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Nvidia 6800 ultra cooling mod (fx4500/7800gtx Heatsink)

MrVitalic

MrVitalic

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 16, 2020
164
206

I'v changed the thread title instead of creating a new thread.​

Actual mod start at post #32​

​

Hi, I just want to have some advice. I actualy run a geforce 6800ultra in my 2004 G5. What I know is that nvidia cards all get shadow bug on any games running idtech engine (doom 3, quake 4, prey), where ati cards dont suffer this issue. Second, this card, even with new thermal paste, idle at 68-70c and it grills nicely the very precious pci-x cards that lives above it.

Does the x800xt run cooler ? Theres two of these cards on ebay (original apple) at a crazy 175$us 😭... And just for rambling, who thought this was a good idea for a gpu to have its airflow go toward the front of the case when the general airflow goes to the back ? grrr 💻🔨💻🔨💻🔨
 
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Hi, MrVitalic

no, the x800xt does not run cooler.

Info: The x800xt does not have a temp sensor who is readable under OSX. An infrared thermometer show me around 60°C on the side of the cooler.

Years ago i also had a x800 and it got so hot that the brazed cooling fins were blown off the lower plate.

My actual x800xt inside my G5 is working ok, but it looks like the x800 does not support any version of PPC Linux.

At my opinion the original Apple 6800Ultra is the best solution expected the shadow bugs.
 
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Here, how i get the x800xt cooler

IMG_188b6.jpg
 
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@TzunamiOSX Thx for the info, I really appreciate. I thought at one point to convert a gtx 8800 cooler for the 6800 (with some machining). I should check to find a card and give it a try.

edit: I have a cooler from a gtx 7800 ko edition (evga). The 7800 need a new bios. The heatsink is copper (I think my 6800 got a aluminium hs but I dont remember at the moment). I think they may be compatible. I'l try next week.
 
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I also have a 7800 (GS) and modified the cooler long time ago. I have replaced the plastic top with a copper plate.
IMG_1888.jpg


I dont think it is a good idea to replace big cooler of the 6800 with the small cooler of the 8800. Im really sure the 6800 has a higher TDP.
 
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MrVitalic said:
What I know is that nvidia cards all get shadow bug on any games running idtech engine (doom 3, quake 4, prey), where ati cards dont suffer this issue.
Click to expand...

TzunamiOSX said:
At my opinion the original Apple 6800Ultra is the best solution expected the shadow bugs.
Click to expand...
What shadow bugs are you guys referring to? I play a lot of a IDt3 games, Jedi Outcast, academy, star trek elite force, and some of the ones you mentioned.

I had no idea there was a “shadow bug” and I can’t think of what it is. I’ve also played pretty much on nvidia most my life so I would have been affected by it. My G5 also has a 6800 Ultra in it currently.
 
Project Alice said:
What shadow bugs are you guys referring to? I play a lot of a IDt3 games, Jedi Outcast, academy, star trek elite force, and some of the ones you mentioned.

I had no idea there was a “shadow bug” and I can’t think of what it is. I’ve also played pretty much on nvidia most my life so I would have been affected by it. My G5 also has a 6800 Ultra in it currently.
Click to expand...
I dont get this bug on ati cards (powerpc of course). They may be something to edit in the config file to fix the issue ( found a thread yesterday on the subject, for pc)

 
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TzunamiOSX said:
I dont think it is a good idea to replace big cooler of the 6800 with the small cooler of the 8800. Im really sure the 6800 has a higher TDP.
Click to expand...
81lqnWYGySL._AC_SX466_.jpg


I changed my mind (again) after some research. MAYBE a cooler from a gtx 7800 from dell, or a quadro fx 4500 could fit. I'l check the fitting with my smaller gtx 7800 single slot cooler this week (bolt patern and ram ) and if its douable, order one of these two cards. The 6800 use a 2wire fan, and the others a pwm 4 wires, theres some more mods ahead. Anyhow that could be a cool project. I'm the type of guy that have ocd with his pc, and even more when said cards, parts, or pc have low availability. I want perfection ahahah damn 😅
 
For my little project I'l go with a fx 4500 cooler and swap the fan pcb for a 2 wire one.

Heres what I mean. Pcb layout for a 6800 ultra in the pcie flavor
6800 ULTRA PCIE.jpg

And heres a pcb from a fx 4500
QUADRO FX4500 MAC PCB.jpg


Both seem to have a similar layout, so I think it could work. 😁 heyheyhey 😈
 
Is your 6800 Ultra a PCIe or AGP Version? I’m not sure the layout of the AGP is identical to the PCIe Version.
 
