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MacPro 1.1 graphics upgrade (4870-90 not available)
- Thread starter Leifern
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Just got the card today and will be flashing tonight.
Rominator - you mentioned that you flashed a 4870 ZWFC Rev E card for panavision. Would you mind pointing me to the ROM? I'm scouring posts and have already downloaded the ROMS.zip from The Golden Guide. Not sure what I'm doing, really.
Can you also tell me if I have the steps correct?:
1. keep X1900 in machine, put new XFX card into slot 2. Boot into OSX (10.6.3)
2. run Zeus and flash card.
3. remove X1900 and put XFX in slot 1.
Can it really be that simple?
Rominator - you mentioned that you flashed a 4870 ZWFC Rev E card for panavision. Would you mind pointing me to the ROM? I'm scouring posts and have already downloaded the ROMS.zip from The Golden Guide. Not sure what I'm doing, really.
Can you also tell me if I have the steps correct?:
1. keep X1900 in machine, put new XFX card into slot 2. Boot into OSX (10.6.3)
2. run Zeus and flash card.
3. remove X1900 and put XFX in slot 1.
Can it really be that simple?
You should read through Panavisions posts.
His issue was that Zeus wouldn't flash or it wouldn't boot with both in, or something.
In any case, it was necessary for him to come to me since he wasn't knowledgeable in DOS.
So, you MAY be able to make it happen easily, or you may need to do it in DOS.
The DOS route is good, you can save your current ROM in case your EFI one isn't a good match.
I am pretty sure we used the ROM that Cindori has in his "ROMs" package.
His issue was that Zeus wouldn't flash or it wouldn't boot with both in, or something.
In any case, it was necessary for him to come to me since he wasn't knowledgeable in DOS.
So, you MAY be able to make it happen easily, or you may need to do it in DOS.
The DOS route is good, you can save your current ROM in case your EFI one isn't a good match.
I am pretty sure we used the ROM that Cindori has in his "ROMs" package.
Okay, so I've got the 4870 in the Mac Pro and am getting frustrated.
I was afraid to do this all through OSX since some others with the same card I bought had problems. So I've spent the last 1.5 hours trying to figure out how to do it through DOS... making what I think are boot discs, etc. I just don't get it.
My Mac Pro (1,1) has the power for the card on the logic board, but there only seems to be two... and one goes to my X1900 so I can only plug one into the 4870. My new card which is in the machine doesn't come up in the list of hardware (About this Mac) and I'm assuming that's because it either doesn't have enough power or because it's a PC card and the Mac doesn't know what it is.
When I try to flash with Zeus, it gives me a message that says, "Flash Aborted! Possible reasons: Card not compatible with ROM or Zeus".
So maybe it's a simple case of the wrong ROM? I'm using the 4870 ROM from ROMS.zip... my card is the XFX 4870 ZWFC v.E
Any help is so appreciated!
I was afraid to do this all through OSX since some others with the same card I bought had problems. So I've spent the last 1.5 hours trying to figure out how to do it through DOS... making what I think are boot discs, etc. I just don't get it.
My Mac Pro (1,1) has the power for the card on the logic board, but there only seems to be two... and one goes to my X1900 so I can only plug one into the 4870. My new card which is in the machine doesn't come up in the list of hardware (About this Mac) and I'm assuming that's because it either doesn't have enough power or because it's a PC card and the Mac doesn't know what it is.
When I try to flash with Zeus, it gives me a message that says, "Flash Aborted! Possible reasons: Card not compatible with ROM or Zeus".
So maybe it's a simple case of the wrong ROM? I'm using the 4870 ROM from ROMS.zip... my card is the XFX 4870 ZWFC v.E
Any help is so appreciated!
I guess I need to open the case again and locate that extra Molex that's floating around to temporarily power the 4870 until I can get it working and pull out the X1900.
On a whole other note, I was removing the 4870 and it was being stubborn - I think I may have screwed it up. A couple of the pins, one on each side of the card look like the ends are "missing".
Here's a picture of it
I don't know if the card came this way or if this is something I did in my frustrated moment. I hope it's no big deal and I don't have to return it.
