GPU upgrade for MDD G4 questions

[fuchsdh]

So my MDD model with a GeForce 4MX came recently, and I'm starting the upgrade process. he graphics card is one area of interest for upgrades—the model could take a GeForce 4 Ti or a 9700 Pro, which are both 128MB cards—but actually *finding* Mac versions of this cards is proving difficult. Anyone have any tips on vendors or resellers besides hoping they randomly pop up again on eBay? Alternatively, what's the situation with using PC cards (I'm only up-to-date on flashing and such for modern AMD/Nvidia GPUs in Intel Macs.)

(Also, am I correct in assuming that there never was a Mac version of the ATI Radeon 9000 Pro that came with 128MB VRAM? MacTracker and EveryMac show that at least the BTO and configured versions only came with a 64MB 9000, but I found one or two eBay sellers who are selling a 128MB Mac variant, theoretically.)

Also, is there any potential compatibility issues with the newer GPUs and OS 9? I'm intended on running a full install of OS 9 alongside newer versions of OS X.

 

[eyoungren]

So my MDD model with a GeForce 4MX came recently, and I'm starting the upgrade process. he graphics card is one area of interest for upgrades—the model could take a GeForce 4 Ti or a 9700 Pro, which are both 128MB cards—but actually *finding* Mac versions of this cards is proving difficult. Anyone have any tips on vendors or resellers besides hoping they randomly pop up again on eBay? Alternatively, what's the situation with using PC cards (I'm only up-to-date on flashing and such for modern AMD/Nvidia GPUs in Intel Macs.)

No tips on vendors, but various actual Mac cards do pop up on eBay all the time. You just have to search each day and wait. There's also craigslist and sometimes shopgoodwill.org has stuff too (also an auction site).

(Also, am I correct in assuming that there never was a Mac version of the ATI Radeon 9000 Pro that came with 128MB VRAM? MacTracker and EveryMac show that at least the BTO and configured versions only came with a 64MB 9000, but I found one or two eBay sellers who are selling a 128MB Mac variant, theoretically.)

That is incorrect. I have an actual Mac G4 version of the 9800 Pro in my Quicksilver right now. The confusion lies in how the cards were released. Originally there was a G5 version (BTO) that works in a G5 or with taped pins in a G4. AFTER that initial release however, ATI released a 128mb 9800 Pro for Mac retail version that works in both the G4 and the G5. Shortly AFTER that ATI also released a 256mb Special Edition 9800 Pro that works in a G4/G5.

I believe you can also flash a PC version of the 9800, but you'd need to tape pins 3 and 11 for it to work.

I bought my 9800 Pro Mac edition from an Amazon vendor who seems to have folded shop. It works without modification (no taped pins).

Also, is there any potential compatibility issues with the newer GPUs and OS 9? I'm intended on running a full install of OS 9 alongside newer versions of OS X.

Intell would know more about that, but I think the higher (better) you get the less and less features/functions work in OS9.

I don't believe the 9800 Pro works in OS9 at all but I could be mistaken.

 

[fuchsdh]

No tips on vendors, but various actual Mac cards do pop up on eBay all the time. You just have to search each day and wait. There's also craigslist and sometimes shopgoodwill.org has stuff too (also an auction site).

That is incorrect. I have an actual Mac G4 version of the 9800 Pro in my Quicksilver right now. The confusion lies in how the cards were released. Originally there was a G5 version (BTO) that works in a G5 or with taped pins in a G4. AFTER that initial release however, ATI released a 128mb 9800 Pro for Mac retail version that works in both the G4 and the G5. Shortly AFTER that ATI also released a 256mb Special Edition 9800 Pro that works in a G4/G5.

I believe you can also flash a PC version of the 9800, but you'd need to tape pins 3 and 11 for it to work.

I bought my 9800 Pro Mac edition from an Amazon vendor who seems to have folded shop. It works without modification (no taped pins).

Intell would know more about that, but I think the higher (better) you get the less and less features/functions work in OS9.

I don't believe the 9800 Pro works in OS9 at all but I could be mistaken.

Thanks for the info. In terms of the VRAM amounts I was referring specifically to the 9000 model. For example, listings like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/121524501359?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Either they're lying or they've misidentified the card, right, because there's no Mac 128MB variant of the card (they were shipped with 64MB 9000s.)

 

[eyoungren]

Thanks for the info. In terms of the VRAM amounts I was referring specifically to the 9000 model. For example, listings like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/121524501359?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Either they're lying or they've misidentified the card, right, because there's no Mac 128MB variant of the card (they were shipped with 64MB 9000s.)

I don't think they are lying…

Take a look here at Low End Mac. Specs are describing 64/128mb cards.
http://lowendmac.com/video/agp/radeon-9000.html

CNet also has a review of the 128mb 9000 Pro.
http://www.cnet.com/products/ati-radeon-9000-pro-mac-edition-128-mb/

That said, I would not pay that when I can get a 9800 Pro 128 standard for $50.

 

[fuchsdh]

Ah, okay. Thanks for the link.

 

[Intell]

OS 9 cannot use video acceleration on card that does CoreImage. OS 9 and CoreImage are mutually exclusive. The best OS 9 card is the GeForce 4 Ti.

 

[for this]

>>OS 9 and CoreImage are mutually exclusive.<<

Yeah, you can't have the best of both worlds (with one card). Screen redraw (like when you drag a folder's window around) of Radeon 9800 Pro on OS 9 is noticeably slower than the GeForce 4MX. But I gladly accept the drawback because the 9800 is CoreImage supported in OS X which I use more.