NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 285 coming to Macs in June
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Apr 29th 2009 5:37PM
posted Apr 29th 2009 5:37PM
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Well.. i don't like expensive killers
and well look at that, theres still no games for mac. (or linux saub saub)
*Waits for "I can play Civ IV" and "I can put Windows on a Mac"*
I can play Chrysis on my iMac
Games like most 90% of all software made aren't available for Macs. But hey that Macs minimize and maximize windows using that cool jeannie in a bottle effect!!!!
They got CoD 4 also.
This makes sense for apple to do ASAP for one important reason: GPGPU with OpenCL.
OpenCL is going to make all the mac-sters start talking about how all their newfangled apps are leveraging the GPU for computing power, which is arguably a really neat thing. The downside is that all those really mediocre GPUs that apple's been putting in everything from the old Mac Books (although the 9400 and 9600 aren't that great either, sadly) to the Mac Pros is going to catch up pretty fast.
That said, I'd be stoked if OpenCL turned out to be another killer framework for OS X, so much so that I'd even consider jumping ship. Running OS X on my hackintosh mini 9 has changed my sentiments towards OS X of late.
No but all of the packaging for your PC games were created on a mac.
Evo/
>OpenCL is going to make all the mac-sters start talking about how all their newfangled apps are leveraging the GPU for computing power
DirectX 11 has GPGPU functionality similar to OpenCL.
@CelebLover
Q: And that is important because?
A: ______
"you can expect two things here: it's killer... and it's expensive" So it's got ONE thing in common with macs... I'll give you a hint which one: $$ ;)
I always find it ironic when mac guys boast that their macs can run windows, but when I talk about cool new games they're always like /whine "that doesn't run on a mac". I don't like windows but I still multi-boot it for the sake of running software that is winblows only.
Anyways, maybe this means we'll start seeing more improvement in the OpenGL libraries. Users have this tendency to think that DirectX is the only thing that can achieve good visuals, but it's all just code, there's no magic going on behind the scenes here. There's no reason OpenGL can't rival or surpass DirectX's features. And it would if more companies supported it. OpenGL is far superior in design (open, multiplatform) but not in functionality... yet.
Did you put "Mac" and "gaming rig" in the same sentence?
Yeah, they did. But not in a way that would mean a Mac was a gaming machine...
I mean.. everyone knows that I'm no Mac guy; but if you put Vista or XP on an quad or 8-Core Mac Pro with this video card, and you'll be playing whatever you want on whatever settings it could possibly take. Trust.
@Level 5: Or you could build a great real gaming rig, with tri channel memory and manufacture parts of your choosing for a grand, get the same performance and not feel like an idiot for having to put a different operating system on your computer just to play a game
@Level5: and pay 2-3x the price as a comparable PC that could play the same game.
The Walrus: Or you could have a Mac that you use to do almost everything on, and dual boot into Windows if you want to play games. That's more like having two computers for the price of one, which is cheaper than having one computer for the price of one. I know, math is hard.
@Zak: "Math is hard"- Especially for you. Since when is a $1000 home built better than a $3000 Mac? What are all these magical things Macs can do than PCs cant?
But Zak, a Mac doesn't give you the neon lights and sweet spiders and dragons on a ghetto-looking case like The Walrus has on his LAN-party-buddy-impressing rig he built with his dad.
WE MAC USERS FAIL AT LAMER AWESOMENESS. :(
And then you can turn your PC rig into a hackintosh if you really want to. Is there any compelling "must-have" software on Macs that isn't available for either Windows or Linux systems? (Leave Boxee out of this for the moment). For the creative types, Adobe CS4 is available on Windows as well, what advantage would a Mac offer?
The Walrus: The same thing as a Mac for $1000? Okay, go ahead and build a PC using two quad core Xeon 5500s plus everything else you get with a Mac Pro including an entirely aluminum case, four RAID-style HDD bays, completely silent operation, all the various ports the Pro has etc. for under $1000. No go ahead, do it. I'll wait.
When you fail horribly, maybe then you'll understand why a Mac Pro is cheaper than a comparable PC due to the ability to dual boot. OS X alone is a good reason to get a Mac, and then there's the iLife suite which is free with a Mac and vastly, VASTLY better than any of the crapware you'll ever get on a PC, and then there's the pro level programs like Final Cut, Logic, Aperture, Shake, etc.
I think a desktop with a couple of Nehalem processors and a few GTX 285s would make a killer gaming computer. But custom-built PCs usually get the better parts first (and sometimes only).
