Race to dump the 4870 ROM, Who's first?

[netkas]

The Rominator

just use the address range i provided, it's efi rom for sure, and correct last rom options in bios part(PCIR offset+0x15) and correct romsize ib bios part, it's pcir offset + 0x10, it should be 7c 00 - after i did same with 4850 rom, i can load it just fine in duet (bootable efi for pc)

the best way to test new rom - boot to efi shell (with help of refit) and use loadpcirom ./blablah.rom

anyone wanna try 4850 macpro test firmware ? it laods fine for me with loadpcirom - http://rapidshare.de/files/46107886/4850_corrected.rom.html

 

[jeanlain]

I flashed by running: (renamed 4870.rom to appl4870.rom)

atiflash -p -fs -fp 0 appl4870.rom
Old SSID: 0502
New SSID: 00B2
Old P/N: 11X-1E8501SA-001
New P/N: 113-B77101-012
Old DeviceID: 9440
New DeviceID: 9440
Old Product Name: RV770XT 512M GDDR5 2DVI TVO
New Product Name: Wekiva RV770 B77101 Board
Old BIOS Version: 011.010.000.002.029896
New BIOS Version: 011.017.000.018.031480
Flash type: PM25LV010
20000/20000h bytes programmed
20000/20000h bytes verified

The original product name says "RV770XT", which differs substancially from the new product name "Wekiva RV770".
Seems like "RV770" refers to the first gen of cards, which should be flashable. What's the difference with "RV770XT"?

 

[jeanlain]

anyone wanna try 4850 macpro test firmware ? it laods fine for me with loadpcirom - http://rapidshare.de/files/46107515/4850_corrected.rom.html

Is it based on the 4870 Mac ROM? I wonder because I think that the 4850 does not use the GDDR5.

 

[netkas]

Is it based on the 4870 Mac ROM? I wonder because I think that the 4850 does not use the GDDR5.

No, its mix of efi part from 4870 and pc part from my 4850, so all settings for memory, connectors and etc do match 4850 card, with corrected romsize, checksum,etc.

 

[c0052350]

4850

netkas i can try but your link to rapidshare does not work

 

[netkas]

netkas i can try but your link to rapidshare does not work

I reuploaded and updated link in that post - https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/7275556/

btw, my card (which i took bios from) is saphire reference card.

 

[c0052350]

thanks

i'm getting the saphire 4850 from local shop in the uk they always have ancient stock i'm betting on it being a reference board design
what would you recommend pc or mac pro to flash it.

Also them ati kexts do they only work in leopard or can i get them going in tiger.

Thanks

 

[netkas]

i'm getting the saphire 4850 from local shop in the uk they always have ancient stock i'm betting on it being a reference board design
what would you recommend pc or mac pro to flash it.

Also them ati kexts do they only work in leopard or can i get them going in tiger.

Thanks

they will not work in tiger, also, dont forget to make backup of rom before flashing it.
to flash it u need any system which can boot dos or winxp(using ati winflash)

 

[goin3d]

At this point does it seem the 2nd gen 4870's are not working when flashed?

 

[Ronchande]

At this point does it seem the 2nd gen 4870's are not working when flashed?

Seems so. The question is how to identify them on Ebay or at retail?

 

[goin3d]

yeah....it'll be interesting to see what results i get with the 1gig 4870 when it arrives!

 

[c0052350]

only 64kb

looks like the two 4850 i tested only have 64kb rom chips gives me an error 10001/2000 written only atiflash -ai gives flash type PM25LV512 (64kb) anyway of stripping out the bios and flashing efi only

 

[bumble-bee]

Ironic

Seems that Apple bought all the 1. Generation **** from ATI.

I think it last so long (6-7weeks) to ship all old pieces from the companys (saphire & ...) to Apple. They must resample it into a top highend Apple card.

And the Apple comunity is happy about this rubbish because there is no other choice...

OctoCore(nehalem...) and old-used-ebay-stuff, An combination that works.

Buy old stuff at ebay to have the newest Apple card...

What ironic.

Maybe it last so long (6-7 weeks) because Apple is bidding at ebay for that items.

If u are Apple user who wants grafic speed . U are only second choice customer.

By the way, the next ATI card knocks at the door. Available in April.
They must sell the **** to anybody. And Apple is pleased to get for little money to sell it with great profit. The worst is good enough for the Apple comunity.

Think of it, if in future the apple stock rises at the WallStreet

 

[netkas]

looks like the two 4850 i tested only have 64kb rom chips gives me an error 10001/2000 written only atiflash -ai gives flash type PM25LV512 (64kb) anyway of stripping out the bios and flashing efi only

hmm...datasheet says it couldbe 512 or 1024 kbit rom, anyway, there is a way to try it without reflashing.

try this - install refit (so u can get into efi shell), reboot, boot into efishell and loadpcirom 4850.rom - this will make efi shell to load rom into memory and connect it to device, then you can exit shell (exit command) and boot osx.

