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EFI Rom for Radeon HD4890

Dual DVI bummer

So, 2nd DVI looked promising...at first it flashed and drew everything onto the two displays...then seconds later....CRASH and reboot

So, the XFX reigns supreme as Dual DVI with 1 Gig

But I am still hopeful that it can be solved.

There is some part of display handling that is done in same way in Mac 4870 OEM and XFX ROM...and everyone else does it a different way that OSX doesn't like. Even XFX 4890 doesn't work...maybe someone should compare XFX4870 and 4890 ROMs...what changed in display handling?
 
I have a question about this rom.. With it the 4890 fan never seems to spin very fast.. in fact even when playing WoW I dont notice the fan increase, yet the card seems blazing hot. This cant be normal?
 
zepharus said:
I have a question about this rom.. With it the 4890 fan never seems to spin very fast.. in fact even when playing WoW I dont notice the fan increase, yet the card seems blazing hot. This cant be normal?
Click to expand...

Think it needs to be tested with a PC card with injector stuff, and compared to what you have with the flashed ROM.
 
Interesting thread indeed :)

Perhaps I should give it a go. A shame to hear about the second DVI output though.
 
I still think that there's some way to resolve the second DVI output issue on all the cards, but I know zilch about ROM hacking or how the ROM even really works. I think it's tied up in the whole MDP issue, which is why I'm interested in seeing if 4870s with DP can be flashed to work.

Netkas, is it possible that there's a ROM issue or inconsistency on most of the third party cards that can be swapped out with the proper one to resolve this issue on all cards? Did we have it with cards in the past, or has this only really happened with the 4870?
 
msg from comments in my blog entry about the rom

>Both DVI ports are working on snow leo.

btw, i prepared roms for 4870x2 (both slave and master roms) and for 4850(with dual-dvi support in leopard), last one needs rom chip soldering tho...
 
Netkas, since you sorta crippled the ROM to make it work for now, are you also still working on a full functional ROM?
As I see it right now, the trick with the injector is the one giving us full functionality in Mac OS for now. If I am correct in all this that is.
 
I would be very interested to know how the VGA works with the flashed 4890.

Is there a theoretical prediction from Netkas?

Or can Rominator do a little trial?
 
patched X2000.kext from latest snow leo betta, with 4890 (and 4870x2) support added
 
Heading out tomorrow to buy a 4890 card for flashing, still trying to decide if I should get a pre-OC'd card (for the improved heatsinks, hate noisy cards) or not.
 
waha said:
Heading out tomorrow to buy a 4890 card for flashing, still trying to decide if I should get a pre-OC'd card (for the improved heatsinks, hate noisy cards) or not.
Click to expand...

For best cooling, get cooler that I got (in ultimate thread)
 
Cindori said:
For best cooling, get cooler that I got (in ultimate thread)
Click to expand...

Yeah, there's a few cards that come with that cooler already. I've previously installed the Accelero S1 rev.2 on my 8800gt (and various other coolers on other cards), but installing the Twinturbo on the 4890 looks a bit annoying.
 
My Sapphire HD 4890 just arrived at work.

Weird thing is that is has one 6pin, and one 8pin connector on the card.
However, two 6pin cables are supplied...

Update: did a bit reading backwards in the other topic, and saw it are two ground connections.
 
For the people that have flashed, how is the fan speed? Does it ever pick up? I have trouble getting the fan speed up on my normal ZDFC in COD4, even with all settings on high. Any luck?
 
Ok, so I see this ROM is still kind of in the beta stages. Would it be best to use the injectors until a fully finished version is completed?

Sorry...just playing it safe here. I use my Mac for work too.

Also, a quick question somewhat unrelated without starting a new topic:

If the 1900 I have now uses power, is it possible to use it WITHOUT power in a different slot just for 2d support? (since dual DVI won't work with the 4890 yet)

Also, if I need power to BOTH cards, then how to I flash the 4890, while still using the 1900 to see my screen? Does flashing not require the power cables?
 
If a videocard has power connectors, you'll need to use them.
No way around it afaik.

In the meantime I got my Sapphire HD 4890 wth 8pin+6pin (hooked on two 6pins) flashed and working.
In WoW now with excellent performance :)

I was wondering is the ATIRadeonX2000.kext netkas mentions to use are the same as the QE_CI_Exotic_Cards one?
 
exabrial said:
For the people that have flashed, how is the fan speed? Does it ever pick up? I have trouble getting the fan speed up on my normal ZDFC in COD4, even with all settings on high. Any luck?
Click to expand...

Using the flashed card it seems the fan works properly for me.
Kicks in somewhat during WoW, but I am replacing it with a Accelero Twin Turbo soon. Got it in, but late enough now.
 
nathanpinard said:
Ok, so I see this ROM is still kind of in the beta stages. Would it be best to use the injectors until a fully finished version is completed?

Sorry...just playing it safe here. I use my Mac for work too.

Also, a quick question somewhat unrelated without starting a new topic:

If the 1900 I have now uses power, is it possible to use it WITHOUT power in a different slot just for 2d support? (since dual DVI won't work with the 4890 yet)

Also, if I need power to BOTH cards, then how to I flash the 4890, while still using the 1900 to see my screen? Does flashing not require the power cables?
Click to expand...

The ROM at this point just adds EFI support...doesn't really seem to change anything else. One word of wisdom though is the current one is constructed from an MSI 4890 ROM.

There is a chance that some other brands will need their's customized. I think that they guy above states that his works running this ROM on a Saphire. Good news.

Don't run the card without power.

But as I have been making myself blue in the face trying to broadcast...

THERE IS NO NEED FOR AN EFI MAC CARD WHILE YOU ARE FLASHING 4870/4890 !!!!!!!!!!

All you really risk doing is buggering up your X1900...it serves no useful purpose.

1. While running X1900 chose FreeDOS or Windows as startup disk in "Startup DIsk"

2. Replace X1900 with the 4870/4890, hook up both power cables

3. Restart Mac...it should boot into Windows/DOS as you pre-chose. SAVE YOUR ORIGINAL ROM !!!! Run the flash program and reboot to EFI glory !!!
 
Rominator, that is correct. My card is a Sapphire model. Standard one, not the Vapor-X I had earlier this week!

I pulled the 8800GT since I needed the power and DVD-drive.
I had a seperate PSU hooked up but it was messy with everything laying around ;-)

So, I put in the 4890 on its own, put in the CD-ROM and kept pressing c to boot it while powering on the MP. After a while I got the boot screen. Easy.
 
I forgot about the "holding c" option.

I just choose the FreeDOS CD or Windows from Startup Disk Preference pane...takes the guesswork out.

Easier deal with 7300/8800 as those are "invisible" to ATIFlash and won't confuse things as an ATI card running will.

Once you choose FreeDOS CD in this window, close the window without hitting "Restart"

Then shutdown as normal and switch cards at your leisure.

Next time you hit the "Power" button (with a lone 4870/90 in) the machine will boot into DOS. ROMs you save and flash will be accessing correct card as there is no card to FuBar.
 

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Using the Startup Disk thingy is easier indeed.
I was working in Windows to build the CD and stuff so didn't boot Mac OS anymore.

I rarely use it because Bootcamp can't work with RAID setups, so I have to do some mumbojumbo to get Windows installed on a separate drive.
The holding-alt key trick.
 
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