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What VGA card to get for my PowerMac G5


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What VGA card to get for my PowerMac G5
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usurp
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Kuwait
 
2009-07-23, 13:39

Hey, its been AGES since I've posted here.
I just got a Dual 2.3ghz G5 and have started upgrading it. So far All I've done is install 6GB of RAM and two USB2 PCI cards so that I have 12 USB ports in total.

Anyway the Mac comes with an ATI 9600. I tried playing a 720P video and it was choppy so I was wondering if a better VGA card would solve that. Anyone know what card to get? I don't want to pay an arm and a leg for one

portable: MacBook 2.4Ghz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD | personal: PowerMac G5 dual 2.3ghz, 6GB RAM, 6TB HD | work: MacBook Pro 2.5ghz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HD | car: Alpine iDA-W407 with black iPod 80GB | pocket: iPhone 3GS with Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro's
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PB PM
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2009-07-23, 14:34

There isn't much out there for G5s, not new anyway. If you look on eBay you might find a compatible ATI 1900xt AGP or something like that.
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RowdyScot
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2009-07-23, 15:06

Is this a DP or DC 2.3 G5?
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usurp
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Join Date: Jul 2004
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2009-07-23, 15:11

Well I did some research and all I could find were Ati X800, X850 and Nvidia 7800GS, they're all over my budget sadly. X850 for a pc costs like $20 but for macs 500... totally unfair

portable: MacBook 2.4Ghz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD | personal: PowerMac G5 dual 2.3ghz, 6GB RAM, 6TB HD | work: MacBook Pro 2.5ghz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HD | car: Alpine iDA-W407 with black iPod 80GB | pocket: iPhone 3GS with Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro's
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usurp
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2009-07-23, 15:23

Quote:
Originally Posted by RowdyScot View Post
Is this a DP or DC 2.3 G5?

DP with an AGP slot
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PB PM
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2009-07-23, 15:42

Quote:
Originally Posted by usurp View Post
Well I did some research and all I could find were Ati X800, X850 and Nvidia 7800GS, they're all over my budget sadly. X850 for a pc costs like $20 but for macs 500... totally unfair
Yup, its expensive, because so few people buy them. The fact that it is an AGP card doesn't help either as it is no longer the standard. You might find one slightly cheaper on eBay, but you have to watch out for cards that are flashed and not the real deal. The real differences is that PC users are more likely to upgrade the graphics card in their machine during it's lifetime, which creates a cheap second hand market.
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Dorian Gray
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Paris, France
 
2009-07-23, 15:47

Was the 720p video on a video sharing site like YouTube or Hulu, by any chance? Because if so, a better graphics card isn't likely to help. Flash is very CPU-intensive, particularly on Macs and particularly on PowerPC Macs.
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usurp
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Join Date: Jul 2004
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2009-07-23, 15:52

It was an .mp4 file I download.
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Dorian Gray
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2009-07-23, 16:02

According to this your machine should be good for up to 1080p, even with H.264 (though not necessarily all H.264 files). What was in the MP4 container? Were you running other apps at the same time (such as a web browser with Flash)? Driving a very high-resolution screen (or two)? What media player did you use to play it?
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RowdyScot
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2009-07-23, 16:03

Quote:
Originally Posted by usurp View Post
DP with an AGP slot
Same as mine. I'm looking at an X850 XT, but I'm not sure I want to dump that much money into it. I'm grabbing 8 GB of RAM first. Not so worried about graphics at this point, though. I think it would be better to sell this one and put it towards a Mac Pro now.

Authentic Nova Scotia bagpipe innards
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usurp
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Join Date: Jul 2004
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2009-07-23, 16:05

I am using QuickTime with nothing else open or running. I have an Apple 20inch Display. This is the file specs:

AAC, H.264 Decoder, 1280x576, Millions

FPS: 21.98
Playing FPS: 15
Data Size: 140.87 MB
Data Rate: 252.42 kbits/s

portable: MacBook 2.4Ghz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD | personal: PowerMac G5 dual 2.3ghz, 6GB RAM, 6TB HD | work: MacBook Pro 2.5ghz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HD | car: Alpine iDA-W407 with black iPod 80GB | pocket: iPhone 3GS with Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro's
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Luca
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Join Date: May 2004
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2009-07-23, 16:19

I'm not sure there's anything you can do. Apple stopped optimizing things for PPCs a long time ago and no matter how powerful your machine is, it's going to suck for HD video playback if it's a G5.
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Dorian Gray
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2009-07-23, 16:41

It depends on the file. 21.98 fps throws up red flags for me: probably badly encoded. Try playing it in VLC or another app.
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iDorf
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Rochester, NY
 
2009-07-23, 23:09

Hey USURP. Remember me from Mac Debate?! Great to see an ol' budd here! Funny because I see the same problem on tuff videos on my single processor G5 1.8. Example: 1280x720 - 5,008.18 kbits/sec (seems like crazy number). My Intel dual processor Mini plays fine.
I was a bit surprised that your dual G5 also struggles with a similar video.
So it's a more of a graphics card problem than a processor issue?
I understand that the factory graphics cards on Powermac G5's are a bit underpowered. I'd like a good solution too.

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PB PM
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2009-07-23, 23:57

Both the CPU and the GPU in those systems would struggle. I noted the CPU because anything the GPU cannot handle in terms of video is off loaded to the CPU.

Even the Intel 950 IGP in the original Mac Mini are better than the 9600XT that the G5 systems, which shipped with AGP cards.
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usurp
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2009-07-27, 17:37

Quote:
Originally Posted by iDorf View Post
Hey USURP. Remember me from Mac Debate?! Great to see an ol' budd here! Funny because I see the same problem on tuff videos on my single processor G5 1.8. Example: 1280x720 - 5,008.18 kbits/sec (seems like crazy number). My Intel dual processor Mini plays fine.
I was a bit surprised that your dual G5 also struggles with a similar video.
So it's a more of a graphics card problem than a processor issue?
I understand that the factory graphics cards on Powermac G5's are a bit underpowered. I'd like a good solution too.



Heyyy! You still here? I havent been here in ages but its good to be back
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usurp
High Monarch of MacDebate
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Kuwait
 
2009-08-08, 14:11

Just a quick update. I pulled out my Radeon 9800 Pro from my old Mac and installed it in my G5 instead of the 9600 and the video is still choppy. I guess not much can be done...

portable: MacBook 2.4Ghz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD | personal: PowerMac G5 dual 2.3ghz, 6GB RAM, 6TB HD | work: MacBook Pro 2.5ghz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HD | car: Alpine iDA-W407 with black iPod 80GB | pocket: iPhone 3GS with Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro's
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Dorian Gray
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Join Date: May 2005
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2009-08-08, 14:30

The video is borked. Your Mac should be capable of playing Full HD H.264 at downloadable bitrates. There is no earthly way that the bitrate of your file is 252.42 kbits/s, as claimed, so there is something wrong with the encoding or your installed codec's ability to play it.
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usurp
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Kuwait
 
2010-03-24, 13:09

ok just an update to this old post. My 9800 Pro died so I am back on the 9600. I downloaded the app Movist and I am having no issues playing 720P movies with the extension .avi or .mkv

.mp4 is still playing choppy. dont mind though as long as everything else is working fine

portable: MacBook 2.4Ghz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD | personal: PowerMac G5 dual 2.3ghz, 6GB RAM, 6TB HD | work: MacBook Pro 2.5ghz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HD | car: Alpine iDA-W407 with black iPod 80GB | pocket: iPhone 3GS with Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro's
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