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Last Generation Mac Pros incompatible with new 8800GT -Apple

docs.info.apple.com — "All of these cards are only compatible with the family of computers with which they shipped." Apple is canceling orders for concerned customers with older Mac Pros who wanted to upgrade. Additional info: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=410804

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  • drunkwally, on 01/11/2008, -1/+8This is a complete outrage.

    I have a Mac Pro, the x1900 card has well documented overheating problems and is several years behind current technology. Yet it still costs $400+.

    The new cards are technically compatible with PCIe 1.1 - You can use the same model cards in a PC with any generation PCIe slot. Apple is purposefully gimping the firmware on the cards to prevent users upgrading.
    • happyseamonster, on 01/11/2008, -4/+1You can use any card from any Mac Pro with any other Mac Pro. You just can't swap between the MP and the G5. I believe it's because of the Intel EFI on the card. So you CAN buy the 8800GT and put it in your Mac Pro. 349.00 If I understand this right, it has to have EFI chip like logic board. Anyone?
      http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/A ...
      • happyseamonster, on 01/11/2008, -0/+1Oh, never mind! ***** Apple, why don't they just put it in plain english? To me, "Mac Pro" is one "family" and "G5" is another. But others seem to think differently so don't listen to me. Maybe. Sorta, kinda.
  • MacNugget, on 01/11/2008, -7/+5While it may be true that the new 8800GT is incompatible with the first generation Mac Pros, the linked article has absolutely nothing to do with that issue at all. The linked article is simply discussing incompatibility between cards intended for G5 based PowerMacs and Intel based Mac Pros.
    Submitter is a moron with poor reading comprehension.
    • vault, on 01/11/2008, -0/+4The article separates the early Mac Pro's and the 2008 Mac Pro's and then says, "All of these cards are only compatible with the family of computers with which they shipped."
  • ahuxley, on 01/11/2008, -1/+4The tech note page has some important info:
    "All of these cards are only compatible with the family of computers with which they shipped."
    But the Apple 8800 kit page says "Mac Pro" ie no * to fine print about 08 only Mac Pro's.
    So unless you know about the tech note and the 08 Mac Pro only support you may order it for your older "Mac Pro".
  • puithove, on 01/11/2008, -0/+6http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID ...

    and from barefeats.com: http://www.barefeats.com/york2.html
    ALERT TO OWNERS OF "OLD" MAC PROS! (CORRECTED)
    The GeForce 8800 GT is *NOT* compatible with the older Mac Pro (August 2006, April 2007) as we assumed. I've been informed that GeForce 8800 GT uses an EFI64 ROM, the old Mac Pros "expect" an EFI32 ROM.

    • vault, on 01/11/2008, -0/+2Well one thing to keep in mind is they released an X1900 for G5's after the fact even though it wasn't initially an option...so while the new 8800 isn't compatible, who knows...it's not out of the question they'll come out with a separate version.
    • happyseamonster, on 01/11/2008, -0/+2http://www.hardmac.com/news/2008-01-10/#7594
  • vince1327, on 01/11/2008, -1/+3This is brutal. I bought the Mac Pro to last me four years of multimedia studies in university. Not even done the first year yet, and the video potential has already reached a dead end. The only cards available are sub-par and over a year old and generations outdated already. Is this some king of sick joke?

    Sign the petition below, and maybe, just maybe, apple will take notice:

    http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/geforce8800?e
  • vhmalex, on 01/11/2008, -2/+2ack. such bs.
  • thehardgoodbye, on 01/11/2008, -1/+5This is a move I would expect from Verizon, not Apple. I just got my Mac Pro this December to replace a failing Power Mac G5, and now, one month later I find that I am already at a dead end with regard to my graphic card options. I feel like a total sucker right now.
  • vault, on 01/11/2008, -0/+4Hopefully someone will figure out a workaround. Maybe even a future Mac Pro firmware update.
  • bbrosemer, on 01/11/2008, -0/+2I think apple will correct this problem with a firmware update...
  • happyseamonster, on 01/11/2008, -2/+2Apple is ***** stupid sometimes. Their RAM is at least 300% higher. Then, on a Mac Pro, it starts out with lame cards and you CAN"T upgrade them? Maybe people need to start building Hackintosh's and teach them a ***** lesson. I'd like to see a DETAILED page on how to duplicate or surpass the MP with Hackintosh. Sometimes people just need to get a little pissed off to tell an OEM to go screw themselves and find an alternative.
  • digitalpencil, on 01/11/2008, -0/+3EFI extensions can be either 64-Bit or 32-Bit. In order for a device to be initialized on boot, EFI has to load an extension for it. It seems that the extensions for the G92 cards are compiled as 64-Bit extensions. EFI 1.10 can only handle 32-Bit execution, whereas UEFI 2.1 handles 64-Bit.
    Therefore it is likely that a firmware upgrade will allow this to be uncrippled however, Apple is never going to provide an upgrade path to do this (this is Apple, they don't like upgrading!!) all you can hope for is some aspiring geek to write new firmware for you but be prepared to say 'bye, bye Applecare' if you do..
  • willsonthomas, on 01/22/2008, -0/+0Calm down... Go to this page http://www.macrumors.com/2008/01/19/nvidia-8800gt- ...

    Apple and Nvidia have both stated that an upgrade path will soon be available.
  • noclss2000, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1we have the new 8800GT that is supposed to be compatible with the non-2008 Mac Pro.
    However, we are having problems getting the Mac to even boot with the 8800GT in. The new card didn't come with any sort of drivers or anything, just the card, some dvi-vga adapters and a booklet to use as t.p.
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