KariNeko Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Hi everyone! I'm going to update my video card and looking at a price point of 215 dollars here in Argentina I can choose 2 models from: SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 4870 1GB Boxed http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/p...101&pid=216 I/O Output: VGA/DL-DVI/HDMI Core Clock: 750 MHz Memory Clock: 900 MHz, 3.6Gbps PCI Express 2.0 x16 bus interface 1024MB /256bit GDDR5 memory interface On-board HDMI 7.1 Audio Channel Support Microsoft® DirectX® 10.1 support Shader Model 4.1 support Dual Slot Vapor Chamber Cooler or EVGA Geforce 260 GTX 896-P3-1260-AR OEM (the most basic 260 GTX card they sell, it's not a 216 core edition) http://www.evga.com/PRODUCTS/enlarge.asp?P...1260-AR&I=4 Core Clock Speed 576MHz Processing Cores 192 Memory Clock Speed 1998MHz Memory Bandwidth 111.9GB/sec Shader Clock Speed 1242MHz Bus PCI-E 2.0 Interface DVI-I, DVI-I, HDTV-7 The most important factor I think is the noise when running them at 2D on OS X. Wich you think will perform better, has better drivers, etc. Which one do you recommend. I think both will work with graphics enabler on Chameleon / PCEfi. Please give me your advice. Thanks in advance. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrCoOl Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Hi everyone! I'm going to update my video card and looking at a price point of 215 dollars here in Argentina I can choose 2 models from:SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 4870 1GB Boxed http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/p...101&pid=216 I/O Output: VGA/DL-DVI/HDMI Core Clock: 750 MHz Memory Clock: 900 MHz, 3.6Gbps PCI Express 2.0 x16 bus interface 1024MB /256bit GDDR5 memory interface On-board HDMI 7.1 Audio Channel Support Microsoft® DirectX® 10.1 support Shader Model 4.1 support Dual Slot Vapor Chamber Cooler or EVGA Geforce 260 GTX 896-P3-1260-AR OEM (the most basic 260 GTX card they sell, it's not a 216 core edition) http://www.evga.com/PRODUCTS/enlarge.asp?P...1260-AR&I=4 Core Clock Speed 576MHz Processing Cores 192 Memory Clock Speed 1998MHz Memory Bandwidth 111.9GB/sec Shader Clock Speed 1242MHz Bus PCI-E 2.0 Interface DVI-I, DVI-I, HDTV-7 The most important factor I think is the noise when running them at 2D on OS X. Wich you think will perform better, has better drivers, etc. Which one do you recommend. I think both will work with graphics enabler on Chameleon / PCEfi. Please give me your advice. Thanks in advance. What version of OS X are you using? I am currently using OS 10.6.1 (Snow Leopard) and the video card i am using is a Radeon HD 4870 1G and it runs perfectly. (Custom Kext) I also have tested it on 10.5.6, 10.5.7, and 10.5.8 in it works to but not as good as SL Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1284878 Share on other sites More sharing options...
KariNeko Posted September 30, 2009 Author Share Posted September 30, 2009 I'm running Snow Leopard 10.6.1 with no plans to downgrade to Leopard. Could I ask which of all versions of Radeon HD 4870 1G you have, and if you can run it just using graphics enabler on PCEfi 10.3? Thanks Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1284967 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweak41 Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 The GTX 260 works great for me using the GraphicsEnabler option and Chameleon 2 RC3. I just tried tonight with PC EFI 10v3 and the GraphicsEnabler option doesn't work too well. It boots and all, but I only get a black screen. However, EFI strings in your Boot.plist file will still allow you to boot using PC EFI 10v3. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1285007 Share on other sites More sharing options...
isirpaul Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Go for 4870.. Incredible power at affordable price, and best compatibility with 10.5.6+ & 10.6 Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1285128 Share on other sites More sharing options...
KariNeko Posted September 30, 2009 Author Share Posted September 30, 2009 Thanks for the info to everyone! isirpaul does your Sapphire ATI Radeon 4870 1Gb Toxic works with EFI String / Graphics Enabler without adding/modifying any kext? Thanks Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1285688 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaE-V Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 4870 will outperform the nvidia apparent. ATI's drivers are a little better. In most applications the 4870 outperforms the 285. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1285884 Share on other sites More sharing options...
KariNeko Posted September 30, 2009 Author Share Posted September 30, 2009 JaE-V yes but I wont be booting to Windows, what I really care is OS X performance/compability and easy of use. And hardware wise the noise level when running it on OS X without doing 3D stuff. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1285950 Share on other sites More sharing options...
isirpaul Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Thanks for the info to everyone! isirpaul does your Sapphire ATI Radeon 4870 1Gb Toxic works with EFI String / Graphics Enabler without adding/modifying any kext? Thanks No, I had to use the drumthrasher109's guide, but it's very easy and worth the steps you have to do before getting it working.. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1286381 Share on other sites More sharing options...
