MacIntel and Windows

[deanbo]

I have a theoretical question in regards to graphics cards and the upcoming MacIntel machines. For a PC video card to run in a Mac (say 9700 Pro) it has to be "flashed". Won't this be a problem for all Mac users installing Windows onto their new machines when they arrive? And unless I'm very much mistaken, they will be capable of doing exactly that.

[generik]

I have a theoretical question in regards to graphics cards and the upcoming MacIntel machines. For a PC video card to run in a Mac (say 9700 Pro) it has to be "flashed". Won't this be a problem for all Mac users installing Windows onto their new machines when they arrive? And unless I'm very much mistaken, they will be capable of doing exactly that.

When the switch over is complete I doubt they will need to be flashed anymore.

[Sun Baked]

The problem with Apple vs. PC video cards was an endian issue.

Byte order was reversed, so a card would need to be bi-endian -- which most are now these days.

It also needed to include the firmware to work in big endian mode, which not all video cards included -- because it wasn't needed for PC users.

Once the switch is complete, only a driver should be needed for the cards to work.

--- I think. :o

[MacDawg]

Ah, the elusive endian issue! I always love it when that comes up!
Never understood it, but always thought it was uber-geeky to talk about :o

Woof, Woof – Dawg http://homepage.mac.com/k.j.vinson/pawprint.gif