Mackilroy
macrumors 601
How many young punks can go out and buy a 2009 Mac Pro on a whim? 😉
I mostly was just arguing with Roman23 because he comes off as thinking he's superior. 😀
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SLI for Mac Pro under windows
- Thread starter Cindori
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I mostly was just arguing with Roman23 because he comes off as thinking he's superior. 😀
first tests...no luck
so I tried the script to install the fix and.......it didn't work with 257 driver
Install went fine but SLI didn't show up as an option
Next I tried using the already patched 190.62 drivers but I ran into a major snag and am hopeful someone here can help translate the following phrase:
"enter system to test mode, make modified driver file have certified for OS."
It is referring to a piece of driver that needs to be installed into driver folder.
But due to digital signature thing, driver won't load.
I put machine into "test" mode...still wouldn't let Nvidia driver run.
Then I found a means to use "GPEdit" console to disable driver signing. Still no love from Nvidia driver.
Reinstalled Nvidia driver and it works but I'm back to needing to install that file and have it work as if signed.
Anyone know an easy way to accomplish this?
BTW, I'm trying this with Dual GTX285s. I realize now that one has Mac EFI ROM and the other is PC. Have different clocks, etc. Will try getting them both same ROM. I also realize that I had a display plugged into each in first test and that wasn't good. Will also try with dual 8800GTs as well.
So, I will re-run the tests tomorrow. But if someone can re-translate the above phrae, that would help.
so I tried the script to install the fix and.......it didn't work with 257 driver
Install went fine but SLI didn't show up as an option
Next I tried using the already patched 190.62 drivers but I ran into a major snag and am hopeful someone here can help translate the following phrase:
"enter system to test mode, make modified driver file have certified for OS."
It is referring to a piece of driver that needs to be installed into driver folder.
But due to digital signature thing, driver won't load.
I put machine into "test" mode...still wouldn't let Nvidia driver run.
Then I found a means to use "GPEdit" console to disable driver signing. Still no love from Nvidia driver.
Reinstalled Nvidia driver and it works but I'm back to needing to install that file and have it work as if signed.
Anyone know an easy way to accomplish this?
BTW, I'm trying this with Dual GTX285s. I realize now that one has Mac EFI ROM and the other is PC. Have different clocks, etc. Will try getting them both same ROM. I also realize that I had a display plugged into each in first test and that wasn't good. Will also try with dual 8800GTs as well.
So, I will re-run the tests tomorrow. But if someone can re-translate the above phrae, that would help.
Hahha.. I am superior..
Because I am Ukrainian and we are superior people.. just kidding.. Your comment crosses the line as I view it as a sign of hostility, but no matter..
Because I am Ukrainian and we are superior people.. just kidding.. Your comment crosses the line as I view it as a sign of hostility, but no matter..
SLI on a mac pro has NOT been done but as this article stated that this theoretically would work for any motherboard I thought it could be interesting.
the reason that I thought this was possible on a Mac is because there is no mentioning about any BIOS settings or edits on that web page.
it simply looked like a software hack to fool the driver, but if there is BIOS stuff involved, chances are pretty slim of making it happen.
rominator, use this
http://www.ngohq.com/home.php?page=dseo
the reason that I thought this was possible on a Mac is because there is no mentioning about any BIOS settings or edits on that web page.
it simply looked like a software hack to fool the driver, but if there is BIOS stuff involved, chances are pretty slim of making it happen.
rominator, use this
http://www.ngohq.com/home.php?page=dseo
If you are trying to get it to work under windows..
Good luck.. I hope it does work - it will give us another option over crossfire.. But, mac os x - FORGET IT! it won't work as the OS and hardware don't support SLI.. WIndows 7 maybe a different story and that site you listed is a PURE PC site and doesn't mention anything about macs using sli at all..
As I said.. OS X- Forget it.. Windows 7 and possibly vista - strong 50/50 chance. I hope this will work in Windows.. but I do know that it won't work under os x.
