Sapphire unveiled the Radeon HD 7950 Mac Edition graphics card for Apple Mac Pro workstations. Featuring lateral-flow cooling assembly akin to AMD's reference design, and a glossy, curvy white cooler shroud, the card features a custom design, pitch-black PCB with the firmware required to get the card running on a Mac Pro.The card features older Radeon HD 7950 ASIC, which lacks PowerTune with Boost; and features clock speeds of 800 MHz core, 5.00 GHz memory. It packs 3 GB of memory across a 384-bit GDDR5 interface. It draws power from two 6-pin PCIe connectors. Display outputs include a dual-link DVI, an HDMI, and two mini-DisplayPorts. The card is expected to be priced in the range of €400 and €500, a hefty premium over the roughly €250 common HD 7950 cards charge today.

56 Comments on Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 Mac Edition Pictured

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#1 Beertintedgoggles

So I've always wondered, do the vid card manufacturers have to license the firmware code required to make these cards compatible with the Mac OS? This isn't even a FirePro version of the card which would then make a little sense for the mark up in price. Or is it simply an example of supply and demand.... go ahead and try to get a Mac compatible card from somewhere / someone else (I know you used to be able to flash "normal" vid cards to work with Macs, not sure if it's still possible). Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 15:02 Reply

#2 EzioAs

So, what makes it significantly more expensive? Firmware? Driver? Support? Reliability? I'd really like to know Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 15:20 Reply

#3 las

EzioAs So, what makes it significantly more expensive? Firmware? Driver? Support? Reliability? I'd really like to know Demand Demand Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 15:26 Reply

#4 animal007uk

It probs cost more because its for a mac and i bet that is the only reason cause anything you buy for apple products is a rip off.



I do know one thing though, They need to make this into a 7970ghz pc edition so i can buy one to match my nzxt case. Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 15:31 Reply

#5 TheMailMan78

Big Member The cost of this thing will be INSANE. Mac GPU's have always carried a 30%+ premium over their PC counterparts. Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 16:05 Reply

#6 Crap Daddy

Imagine the cost of a GTX Titan for Mac. Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 16:08 Reply

#7 animal007uk

Crap Daddy Imagine the cost of a GTX Titan for Mac. £1500 minimum? lol £1500 minimum? lol Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 16:08 Reply

#8 Kaynar

animal007uk It probs cost more because its for a mac and i bet that is the only reason cause anything you buy for apple products is a rip off.



I do know one thing though, They need to make this into a 7970ghz pc edition so i can buy one to match my nzxt case. If the card you want also has the Mac logo, its gonna cost more than GTX Titan lol.



BTW I think Galaxy makes a full white GTX680 card (white cooler and even white PCB). If the card you want also has the Mac logo, its gonna cost more than GTX Titan lol.BTW I think Galaxy makes a full white GTX680 card (white cooler and even white PCB). Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 16:09 Reply

#9 animal007uk

Kaynar If the card you want also has the Mac logo, its gonna cost more than GTX Titan lol.



BTW I think Galaxy makes a full white GTX680 card (white cooler and even white PCB). No the one i would want would be a pc version in the same color but a 7970Ghz edition No the one i would want would be a pc version in the same color but a 7970Ghz edition Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 16:11 Reply

#10 dj-electric

I want one!!! Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 16:13 Reply

#11 patrico

high prices but looks nices ;) Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 16:16 Reply

#12 lobsterrock

EzioAs So, what makes it significantly more expensive? Firmware? Driver? Support? Reliability? I'd really like to know The fact that it's for apple products, obviously The fact that it's for apple products, obviously Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 16:29 Reply

#13 EzioAs

It seems like most people said the high price is because it's for Mac.



