ATI fireGL X3 NOS on ebay

[LightBulbFun]

while I was browsing eBay for graphics cards to flash for one of my G4s I came across this http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATI-FireGL-...061?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item566ce680e5 and as some of you guys know the ATI fireGL X3 is flashble for use in PowerMacs so when I saw it for that cheap and i saw it was listed as new I decided i would perches one and well It arrived today and indeed it was new in its OEM antistatic bag and I taped pins 3 and 11 and it flashed and worked very well so since it worked I decided to share the Link here for any one looking for a Nice upgrade for there G4 or G5 PowerMacs and that don't mind flashing a graphics card (it was dead easy for me heh)

(mod note this is not my ebay listing its just one i came across and decided to share)

 

[harrymatic]

Oh man I've been looking for one of these cards for ages - they barely ever turn up in the UK. Too bad the seller doesn't ship internationally - I don't suppose anyone feels like forwarding one if I pay you?

 

[LightBulbFun]

Wow that was quick Yeah I faced the same problem But Luckly I was able to have it shipped to a friend in the US and then He shipped it to me in a small flat rate box

 

[eyoungren]

Oh man I've been looking for one of these cards for ages - they barely ever turn up in the UK. Too bad the seller doesn't ship internationally - I don't suppose anyone feels like forwarding one if I pay you?

PM me. Note I can't do anything until Friday night my time.

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OP, what are the advantages of this card over a Radeon 9800 Pro, other than an additional 128mb?

I already have a 9800 Pro, but am looking for the Special Edition 9800 Pro which is the same, but with 256mb.

Would this be a better card, or just a lateral move for me?

I might consider flashing and taping pins if there is any benefit of this card over a 9800 Pro.

Keep in mind that my max resolution is 1680x1050 on my 22" Cinema Display so any additional 'benefit' of higher resolutions is lost on me.

 

[harrymatic]

PM me. Note I can't do anything until Friday night my time.

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OP, what are the advantages of this card over a Radeon 9800 Pro, other than an additional 128mb?

I already have a 9800 Pro, but am looking for the Special Edition 9800 Pro which is the same, but with 256mb.

Would this be a better card, or just a lateral move for me?

I might consider flashing and taping pins if there is any benefit of this card over a 9800 Pro.

Keep in mind that my max resolution is 1680x1050 on my 22" Cinema Display so any additional 'benefit' of higher resolutions is lost on me.

It has twice the number of pixel pipelines than the Radeon 9800 cards - so it is significantly faster for intensive graphics applications. The clock speeds are also quite a bit faster. It's the fastest ATi card you can put in a PowerMac.

 

[eyoungren]

It has twice the number of pixel pipelines than the Radeon 9800 cards - so it is significantly faster for intensive graphics applications. The clock speeds are also quite a bit faster. It's the fastest ATi card you can put in a PowerMac.

Interesting!

I get paid Friday. We'll see. My only problem would be getting it flashed. I have two PCs in pieces in the garage, none with AGP slots. However…there are a plethora of PCs at work…hmmm!

BTW, I meant what I said. Send me a PM.

 

[harrymatic]

Interesting!

I get paid Friday. We'll see. My only problem would be getting it flashed. I have two PCs in pieces in the garage, none with AGP slots. However…there are a plethora of PCs at work…hmmm!

BTW, I meant what I said. Send me a PM.

PM sent! I'd definitely recommend picking one of these cards up Erik, they can be flashed from OS X using the ATi Flash utility. Not to mention the dual DVI ports would help out your monitor dilemma!

 

[eyoungren]

PM sent! I'd definitely recommend picking one of these cards up Erik, they can be flashed from OS X using the ATi Flash utility. Not to mention the dual DVI ports would help out your monitor dilemma!

Cool, this is sounding better and better!

Just replied to your PM.

My only issue then, if I can get one, is figuring out how to tape pins!

 

[weckart]

Cool, this is sounding better and better!

