Replacing ATI Radeon X1900 XT on Mac 8-core
 

I tired of my ATI X1900 XT always overheating and need to find a replacement video card for my 3Mhz 8 Core mac Pro to drive my 30" and 23" cinema displays. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Have you done a software update recently? For some Mac Pro's there was an SMC firmware update that addressed ATI video card power issues - which caused hotter than normal operation. That was some time ago and I don't see that link anymore on the Apple support site.

You might try contacting a Genius Bar in your area and see if that firmware is still out there or see if you don't have other hardware-related issues that could be causing this.

Outside of that and you should probably contact OWC:

Performance Upgrades; FireWire USB SATA Storage; Memory, more at OWC

Those guys would know - and sell - all the cards that are compatible with your specific machine.

Thanks,

The OWC guys replied in minutes that indeed the MAc version ATI Radeon HD 4870 is not officially sanctioned but that it does work, while Mac Support suggested I get a new Mac Pro....

my 8-core 2.66 (nehalem) has the 4870 and it's been flawless.

The air intake on the X1900 XT clogs very easily. You just need to clean it out and then the card will work well again. I have that card in my 2006 (April 2007) 2.66Ghz Mac Pro.