trs96
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Q: Since 2015, Apple has stopped using Nvidia graphics chips in Macs. They started using AMD dedicated graphics exclusively. Why discuss Nvidia here in 2021 ? Shouldn't I just buy an AMD card ?
A: Some people will still want to and may even need to use Nvidia graphics for whatever reason. They may already have one of these cards or just want a lower cost alternative to a more expensive AMD card that has macOS support.
As of early 2021, the prices of AMD Polaris and Navi based cards have gone extremely high. Many are simply not available for purchase. For some, an older Nvidia card will be the only option that works for them right now.
This is why I've posted this list of supported Nvidia cards and the question/answer section for your reference. It is a rather complex topic and you'll need to learn this information to make good choices.
Nvidia Cards that don't work with Mojave, Catalina or Big Sur.
Avoid all of these cards.
- RTX 3090
- RTX 3080
- RTX 3070
- RTX 3060 Ti
- Titan RTX
- RTX 2080 Ti
- RTX 2080 Super
- RTX 2080
- RTX 2070 Super
- RTX 2070
- RTX 2060 Super
- RTX 2060
- GTX 1660 Ti
- GTX 1660 Super
- GTX 1650
- GTX 1080/Ti
- GTX 1070/Ti
- GTX 1060
- GTX 1050/Ti
- GT 1030
- GTX Titan X (GM200 Maxwell core)
- GTX 980/Ti
- GTX 970
- GTX 960
- GTX 950
- GTX 750/Ti
- GTX 745
- GT 645
- Quadro 600
- Quadro K620
- Quadro K1200
- Quadro K220
- Quadro M (all models)
- Quadro P (all models)
- Fermi cards (GF) (all models)
Many of the 600/700 Series Kepler Graphics Cards are still supported in macOS Mojave, Catalina and Big Sur. There are approximately 26 Kepler cards that you can still use today with modern versions of macOS. The Nvidia Chip Codes for these are: GK104, GK107, GK110 and GK208. More about how to determine which chips are installed in specific Nvidia graphics cards later in this article.
The best cards from the 600 series are the GTX 670 and 680. Both have the Kepler GK104 GPU inside.
From the 700 series you can use the GT 710, 720, 730 (not the Fermi versions) and GT 740, GTX 760, 770 and 780 plus the Ti versions. Ten Kepler based Quadro cards and three Titan cards will work as well. The GTX 750 and 750 Ti cards are all Maxwell based with one exception, the 750 Ti OEM. Avoid the OEM 750 Ti as well.
See the list below: Currently Supported Nvidia Cards
High Sierra 10.13.6 will give you the option to use Pascal cards if you install the Nvidia Web drivers.
These include: GT 1030, GTX 1050, 1060, 1070, 1080 and the related Ti versions.
These Maxwell based cards can also benefit from the web drivers: GTX 750, 970, 980 and Ti versions.
Nvidia Graphics Cards that still work with macOS
This question gets asked over and over here in Desktop Compatibility and in Buying Advice.
Q: Can I use a (fill in the blank) Nvidia graphics card with macOS Mojave, Catalina or Big Sur ?
A: That depends on which generation and series it is from.
If it is Kepler first or second gen based, manufactured from approximately 2012 to 2014, it's likely to work with Mojave, Catalina and Big Sur. The drivers are included in macOS.
Nvidia Chip Codes for successive Graphics Microarchitectures:
GF = Fermi - 2010
GK = Kepler -2012
GM = Maxwell - 2014
GP = Pascal - 2016
The microarchitecture defines a GPU's building blocks, how they're connected, and how they work. For easy reference, Nvidia names them after famous scientists such as Enrico Fermi and Johannes Kepler.
Johannes Kepler Astronomer and Mathematician
The GK107 core is commonly used in the supported Quadro cards like the NVS 510. See full list below.
Source: www.techpowerup.com
Q: How can I determine whether my Nvidia card is Kepler based and not Fermi or something else ?
A: You can look up the specs on the techpowerup.com website
http://www.gpuzoo.com/ is also a great place to research specific cards.
Apple used similar dedicated Nvidia graphics processors in many of the iMacs and Macbook Pros produced in the 2012/13 model years. Some of those iMacs and MBPs still have support in Mojave and Catalina. For some unknown reason, Apple didn't give the 14,1 14,2 and 14,3 iMacs from 2013, Big Sur support. They are perfectly capable of running Big Sur. If you are using a Haswell i3, i5 or i7 CPU in your hackintosh and want to install Big Sur, then use the iMac 15,1 SMBIOS. That has retained support in Big Sur.
If any Mac is still supported then the GPU in that Mac has to retain support as well. A prime example is the Late 2013 MacBook Pro which has a GK107 based GPU. The GT 750M. Support was maintained in Big Sur for that laptop.