Snow Leopard is getting multi-GPU support, right?
hey Zak, the good thing about PCs is the variety. Few of us really need full blown Xeons. But many of us want desktop processors in our desktops. So I guess if you're comparing workstations, then go ahead and compare the Mac Pro to whatever other workstations are out there. But, those of us who want desktop power without workstation pricing will have to go elsewhere than Apple's wares.
wait wait wait-- OSX doesn't even support multi GPU's?!!! why would you want to render anything on a mac (with photoshop, final cut, or anything like that)?!!!! it's much cheaper to get two cards with with lesser performance that together can equal or beat a top of the line card.
@Walrus
Bad day at work scramble your cognizance? If you would BUY a Mac Pro strictly as gaming rig, that's a fail. And if you learn to read things in the way they're written, you'll realize all I said was, putting a GTX 285 in a Mac Pro would allow you to play games at a fast rate in XP or Vista. That's all. Nothing about the Mac Pro being just a gaming rig. I've built MANY PCs, and coupled with the fact that I'm not a fucking idiot, I know that if all I want to do is play PC games, within Windows, the last machine I'd want is a Mac Pro. Reading, learn it.
Everyone knows you can build a PC to play games much cheaper than a Mac Pro. And like I said if you bought one only to play games, you're obviously a couple of screws loose.
Why not try reading what's actually there, dickweed.
Hey sweet, we still have idiots who think you can build a Mac Pro equivalent from NewEgg for $1000. I bet they also have something clever and original to say about one-button mice.
Claiming that your Mac is good for gaming because you've got Windows isn't really as scorching a zinger as you think it is.
What idiot buys a Mac Pro for gaming? It's not like the fact that the processors are Xeons with slower ECC memory (omgsoamazingrite??!!!1) help with everyday tasks.
@The Walrus
You build me a pc with the same specs and quality parts and I will buy it from you. Because I build PCs for a living and I can't do it.
@maveric101 - GPUs don't affect rendering performance. FYI.
@ wizzle
O RLY?
@ wizzle - Maybe you should quickly read up on that and report back.
Meh.
This will go great for all the graphically stunning Mac games out ther-
Oh wait.
If you buy a Mac for gaming, your an idiot. If you buy a PC for gaming, your either rich or again, an idiot.
Go buy a console for gaming. You will spend one tenth of what you did for that SUPER PC which lasts you a year and then you need to upgrade for another $300.
Also, I don't know about you, but 60" of high definition glory with my Xbox 360 is awesome, 24" high def of my monitor sucks balls (in comparison).
Save all that money you were going to use to buy that "top end" or build that "top end" PC and buy a 50" 1080p LED TV and buy an Xbox 360 that comes with Halo 3 and Fable II, I guarantee it will be the best money spent.
staaaaaaaaar craft!
twoooooooooooooo
"your an idiot" Ah, irony.
Anyway, I agree to a point. The only computer game I ever really played was Flight Simulator. I have an X-Box for gaming.
@Brian
Please go enjoy the 12 year olds on XBL. I'll be playing on the many servers out there for PC games that have a) a community and b) admins who are competent and ban immature hackers.
Oh, and I'll enjoy my games natively rendered in the proper resolution. GL with your upscaled whatever. I've got out of the box support for 4:3, 16:9, and 16:10. I can also run damn near any app I please. Try running Firefox without installing Linux on your console. Oh wait, you can't.
As far as the TV comment goes, you do realize you can hook up a PC to a television? Most TVs have either a VGA or DVI connection. If you're at a loss you can always use a DVI to HDMI adapter. I know one guy who plays WoW on his big screen with a wireless keyboard and mouse. Most people don't, but then again not every console owner has a HDTV. Your console of choice supports 480i because of that.
1) This is an excellent card for DCC/3D modeling/CAD/CAM users who don't need the software certification and support that comes with the $1500-$3000 Pro Quadro cards.
2) This is also an excellent card for Mac Pro users who dual-boot XP or Vista for gaming.
Anyways, I'm glad to see at some SOME macs finally getting decent GPUs. The 4850 is in the iMac, the 4870 in the Mac Pro, and now the GTX285 in the Mac Pro.
They aren't the dual-chip SLI cards, but are plenty powerful for 95% of people.
@tuaamin13
Game consoles do not upscale. The reason that they are so cheap is because they dont need as many/expensive components because they are not running a more demanding OS like Mac OS X or Windows. They are not doing regular computing tasks like computers do while running games.