And I'd thought they'd be some other factors beside it. Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 17:27 Reply

#14 Animalpak

EzioAs So, what makes it significantly more expensive? Firmware? Driver? Support? Reliability? I'd really like to know off course the Mac label name... Like all the rest capitalist shit by apple Crap Daddy Imagine the cost of a GTX Titan for Mac. much more 2000$ off course the Mac label name... Like all the rest capitalist shit by applemuch more 2000$ Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 17:32 Reply

#15 PatoRodrigues

Let me guess... They're introducing this just to let the world know Apple's next step is to get the current formats of a GPU as their intellectual property too? :laugh:



(j/k... just a bad idea. :shadedshu) Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 17:55 Reply

#16 Wrigleyvillain

PTFO or GTFO Hmm yeah I am not completely clear on the exact nature of the "firmware differences" but I can tell that since they went Intel you can take a "Mac GPU" and use it in a PC--but not the other way around (which makes me a little suspicious that this is another Apple-imposed 'limitation'; I don't see why you can't use a 'regular' video card in a Mac as well...).



I borrowed an 8800GT from a Mac at work back in the day to try out the NV drivers with a few titles and later some other low end card for use in my server box until my 5450 arrived (6 watts and passive woo).



So my experience tells me that this would work in a PC. Not the only white card on the market but I can see some PC builds incorporating this nice-looking product despite the premium. Also using a "Mac card" is one more thing to help you stand out from the build log crowd. Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 18:12 Reply

#17 TheMailMan78

Big Member Wrigleyvillain Hmm yeah I am not completely clear on the exact nature of the "firmware differences" but I can tell that since they went Intel you can take a "Mac GPU" and use it in a PC--but not the other way around (which makes me a little suspicious that this is another Apple-imposed 'limitation'; I don't see why you can't use a 'regular' video card in a Mac as well...).



I borrowed an 8800GT from a Mac at work back in the day to try out the NV drivers with a few titles and later some other low end card for use in my server box until my 5450 arrived (6 watts and passive woo).



So my experience tells me that this would work in a PC. Not the only white card on the market but I can see some PC builds incorporating this nice-looking product despite the premium. Back in the old days I would buy a PC card that had a Mac equivalent and flash the bios to the Mac version and save a few 100 bucks. This was late OS9 early OSX era. I wonder if you still can? Back in the old days I would buy a PC card that had a Mac equivalent and flash the bios to the Mac version and save a few 100 bucks. This was late OS9 early OSX era. I wonder if you still can? Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 18:19 Reply

#18 tokyoduong

EzioAs So, what makes it significantly more expensive? Firmware? Driver? Support? Reliability? I'd really like to know That's cover is not made out of plastic, it's actually ivory. TheMailMan78 Back in the old days I would buy a PC card that had a Mac equivalent and flash the bios to the Mac version and save a few 100 bucks. I wonder if you still can? I don't see why not. Macs are even more PC like today than they had ever been before.



Who games on Macs anyways? That's cover is not made out of plastic, it's actually ivory.I don't see why not. Macs are even more PC like today than they had ever been before.Who games on Macs anyways? Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 18:19 Reply

#19 TheMailMan78

Big Member tokyoduong That's cover is not made out of plastic, it's actually ivory.





I don't see why not. Macs are even more PC like today than they had ever been before.



Who games on Macs anyways? Back then Apples were better for Photoshop and such. SO it was graphic artists who wanted to get more FPS in Quake and Unreal basically :laugh: Back then Apples were better for Photoshop and such. SO it was graphic artists who wanted to get more FPS in Quake and Unreal basically :laugh: Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 18:22 Reply

#20 Wrigleyvillain

PTFO or GTFO tokyoduong Who games on Macs anyways? No one buys a Mac to game primarily still but it's a lot more possible and worthwhile than ever before both due to the Intel hardware and companies like Valve.



And as for flashing again I am not even sure what to flash exactly as I am still not convinced there is an actual low-level difference such as firmware. Somehow PC cards don't work out of the box but as I said I don't understand how/why exactly. Before Intel Macs there was a definite firmware/bios difference and neither would work on the other platform. No one buys a Mac to game primarily still but it's a lot more possible and worthwhile than ever before both due to the Intel hardware and companies like Valve.And as for flashing again I am not even sure what to flash exactly as I am still not convinced there is an actual low-level difference such as firmware. Somehow PC cards don't work out of the box but as I said I don't understand how/why exactly. Before Intel Macs there was a definite firmware/bios difference and neither would work on the other platform. Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 18:27 Reply

#21 Sasqui

EzioAs So, what makes it significantly more expensive? Firmware? Driver? Support? Reliability? I'd really like to know The white paint, lol.