Just replied to your PM.

My only issue then, if I can get one, is figuring out how to tape pins!

My only tip would be that a full sized boxcutter blade did a better job of making a neater trim in the tape than smaller sized craft knives.

 

[eyoungren]

My only tip would be that a full sized boxcutter blade did a better job of making a neater trim in the tape than smaller sized craft knives.

Cool, thanks!

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PM sent! I'd definitely recommend picking one of these cards up Erik, they can be flashed from OS X using the ATi Flash utility. Not to mention the dual DVI ports would help out your monitor dilemma!

As you know…your card is now on the way!

 

[comda]

while I was browsing eBay for graphics cards to flash for one of my G4s I came across this http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATI-FireGL-...061?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item566ce680e5 and as some of you guys know the ATI fireGL X3 is flashble for use in PowerMacs so when I saw it for that cheap and i saw it was listed as new I decided i would perches one and well It arrived today and indeed it was new in its OEM antistatic bag and I taped pins 3 and 11 and it flashed and worked very well so since it worked I decided to share the Link here for any one looking for a Nice upgrade for there G4 or G5 PowerMacs and that don't mind flashing a graphics card (it was dead easy for me heh)

(mod note this is not my ebay listing its just one i came across and decided to share)

Although ive had some experience with macs as ive done LOTS to keep my macbook 3,1 going and my PowerPC macs I just as many others am still learning as i go. But could someone PLEASE explain to me what they mean by the pins. Taping these pins. What does it do? I understand it has something to do with flashing the card but can someone explain please?

 

[harrymatic]

Although ive had some experience with macs as ive done LOTS to keep my macbook 3,1 going and my PowerPC macs I just as many others am still learning as i go. But could someone PLEASE explain to me what they mean by the pins. Taping these pins. What does it do? I understand it has something to do with flashing the card but can someone explain please?

In the 4X AGP G4 PowerMacs, pins 3 and 11 of the AGP slot (along with a couple of others) were used to control various things on the ADC monitors. This deviated from the standard AGP pinout so if you try to use a unmodified PC card in a Mac, the system won't even start as the power supply thinks there is a short on a voltage rail.

http://themacelite.wikidot.com/pins-3-and-11

 

[comda]

In the 4X AGP G4 PowerMacs, pins 3 and 11 of the AGP slot (along with a couple of others) were used to control various things on the ADC monitors. This deviated from the standard AGP pinout so if you try to use a unmodified PC card in a Mac, the system won't even start as the power supply thinks there is a short on a voltage rail.

http://themacelite.wikidot.com/pins-3-and-11

So you literally put tape in the AGP slot or on the card?

 

[eyoungren]

So you literally put tape in the AGP slot or on the card?

On the card. The idea is that the tape prevents contact between the circuit inside the AGP slot and the lead on the card.

I've never done it (but will be soon) myself, but that's the general idea.

 

[comda]

On the card. The idea is that the tape prevents contact between the circuit inside the AGP slot and the lead on the card.

I've never done it (but will be soon) myself, but that's the general idea.

Thank you for elaborating. So the tape goes on the contact for the slots and when you place the card it doesnt connect to the AGP slot allowing the PowerMacintosh to use it? If so thanks for clarifying.

 

[harrymatic]

Taping over the pins is the simplest way of doing the mod and the most easily-reversible; however it's not ideal as the bits of tape can fall off, get worn away etc. (especially problematic if the tape falls off in the AGP slot).

I usually just cut the PCB traces with a scalpel, although on some ATi cards it is possible to desolder two resistors to break the connections. This is the neatest way as you can just solder a small blob back across the pads (or even just draw it on using conductive ink) to reverse the modification.

 

[eyoungren]

Thank you for elaborating. So the tape goes on the contact for the slots and when you place the card it doesnt connect to the AGP slot allowing the PowerMacintosh to use it? If so thanks for clarifying.

