2 Video Card Configuration

[Grimace]

Hey all, I just wanted to make sure that I am using my two Mac Pro video cards in the best configuration. I have the X1900XT in the x16 slot on bottom slot #1. Then I put the 7300GT in slot #3. The expansion slot utility came up and made it appear that slot #4 would allow or x8 speeds, but the middle two slots would not. I switched the 7300GT card up to slot #4 (picture 2) which seems like the most optimized setting.

Since Apple claimed that you could put four 7300GTs in a Mac Pro, it seems strange that I get a message saying that it won't run at maximum speed. Any confirmation on whether this is the best setup?

 

[Eidorian]

There isn't much of a loss in performance from x16 to x8. Still it's best to keep your best video card in the x16 slot.

There's only a limited number of PCI-Express lanes that you can spread among the slots.

http://developer.apple.com/document...l/HWtech_PCI/Articles/pci_implementation.html

 

[Multimedia]

Where's You Get That Utility?

Got a link to where that utility came from? Thanks.

 

[Eidorian]

Got a link to where that utility came from? Thanks.

I believe that it comes on the Mac Pro installer discs. It's a utility for managing lane bandwidth given the limit number of lanes that you have available. It should be in /Applications/Utilities.

 

[Grimace]

Got a link to where that utility came from? Thanks.

It actually just popped up when I turned the machine on again. I have no idea where to find it on its own -- probably in utilities.

 

[Eidorian]

http://www.barefeats.com/quad14.html

/System/Library/CoreServices/Expansion Slot Utility

http://www.blackmagic-design.com/support/detail.asp?techID=170

 

[Grimace]

http://www.barefeats.com/quad14.html

/System/Library/CoreServices/Expansion Slot Utility

http://www.blackmagic-design.com/support/detail.asp?techID=170

Awesome -- thanks so much!

 

[Eidorian]

Awesome -- thanks so much!

No problem.

 

[MatthewStorm]

Since Apple claimed that you could put four 7300GTs in a Mac Pro, it seems strange that I get a message saying that it won't run at maximum speed. Any confirmation on whether this is the best setup?[/QUOTE]

I am getting this message as well with my 2nd card. Does your 3rd monitor work? What is your setup? Thanks.