Step 1

If you are installing a new NVIDIA graphics card please install the appropriate drivers before installation.

Begin by disconnecting Mac Pro power cable and all other cables from the back of Mac Pro. Lift the lever on the back and remove the side panel.

Step 2

Locate your current graphics card. It should be right above CPU and memory compartment in the lowest PCI-Express slot.

Step 3

Locate a gray button on the Mac Pro front fan (A).

Step 4

Press this button and slide the fan to the left. This will cause the metal bar (B) that holds the graphics card and other PCI-Express cards in place to also slide to the left.

Step 5

Loosen the two thumb screws by twisting them counterclockwise (C). Remove the retaining plate that they were holding.

Gently slide away your current graphics card from the computer.

Step 6

Connect two additional power cables to the motherboard PCI-Express power connectors located near the front fan. Insert the small 6-pin end of each power cable into the connector on the motherboard until it snaps into place.

Step 7

Connect 2x6-pin to 8-pin adapter to both of the large 6-pin ends. As result you will get a single 8-pin connector.

Step 8

Pull out the second HDD bay to reveal SATA power connector.

Step 9

Locate SATA power connector on the left side of the SATA port (E).

Step 10

Connect SATA to 6-pin PCI-Express power adapter to it. The adapter should already have one edge removed. As a result you will get a single 6-pin PCI-Express power connector.

Step 11

Connect 6-pin to 6-pin PCI-Express power extension cable to make the cable long enough so it can reach the graphics card. Some cards are provided with 6-pin to 8-pin PCI-Express power extension then you need to disconnect two unnecessary pins so it would become a 6-pin to 6-pin adapter.

Step 12

Before inserting your new graphics card make sure to remove all the protective films, PCI-Express slot cover and port covers if they still exist.

Locate the bottom-most PCI-Express slot (F). Just like your old graphics card, your new graphics card has a connector tab along its edge that will fit into this slot. Make sure to line up the connector tab and the PCI-Express slot correctly and insert it gently into the slot. Do not use excessive force. If the card does not seem to be inserting correctly remove it and check the alignment again.

Make sure to align the thumb screws holes with a bracket on the card so the retaining plate can be remounted. Sometimes you may need to lift the card a bit from the power connectors side.

Step 13

Insert large 6-pin and 8-pin ends of the power cables into your graphics card.

Slide the front fan to the right, to its original position. This should slide the metal bar to the right, locking your graphics card and other PCI-Express cards in place.

Remount the retaining plate and tighten the thumb screws. Replace Mac Pro side panel and push the lever on the back to lock it into place. Reconnect the power cable and all other cables. Turn on your computer and enjoy!