Flashing a 6870

VirtualRain · Dec 3, 2012, 11:59 AM

I've seen a couple of posts lately that this is a good route to go if you want dual mini-display port to drive a pair of recent Apple Cinema Displays. I have a 2009 Mac Pro.

I'd like to keep the boot screen, so this means flashing. But I only have my Mac Pro... no Windows PC.

I've seen a couple of reports but it seemed like a painful trial-and-error exercise. Is there a clear and easy way to flash an XFX 6870 like this one, without a lot of hassle?

Are there any issues? I read somewhere you only get boot screens on one of the DVI outputs... is that true? If so, not worth it for me. I need boot screen on MDP ports.

What else do you give up by flashing a 6870?

Thanks!

flowrider · Dec 3, 2012, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirtualRain

I read somewhere you only get boot screens on one of the DVI outputs... is that true? If so, not worth it for me. I need boot screen on MDP ports.

What else do you give up by flashing a 6870?

Thanks!

With a flashed Radeon 6870, you get no output at all on the upper DVI port. You also get no boot screen on any other port except the lower DVI port. All the ports except the upper DVI have output, but only the lower DVI will have a boot screen.

Lou

Concorde Rules · Dec 3, 2012, 02:25 PM

I wasn't able to flash mine via OS X.

Install windows via bootcamp and do it like that.

Can modify the fan profile too.

Windows XP is easily found or install a windows 8 trial or msdn version or something.

VirtualRain · Dec 3, 2012, 02:58 PM

Thanks. I'm not going to bother... I don't need GPU performance that badly. I'll just get an Apple 5770.

Phrygian · Dec 3, 2012, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirtualRain

Thanks. I'm not going to bother... I don't need GPU performance that badly. I'll just get an Apple 5770.

??

Not sure how much research you have done, but a 6870 works perfectly in my 2008 mac pro without flashing. Granted i dont have a boot screen, but who really needs it? In the rare instances i need to use the boot screen i put my old card in (once when i was installing win 7)

Any issues with the 6870 os x drives such as crashing issues with steam and dvdplayer are fixed with a simple download from groths.org

As for the ports, id have to read up on the functionality again. normally flashing kills ports rather than making them function...

All Taken · Dec 3, 2012, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirtualRain

Thanks. I'm not going to bother... I don't need GPU performance that badly. I'll just get an Apple 5770.

I have an Apple 5770 that is brand new for sale in the marketplace, came from my 2012 Machine last week. Send me a PM if you're interested or message me on the marketplace.

MacVidCards · Dec 3, 2012, 05:19 PM

"flowrider" has correctly identified typical 6870 behavior

Netkas wrote the EFI using 6xxx EFI from an iMac.

They are nice cards but no faster than a 5870, though certainly quite a bit cheaper than OEM 5870. They run 4 displays instead of 3 on an OEM 5870.

Oddly, even in the new "magic" 10.8.3 OS, they are id'd as "Barts Prototype" by OpenGl view.

Namjins · Dec 3, 2012, 05:32 PM

I have a flashed XFX 6870 and I am very happy with its performance. It wasn't 100% painless, but for the money saved, it was well worth the time and effort.

Dec 3, 2012, 11:59 AM	#1
VirtualRain macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC	Flashing a 6870 I've seen a couple of posts lately that this is a good route to go if you want dual mini-display port to drive a pair of recent Apple Cinema Displays. I have a 2009 Mac Pro. I'd like to keep the boot screen, so this means flashing. But I only have my Mac Pro... no Windows PC. I've seen a couple of reports but it seemed like a painful trial-and-error exercise. Is there a clear and easy way to flash an XFX 6870 like this one, without a lot of hassle? Are there any issues? I read somewhere you only get boot screens on one of the DVI outputs... is that true? If so, not worth it for me. I need boot screen on MDP ports. What else do you give up by flashing a 6870? Thanks! __________________ tools: Mac Pro for creating, MBA for working, iPad for surfing, iPhone for communicating, Apple TV for entertaining Canon tools: 5D Mark III 24-105L/70-300L/35L/85L for capturing
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Dec 3, 2012, 02:58 PM	#4
VirtualRain Thread Starter macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC	Thanks. I'm not going to bother... I don't need GPU performance that badly. I'll just get an Apple 5770. __________________ tools: Mac Pro for creating, MBA for working, iPad for surfing, iPhone for communicating, Apple TV for entertaining Canon tools: 5D Mark III 24-105L/70-300L/35L/85L for capturing
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Dec 3, 2012, 02:25 PM	#3
Concorde Rules macrumors 68000 Join Date: Sep 2007	I wasn't able to flash mine via OS X. Install windows via bootcamp and do it like that. Can modify the fan profile too. Windows XP is easily found or install a windows 8 trial or msdn version or something.
	0

Dec 3, 2012, 05:19 PM	#7
MacVidCards macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Hollywood, CA	"flowrider" has correctly identified typical 6870 behavior Netkas wrote the EFI using 6xxx EFI from an iMac. They are nice cards but no faster than a 5870, though certainly quite a bit cheaper than OEM 5870. They run 4 displays instead of 3 on an OEM 5870. Oddly, even in the new "magic" 10.8.3 OS, they are id'd as "Barts Prototype" by OpenGl view.
	0

Dec 3, 2012, 05:32 PM	#8
Namjins macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: USA	I have a flashed XFX 6870 and I am very happy with its performance. It wasn't 100% painless, but for the money saved, it was well worth the time and effort.
	0