Sorry, still need help with this well-trodden territory: We're badly in need of a new linux PC with stereo and I'm confused about graphics cards. We want to recycle the CRT monitor, NuVision emitter and glasses from an old increasingly unstable machine.
This chart: http://www.nvidia.com/object/IO_11761.html combined with the CCP4 wiki's advice (that the card should say "stereo" under display connectors) imply that we need to spend at least $760 on the video card alone. Is that really true??? EEK!! thanks, Phoebe ---- Original message ---- >Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 01:31:12 -0700 >From: Warren DeLano <war...@delsci.com> >Subject: Re: [ccp4bb] Best 3D stereo combination for Mac OS X today >To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK > > Danny, > > Thank you (and Harry and Dirk) for pointing out the > after-market PNY card -- I wasn't aware of that > option. > > However, it is worth noting that PC users can access > stereo 3D (via "3D Vision" IR emitter & glasses) > with a $139 Quadro 300-series card whereas Mac users > must spend 12X more for an ultra high-end > 4000-series card (which will only work IF they > happen to own a compatible Mac Pro model). > Unfortunately, all the GPU power of an expensive > ultra-high-end-card provides little (if any) benefit > if all you're running is Coot, PyMOL, CCP4mg... > > Anyway, my point is that there is presently a > significant (and possibly increasing) lack of parity > for the Mac versus the other platforms with respect > to stereo 3D. Furthermore, because of nVidia's > introduction of their proprietary USB-based emitter > (which syncs the 120 Hz LCDs), it isn't yet clear > whether or these displays will work only on Windows, > only on Windows and Linux, or indeed across all > three platforms. > > Personally, I would want to know the answer to that > question before spending $4-6k+ USD on a > Quadro-equipped Mac Pro! > > Cheers, > Warren > > -----Original Message----- > From: Danny Smith [mailto:smi...@omrf.ouhsc.edu] > Sent: Tue 6/30/2009 4:03 PM > To: Warren DeLano > Cc: Danny G Smith; CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK > Subject: Re: [ccp4bb] Best 3D stereo combination for > Mac OS X today > > Warren, > > Thank you very much for the quick reply. I didn't > see it directly > with the mac, but this link still has it at the > store, > http://store.apple.com/AppleStore/WebObjects/BusinessCustom.woa/9554008/wa/PSLIDfind=Quadro+FX+4800+for+Mac&wosid=7Q4ITeYWEwd92YhZCy32JoVJnH4 > . It is very expensive at $1,746.00. I also found > this link, > http://www3.pny.com/NVIDIA-Quadro-FX-4800-For-Mac-P2815C409.aspx > . It looks like on that page that it is tested with > Mac OS X v10.5.7, > on MacPro3,1 or MacPro4,1 or later - Note: MacPro1,1 > and MacPro2,1 are > not compatible. I was just hoping to find a cheaper > card. It does > make me want to do more research with our sales rep. > > thanks, > > Danny G. Smith > Sr. Programmer / Analyst > Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation > 825 N.E. 13th Street M.S. 11, Room E210.1 > Oklahoma City, OK 73104 > Phone: (405)271-8001 ext. 35535 Cell: > (405)-202-6691 > > On Jun 30, 2009, at 5:25 PM, Warren DeLano wrote: > > > Danny, > > > > Last I checked, Apple dropped the Quadro option > from the Mac Pro, > > and a > > quick check on Apple.com seems to confirm that: > > > > > http://store.apple.com/us_smb_78313/browse/home/shop_mac/family/ > > mac_pro > > > > Lacking indications to the contrary, we can only > conclude that OpenGL > > stereo 3D support has an uncertain future on the > Mac, whereas nVidia > > appears fully committed to supporting it under > Windows XP, Vista, and > > Linux. > > > > 120 Hz LCDs are very close to being, but are not > quite yet, a viable > > option. Hopelly that will change in a matter of > weeks, however, they > > will likely require a quadro card, 3D vision > emitter, and an > > appropriate > > driver from nVidia. Mac support for 120 Hz seems > unlikely unless > > nVidia > > and Apple deliberately get together to create a > joint solution. Due > > to > > proprietary aspects of each component (Mac OpenGL > drivers, nVidia > > emitters), this isn't something either Apple or > nVidia could > > accomplish > > alone. > > > > Zalman LCDs can do stereo 3D (with reduced > vertical resolution) but > > they > > require software modifications or a Quadro card > with the updated > > windows > > or linux driver. Not all software packages > support the Zalman display > > on the Mac yet. > > > > My view is this: if having the best stereo 3D is > important, then go > > Linux or Windows -- but wait until the 120 LCD > solution is released by > > nVidia. If having a Mac is important, then expect > limited access to > > stereo 3D technologies. > > > > Cheers, > > Warren > > > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: CCP4 bulletin board > [mailto:ccp...@jiscmail.ac.uk] On Behalf Of > >> Danny G Smith > >> Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 2:59 PM > >> To: CCP4BB@JISCMAIL.AC.UK > >> Subject: [ccp4bb] Best 3D stereo combination for > Mac OS X today > >> > >> I need to order a new computer for an > investigator to replace a very > > old > >> SGI. They already have a lot of Mac experience, > that that would make > > an > >> easy transition. They will primarily be using > CCP4, CNS, and Main. > > At > >> this > >> point in time what is the best video card monitor > combination, I > > assume a > >> crt, or has any lcd come far enough to work ok? > I have looked at > > video > >> cards, and apple has a PNY Nvidia Quadro FX 4800 > for Mac but it is > > pricey. > >> Will any other work? > >> > >> Thanks in advance. > >> Danny G Smith > >> > >> > >> > > > > Phoebe A. Rice Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology The University of Chicago phone 773 834 1723 http://bmb.bsd.uchicago.edu/Faculty_and_Research/01_Faculty/01_Faculty_Alphabetically.php?faculty_id=123 RNA is really nifty DNA is over fifty We have put them both in one book Please do take a really good look http://www.rsc.org/shop/books/2008/9780854042722.asp
