G5 replacement Video/Graphics Card - suggestions?

leovee · Apr 19th, 2009, 10:25 AM

I am looking for suggestions and advice on upgrading the current video card in my Powermac G5.

I have a Dual 2.0 G5 (model 9032LL/A) with an ATI Radeon 9600 Pro (64mb) card. I'm running OS X 10.4 but may eventually upgrade to Leopard. One note about the video card: system profiler says 9600 Pro but I always thought it was a 9000 Pro.

I want to power 2 monitors with independent resolutions. One is a 20" LCD and the other is 27" LCD. I also want ability to rotate monitor so card must support this. Usage is moderate to light Photoshop, Final Cut Express, Office, Dreamweaver, EyeTV, etc. Perhaps FCP in the future.

My current card has DVI and ADC but I don't need ADC -- dual DVI is preferred.

What are my options?

Should I keep the current card in AGP slot and buy a PCI card to power a 2nd monitor? If yes, which card(s)? Does such a setup cause any conflicts?

Or should I buy a single AGP card with dual DVI head to power 2 monitors?

ATI/AMD's website seems to have done away with all options and even old support pages for such cards. Can you still buy new? If not new, what and where to buy used?

I want to keep this system for a few more years if possible.

MacDoc · Apr 19th, 2009, 10:34 AM

Trade it for a current MacMini......used G5 cards are hard to find and expensive....you are looking $220-300 for cards to do what you want unless you are very lucky and find a pull from a 2.3 or 2.7 PCiX.

There s simply no easy solution thanks to Apple's refusal to licence ADC adapters.

leovee · Apr 19th, 2009, 11:16 AM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by MacDoc
	Trade it for a current MacMini......used G5 cards are hard to find and expensive....you are looking $220-300 for cards to do what you want unless you are very lucky and find a pull from a 2.3 or 2.7 PCiX. There s simply no easy solution thanks to Apple's refusal to licence ADC adapters.

I don't follow you.
Trade my G5 for a mac mini? Is that what you're saying???

johnb1 · Apr 19th, 2009, 11:23 AM

I dunno about that, MacDoc-there are options out there-hard to find, maybe, but they're there. Used G5 video cards are hard to find though- I have an nVidia GT 8800 and it works pretty well. I don't think it supports monitor rotation. I'm inclined to say, leovee, go with Ati, but maybe I'm wrong. I used to have a 9600, then I got an Ati Radeon G5 edition (kinda rare) for $230 and it was a big step up for me, and now I have an nVidia 8800GT. Tomato-tomahto-whatever. Both 'em taste good in a BLT. About the only difference I notice is that Ati had the "Ati displays" control panel where you could set each app's graphic preferences to your liking, even though that app may not have had such preferences in it, if that helps
I think Ati has the HD 3800. I dunno what's available where you're at, leovee, so I can't really make much of a comment

just my 4cents-2 cents for the opinion, 2 for tax

JB

leovee · Apr 19th, 2009, 11:26 AM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by johnb1
	I dunno about that, MacDoc-there are options out there-hard to find, maybe, but they're there. Used G5 video cards are hard to find though- I have an nVidia GT 8800 and it works pretty well. I don't think it supports monitor rotation. I'm inclined to say, leovee, go with Ati, but maybe I'm wrong. I used to have a 9600, then I got an Ati Radeon G5 edition (kinda rare) for $230 and it was a big step up for me, and now I have an nVidia 8800GT. Tomato-tomahto-whatever. Both 'em taste good in a BLT. About the only difference I notice is that Ati had the "Ati displays" control panel where you could set each app's graphic preferences to your liking, even though that app may not have had such preferences in it, if that helps I think Ati has the HD 3800. I dunno what's available where you're at, leovee, so I can't really make much of a comment just my 4cents-2 cents for the opinion, 2 for tax JB

Thanks for your comments, johnb1.
I guess I could live without monitor rotation.

Any comments on installing a 2nd card in the PCI slot. Something like the ATI Radeon 9200?

Will a 2nd card in the PCI slot even work?

LV

johnnydee · Apr 20th, 2009, 04:39 PM

I thought you could get an ADC to DVI adapter ?!?

MacDoc · Apr 20th, 2009, 04:54 PM

	Quote:
	I don't follow you. Trade my G5 for a mac mini? Is that what you're saying?

Yep

No adaptors unless you hunt real hard - Apple refused to license third parties.

There are cards out there but not cheap and not all are dual DVi and most will cost a good way to a MacmIni.

9200s are around but rare.

leovee · Apr 20th, 2009, 05:29 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by MacDoc
	Yep No adaptors unless you hunt real hard - Apple refused to license third parties. There are cards out there but not cheap and not all are dual DVi and most will cost a good way to a MacmIni. 9200s are around but rare.

The 9200 is the PCI card, yes? The Mac edition is what you are referring to, I assume.

Is that a reasonable option? To keep the original AGP card to power one monitor and add a 9200 PCI card to run a 2nd card?

MacDoc · Apr 20th, 2009, 07:09 PM

Yes if you can find one...

DR Hannon · Apr 20th, 2009, 07:52 PM

Sometimes Ebay can be your friend!!

NEW AUTHENTIC ATI RADEON 9200 128MB PCI MAC APPLE CARD - (eBay.ca item 350191426318 end time 23-Apr-09 21:32:08 EDT)

ATI RADEON 9200 VIDEO CARD 128MB DDR NEW PCI FOR MAC - (eBay.ca item 330322061181 end time 20-Apr-09 21:14:05 EDT)