NVIDIA has paired 1,024 MB GDDR3 memory with the GeForce GTX 285, which are connected using a 512-bit memory interface. The GPU is operating at a frequency of 648 MHz, memory is running at 1242 MHz. Being a dual-slot card, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 draws power from 2x 6-pin power connectors, with power draw rated at 204 W maximum. A graphics card based on Nvidia's GeForce GTX 285 chip is headed to the Mac Pro, according to tech blog Engadget. The report indicates that the card is coming this June. The GeForce GTX 285 is the new 'Gozer the Gozerian' for 3D acceleration on the Mac Pro 2008-2009. It's a beast requiring two power feeds just like the Radeon HD 4870 and Quadro FX 5600. It's a beast requiring two power feeds just like the Radeon HD 4870 and Quadro FX 5600. Nvidia GeForce GTX 285 Mac Edition Mfr P/N: 01GP31080TR OWC SKU: APLVCRNGTX285U Used OWC Tested High Performance PCI-Express Video Card for the Mac Pro (Early 2008 to 2012) Requires Mac OS X 10.5.7 or later. 30 Day OWC Fulfilled Limited Warranty. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 for Mac Graphics Processing Unit is aimed at desktop market. The GPU is produced on 55 nm manufacturing process, and features 2nd Generation Unified Shader architecture. The card sports 648 MHz graphics and 1.476 GHz processor clock speeds.
Real graphics card competition on the Mac is not something that Apple users are accustomed to hearing about, but with the Radeon 4870 and now the NVIDIA GTX 285 available for the Mac Pro, it looks like we've got just that. Backup applications for mac shortcut. While Mac gaming may not be any more viable than it was a few years ago, the ability to dual-boot Windows has been a huge win for those wanting high-end PC gaming without having to put another box next to their work Mac. With Core Image, CUDA, Snow Leopard and OpenCL just around the corner, a good GPU is becoming more and more of a mainstream need, and the Geforce GTX 285 looks like it has power to spare.
In this short review, we take a look at what the Geforce GTX 285 can do under both Windows and OS X. We even include some Windows gaming benchmarks, though our main focus here is on investigating the GTX 285's suitability for professional 3D rendering on the Mac.
Geforce Gtx 285 For Mac Os
System Requirements
- Mac Pro 2008 or 2009 with OS X 10.5.7 or later
- Mac Pro (Early 2009) or Mac Pro (Early 2008 with 800Mhz DDR2 FB-DIMM memory)
- 2 PCI Express slots (only one is used but the card is double-wide)
Price: $449
Evga Geforce Gtx 285 Mac Edition
Card Specs
- Core Clock Speed: 648MHz
- CUDA Processing Cores: 240
- Memory Clock Speed: 2,484MHz
- Memory Bandwidth: 159GB/sec
- Shader Clock Speed: 1,476MHz
- Bus: PCIe 2.0
- Interface: Two dual-link DVI with HDCP support
- Warranty: 2-year warranty upon registration
Test machine: 8-core 2.66 GHz Mac Pro Nehalem
What's in the box
- 1GB EVGA Geforce GTX 285 (make sure your box came with one of these)
- Two Mac Pro-compatible molex cables
- DVI-to-VGA adapter
- Driver disk
(Note that the SLI cable for two-card Windows gaming is not included.)
As you can see above, the card itself a bit shorter than the Radeon 4870. It doesn't lock into the Mac Pro 2009's plastic bracket, but it's held firmly in place by the notched card and Mac Pro brace. You'll also notice that the GTX 285 doesn't include the much-reviled Apple mini DisplayPort connector; instead, it has two standard dual-link DVI ports. If you're wondering why anyone would hate the mini DP, this image should speak volumes:
Geforce Gtx 285 For Macbook Pro
Unlike the Windows-only GTX 285 cards, this card doesn't feature a TV out. This isn't a problem in my opinion. On the hardware side, the GTX 285 is reasonably future-proof thanks to its 1GB of DDR3 memory and OpenGL 3.0 spec compatibility. My biggest gripe with the Apple-compatible Radeon 4870 is that it only has 512MB of RAM, which is really the rock bottom for modern games and too little for high-end 3D application work. The 4870's only built for OpenGL 2.1 compatibility so there's also less room for growth with the Radeon. All we need now is for Apple to bring us OpenGL 3.0 support in OS X and someone to make an application that uses it. Real soon now.
Installation
Thanks to the Nehalem Mac Pro's brilliant design, 'installation' is nothing more than popping it in, fastening the card via a screwdriverless PCI Express mounting bracket, and attaching the two molex cords. Make sure to install the drivers before you install the card though—I learned the hard way that you will have no video if you don't. EVGA has posted a newer driver [DMG] that I recommend installing instead of the one on the CD.
Gtx 285 Driver
Geforce Gtx 285 For Mac Os
System Requirements
- Mac Pro 2008 or 2009 with OS X 10.5.7 or later
- Mac Pro (Early 2009) or Mac Pro (Early 2008 with 800Mhz DDR2 FB-DIMM memory)
- 2 PCI Express slots (only one is used but the card is double-wide)
Price: $449
Evga Geforce Gtx 285 Mac Edition
Card Specs
- Core Clock Speed: 648MHz
- CUDA Processing Cores: 240
- Memory Clock Speed: 2,484MHz
- Memory Bandwidth: 159GB/sec
- Shader Clock Speed: 1,476MHz
- Bus: PCIe 2.0
- Interface: Two dual-link DVI with HDCP support
- Warranty: 2-year warranty upon registration
Test machine: 8-core 2.66 GHz Mac Pro Nehalem
What's in the box
- 1GB EVGA Geforce GTX 285 (make sure your box came with one of these)
- Two Mac Pro-compatible molex cables
- DVI-to-VGA adapter
- Driver disk
(Note that the SLI cable for two-card Windows gaming is not included.)
As you can see above, the card itself a bit shorter than the Radeon 4870. It doesn't lock into the Mac Pro 2009's plastic bracket, but it's held firmly in place by the notched card and Mac Pro brace. You'll also notice that the GTX 285 doesn't include the much-reviled Apple mini DisplayPort connector; instead, it has two standard dual-link DVI ports. If you're wondering why anyone would hate the mini DP, this image should speak volumes:
Geforce Gtx 285 For Macbook Pro
Unlike the Windows-only GTX 285 cards, this card doesn't feature a TV out. This isn't a problem in my opinion. On the hardware side, the GTX 285 is reasonably future-proof thanks to its 1GB of DDR3 memory and OpenGL 3.0 spec compatibility. My biggest gripe with the Apple-compatible Radeon 4870 is that it only has 512MB of RAM, which is really the rock bottom for modern games and too little for high-end 3D application work. The 4870's only built for OpenGL 2.1 compatibility so there's also less room for growth with the Radeon. All we need now is for Apple to bring us OpenGL 3.0 support in OS X and someone to make an application that uses it. Real soon now.
Installation
Thanks to the Nehalem Mac Pro's brilliant design, 'installation' is nothing more than popping it in, fastening the card via a screwdriverless PCI Express mounting bracket, and attaching the two molex cords. Make sure to install the drivers before you install the card though—I learned the hard way that you will have no video if you don't. EVGA has posted a newer driver [DMG] that I recommend installing instead of the one on the CD.
Gtx 285 Driver
Geforce Gtx 285 Mac Edition
All tests in this review are done with the newer driver.
