Video Card

[Steve_J]

The video card on my Mac Cube just went out. Any recommendations that won't break the bank?

[gunug]

You probably know this but the video subsystem for the Mac Cube is attached to "2x AGP slot" and the place I'd start looking is:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/video/

But you might have to email them, phone them (800.275.4576), or try the "Live Chat" on a weekday!  I'd generally start looking at Pricewatch but they only show
one page of 2x AGP cards and who knows (maybe OWC) which of them would be supported on a MAC Cube:

http://www.pricewatch.com/search?q=2x+AGP&gallery=1

There is another page with more but some might be faster than a 2X (faster is supposed to downshift in order to work but it has to have the right BIOS support)
and who knows which would even actually fit in the allowed space inside the cube.  

I'm interested in your problem Steve but I don't personally know anything! Anyone other than me would be silent in their ignorance! But I'm
proud of what I don't know!

[Paddy]

OWC doesn't have any video cards for the Cube (I looked) - it's not a regular length video card, so it's going to be a bit scarce. WeLoveMacs has a couple - either $99 or $129.

http://www.welovemacs.com/apg4agpvica12.html

Considering that working Cubes have sold on eBay for $41, $43, $55 and $76 in the past week, I'd be more than a little hesitant to put ANY money into it.

BTW - I've seen a couple of listings for "Cube" video cards, which on further investigation appear to be regular cards; the sellers don't appear to know the differences between them. It's hard to know whether you can actually trust the listings - from what I've read, some cards fit, some don't - and some people have shaved cards down to make them fit! I've yet to find a good list of compatible cards - I'd try and find that before making any purchases on eBay (or measure your existing card and ask sellers to do likewise with theirs to make sure, before placing a bid) Some of the sellers on eBay have starting prices as high as $60, so they aren't all bargains there by any means.

[gunug]

Steve, before you start in with the Dremel Tool on the video card are you resistant about eBay purchases?  Did you happen to see the USB to Video interface at OWC?  I would be hesitant to think that such a thing would "solve" the need of another video card but it might be nice to have anyway!

Paddy - I'm very allergic to online auction services but I would buy a Cube (even with a G4) in a heartbeat if it cost something like $41 to $76! Maybe I could take some antihistamines and go and see if I can get an eBay account, or maybe I still have one if they didn't empty the trash on the server!