The tape that you put over the contact prevents an electrical connection between that contact and the corresponding contact inside the AGP slot.

That allows the Mac to boot because the Mac no longer detects a short. It also effectively renders ADC useless, but if you're taping pins you either are using an alternate method to use an ADC display or you have a DVI or VGA display.

 

[comda]

Taping over the pins is the simplest way of doing the mod and the most easily-reversible; however it's not ideal as the bits of tape can fall off, get worn away etc. (especially problematic if the tape falls off in the AGP slot).

I usually just cut the PCB traces with a scalpel, although on some ATi cards it is possible to desolder two resistors to break the connections. This is the neatest way as you can just solder a small blob back across the pads (or even just draw it on using conductive ink) to reverse the modification.

Alright. Haha As a 19 year old im quite good with a soldering iron. i prefer this way over the tape. Again really appreciate the clarification. Keep us posted how your upgrade goes!

There is a Old G4 (i think digital Audio model) on our campus store i may ask what they plan on doing with it one day..

 

[eyoungren]

WOO HOOO!!! Mine BOUGHT!!!!

 

[LightBulbFun]

Wow I did not expect this Post to be so Popular it Looks like I have help make a couple of members quite happy I have My ATI fireGL X3 in my MDD, It Runs minecraft quite well if any one is wondering. (I play on the PPC MacRumors server heh) the seller has like 43 of these cards Left so plenty to go around heh

 

[harrymatic]

Wow I did not expect this Post to be so Popular it Looks like I have help make a couple of members quite happy I have My ATI fireGL X3 in my MDD, It Runs minecraft quite well if any one is wondering. (I play on the PPC MacRumors server heh) the seller has like 43 of these cards Left so plenty to go around heh

Thanks for sharing the link with everyone - I've never seen these cards go so cheap. Funny thing is I'd been looking on eBay and elsewhere for one for about a week before giving up this morning, then not 2 hours later you post this!

I take it you used the reduced Fire GL X3 ROM from the Mac Elite? Also, what's the noise of the card like - my current 9800XT has the fan stuck on 100% due to the custom ROM I have to use with it and the noise is almost unbearable!

 

[LightBulbFun]

Your welcome and talk about coincidence . Yeah i used the macelite Rom I flashed it in my MDD if ur wondering. Regarding fan noise tbh even before the card is taken over by the OS and the fans at max i cant hear it that much over my MDDs fans LOL (i dont care much for fan noise) But yeah fan speed controll works i can hear the fan slow down as the OS takes hold of the GPU

 

[Gamer9430]

I wish I had a job so I could buy this... Soon hopefully

 

[eyoungren]

What do I need and how do I do it?

harrymatic's video card comes today. It's out for delivery at the moment.

harymatic has graciously allowed me to take ownership of his card and when my card arrives on Monday afternoon I will be shipping him my card.

With that in mind, it means that this evening I will have this card ready to have the pins taped and be flashed.

I do not have a viable PC to do any flashing and harrymatic mentioned that I could flash it in my Quicksilver. This is totally doable as I already have a PCI video card so I won't be doing it blind.

What flash software do I need? Where do I get it? What ROM do I need? Where do I get it?

Is there ANY danger at all that if I am not careful about downloading the correct things I can permanenly brick this card?

Anything else I should know or be aware of?

Thanks for any and all details!

 

[harrymatic]

First of all, download Graphiccelerator and the Fire GL X3 ROM.

I'd recommend pulling out all of your graphics cards apart from the victim Fire GL X3 and your PCI card of choice (I suggest using that old Rage 128 if you still have it incase you accidentally flash the wrong card, the program does ask you which one to flash though).

The Graphiccelerator readme file has full instructions for loading the ROM into the program. Don't forget to copy Graphiccelerator to your hard drive first, otherwise it doesn't work. There's no reason to worry about bricking the card as the ATi flash utility doesn't care what firmware is on the card, you can keep trying until you get it right.

Good luck!