Seriously, demand (economy of scale), driver re-writes, firmware and all the associated certifcations and compatibility testing.



Pretty much the same reason workstation cards are so expensive.



Then you have the Mac O'sphere, where there are few options and people willing to pay for those few options. The white paint, lol.Seriously, demand (economy of scale), driver re-writes, firmware and all the associated certifcations and compatibility testing.Pretty much the same reason workstation cards are so expensive.Then you have the Mac O'sphere, where there are few options and people willing to pay for those few options. Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 18:27 Reply

#22 Wrigleyvillain

PTFO or GTFO Yeah Sasqui pretty much hit it on the head. Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 18:28 Reply

#23 Delta6326

Is it just me or is AMD/Vendors getting lots of contracts with other companies...?



I do like the White look, would be nice in a all white build. Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 19:06 Reply

#24 GSquadron

It is obvious, the card costs this much because there are less produced than PC counterparts. Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 19:28 Reply

#25 OmegaAI

Beertintedgoggles So I've always wondered, do the vid card manufacturers have to license the firmware code required to make these cards compatible with the Mac OS? This isn't even a FirePro version of the card which would then make a little sense for the mark up in price. Or is it simply an example of supply and demand.... go ahead and try to get a Mac compatible card from somewhere / someone else (I know you used to be able to flash "normal" vid cards to work with Macs, not sure if it's still possible). The firmware itself is licensed and controlled under Apple, thus there is a premium to have access to this. Plus, Apple demands extensive testing in order to ensure maximum stability for the components that go into their machines. You can think of it how Enterprise class drives are so much more expensive than normal drives because of the algorithms written into the firmware for vibration. These cards have the specially modified with firmware that is compliant with Apple's standards. Because of this, this carries a high premium. Plus with the fact is the GPU itself a custom design on top of it. EzioAs So, what makes it significantly more expensive? Firmware? Driver? Support? Reliability? I'd really like to know See above. las Demand That is also another reason. animal007uk It probs cost more because its for a mac and i bet that is the only reason cause anything you buy for apple products is a rip off.



I do know one thing though, They need to make this into a 7970ghz pc edition so i can buy one to match my nzxt case. That is wrong. Please see above. Apple products are not a rip off. They are more expensive, but they are also rather reliable. Plus the fact that they use higher grade materials in their manufacturing (compared to PCs except gaming hardware) comes at a premium.



A prime example of this areMacbook pros. All of them have milled aluminium top cases. This is not cheap to make... The same for the iMacs. Their shell is also milled aluminium. All their logic boards use solid caps and various other components. They also have custom firmware that run on top and also a piece of hardware in them called the SMC. The SMC is the system management controller. This controls power and various other aspects of the machine including fan speed. PCs don't have this. The firmware itself is licensed and controlled under Apple, thus there is a premium to have access to this. Plus, Apple demands extensive testing in order to ensure maximum stability for the components that go into their machines. You can think of it how Enterprise class drives are so much more expensive than normal drives because of the algorithms written into the firmware for vibration. These cards have the specially modified with firmware that is compliant with Apple's standards. Because of this, this carries a high premium. Plus with the fact is the GPU itself a custom design on top of it.See above.That is also another reason.That is wrong. Please see above. Apple products are not a rip off. They are more expensive, but they are also rather reliable. Plus the fact that they use higher grade materials in their manufacturing (compared to PCs except gaming hardware) comes at a premium.A prime example of this areMacbook pros. All of them have milled aluminium top cases. This is not cheap to make... The same for the iMacs. Their shell is also milled aluminium. All their logic boards use solid caps and various other components. They also have custom firmware that run on top and also a piece of hardware in them called the SMC. The SMC is the system management controller. This controls power and various other aspects of the machine including fan speed. PCs don't have this. Posted on Mar 7th 2013, 19:47 Reply