conflicting info on bad video card

I just blew a video card on a 4 year-old G5, and can't get a straight answer on what I need to get up and running again. When I bought my system, I was told I had to upgrade from a standard 9600 video card to a Mac Radeon 9800 Pro AGP 256MB card in order to run FCP. That's the one that just failed. Was I given proper information, or could I have stayed with the off-the shelf 9600? (The display I bought at the time was an Apple Cinema HD 23," and I may have been projecting ahead to the possibility of editing HD footage -- which I'm currently not).

The dealer from whom I bought the computer, whose service department diagnosed my current problem, tells me my only option now is to order another 9800 card from Apple -- a $700+ repair. But an expert at a competing dealership says absolutely untrue: it should not cost nearly so much to replace the card in order to run FCP V.6 on my G5 with my current display.

To reiterate, I am NOT editing HD footage, so if the "need" for my upgrade in 2005 was based on this consideration, it's not a factor right now. I just want to get back to work. I'm extremely grateful for any input anyone has on this confusing issue.

The 2nd guy is right. It shouldn't cost 700 bucks. You can get one for less than half that price, unless it damaged the AGP port, which will require repair.



www.strypesinpost.com

$700? Cheeky beggars!

I would suggest you get a Radeon X800 XT or FireGL modded to X800XT which will drive your 23" (or 30" in 2560x1600) or even 2x 23" and be MUCH faster than both the 9600 and the 9800.

Genuine X800XT Mac edition: [cgi.ebay.com]

FireGL modded to X800XT: [cgi.ebay.com]

FireGL modded to X800XT: [cgi.ebay.com]

And install it yourself - its VERY easy.

You are unlikely to get a new version of any of these cards without considerable cost as they are not produced in any quantity (if at all) anymore.



For instant answers to more than one hundred common FCP questions, check out the LAFCPUG FAQ Wiki here : [www.lafcpug.org]

or for $75 you could get a modded PC version of the 9800 [cgi.ebay.com]


Not going to break the bank and should work just fine.



For instant answers to more than one hundred common FCP questions, check out the LAFCPUG FAQ Wiki here : [www.lafcpug.org]

or an original 9800 for $100 - [cgi.ebay.com]



For instant answers to more than one hundred common FCP questions, check out the LAFCPUG FAQ Wiki here : [www.lafcpug.org]

Thanks to all for suggestions & prompt feedback. Looks like I'll be able to make arrangements for delivery on that modded PC version for $75. A real lifesaver if everything goes through. Hoping the 128 mb (vs. the current 256) will suffice.

The only reason to have Dual-DVI and 256MB would be to drive a 30" ADC which needs the extra bandwidth and memory.

If you are simply running the 23" the $75 9800 should suffice - make sure you earth discharge the static from yourself by touching a wall mounted Radiator or Faucet before you handle the card removal and insertion.

I think it might not be as necessary as it was in yesteryear but some people do carry a massive amount of static electricity.

Me personally... I used to literally spark off certain things!



For instant answers to more than one hundred common FCP questions, check out the LAFCPUG FAQ Wiki here : [www.lafcpug.org]

I ordered the $75 Radeon 9800, had it installed, and sadly, it's not working. Simply no video signal on launch. The tech who did the installation is now asking whether there might have been some kind of d.c. connector or cable in the box -- an important peripheral for establishing connectivity to the AGP port. The answer: no, just the card.

I tried to contact the eBay seller on this, but he no longer responds to my inquiries, making me highly suspicious of a rip-off. I can't even leave a customer-satisfaction rating on this guy on eBay, because they seem not to allow for it if the transaction was conducted outside of their bidding process. A sober lesson to those out there trying to save $$ on after-market items.

Resigned to the fates and dreadfully past deadline, I've now ordered a 9600 card from Apple for $325, which should have all the necessary peripherals and a warranty. I'm hoping it works in place of the more expensive 9800. If not, or if the problem's elsewhere, I should at least not have to eat the cost of the thing.

Oh a** that sucks man I should have had a closer look at the T&C before suggesting it.

Quote

they seem not to allow for it if the transaction was conducted outside of their bidding process

Play hell with them - it was done through their site and as such any seller should be handled under their T&C - unless they changed them suddenly I got all my money back on a load of HDDs that never turned up and a friend of mine got his money back on a faulty SATA card. If you paid by credit card or paypal you can try to recoup your money via that.

Quote

The tech who did the installation is now asking whether there might have been some kind of d.c. connector or cable in the box

I don't remember any DC connector needed for any of the cards up to the X800XT so I'm not sure that that information is correct as the older GFX cards draw all their power from the AGP or PCI bus.

Why did you not install it yourself? Was the same tech the guy who want $700 for installing a replacement card?



For instant answers to more than one hundred common FCP questions, check out the LAFCPUG FAQ Wiki here : [www.lafcpug.org]

My bad - it seems only the Mac specific BTO 9800s were sans power cable.



You should be able to get the Y adapter power cable with standard 4-pin molex connector from an electronics or computer store for a couple of bucks.


Here is how to install it:

Notes on Retail 9800 Pro card G5 Install:

The retail 9800 Pro card requires a power supply connection (standard 4-pin molex connector) and there's no spare PS connector in the G5. The G5 hard drives are SATA and do not have a standard molex connector so the only existing one is connected to the Optical drive.

Remove the Optical drive (see owner's manual for details, one cable disconnect and flipping two levers at the drive side) and reroute its Power Supply connector to the lower area (the PCI/AGP card slot area) by passing the Optical drive power cable down through the slot where the IDE cable passes through (there's clearance hole in that area adjacent to the cable slot)

Then the 9800's "Y" adapter cable will reach the connector. (Note - you can also try just routing the 9800's Y adapter cable up into the optical drive area instead and connect from there.)

After connecting the 9800's Y adapter cable to the optical drive P.S. connector, pass the "Y" adapter's drive connector up through the same area and connect to the Optical drive. (Not needed if you can route the Y adapter cable into the optical bay area to begin with.)

(It's a little more difficult to install the Optical drive back this way, but not that bad.)

To secure the "Y" adapter/PS cables you can use cable ties and adhesive-backed cable clamps in the PCI slot area flat surfaces. (This will keep the cables away from PCI slots and reduce clutter in that area.)



For instant answers to more than one hundred common FCP questions, check out the LAFCPUG FAQ Wiki here : [www.lafcpug.org]