03-13-2009, 12:58 PM

I have a 2006 quad-core Mac Pro with the X-1900 graphics card...and was browsing the Apple Store for the graphics cards they are currently offering.

Here are the graphics cards the Apple Store is currently offering, and the prices:

- ATI 2600, $129.00
- NVIDIA GT 120, $149.00
- NVIDIA 8800 GT, $279.00
- ATI 4870, $349.00
- ATI X-1900, $399.00

All these cards (other than the ATI 2600) have 512meg of ram.

So my question(s) is/are:

Why is an older ATI X-1900 still the most expensive video card offered at the Apple Store?

Is the answer as easy as...

The X-1900 is simply over-priced at the Apple Store...or is it still a very good graphics card even compared to the newer cards?

Thanks,

- Nick

p.s. I realize that all of these graphics cards are not compatible with a 2006 Mac Pro...I'm simply curious regarding the relative prices vs. age of the cards (especially the X-1900).

03-13-2009, 05:06 PM

You have to compare Apples with Apples.

Windows compatible cards are usually half the price as up to ten times as many of a particular model are manufactured. The less manufactured graphic cards for Apple Macs, the dearer the individual price.

03-13-2009, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by harryb2448

You have to compare Apples with Apples.

Windows compatible cards are usually half the price as up to ten times as many of a particular model are manufactured. The less manufactured graphic cards for Apple Macs, the dearer the individual price.

HELLO...I AM comparing Apples with Apples!!! ALL the graphics cards I mentioned in my initial post are currently offered by the Apple Store!

What you mentioned is true (and I am well aware of)...but I never mentioned anything about Windows compatible cards.

I'm not sure where the confusion is.

Thanks,

- Nick

03-13-2009, 05:54 PM

Sometimes the price of a Video Card isn't so much based on overall performance but on rarity. The price on older video cards will actually go up rather than down if the card is highly sought after, yet old. Why that particular card is so overpriced is anyones guess..?

I bought a video card once that actually steadily increased in price over the course of a year because it was simply harder and harder to come by. (Went from $150 to $300+ in a year)!

I personally think the nvidia 8800GT is the better card overall out of those offerings you listed.


___________
Regarding the comment about PC video cards: Many video cards made for PC's can be flashed to work on a MAC. You have to know what you're doing though and it requires doing some actual physical modifications to the card in most cases. My video card was originally designed for a PC.

03-13-2009, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by R3d

Sometimes the price of a Video Card isn't so much based on overall performance but on rarity.

I personally think the nvidia 8800GT is the better card overall out of those offerings you listed.

Regarding the comment about PC video cards: Many video cards made for PC's can be flashed to work on a MAC.

You could be correct about the rarity...but you really don't hear many people saying..."Gee...I really wish I had one of those ATI X-1900 videos cards for my Mac Pro!" So I really didn't think that the X-1900 was that much in demand.

Regarding the Nvidia 8800GT...Yes I agree...from most of the comments I see, the 8800GT is a better graphics card than the X-1900.

As far as the "flashed" windows graphics cards. Yes I was aware of this. I actually purchased a flashed Radeon 9800 Pro card once from a seller on E-Bay...it seemed to work ok...but had to cover a couple of the "pins" on the PCI connector to get it to work. I would still much prefer to use an "official" Mac card...but sometimes the price on flashed cards is VERY tempting!

Many thanks for your reply,

- Nick

03-14-2009, 02:17 AM

what was the price of the card when the apple store bought it? bet it was way the heck up there. they're trying to keep thier losses to a minimum with that card... though it's probably too late. it happens in all retail computer stores.

03-14-2009, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by pigoo3

Regarding the Nvidia 8800GT...Yes I agree...from most of the comments I see, the 8800GT is a better graphics card than the X-1900.

As far as the "flashed" windows graphics cards. Yes I was aware of this. I actually purchased a flashed Radeon 9800 Pro card once from a seller on E-Bay...it seemed to work ok...but had to cover a couple of the "pins" on the PCI connector to get it to work. I would still much prefer to use an "official" Mac card...but sometimes the price on flashed cards is VERY tempting!

- Nick

Be cautious of the ebay sellers selling pre-flashed mac compatible cards. A lot of those sellers are selling refurbished cards that already have a short lifespan. I know of someone who purchased one that actually fried out his logic board

If you're interested in looking at info on how to flash a pc card to work on a mac check here:

The Mac Elite: The Mac Elite Wiki

Some of the cards listed there will only work properly on 10.4 so make sure you consider that if you're planning on upgrading or currently using 10.5. but overall it's a great way to add a longer lifespan to an older PPC machine at minimal cost.

The reason pins 3 and 11 need to be disabled is because Apple didn't design the the agp slot the same way as PCs. Thus the way the card gets power from the logic board is different and those pins have to be disabled or else very bad things can happen.