Also: 12 year olds are not the only ones playing on Xbox Live and Playstation Network. They are just voiced more often which makes it seem like they are the only ones on. And only a few, one, or none are in each party/match, so that means there are plenty of older gamers on these networks.
And another thing: The Xbox 360 and PS3 have support for all those aspect ratios. So, game consoles not only are able to connect to TVs but monitors also. And even though PCs can run applications, not all PCs can run games. Instead of buying a graphics card for 200-300 bucks, get a console. When you have a console, you will never be wondering if games will be able to run on it, how high the frame rate will be, or how much anti-aliasing you can set it on.
Game consoles are cheaper and are guaranteed to play ALL of the games available for said console. Game consoles are more practical.
Brianjoy77
The 360 can't even play Halo 3 at 720p. Screw that.
"Also, I don't know about you, but 60" of high definition glory with my Xbox 360 is awesome, 24" high def of my monitor sucks balls (in comparison)."
lol high definition with an xbox 360
now i've read it all
They couldn't just put out a mac driver? WTF?!
It's all about EFI brutha.
I love playing games on my mac. Wait. I don't have a mac and there aren't any games either.
... ...
Wow.
Only good games are for macs everyone knows that
wow people are soo stupid
P.S PCs SUCK!!! ALOT!!!
Sadly my mac suck compare with my cheaper generic dell pc... no kidding. I mostly use FCP on it but even that, I prefer using Vegas under windows.
I want the 99$ Ati HD 4770!!
Dude, we're having a LAN this weekend. Bring your mac, we'll be playing photoshop and iTunes.
I agree. I use vegas on my pc. A friend of mine has a mac and always raves about final cut. He has yet to show me something that I can't do with vegas.
@Decoy
HAHAHAHA!!!!!
@ Decoy:
Better yet, I'll dual-boot my Mac into Windows, smoke your lamer arse in whichever Windows game you choose, then get back to work on the Mac side the next day while you're busy running a spyware scan.
Troll Different.
I hardly ever have to scan for spyware. It's called a firewall ya Dbag mac.
Thank god for windows, eh Quix?
Sure Quix, enjoy playing against us with your Geforce 9600GT while we're using SLI GTX 285. Arrogant Mactards. : D
yes yes haha there are no good games for mac, but you can be extremely silly and purchase a mac then run windows on it (overly priced pc then) or you could run CUDA based apps on it like folding@home for example.
Pleaseeeeee give me driver for gtx 260 on leopard... been waiting so long to complete my hackintosh, everything works perfectly, the only problem no video driver.
just get a cheap compatible card no?
Why should they give you a driver? There's nothing in it for them.
While not a mac user, my mac friends would love the extra GPU power for their graphics programs.
True.
Games are not the only thing that fast graphics cards are for... lots of professional apps make use of graphics power.
@Michael Scrip: Macs can play games just as well as PCs. Ever heard of Cider?
3D programs use GPU of course but Maya is quite buggy on the mac side. C4D is ok but again its way faster on PC. Just check the forums...
Adobe usage of GPU is only a gimmick. You are way better to disable openGL in After Effects and Photoshop.
But I admit the more power the best... I remember my wacom was soooo laggy on my old G5 because of the cheap ass video card...
at the risk of sounding stupid, what programs will tax the GPU? I can only think of a video editing program, as the picture editing programs will just tax the CPU, no?
We all know the new games will, but what else?
Graphics programs that work heavily in 3D modeling and animation tax GPU's.
@ Kraken "Macs can play games just as well as PCs. Ever heard of Cider?"
I said "Games are not the *ONLY* thing that fast graphics cards are for..."
I never said Macs didn't play games... I never said anything to suggest thatI In fact... if you read the second part of my sentence, I said "lots of professional apps make use of graphics power."
LEARN TO READ
@kjb434: So, basically CAD, animation, and video? That it? Makes sense though... anything needing 3d space.
How does the GPU taxing compare to games? I'm going to take at a stab at games being at least 25% more taxing? Meaning a card like this isn't really going to be used to full potential until another few eons...
Thanks for the info btw
Surely a Quadro would be better than a Geforce if it's for CAD n similar?
Geforce is more a gaming card.
>> "Surely a Quadro would be better than a Geforce if it's for CAD n similar? Geforce is more a gaming card."
True. But any graphics card that has a lot of horsepower can't hurt... if the software can take advantage of the GPU.
Also, GeForce cards are quite a bit cheaper than Quadro cards:
GeForce GTX 285 ~$450
Quadro FX 4800 ~$1800
Awesome. Can't wait to slap this bad boy into my mac mini!
