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MacPro 1.1 graphics upgrade (4870-90 not available)

you are SO CLOSE now.

BTW...ATIFlash haas a 2nd component called cwsdpmi, or something like that.

Needs to be on USB stick as well.

Also, be sure to SAVE original ROM first

"atiflash -s 0 oldrom.rom"
 
Okay, some progress...

I was able to extract the ubcd .iso and create a new .iso for CD that includes a folder with atiflash and the ROM, so now I'm able to boot that to DOS.

Now it's time to flash the card, but I do have a question... I should back up my original ROM (as mentioned by you, TR, and from tutorials)... but how?

I can boot the ubcd but don't have access to hard drive(s) (my attempt at creating a readable USB stick was a miserable failure). I could boot into Windows with the 4870 running and use GPU-Z, but I'm not sure how because if I have only the 4870 connected, I won't get the bootloader screen with the option for OSX or Windows, correct?

And I'm not sure if (through OSX) I can tell the system to boot into Windows upon startup. AND, if I can do that and the card flashing fails, I suppose I'll be able to put the X1900 back in and get the bootloader screen?

Thanks!

ETA: I see in system prefs - startup, that I can set Windows 7 to be the startup disk. I'll set that and load into W7 to back up my ROM.
 
Okay, well, I think I'm almost there... finally!

My only problem now is the display. I've done the patch using Zeus, and I'm limited to 1280x800.

What did I miss?

Thanks.
 
Hey Cindori,

Okay, so after I flashed my card I had no display after the apple logo and the spinning wheel... just a black screen. Then I plugged into the other port on the card (left port looking at the back of the computer) and I had my display, but the resolution was poor even after running the patch. So I now plugged in the right port and I can get my full 2560x1600.

I downloaded dualdvi.zip and the Kext Helper window comes up but I don't understand how to do anything with it. I can drag the kexts to the window but the easy install button stays grayed out.
 
writing ROM for PowerColor pcs+

Hi again,

I've received my 4870 now, but sadly not the power-cables i ordered from Hong Kong or the DVI monitor I've had to buy. Nevertheless i thought I'd get to know this whole romwriting-business. I found the PPH-roms available at techpowerup, downloaded "gzfelix's" NEW4870.ROM.zip (which was the closes to my card that i could find) and then i downloaded "XYZ" and started fiddling about.

"Gzfelix" noted that he was unable getting his card to work with dual monitors, which is a must for me (for work). I guess i could keep my 7300 in there, but it would be nice to get rid of it.

I guess "instructions 4870 and 4890.jpg" in XYZ being is supposed to be cropped like that, but apart from that the first thing that struck me was that all the three roms i downloaded for "AX4870 512MD5-PPH" started with "55 AA 7B". I deducted this meant there are 62 976 512o blocks of rom, but i have no idea where to go from there.

I've found nothing on 7B in the forum and no uncropped version of the .jpg. So any pointers in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.
 
vizfxman said:
Hey Cindori,

Okay, so after I flashed my card I had no display after the apple logo and the spinning wheel... just a black screen. Then I plugged into the other port on the card (left port looking at the back of the computer) and I had my display, but the resolution was poor even after running the patch. So I now plugged in the right port and I can get my full 2560x1600.

I downloaded dualdvi.zip and the Kext Helper window comes up but I don't understand how to do anything with it. I can drag the kexts to the window but the easy install button stays grayed out.
Click to expand...

where it says "password" you type in......see if you can guess....

then the button to install un-grays

And BTW...instead of the Dual DVI patch, you can just put a DVI to VGA adapter on the other port. It triggers the hot plug detect / EDID thing.
 
pfff... I have no clue... I've tried typing in a "password" and all sorts of other combinations.

I want to say a HUGE THANKS to you guys that helped me along with this. This truly is awesome... I honestly can't believe I've got it up and running now (aside from this port thing).

As far as putting an adapter on the other port, I can't... I only have one monitor (30" cinema) and it's DVI.

But hey, this is awesome!

I was just looking at groths.org and see that the 10.6.3 patch fixes the dual dvi issue, so I guess I'm good to go.


Leifern, if you've read my posts, it's probably obvious that I'll be no help to you whatsoever in the question you just asked... good luck with the card.
 
The Rominator said:
password is your ADMINISTRATOR PASSWORD

And you put an UNUSED DVI to VGA adapter on other port with NOTHING CONNECTED TO IT...
Click to expand...
Ahh... Man, I must sound like someone who just started using a computer five days ago.

Thanks again for everything TR. This card would never have been a possibility without the help of Cindori and yourself.
 
I guess I spoke too soon. I've now put my X1900 back in the machine.

I've installed the patch and dual dvi. I still get no video when booting up and have to switch my monitor to the left port, which means I don't get my full resolution.

The bootloader screen also looks low resolution.

When I tried to boot into Windows 7, my display was lined with all kinds of crazy bars, lines, and dots. I could see the Windows loading screen behind all of the nonsense.

