25A. The card lists: +12 Volt current rating of 22 Amp Amps.) Combine with a case like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811153111 $25 or: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811147111 $25 And you've still only spent roughly $50 for a PSU that will definitely work, and the case. Also, I'm sure you already know it, but these cases will accomodate microATX motherboards only. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/161981-affordable-good-performance-card-for-osx86/#findComment-1132782 Share on other sites More sharing options...
iindigo3D Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 Thanks again for the input. I think I'm going to spend a little bit more and buy a PSU that's less risky. While the one you linked looks to be a good deal, a number of reviewers reported having trouble with it. Instead, I am now looking at this PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817182009 It's not as high-power as the one you linked, but it still has a PCI-E connector and the needed voltage for the 8600. It also has better ratings with a (seemingly) much lower failure rate. Of course, using that PSU means moving up to an ATX case, so if I end up buying this PSU I'm probably going to pair it with this case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811147075 Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/161981-affordable-good-performance-card-for-osx86/#findComment-1132873 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaap Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Good choice! Never any harm in a better PSU- that one will work great. Rosewill makes good stuff, even if they aren't as well-known as other brands. (It's newegg's house brand). Any of the PSUs above will fit any of these cases- it's only the form factor of the motherboard you're using that matters. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/161981-affordable-good-performance-card-for-osx86/#findComment-1132883 Share on other sites More sharing options...
pirloui Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 You could also have a look at the 9500GT which is an update to the 8600GT apparently. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/161981-affordable-good-performance-card-for-osx86/#findComment-1146438 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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