Graphics Card Question

[scooter]

My monitor is going wiggy on me and then my intel mac freezes.
I think my graphics card is bad but I'm not absolutely sure.

What is the best graphics card for an intel mac for dual monitor viewing?
There should be one in the $200-$300 range right?

thanks,

scooter

[malditoyanki]

My G Force Nvidia card went bad 6 months ago in a similar way. Mac cards are NOT easy to track down. Yours is probably under warranty. The local CryWolf Mac store here in San Diego ordered one and installed it for 1 easy installment of $0.

[scooter]

I've was looking at some ATI Radeon cards.
Although I might have some more time left on my apple care so your suggestion might be the way to go.
I just wonder how much graphic performance affects Mac freezes or the dreaded beach ball happening.
I notice when I start moving around too fast in the graphic editor window in D.P. I get the beach ball. So would a better, faster performing graphic card help that to not happen??

scooter

[billf]

I have the same MacPro model as you, and I replaced my graphics card with an ATI Radeon HD 4870.

http://www.amazon.com/ATI-Radeon-4870-G ... 753&sr=8-2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[scooter]

I have the same MacPro model as you, and I replaced my graphics card with an ATI Radeon HD 4870.

Well, don't leaving me hanging. That's the exact one I was thinking of getting. How's the performance? Do you like it? How much better is it than the stock graphics card that comes with our macs, whatever that is?

scooter

[dpart]

I doubt that it is the graphics card per se that is your problem. I have the 4870 in another machine (and its top of the line-ish). Excellent performance. I also have experience with Nvidia GT 120 (Ok) & Quadro FX4800 (very top of the line).

Very little that DP does would push any of the cards that came stock with your mac, or the medium to top ones out there, or the ones I mention. The only thing DP could push is when you are showing all the waveforms scrolling by while keeping the wiper still. Even then its probably other factors such as disk/memory access.

Most of these cards performance enhances 3D scenes which doesn't do anything for DP. However the 2D performance usually scales up as they beef up the 3D.

If you have doubts about your card being ok (your monitor being "wiggley" whatever that is (!))
these cards are not that expensive and a new cheap one $100-200 will be just fine. The 4870 ($300) will be exceptional AND you can play demanding 3D games. The DP performance will most likely not matter at all. Except of course if you card really is "bust".

You can see what card you have by Menu bar -> Apple symbol -> About This Mac -> More Info -> Graphics/Displays.

Then go to WikiPedia under NVidia (look under "Comparison of Nvidia graphics processing units") and you can compare the card. The things that matter for DP are probably Memory, Pixel Fillrate and Memory Bandwidth. You can look these up for ATI cards as well for comparison.

Chances are that the spinning ball you are getting has nothing to do with the graphics card and due to other things. But yes you should have rock solid confidence in your graphics cards first.

[jloeb]

I doubt that it is the graphics card per se that is your problem. I have the 4870 in another machine (and its top of the line-ish). Excellent performance. I also have experience with Nvidia GT 120 (Ok) & Quadro FX4800 (very top of the line).

Very little that DP does would push any of the cards that came stock with your mac, or the medium to top ones out there, or the ones I mention. The only thing DP could push is when you are showing all the waveforms scrolling by while keeping the wiper still. Even then its probably other factors such as disk/memory access.

Most of these cards performance enhances 3D scenes which doesn't do anything for DP. ...

Chances are that the spinning ball you are getting has nothing to do with the graphics card and due to other things.

+1

[dixiechicken]

DC here!

If you have an Mac Pro Nehalem Quadcore 2009 machine or newer.
Best grahics card (and maybe bang for the buck I would be
ATI Radeon HD 5770 - its for sale 258 bucks at Macsale OWC
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Apple/6615718/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You can check the site for info on compatible MacPro models etc.

Cheers: Dixiechicken!

[FutureLegends]

What card do you have now?
I think I have the same model as you (MacPro 2006?)
If so, Apple has admitted faulty graphics cards and I got my ATI 1900X switched to a Nvidia 8800GT for free.

[scooter]

It says I have a ATY,RadeonX1900, which should be a pretty decent card.
My monitor has been getting little horizontal lines a few pixels thick running about half way through the screen. The longer I leave it on the worse it gets and finally my mac just freezes and I can't force quit anything but can only manually shut it down.

Like I said I'm hoping this is just a graphics card problem and not a more serious problem with my mac. Also it looks like I bought my Mac in August 2007. I can't believe it's that old.

scooter

[buddhabelly]

Sounds like your graphics card is the issue. I believe that this graphic card may be under a repair extension from Apple. So I'd take your unit to a repair center and have them check it out.

Best,

Adam

It says I have a ATY,RadeonX1900, which should be a pretty decent card.
My monitor has been getting little horizontal lines a few pixels thick running about half way through the screen. The longer I leave it on the worse it gets and finally my mac just freezes and I can't force quit anything but can only manually shut it down.

Like I said I'm hoping this is just a graphics card problem and not a more serious problem with my mac. Also it looks like I bought my Mac in August 2007. I can't believe it's that old.

scooter

[HCMarkus]

Have you tried monitoring the graphic card temperature? Could be really dusty in there...

http://www.bresink.com/osx/TemperatureMonitor.html

My Mac is in a machine room... I use the above to keep track remotely. It might be useful in this situation.

[jloeb]

My monitor has been getting little horizontal lines a few pixels thick running about half way through the screen. The longer I leave it on the worse it gets and finally my mac just freezes and I can't force quit anything but can only manually shut it down.

Yeah, that part certainly sounds like the graphics card is shot. AppleCare to the rescue.

[scooter]

Have you tried monitoring the graphic card temperature? Could be really dusty in there...

Good point, also for anyone else having monitor aberrations.
I read on the internet on some mac forum that someone having this similar issue just cleaned the card with compressed air and got the dust out and then everything was fine. I did this also, although I was a little low on air so I might buy a new can and try it again.

scooter

[scooter]

p://www.bresink.com/osx/TemperatureMonitor.html

Oh, and thanks for the link. It's a useful, simple and straight-forward app.

scooter