GTX670 shows as GTX690 in 4,1

[dwsell]

Hello,

With some quick searching I could not find any similar issues as this one, so forgive me if it has been asked before. I recently purchased a used GTX670 card to use with my Mac Pro 4,1 (flashed 5,1) running Sierra. Everything works for the most part, but I noticed that in the system profiler the card shows as a GTX690 rather than 670. I thought it could be a driver issue, so I downloaded the latest web drivers using the NVIDIA webdriver update app, but it still shows as a 690. I am also having random shutdown/restarts since installing the card. As of now I have not been able to pinpoint anything in particular that is causing the restarts. My kids could be playing games for hours without anything happening, then it may randomly restart when using an internet browser. This computer is currently being used for internet browsing, media viewing and now game playing (mac side, no windows) for my kids. I really don't know a whole lot about graphics cards, so any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[666sheep]

Post a picture of the card and screenshot from system profiler/graphics tab.

 

[dwsell]

Thanks for the reply. Here are some pictures of the card and the system profile screen shot. Let me know if there is any other information that might be useful. Thanks!

[doublepost=1481041489][/doublepost]Here is a screen shot from the graphics tab

 

[h9826790]

It seems that you are not alone.

https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/691521/gtx-670-gets-detected-as-gtx-690/

 

[666sheep]

Previous owner(s) was messing with card's VBIOS.
Currently the card carries device ID of 690 what should not happen without "a little help" from user.
You can: return the card as "not as described" or flash it with proper EVGA GTX 670 vbios (determine which one by product number on black EVGA sticker on underside of the card).

 

[dwsell]

Thanks for the information guys. Do you think this would be a logical reason for the random crashes/restarts? I really don't know if I am up for the task of trying to flash the bios of a graphics card, so I will probably reach out to the seller of the card and hope they will take it back. I really appreciate the quick help!

 

[Fl0r!an]

I don't think the device ID can be altered without messing around with the hardstraps, which involves changing some tiny resistors on the PCB. Maybe the seller wanted to unlock Quadro features, but ended up with the 690 device ID? Not sure...

I'd definitely contact the seller, this doesn't happen by "accident".

 

[jjjoseph]

First OFF, what did CONSOLE SAY?

"Open the Console from the Application->Utilities, you will see the log files."

Look at that log, see if it kept any record of your crash. Sometimes it logs it, sometimes it doesn't.

I had some problems with video cards and POWER a while back, what video card did this replace? What is its power draw rating? I have had reboots from power before, the motherboard automatically shuts down to protect itself up from over power draw. Im not sure this is what is happening, but its an idea.

I have a flashed GTX 680 and its ROCK SOLID, not one complaint over the 4 years its still going. I have been playing with the idea of running a stock 780 or 980 if I can pick them up cheap, if you look at http://www.macvidcards.com, its a good place to get some ideas of what Cards are running well with OS X.

If you pick up a new card, you can FLASH or leave UNFLASHED.

his is a recommended list of CARDS, can FLASH or NOT..

http://www.macvidcards.com/store/c10/Recommended:_Mac_Pro_4,1_and_5,1.html

The cards are over priced INHO, if you buy from MacVideoCards, but if your not wanting to deal with flashing a card, or worry you can blow one up, by improper flash, its a good place to pay the extra to get a card that will work well with OS X in a Tower.

 

[dwsell]

@ jjjoseph, Thanks for the recommendation. I looked in the console and it had a record of all the kernel panics that led to the restarts. I will now been looking into what the kernel panic might be indicating, if anything. I have also reached out to the seller and hope that I will be able to return this card.

 

[jjjoseph]

@ jjjoseph, Thanks for the recommendation. I looked in the console and it had a record of all the kernel panics that led to the restarts. I will now been looking into what the kernel panic might be indicating, if anything. I have also reached out to the seller and hope that I will be able to return this card.

Did you buy it from a person or a company?