Apple MD771LL/A Adding PCI Express Cards, About PCI Express Cards, To install a PCI Express card

Adding PCI Express Cards

You can expand the capabilities of your Mac Pro by installing cards in the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Express slots. Your Mac Pro has one double-wide PCI Express graphics slot and three PCI Express expansion slots, for a total of four slots.

These slots accommodate PCI Express graphics cards and expansion cards.

About PCI Express Cards

Your Mac Pro comes with a high-performance PCI Express graphics card, which contains the graphics processor unit (GPU) and provides the computerÕs display ports. The graphics card is installed in slot 1.

You can install additional PCI Express graphics and expansion cards. Before installing a card, check its specifications to make sure it can operate in your Mac Pro.

To adjust the bandwidth of the PCI Express slots in your Mac Pro, use the Expansion Slot Utility, located on your startup disk in /System/Library/Core Services/.

Important: Combined maximum power consumption for all four PCI Express slots must not exceed 300 watts (W).

To install a PCI Express card:

1Open the computer and remove the side panel (see page 28).

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WARNING: To avoid damaging internal components or the components you want to install, always turn off and then unplug your Mac Pro. Do not attempt to install items while it is plugged in. Let your computer cool down for 5 to 10 minutes before you touch the internal components, which may be very hot.

Chapter 3 Working Inside Your Computer

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