I can attest that the shadow bug in Prey, Quake 4 and Doom 3 (IDtech based engine) are indeed exist in Nvidia Based GPU. I've bought a X1900XT just to try it out in my Quad G5. However, I haven't got around to find the time to do so.

It's quite annoying because even Quadro FX 4500 has this bug in the game. Only way to enjoy the game is to turn off the shadow. I did some research and it's mainly due to the shadow clipping limitation of driver. The same game wouldn't have any issue in the windows side with a GT 6800 Ultra.
 
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necreation said:
I can attest that the shadow bug in Prey, Quake 4 and Doom 3 (IDtech based engine) are indeed exist in Nvidia Based GPU. I've bought a X1900XT just to try it out in my Quad G5. However, I haven't got around to find the time to do so.

It's quite annoying because even Quadro FX 4500 has this bug in the game. Only way to enjoy the game is to turn off the shadow. I did some research and it's mainly due to the shadow clipping limitation of driver. The same game wouldn't have any issue in the windows side with a GT 6800 Ultra.
Click to expand...
This bug is a problem of the NVidia Currie architecture

Here is a list of the Curie cards

www.techpowerup.com

TechPowerUp

Graphics card and GPU database with specifications for products launched in recent years. Includes clocks, photos, and technical details.
www.techpowerup.com www.techpowerup.com

For Mac the important cards are 6800, 7800 and NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500

I thing i have read the problem was fixed on Apples Intel graphic drivers, but not on the PPC graphic Drivers.
 
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TzunamiOSX said:
Is your 6800 Ultra a PCIe or AGP Version? I’m not sure the layout of the AGP is identical to the PCIe Version.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure the layout is the same. Whats important is the bolt pattern for the gpu die and ram placement. If needed I'm ok doing some fabrication. Anyway, I'm ordering a dell 7800/fx 4500 next Thursday (surely a dell 7800gtx because I could buff out the dell print, leave the nvidia print and smoke the plastic shroud with 'vht nightshade' to have a super cool looking card :) )
 
necreation said:
Arctic Cooling Accelero X1 should fit both 6800 Ultra AGP and Quadro FX 4500. I bought one but I hasn't try to fit it up yet. Technically it should be compatible.
Click to expand...

Yes I also found this cooler. I prefer trying my idea since the cooler I want to use have heatpipe and a much bigger heatsink. I also tried using a zalman vf700 cooler last year and it was a total failure for me.

Mac Nvidia 6800Ultra with Zalman VF700 Cooler

Mac Nvidia 6800 graphics card with Zalman VF700 Cooler photos
www.xlr8yourmac.com
 
Just bought this 7800gtx off ebay for 58$usd. I'l post again when my 6800 is converted :)
Thats the kind of little projects that get me going heyhey. It got the bottom ram plate, sooo maybe it can be converted into a fx4500 for ppc mac ? Anyhow, I'm cannibalizing the heatsink, I'l keep the pcb safe and sound.


unnamed.jpg

unnamed-1.jpg

unnamed-2.jpg
 
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TzunamiOSX said:
This bug a a problem of the NVidia Currie architecture

Here is a list of the Curie cards

www.techpowerup.com

TechPowerUp

Graphics card and GPU database with specifications for products launched in recent years. Includes clocks, photos, and technical details.
www.techpowerup.com www.techpowerup.com

For Mac the important cards are 6800, 7800 and NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500

I thing i have read the problem was fixed on Apples Intel graphic drivers, but not on the PPC graphic Drivers.
Click to expand...
I wonder the same bug will show up in Tiger or Snow leopard install under PPC. Maybe I should try this out when I have time to spare.
 
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necreation said:
I wonder the same bug will show up in Tiger or Snow leopard install under PPC. Maybe I should try this out when I have time to spare.
Click to expand...
I did!! This morning I tried Prey 2006 using tiger (lauching the app from my leopard app folder), and voila no bugs. So now, since I dont like jumping from os to os on this G5, I’m considering migrating all my stuff to tiger if my audio software are compatible (should be).
 
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MrVitalic said:
I did!! This morning I tried Prey 2006 using tiger (lauching the app from my leopard app folder), and voila no bugs. So now, since I dont like jumping from os to os on this G5, I’m considering migrating all my stuff to tiger if my audio software are compatible (should be).
Click to expand...
No Bugs? Explain please!
 
TzunamiOSX said:
No Bugs? Explain please!
Click to expand...
Refering to my video of prey. I made this under leopard. And as you have seen, shadows appear and disapear if you move around. Under tiger, shadows are solid and theres no issue at all. Simple as that. After that, I tried to import tiger nvidia driver into leopard with no sucess, so this is why I’m thinking of migrating to 10.4.
 
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