Graphics card recos needed (again).

[dix]

Per my DP projects sluggish on Sierra compared to El Cap thread, I've realized that my ATI 5770 graphics card is seriously slowing down DP projects with lots of MIDI information being displayed (much more so with Sierra than El Cap), so I'm in the market for a new one.

I know a lot of people here have similar setups as me - 2009 MP flashed to 5,1 with 12core tray. What graphics cards are y'all using and what would you recommend for 3-monitor setups? My 5770 has just 1gb of RAM. Would more vRAM help in this situation?

Thanks!

[HCMarkus]

Not sure, but DP does not seem to rely on the GPU very heavily. I say this as my Mac Pro, similar to yours running Sierra and which houses an AMD RX460 (4GB Gigabyte version, stock port layout) driving a 4k monitor and smaller secondary 1080 monitor, flies graphically except when I'm running big DP projects. The performance is tolerable for me, but not ideal. I'm running my 40" 4k TV via Display Port>Active HDMI converter using SwitchResX software to get 60 Hz. I must say, the 4k display is stunning, especially when auditioning sound-for-picture work.

With my stock PC-RX460, I see the boot screen about halfway through. As such, those using File Vault or needing to select boot drive from boot screen will have trouble with any unflashed GPU. For more info you may want to poke around the Mac Pro forum at MacRumors.com and stop by BareFeats.com as well.

Unfortunately, the more powerful GPUs are running very pricey these days due to criptocurrency mining's demands, and this has inflated the cost of lesser GPUs like the current gen RX560 to double the $90 I paid for mine a year and a half ago.

Will a better GPU make your machine run smoother? I'd be sure to buy from a dealer to whom you can return the card if you don't get the results you seek.

I'd also ask that you let us know here what your results are.

[dix]

Thanks HC! The RX460 or RX560 seem to be the most recommended on MacRumors that I can see. Assuming it can run 3 displays I'll probably pick one up...although I'm finding it really tough to find Mac compatible versions! Recos as to where I can find one would be appreciated too.

I didn't realize how much DP relied on graphics until the recent torture-test of a project, that has miles of repeating 32nds, 16ths etc that grinds to in-usability when viewing in the SE. Thinking back there's been other projects that were similar, where I assumed the rapid repetition of MIDI noted was slowing DP down, but in fact it must have been the graphics. I'm thinking a better card can only help.

Thx agn

[HCMarkus]

Thanks HC! The RX460 or RX560 seem to be the most recommended on MacRumors that I can see. Assuming it can run 3 displays I'll probably pick one up...although I'm finding it really tough to find Mac compatible versions!

In the strictest sense, there are no "Mac Compatible" versions of these cards. To my knowledge, no one has figured out how to flash any of the RX cards with a Mac EFI. That said, many of the stock PC RX460/560s will work under mac OS but, as noted in my prior post, they won't show the beginning of the Mac boot screen.

Having purchased an RX460 in late 2016 and running it successfully under Sierra, I was curious whether it would continue to work under High Sierra. For my brand of card, things look positive. Take a look at this thread over at MacRumors for details (yes, I am "DPUser"):

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/rx ... nd.2060043

Note that certain brands of cards do not appear to work properly under Sierra or High Sierra. The cards that work have a common thread: stock AMD port arrangements; that is, one each HDMI, DP and DVI

There are many other threads as well. If I recall correctly, the Sapphire RX580 may be the most compatible card, as it is one shipped with the eGPU Developer's Kit Apple put out. But it does not come cheap and is probably of interest only if you do a lot of Final Cut work or play games on your Mac Pro.

[dix]

Ah. I saw DPuser on MacRumors when I was poking around yesterday. MR often goes down multiple rabbit holes so your guidance is helpful.

My Radeon 5770 doesn't show a startup screen so I'm accustom to that. To sum up your advice, you're suggesting I try a Sapphire RX580, a RX460, or a RX560 with stock AMD port arrangements, regardless of whether the specs mention Mac compatibility.

But I still can't be sure a better graphics card will make a difference - my 2015 MBP behaves about the same as my MP on the same sequence. I'm curious if others have noticed DP slowing down because of the graphics with MIDI heavy sequences, so...

Here's the MIDI torture test I've been using to troubleshoot. With MAS off in MIDI Only mode, displaying this sequence while zoomed out to display all the MIDI in the SE greatly slows down DP in El Cap and is completely unworkable in Sierra. If I zoom in somewhere past the MIDI data or view in the TO everything behaves normally. If anyone feels like checking it out I'd be very grateful. http://prayforrain.com/misc/MIDIOnlyGra ... .dpdoc.zip

Thanks!