Nvidia Mobile GPUs in 2013 iMacs -- Kepler based Graphics Processors
NVIDIA GeForce GT 755M graphics processor with 1GB of GDDR5 memory
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 775M graphics processor with 2GB of GDDR5 memory
Configurable to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M with 4GB of GDDR5 memory.
DisplayPort should be your first choice for an output on your Nvidia card. Second best choice is HDMI.
Do not use the VGA port as it's not supported. Apple quit supporting VGA/analog video over ten years ago.
If the Nvidia card is Maxwell (745/750/Ti or second gen Maxwell 900 series), Pascal, Turing or Ampere based, there are no Mojave or Catalina drivers that you can use to make it work. For example, the newest RTX cards from Nvidia are unsupported in Mojave. The RTX 2060/70 and all related 16 series GTX cards will not work in any version of macOS as there are no web drivers. I have included the Maxwell Quadro workstation cards in the unsupported list. There are also newer Pascal Quadro cards that are not listed. If it is not a Kepler based Quadro card it won't have native support.
Apple no longer uses any Nvidia graphics hardware in any of the new Macs it produces, even the 2019 Mac Pro. Currently it looks as if they have no plans of ever working with Nvidia again.
Q: How long will these older Kepler based cards still be supported by macOS ?
A: Big Sur does officially support 1st gen (700 series) Kepler cards but not the 600 series. There are no Macs with Nvidia 600 series Kepler mobile GPUs that still have support. 600 series Nvidia Kepler cards may still work with Big Sur but are not recommended for long term use. Many report frequent graphics glitching. These are the GT 630, 640, 650, 660.. cards with GK106. Better to use 2nd gen Kepler 700 series cards or upgrade to a newer supported AMD card. The GT 750M mobile graphics GK107, in the 2013 MBP are still supported in Big Sur. Good news for those that use 1st and 2nd generation Kepler cards such as the Nvidia GT 710/730/740 and Quadro NVS 510.
Q: Some cards in the supported list have Fermi variants. How do I determine whether my Nvidia card is Kepler based (GK) and not an unsupported Fermi (GF) card ? (GT 630, 640 and 730 cards can be from either series)
A: It's really important to determine that your graphics card from Nvidia is not Fermi based
Starting back in 2011, the Fermi series of cards caused major problems in hackintoshes. They suffered from regular freeze ups due to faulty drivers. Apple support ended with High Sierra. So if you are buying a GT 630/640 or GT 730 Check to make sure it's not Fermi based. Read about all of the issues with Fermi cards and hackintoshes here.
Go to this website http://www.gpuzoo.com/ and enter the make and model of your card. Make sure it is GK104, GK107, GK110 or GK208 and not GF which means it's an unsupported Fermi card.
For a list of all GK106 core Nvidia cards click on the following link.
Nvidia Kepler Cards that are Natively Supported: (GT 630 - GTX 660 specific models may have issues)
- GTX Titan (GK110)
- GTX Titan Black (GK110)
- GTX Titan Z
- GTX 780/Ti
- GTX 770
- GTX 760/Ti
- GT 740 (Avoid OEM versions)
- GT 730 (GK208 core)
- GT 720
- GT 710 (GK208 core versions)
- GTX 690
- GTX 680
- GTX 670
- GTX 660/Ti (Avoid GK106 models)
- GTX 650/Ti (Avoid GK106 models)
- GT 640 (Kepler edition, GK107/208 core)
- GT 630 (Kepler edition, GK208 core)
- Quadro 410
- Quadro K420
- Quadro K600
- Quadro K2000/D
- Quadro K4200
- Quadro K5000
- Quadro K5200
- Quadro K6000
- Quadro NVS510
Nvidia Ampere, Turing, Pascal and Maxwell Cards
These are Not Supported in Mojave, Catalina or Big Sur
- RTX 3090
- RTX 3080
- RTX 3070
- RTX 3060 Ti
- Titan RTX
- RTX 2080 Ti
- RTX 2080 Super
- RTX 2080
- RTX 2070 Super
- RTX 2070
- RTX 2060 Super
- RTX 2060
- GTX 1660 Ti
- GTX 1660 Super
- GTX 1650
- GTX 1080/Ti
- GTX 1070/Ti
- GTX 1060
- GTX 1050/Ti
- GT 1030
- GTX Titan X (GM200 Maxwell core)
- GTX 980/Ti
- GTX 970
- GTX 960
- GTX 950
- GTX 750/Ti
- GTX 745
- Quadro 600
- Quadro K620
- Quadro K1200
- Quadro K220
- Quadro M (all models)
- Quadro P (all models)
- Fermi cards (GF) (all models)
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