Is it possible to install the new 3000 series NVIDIA GPUs into our Mac Pro (2019) and use them effectively under Bootcamp/Windows? While the Windows experience may be excellent, macOS compatibility is highly unlikely. My own experience with the RTX 2080 Ti has been seamless in Bootcamp, and I hope for the same with the 3000 series cards.
However, I am currently facing challenges with dual HBR3 setups using an unflashed GC-Titan Ridge, especially in conjunction with DisplayPort 1.4 monitors. I wonder if using the Pro Display XDR alongside one of these GPUs would be feasible given the absence of Thunderbolt on the card. It seems plausible to connect it through two DisplayPort outputs into the Gigabyte Titan Ridge card, then a single Thunderbolt 3 connection to the Pro Display.
Unfortunately, the GPU isn’t recognized in macOS, resulting in kernel panics if the Mac goes to sleep. A kernel panic is a serious operating system error causing crashes, akin to the Blue Screen of Death in Windows. It’s worth noting that, at this time, we await Apple’s potential support for new AMD GPUs, though this may be a long wait.
There’s buzz about AMD’s upcoming “Big Navi” competitor, but I’m skeptical it will outperform or match the RTX 3090. If AMD offers a solid alternative that is compatible with both macOS and Windows, it may become a more sensible choice moving forward. Regarding physical installation, full-length PCI cards are indeed supported in the Mac Pro 7,1 with a standard length of 312mm.
The RTX 3090 measures 313mm, which suggests that minor adjustments might make it feasible. Power delivery is another consideration; the dual 8-pin connectors supply up to 300W, along with 75W from the PCI slot, totaling 375W. Given that dual Vega II Duo models consume around 500W each and occupy eight slots, in theory, we could potentially install one or more RTX 3090 cards.
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