Wait, but this card is larger than your mini.
That's nothing a hacksaw shouldn't be able to take care of. I still should be able to get the important parts shoved in there somehow. Right?
sure.. In the same way you can hack a car into half and keep all the important parts insides.
oh, wait...
Sweet, so 6 months later, I can finally get the same card PC gamers had access too.
NEENER NEENER PC.
Wont the GTX300 series be out by then?
Yeah, but that will just be a bag of hurt
PREFERENCE FIGHT!
This still does not change the fact that Mocks (read: macs) are not UPGRADABLE, have no decent game ( please don't say you can play WoW on Mac or Crysis ), and oh well, I bet it will run for like $1700. PCs: cheaper, better array of games, upgradable.
Thanks for trying Crapple.
Jack, please jack off.
Like what? Lemmings?
Really, I use both, live serious gaming to PC for better fps at a reasonnable price. Its playing, you should not have to spend that much for a non-productive activity.
Lucky for us Hackintosh owners, we have the same GPU options as PC owners. I'm getting an ATI Radeon 3850 for mine soon. :)
How is the driver situation nowadays? I've lost touch with OSx86 or w/e its called now...
How's the driver situation?
My, I've lost touch with OSx86...I used to dream of having a hackintsoh...until I learnt better...:P
Uh, so you have the same "GPU" options as PC users by using a 1+ year old GPU?
GTFO.
3850? HA!
I've already upgraded the first digit on THAT little number...
iNB4 mac fanbois: Breeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...
Man, that little triangle turtle is gonna look awesome now!
Reading these comments, it's like I'm back in the 90's!
Ah, the good old Mac vs PC days, with the megahertz myths and Apple had to really fight their corner.
Anyway, I would love for this card to work in the 2006 MacPros. Something more meaty than my x1900 would be nice. Something I can work with on the Mac side and something to break out the games with on the Windows side.
Wait a bit, in 6 months the price will be half.
Haaaaa the 90'... I was a mac evengelist then... upgraded my Mac SE (yeah the little screen one) with a powerpc 8500 150mhz for running a Media100 editing videocard... 6000$ freaking dollars and the seller didnt told us we needed at least 200mhz to run the card smoothly. I was like soooo pure and innocent.
After that Ive got my loyal G4... and at job a soooo incredible dual-core G4!!
And my world collapsed when I run the same After Effects comp on my g4 and a old network dual Pentium III... the Pentium was 6 times faster!!! Aaaaaargh... later that year I upgraded to a 2.4ghz Xeon dual-core Dell workstation and never looked back. I still buy mac products for ease transfert and compatibility with some of my customers but its all. The main work is done on PC not really for the performance but for the price and ease of use in our company.
that was my story. snif snif.
Yeah, and in 6 months DirectX 11 cards will be out too
cool story bro
brother?
Ya the kids these days never even heard of over clocking. I used to run a gallon of water through my graphics card every half hour. WATER! wet water. Figure that one out.
www.webdesignwaterford.ie
im running a 750 litre/hour pump cooling an i7 overclocked from 2.66ghz to 3.8 and a gtx 280 which is also overclocked.
so no, you are incorrect.
brb, SLI'ing two of these bitches.
engadget uses the word myriad way too often.
This is good because mac fanboys obviously already have the money to buy an expensive card. Or at least their parents will buy it for them lawlz
The following games are available on Mac - WoW, Quake4, UT2k4, Red Alert 3, Spore, AoE3, CoD4, Sims3, Battlefield 2142, Doom3, QuakeWars, HoMM5, Myst5, Neverwinter Nights 2, Prey, Rayman3, Rollercoaster Tycoon3, Rome total war, Sid Meiers Pirates, Star Wars Jedi Knight, Starcraft 2, Warcraft3, Tomb Raider Anniversary, Zoo Tycoon 2, etc, etc.
This site has over 1400 titles to choose from -
http://www.macgames.co.uk/
Sims, Myst, Doom... wouaaah you guys so retro!! Not that it was bad... on the contrary.
Cant wait Starcraft 2!!
Neverwinter night was not running on mac... I had to run it on pc emulation on my G4. Terrible performance. It make me buy my first home PC: A flamboyant home made Celeron 1,7ghz. Neverwinter was running like a charm on it.
games available on PC.... none
Us assholes sure got told huh?
All the mac and PC bashing that goes on at this site is rather childish. Just get on with your lives (if you even have one). Most of the people with Mac Pros to use this card in likely don't hang around here anyway -_-