I saved good money by purchasing this PC card and it does have more memory than the Mac version... but for the frustrations I dealt with tonight I'm not sure it's worth it.
On a whole other note, I was removing the 4870 and it was being stubborn - I think I may have screwed it up. A couple of the pins, one on each side of the card look like the ends are "missing".
Here's a picture of it
I don't know if the card came this way or if this is something I did in my frustrated moment. I hope it's no big deal and I don't have to return it.
I saved good money by purchasing this PC card and it does have more memory than the Mac version... but for the frustrations I dealt with tonight I'm not sure it's worth it.
I just let out an enormous sigh of relief. Thanks, Cindori!
I'll give the flashing another shot. Apparently I really don't know what I'm doing... I was somewhat confident that I did.
I couldn't seem to make any kind of disc or USB drive that would boot into DOS and allow me to use atiflash. Maybe if I can get the card powered properly OSX and Zeus will work, though at the rate things are going with my experiment, I doubt it.
zwfc E.0 wont flash with zeus, trust me, ive had one
bootcd is almost impossible with USB. use cd instead
easy guide:
http://web.me.com/jacobcroft/4870Flash/4870Flash.html
bootcd is almost impossible with USB. use cd instead
easy guide:
http://web.me.com/jacobcroft/4870Flash/4870Flash.html
Wow, Cindori, thank you so much. That link looks great.
You know the one thing I'm not understanding from reading through it... he's taking both power cables and plugging them into the 4870. I only have two connectors for power and there's nothing said about powering the old card. But obviously the old card needs one of the power cables in order to run the monitor while completing the process.
I guess that's where the Molex from the superdrive comes in?
Now I'm going to search around these boards and see if I can find the exact ROM for the ZWFC v.E. I certainly don't want to end up with a brick because of that.
You know the one thing I'm not understanding from reading through it... he's taking both power cables and plugging them into the 4870. I only have two connectors for power and there's nothing said about powering the old card. But obviously the old card needs one of the power cables in order to run the monitor while completing the process.
I guess that's where the Molex from the superdrive comes in?
Now I'm going to search around these boards and see if I can find the exact ROM for the ZWFC v.E. I certainly don't want to end up with a brick because of that.
Won't I need my old card running for the monitor, until I can get the 4870 flashed and working with the system?
Huh, i must test it another way then. When i flash with Bootcd in my MP, i always use alt key to choose boot volume. With only PC card plugged, i always get no video that way. Maybe setting startup disk in Sys Prefs to Win Bootcd will work, but i was to lazy to do that and prefer using alt way 
Ah, okay, thanks guys. I think things are starting to become a little clearer to me now.
So, I'll boot into Windows and do all the prep - create the bootcd, etc.
I'll go back into OSX and change the startup disk to be the bootcd.
Then I'll replace the X1900 in slot 1 with the new 4870, restart which should give me video and DOS, and get to flashing.
Once this is done, I'm assuming I will be able to once again restart holding the alt key and boot into OSX, change the startup disk back to OSX and everything should be fine and dandy.
Cindori, I'm going to use the ROM that I found in this thread (post #34). Unless there's something more reliable you're using to flash the 4870 ver. E?
Thanks again!
So, I'll boot into Windows and do all the prep - create the bootcd, etc.
I'll go back into OSX and change the startup disk to be the bootcd.
Then I'll replace the X1900 in slot 1 with the new 4870, restart which should give me video and DOS, and get to flashing.
Once this is done, I'm assuming I will be able to once again restart holding the alt key and boot into OSX, change the startup disk back to OSX and everything should be fine and dandy.
Cindori, I'm going to use the ROM that I found in this thread (post #34). Unless there's something more reliable you're using to flash the 4870 ver. E?
Thanks again!
BTW...here is another good tip.
There is an EASY way to choose Boot CD. Hold down "C" while booting machine up.
The idea that you need an EFI card running to use DOS is a persistent silly rumor that won't die.
WHEN YOU BOOT DOS YOUR MAC IS A PC...IT WILL RUN A PC CARD PERFECTLY FINE, YOU JUST WON'T GET THE EARLY GREY BOOT SCREENS.