KariNeko Posted October 1, 2009 Author Share Posted October 1, 2009 isirpaul thanks for the info! Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1286502 Share on other sites More sharing options...
isirpaul Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 isirpaul thanks for the info! If you'll go with the Toxic or Vapor-X version I can assure you that the noise of the fans of your pc would cover the noise of the card itself! That cards are so silent!!! Anyway only few times(just one/two per day, pc always on) the fan throttle at full speed for 3-4 sec (as when you power on the pc) Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1287194 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaE-V Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 JaE-V yes but I wont be booting to Windows, what I really care is OS X performance/compability and easy of use. And hardware wise the noise level when running it on OS X without doing 3D stuff. i figured you knew where i was comming from lol, obviously the 285 will kick the pants off the 4870 in windows but the 4870 has better all around performance than the 285 in os x. That's what i was meaning. I'd have an 4870 but i refuse to buy anything ATI lol Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1287373 Share on other sites More sharing options...
KariNeko Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 If you'll go with the Toxic or Vapor-X version I can assure you that the noise of the fans of your pc would cover the noise of the card itself! That cards are so silent!!! Anyway only few times(just one/two per day, pc always on) the fan throttle at full speed for 3-4 sec (as when you power on the pc) Thanks for the answer, for me it's important to have a silent computer. Can I ask if sleep continue to work with the ATI card? i figured you knew where i was comming from lol, obviously the 285 will kick the pants off the 4870 in windows but the 4870 has better all around performance than the 285 in os x. That's what i was meaning. I'd have an 4870 but i refuse to buy anything ATI lol Also thanks for the answer. So yo say ATI performs better on Snow Leopard than nVidia (at least G200 series versus HD 4800) ? Without offending could you elaborate a little more or is there any place where I can read about it? Why you refuse to buy anything ATI? I suppose it's a personal preference? but it should work better on OS X, right? To the after mentioned list of cards I can add: BFG Geforce 260 GTX 65nm model but it comes with 216 cores and it's note the MaxCore version. It's the same price as the two others. SECOND HAND / USED (not new). SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4870 1GB 100259-1GL. Ports: DVI 2, TV-Out HDTV / S-Video Out, HDMI 1 via Adapter. NEW. GIGABYTE Radeon HD 4870 1gb GDDR5 Zalman Cooler GV-R487D5-1GD. Ports: HDMI, Display port, DVI. NEW. SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4890 1GB 100269SR. Ports: HDMI 1 via Adapter, DVI 2, TV-Out HDTV Out. NEW. It cost 40 dollars more and I don't game so I really don't think it's necessary. XFX Geforce 260 GTX 896MB DDR3 Black Edition (GX-260N-ADBF). Ports: HDTV, 2 Dual-Link DVI. NEW. It also cost 40 dollars more but maybe it's better than buying the others cards. So on ATI cards it's preferably to have the same display connectors as the Apple card? That would be the Gigabyte card? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1288134 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrewvideo Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 So SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4890 1GB works ok. in 10.6? Where i can find the efi-string or kerel. Thank you. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1296673 Share on other sites More sharing options...
KariNeko Posted October 13, 2009 Author Share Posted October 13, 2009 Hi, I wanted to thank you all for your comments. I went with the BFG Geforce 260 GTX Maxcore OC (65nm, 216 cores) to be on the safe side and as expected it worked right away with GraphicsEnabler=y with PCEfi 10.3, like with my previous card the Asus EN7300GT Silent, so I'm happy. :) Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1297690 Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOgreBattle Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 No, I had to use the drumthrasher109's guide, but it's very easy and worth the steps you have to do before getting it working.. Just wondering, where can you find drumthrasher109's guide? I haven't been able to find it. Thanks. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1307217 Share on other sites More sharing options...
voxelized Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Hi, I wanted to thank you all for your comments. I went with the BFG Geforce 260 GTX Maxcore OC (65nm, 216 cores) to be on the safe side and as expected it worked right away with GraphicsEnabler=y with PCEfi 10.3, like with my previous card the Asus EN7300GT Silent, so I'm happy. I was looking at this card today - do you have dual monitors working with this under Snow Leopard? Seems like a good card at good price. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1318778 Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_73_uk Posted November 6, 2009 Share Posted November 6, 2009 I was looking at this card today - do you have dual monitors working with this under Snow Leopard? Seems like a good card at good price. Hi voxelized, I've got the BFG GTX260 216 core 55nm card and it works perfectly with dual monitors on SL 10.6.1. I'm using Chameleon RC3 with graphics enabler turned on, I haven't got any none standard graphics kexts installed nor EFI strings set. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1321755 Share on other sites More sharing options...
voxelized Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 Hi voxelized,I've got the BFG GTX260 216 core 55nm card and it works perfectly with dual monitors on SL 10.6.1. I'm using Chameleon RC3 with graphics enabler turned on, I haven't got any none standard graphics kexts installed nor EFI strings set. Worked for me too! Thanks. I had to use an EFI string to get hardware acceleration. Otherwise I got dual monitors using the software renderer. A clean UD5 install with GraphicsEnabler=Yes and an EFI string (search InfiniteMac for the GTX 260 guide) in the com.apple.boot.plist is all that was needed. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/189596-radeon-hd-4870-1gb-or-geforce-260-gtx/#findComment-1322553 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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