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[Incognito]

Now that I'm older and about to get married I only really have time for one game, and on one platform. Yes, the dreaded PC (Mac in my case) and the game is actually a flight simulator, X-plane 10.

I want to run this sim at the highest level possible and with the stock video card I have right now, that's impossible. It runs well enough as is and even looks great, but it chokes on HDR rendering and lord help it if I want "extreme" textures , 4xx AA, or anything involving some serious graphical push. I actually don't know what any of that means but they are boxes I can check on/off and before or during the sim.

Current setup --

Hardware: 2011 iMac.

Graphics card:

Try not to laugh!

Anyway, I think my hardware setup is sufficient. I'm lacking in the video card. So I'm looking for a new graphic card. The below have been approved as supported by developers of X-plane 10.

-Radeon Hd2000 or higher
-GeForce 8nnn, 9nnn, 1nn, 2nn, 3nn (I'm assuming the 'nnn' relates to family of products)
-Intel HD graphics

What is required:

a 3 GHz, multi-core CPU (or, even better, multiple processors),
4 GB of RAM,
a DVD-ROM, and
a DirectX 10-capable (DX11 preferred) video card with 2 GB of on-board, dedicated VRAM.

I think I have the first three covered (unless I am reading it wrong...) but the last one is where I'm lacking. I need more VRAM, right? Between 2-4gb preferably. Also, Direct 11x support.

I've been looking but frankly I've never done this before and there's so much out there, see (toolbar):

I mean, I had to google 4096 MB to figure out it was 4.09 GB. I had a good idea it was that, but I had to make sure just because.

So basically, any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

PS. Where does one take to get a new video card installed? Genius bar?

 

[Corpsepyre]

NVIDIA GTX 980

 

[Qassim]

You won't be getting a new video card put into your iMac, you can get sort of upgrades that were specifically built for the iMac from ebay, but they're now old and it's far from a guarantee you'll find one. If you do, it'll be up to you to find a way to install it, Apple won't do it for you.

You can't fit a standard graphics card into an iMac.

 

[somuchwater]

Are you sure you can install a new graphics card in an iMac?

 

[Krejlooc]

er, don't iMacs take non-standard video cards?

 

[Nafai1123]

Are you sure you can install a new graphics card in an iMac?

This is really the first thing you need to check.

I'd recommend the 970 as it seems like the most bang for your buck at the moment.

 

[Qassim]

Standard high end graphics cards are dual slot cards. They're as thick as an iMac by themselves.. The GPUs in iMacs are not standard size, they're not standard form factor, and they're not in a standard position. Most things are custom on iMacs.

The GPUs in them are also, especially in recent years (can't remember if smaller desktop GPUs used to be used), laptop GPUs.

 

[Phawx]

Okay first, DirectX doesn't exist on Mac. Second you'll only be able to use MXM gpus. Best place to buy those is on eBay.

The "kind" of MXM video card you're going to need is Version III Type A.

Having said that, a cursory glance on Google didn't show anyone successfully upgrading the gpu. The problem with MXM is that "sometimes" manufacturers can have a whitelist of approved MXM video cards.

I don't even know if you went through the whole process of getting to the card and putting it back together if it'd even work.

My recommendation is to sell your iMac and buy a gaming PC for the exact money you got for your iMac.

If you absolutely must use OSX, then pony up the dough.

 

[Mr.Pig]

Should we take a person who has the tag "troll" seriously?

 

[PetrCobra]

Should we take a person who has the tag "troll" seriously?

He's a desperate troll though.

OP, not sure it's a good idea to upgrade HW in your Mac, much less if you don't know what you're doing, looking up MB to GB conversion on Google and whatnot. These machines are basically expected to be used as they are built and one day exchanged for another model.

 

[diaspora]

I'm not sure you can upgrade your iMac GPU to anything that's not iMac specific...

 

[Coonce]

If you're playing at 1080p, get a 970.

Anything higher, get a 980.

also make sure you power supply can handle it.

 

[BronsonLee]

I'm onto you, Incognito!

 

[Elman]

The 2011 iMac does have Thunderbolt ports, so if the OP is a) not trolling and b) willing a shell out some money, there are Thunderbolt PCIE adapters for full size GPUs...

 

[Incognito]

What the hell? Not able to upgrade? I could have sworn I watched some youtube videos of video cards being replaced. Ugh. Need to start looking at some PCs...

Should we take a person who has the tag "troll" seriously?

You got me! This is an elaborate troll! Not. I'm being entirely serious, hence the screenshots and what not. I'm genuinely confused and want to upgrade, but not looking possible.

 

[Mr.Pig]

What the hell? Not able to upgrade? I could have sworn I watched some youtube videos of video cards being replaced. Ugh. Need to start looking at some PCs...

You got me! This is an elaborate troll! Not. I'm being entirely serious, hence the screenshots and what not. I'm genuinely confused and want to upgrade, but not looking possible.

GAF has made me cynical. ;-) Go to this thread and expand your mind!

 

[Applecot]

Entire new PC with a 970, it's going to be quite painful to upgrade the iMac for yester-years performance

 

[DonMigs85]

I would go for a GTX 970 or, if you're on a tight budget a Geforce 750 Ti.

 

[JayEH]

Are you sure you can install a new graphics card in an iMac?

Yeah I think you're stuck with what you got OP.

 

[greyskull]

Even if it was remotely valuable to upgrade an iMac GPU (what is available to get wouldn't meet the requirements), the process is so convoluted that it's not worth the effort.

Get some money together and build a PC.

 

[DonMigs85]

Yeah you can't really upgrade an iMac GPU, it's soldered to the motherboard.
Pretty much the only upgradeable Mac is the Mac Pro.