Be patient, it will boot into DOS on a BIOS only card.
There is an EASY way to choose Boot CD. Hold down "C" while booting machine up.
The idea that you need an EFI card running to use DOS is a persistent silly rumor that won't die.
WHEN YOU BOOT DOS YOUR MAC IS A PC...IT WILL RUN A PC CARD PERFECTLY FINE, YOU JUST WON'T GET THE EARLY GREY BOOT SCREENS.
Be patient, it will boot into DOS on a BIOS only card.
Also good to know, TR! Thank you.
This is great. Sounds like I don't have to go through the hassle of changing startup disks.
Wow... this is a process. I'll be glad when it's done and I'm graphically up and running.
This is great. Sounds like I don't have to go through the hassle of changing startup disks.
Wow... this is a process. I'll be glad when it's done and I'm graphically up and running.
Wow, I just can't win.
I created an ultimate boot cd going by the tutorial in the link Cindori gave me.
I've held down "c" when booting and have also tried changing the startup disk to the CD.
Every time, the CD spins up and I get the message:
"ISOLINUX 3.86 2010-04-01 ETCDisolinux: Image checksum error, sorry...
Boot failed: press a key to retry..."
At this point, pressing a key does absolutely nothing.
I created an ultimate boot cd going by the tutorial in the link Cindori gave me.
I've held down "c" when booting and have also tried changing the startup disk to the CD.
Every time, the CD spins up and I get the message:
"ISOLINUX 3.86 2010-04-01 ETCDisolinux: Image checksum error, sorry...
Boot failed: press a key to retry..."
At this point, pressing a key does absolutely nothing.
Hey Rominator - are you still offering up your flashing services for Stella 6-packs? It's getting to the point where if I don't have a solution of my own soon, I'm going to have to look for outside services.
I have a feeling you're somewhat close to where I am in Cali.
I have a feeling you're somewhat close to where I am in Cali.
So does anyone have any suggestions that may help?
I've had my new card for a little less than a week now and it's still sitting in the box.
I've been doing some reading and tried to make an ultimate boot disc but it won't load... and from what I'm hearing from a boot disc forum, it's because I'm trying to add in a "Mac" folder containing all of the extras I need for flashing without rebuilding the .iso for the boot disc. So someone is suggesting I use mkisofs to redo the .iso... this is way over my head.
If I burn only the boot disc (original downloaded contents), will I have access to hard drives so I can keep the flashing stuff (atiflash, ROM) on a drive rather than trying to make some kind of custom boot disc?
I was really under the impression this was going to be a much smoother process. I'm almost regretting not simply going with the 4870 from Apple, though now that I have the PC version, I'm determined to make it work.
Thanks, everyone.
I've had my new card for a little less than a week now and it's still sitting in the box.
I've been doing some reading and tried to make an ultimate boot disc but it won't load... and from what I'm hearing from a boot disc forum, it's because I'm trying to add in a "Mac" folder containing all of the extras I need for flashing without rebuilding the .iso for the boot disc. So someone is suggesting I use mkisofs to redo the .iso... this is way over my head.
If I burn only the boot disc (original downloaded contents), will I have access to hard drives so I can keep the flashing stuff (atiflash, ROM) on a drive rather than trying to make some kind of custom boot disc?
I was really under the impression this was going to be a much smoother process. I'm almost regretting not simply going with the 4870 from Apple, though now that I have the PC version, I'm determined to make it work.
Thanks, everyone.
What I have done is create a DOS partition on a hard drive. I placed the Atiflash files and ROMs there. I boot with Boot CD, then do a "c:" to switch to the DOS partition. I can't recall if it is FAT32 or whatever.
For that matter, probably easier still to simply format a USB stick in a DOS friendly format and use it the same way.
For that matter, probably easier still to simply format a USB stick in a DOS friendly format and use it the same way.
I'll try the USB stick.
I've managed to get the boot disk to load. Now I just need a way to access files.
If after this things are still unsuccessful, I'm going to either make a desperate attempt to enlist someone's help to flash the card for me, or simply return the card and buy the Apple version - or wait until WWDC to see if any new cards are released.