P.S. u can place rom file to root of osx partition, efi shell is similar to windows shell, disks named - fs0 fs1 fs2....
P.S.S. if osx will not regonize a card - u can try to run this command after loadcpirom - "reconnect -r"
P.S.S.S. you will need some efi card to boot macpro into efi shell, for example 2600xt or 7300gt

 

[c0052350]

ok will try

i have the x1900 will i be able to have both of these cards installed at the same time (power issues) can't see why not the 4850 comes with a molex to 6pin adapter will give it a try and report back

 

[More]

Phew... I was about to go and pick-up a 4870 PC card yesterday and have decided to just wait and get the official overpriced version when it's released next month.

The process seems filled with lots of giant rolling rocks, spike pits and evil baddies so I'm gonna keep it simple and future proof and go official.

 

[c0052350]

stuck

i have installed refit but have no clue what to do next please can you help

 

[c0052350]

ok no go

figured out what to do next all i get is an off centre apple logo (startup logo ) and then the mac freezes

 

[jeanlain]

At this point does it seem the 2nd gen 4870's are not working when flashed?

Actually, it could be specific to Sapphire. Perhaps recent cards from other manufacturers will give better results.
I did a quick googling and I have found nothing about a 2nd generation in the design of the 4870. However, it seems that in several manufacturers, around august '08, the board names have changed from "Wekiva RV770" to "ATI Radeon 4800 series" and part number went from something like "113-XXXXXX-XXX" to something longer like "113-XXXXXXXXXX.XX". See here. Not sure what this means.

 

[goin3d]

Yes I had both power cables plugged in. I'm using the ones from the motherboard, using the real cables I had with my 8800GT and x1900 XT.

I'll check again but I'm pretty sure it all looked identical, I did compare it to your picture.

And I'm curious, when you flash yours with this flash, does it still work in a PC? Or did you not flash it from a PC? I used a different PC I had to flash it.
After I flash it with the Apple ROM, it no longer works at all in the PC. Maybe this is normal, but other Apple cards I've had I've been able to use in a PC after a flash.

Oddly enough, after flashing an 8800gt from my first gen mac pro to work in my '09 I experienced similar behavior in that it works great under OS X but I can no longer use it through boot camp.

 

[netkas]

figured out what to do next all i get is an off centre apple logo (startup logo ) and then the mac freezes

thats sad, this trick worked with 9800 card and 8800gt rom.

well, at least it doesnt freeze after loadpcirom, when driver loads to ram and attaches to device.

 

[smgfreak]

make a FOTO and POST it !

Hi there,

Last Year FEB08 ,at the same Time i was pretty Active to Help the People Out with the 8800GT when it Came out, Everybody tried to BUY the RIGHT CARD with the RIGHT PCB color and ROM SIZE ( 128K ) i did buy 4 different 8800GT´s to figure out which CARD is the BEST one to FLASH , so i made FOTOS with the HEATSINK Mounted OFF and POSTED them here, it really Helped a lot !

------------------
!!!! to all the USERS that did FLASH an HD4870 512/ 1024 MB (for MAC PRO 2006 2008 etc..... just make some Fotos of the PCB BOARD of the CARD to we all can buy the right CARD for doing it RIGHT !

sorry for my English

CHECK MY OLDER POST in my PROFILE !( you will see what i mean LET´s turn this Thread into a HELPING ONE )

 

[MacVidCards]

Oddly enough, after flashing an 8800gt from my first gen mac pro to work in my '09 I experienced similar behavior in that it works great under OS X but I can no longer use it through boot camp.

Dude. this is fixable...it has to do with Device id of card and ROM and the way Nvidia uses Softstraps to load final digit of this device id.

When windows sees multiple device id's for same card it halts.

Don't suppose you are in LA?

 

[jeanlain]

Hi there,

Last Year FEB08 ,at the same Time i was pretty Active to Help the People Out with the 8800GT when it Came out, Everybody tried to BUY the RIGHT CARD with the RIGHT PCB color and ROM SIZE ( 128K ) i did buy 4 different 8800GT´s to figure out which CARD is the BEST one to FLASH , so i made FOTOS with the HEATSINK Mounted OFF and POSTED them here, it really Helped a lot !

------------------
!!!! to all the USERS that did FLASH an HD4870 512/ 1024 MB (for MAC PRO 2006 2008 etc..... just make some Fotos of the PCB BOARD of the CARD to we all can buy the right CARD for doing it RIGHT !

sorry for my English

CHECK MY OLDER POST in my PROFILE !( you will see what i mean LET´s turn this Thread into a HELPING ONE )

Woa, you did buy four 8800GT to figure out which cards will work?
If I had the money, I'd probably by a 4870 just to test, but I cannot afford a mistake if I cannot return the card.
The one on the photos.... did you flash it? Which manufacturer, model...? THAT would help a lot if we knew.

EDIT: Oh you probably don't have that card... nevermind.

 

[smgfreak]

Woa, you did buy four 8800GT to figure out which cards will work?
If I had the money, I'd probably by a 4870 just to test, but I cannot afford a mistake if I cannot return the card.
The one on the photos.... did you flash it? Which manufacturer, model...? THAT would help a lot if we knew.

EDIT: Oh you probably don't have that card... nevermind.

yes i did buy 4 8800gt in FEB2008 ! Buy ONE , Flash it , if OK keep it, if not Send it back , order a NEW ONE ! and so on .........until one Card did work.