So I recently got a Mac Pro 2009 4,1 dual cpu that came with the GT 120. When I boot up the computer, it takes about 15 seconds before I hear the Apple chime and then I see a black screen for another 15 seconds before seeing a gray screen with a loading bar before I get to finally log on. I don't see a boot screen. I reset the PRAM and SMC, upgraded to 5,1 and High Sierra and I still get this problem. I thought the GT 120 was one of the drives that gives you a boot screen. What did I do wrong?
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No boot screen on Mac Pro with GT 120
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MP3,1 to MP5,1. It's an EFI64 GPU, so no pre-boot support with MP1,1 and MP2,1.
Apple 8800GT has two versions, one for EFI64 Mac Pros and another, a lot rarer, for EFI32 Mac Pros. Apple GT120 is only EFI64.
I can't confirm if it's original or PC version, but the shell of the GPU looks exactly the same as all the GT 120s that I see from youtube videos. Looks like this: https://www.amazon.com/Nvidia-GeForce-120-Graphics-Upgrade/dp/B001V3DZD4
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I forgot that, Apple GT120 can't show pre-boot environment with a DP1.2 monitor or a 4K one. I had this before.
it's a samsung t27b350 1080p TV. so are you saying that if i plug in a dual-link DVI port, it'll show the screen?
EDIT: wait, the monitor uses HDMI. does that make it any different? it goes like this:
GT 120 --> mDP to HDMI adapter -> HDMI -> TV
Test with a standard monitor, your setup is very exotic and could be messing with the GPU pre-boot environment.
i don't have a standard monitor so i can't really test that. however, this is what i just tested. i plugged the mDP port into my windows laptop and was only able to see the screen when i was at the login part, which is the same as the mac pro. i then pulled the mDP-to-HDMI adapter out and plugged the hdmi into my laptop and the same exact thing happened. i then plugged the HDMI to my gaming PC but this time, i was able to see bios screen, windows loading screen, and login screen. my windows laptop uses an HD 530 graphics card while the gaming PC uses a GTX 970. what should be concluded from this?
You just proved that recent GPUs work better with DP/HDMI. Your best bet with GT120 is with a passive DVI to HDMI cable.
What’s the real issue here? Even if your tv or gpu are not displaying the pre boot screen, it shouldn’t affect your ability to option boot with that gpu.
Do you need the boot screen for a particular reason, or just assessing your new purchase?
Also, are you sure it’s not working? Based on your initial description, it sounds like it’s displaying the white screen where the OS load bar appears. You only see your boot options if you hold alt while boot up occurs.
Do you need the boot screen for a particular reason, or just assessing your new purchase?
Also, are you sure it’s not working? Based on your initial description, it sounds like it’s displaying the white screen where the OS load bar appears. You only see your boot options if you hold alt while boot up occurs.
how do i know if the cable is passive or active if it does not say anywhere? any recommendations on which exact cable to buy?
when i click alt when booting, the screen stays black and doesn't load up to any graphics. i'm assuming that my GPU is supposedly displaying the boot options but i cannot see it on the monitor.
If the caps lock key respond, then you can still use the boot menu in blind.
Anyway, since you can upgrade the firmware from 4,1 to 5,1. It’s 100% sure that your GT120 is good for displaying boot screen.
When holding alt at boot up, once the computer loads into the boot screen, if you press your caps lock and it turns green then it means you are in fact at the boot screen even if you can’t see it. You can use your arrow keys + enter to change start up discs. If capslock is non responsive then it means the computer is stalled out and you cannot actually choose anything.
For start, Apple GT120 don't have HDMI.
If you use a DVI dual link to HDMI passive cable, you have even bigger resolutions than HD. I used a 1920x1200 HDMI monitor for months with GT120 and I had perfect pre-boot configuration support.
Framebuffer size never was the problem with GT120 and boot screens.