Is it normal to experience this many issues with flashing? I use my machine partly for business and I can't be dealing with issues like this on the norm. If this will be an ongoing thing, having to patch, etc. please let me know.

On top of it now I can't boot into OSX. I'm trying to repair using the SL CD. This is a disaster.

It seems like things were working somewhat well until I booted into OSX as root and installed the kexts. Is there any way to reverse this?
 
Okay.

I put the 4870 back in the machine and OSX boots. Even though I still have to plug the monitor into the left port, have low resolution, and then plug it into the right port once my desktop comes up.

But Windows still has all the artifact looking lines, dots, etc., begins to load and then gives me a blue screen and reboots the computer.

Any ideas what is going on here?
 
the windows issue is either due to bad driver or rom isn't quite right

did you ever backup the original ROM?

If you bought card new it should have come with DVI to VGA adapter

I am pretty sure that if you put it on upper port it would solve OSX problem
 
Hey TR,

I did back up the original ROM. I suppose I can put that back on and try again. I'm just ultra worried now because I can get the computer to at least boot OSX, but when I put in my original X1900 it won't boot (I think I'm getting a kernal panic). So my worry is that if I change something now I'll hose the entire system.

It was working last night, aside from the monitor port switching issue. I shut the computer down before bed and was met with this disaster this morning.

So you're saying put the adapter on the port that usually gives me the poor resolution and plug the monitor in to the port that enables me to get full resolution? I thought I tried that and I got no video, and was stuck doing booting with low res, switching the monitor, and then adjusting res in the prefs. I'll try again.
 
Cindori,

From your experience thus far with the XFX 4870 ver. E, what ROM have you found to be the best?

I've been searching the forums but can't seem to come to any conclusion on what will be the best for that card, and I'm hoping you can share your knowledge.

My current ROM is from the ROMS.zip pack.

Thanks man.
 
many people have problems in bootcamp Windows with XXX cards flashed. solution is to reinstall windows (or anything else to make sure all drivers are gone) and download latest from ati.com.

there is a topic about this that should only be as far away as 2nd or 3rd forum page
(https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/922413/)
 
Thanks, Cindori.

I'll do some reading and then take the appropriate action. Sucks to have to reinstall - I had a hell of a time making it from XP Home to W7 Pro 64-bit the first time around... it is what it is.

So do you believe I'm using the proper ROM? ...from the ROMS.zip file? The reason I ask is because I don't quite know what "symptoms" would tell me I have a bad ROM. If it were bad, it wouldn't work in the first place, correct? As Rominator mentioned, the issue I'm seeing now could be drivers or a bad ROM, and I'd hate to go through the hassle of getting W7 reinstalled (again) without first being sure it's not the ROM to blame.

I've still yet to figure out this proper resolution/port issue. I'll be working on that today.
 
The Rominator said:
If you bought card new it should have come with DVI to VGA adapter

I am pretty sure that if you put it on upper port it would solve OSX problem
Click to expand...
That hasn't worked for me.

Right now my ports do the following:

port 1 (on right looking at the back of the machine): gives full 2560x1600 resolution but does not display upon startup into OSX

port 2 (left): will display login screen for OSX but limits the display's resolution.

I have also noticed that the apple logo and the spinning wheel when the computer starts up will display through either port but both look low res.

I tried connecting the monitor to port 1 and the adapter with nothing connected to port 2 but end up having to change the monitor to port 2 to log in and then have to switch the monitor to port 1 to get full resolution.

Any ideas of what I'm doing wrong?
 
Hey Cindori...

I know. I guess I'm not understanding how to get that port working 100% of the time. As I said, I can't seem to get the port that supports the resolution I need to display until I'm in OSX and change the monitor connection to that port. It's a hassle too because once I have the monitor connected to the port with the lower display resolution and then change, all of my icons are shifted to where they needed to be to accommodate the lower resolution.

I've tried hooking up the unconnected adapter, and have also tried the dual dvi file.

Could this be an issue with my ROM?
 
that sounds wierd. did you ever fiddle with natit? if so, remove it from Zeus.

if not, upload original rom if you have it
 
I'm not quite sure if I did anything with natit. Something tells me I may have.

Here are the two files that I saved from the 4870 before flashing...


ETA: I ran Zeus and removed natit. I haven't rebooted yet but will let you know the result when I do.
 

Attachments

  • XFX4870_original_ROM.zip
    91.9 KB · Views: 118
Cindori said:
just to prepare you, that card has some screws underneath that makes the card hard to put in the macpro, but it will work with some fiddling
Click to expand...

Do you, or anyone else have any tips as to how to get it to fit? I'm really struggling with it.

Any suggestions are appreciated.
 
remove hard drives for more space to work with

you'll get it. not impossible.

proof:

0qb1l.jpg
 
GREAT! It's in place.. Took more bending then I'm comfy with, though.
OSX won't boot with it in any slot, so I guess I'll have to flash from Win. Luckily i do have Win7 installed in bootcamp.

But, has anybody any tips regarding my little rom-complication. I haven't been able to find anything on the forum OR using google.

Thanks for the help so far.. :)
 
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