Good luck.. I hope it does work - it will give us another option over crossfire.. But, mac os x - FORGET IT! it won't work as the OS and hardware don't support SLI.. WIndows 7 maybe a different story and that site you listed is a PURE PC site and doesn't mention anything about macs using sli at all..
As I said.. OS X- Forget it.. Windows 7 and possibly vista - strong 50/50 chance. I hope this will work in Windows.. but I do know that it won't work under os x.
correct..
But, yes I would like to know how it does work in windows 7 though. The only nvidia card I have is the GT120, which most likely wouldn't support sli as its apple's oem card.. or maybe it will?
But, yes I would like to know how it does work in windows 7 though. The only nvidia card I have is the GT120, which most likely wouldn't support sli as its apple's oem card.. or maybe it will?
This would be obvious IMO, as the link provided was about Windows, and it's known that Apple hasn't provided SLI support in OS X.
But maybe this is just me. 😕
The typical GT120 (OEM model) has the ability to bridge the cards (see image). But as I've not seen the model offered in the MP, I can't be 100% sure the bridge connector is/isn't there.
Can you open your system and confirm if this is possible (PCB has the bridge connetion area on it on the top edge)?
Attachments
Just checked and found this..
http://cgi.ebay.com/Nvidia-GT120-Vi...iewItem&pt=Apple_Desktops&hash=item1c142f0d32
It shows the underside of the card and sadly there is NO bridge connector at all 🙁
http://cgi.ebay.com/Nvidia-GT120-Vi...iewItem&pt=Apple_Desktops&hash=item1c142f0d32
It shows the underside of the card and sadly there is NO bridge connector at all 🙁
Thanks. I hadn't seen the actual card (all of it), given the plastic cover used (it's also missing the VGA port shown in the image above).
So that one is definitely impossible (Apple's GT120), no matter if the board supported SLI or not.
just fyi, people have crossfired apple cards before, so it's not something apple disable.
Can we please get off the SLI in OSX train? I never said ANYTHING about that. I just thought someone could be interested in getting this going under windows.
I thought I read somewhere..
that crossfire was DISABLED on the mac oem radeen 4870 which is what I have.
Is there any kind of software to download for windows 7 that will enable sli assuming if I did have a GTX285?
that crossfire was DISABLED on the mac oem radeen 4870 which is what I have.
Is there any kind of software to download for windows 7 that will enable sli assuming if I did have a GTX285?
First Mac Pro SLI in WIn 7 DUAL GTX285s !!!
Thanks to Cindori for bringing this to attention.
I present .....
First Mac Pro to SLI a pair of GTX285s !!!
I started with a Fresh WIndows 7 Install so sadly I have NOTHING to test with yet so can't vouch for stability.
But using the backup method listed from Cindori's first post, I have enabled SLI !!!
I tried to use our beloved OpenGl Extensions viewer but it is a MUCH messier thing in WIndows. Can't find a "Benchmark" mode.
Also, whoever says "Windows 7 is big improvement over Vista and more like OSX" has been smoking the best Crack imaginable.
Still a clunky, stupid, obtuse OS. And still UGLY !!! Why does all the text look like ASCII from 1983? Why does it come loaded with DirectX 9 from 2004? Why can't I just FIND things with a quick keystroke like I've been doing on Macs since 1995?
Anyhow, here are some images, more info coming.
And to all the people who heckled Cindori for suggesting this might work....run on down to your local restaurant and order up a nice, steaming plate of Humble Pie. Absolutism rarely helps anyone.
So many more things we could do with Macs if more people TRIED things instead of postulating theories based on conjecture and opinion why it can't won't shouldn't ...yadda yadda, blah, blah. Armchair engineers don't invent or discover.
I will next try installing some games...sadly my legit copy of Crysis has been disabled because I have installed it too many times. I HAVE to use a crack on something I paid $60 for. After this I will try 8800GT, 8800GTS, and GT120.
BTW, SLI doesn't actually REQUIRE there be a bridge connector, so Apple cards might work.
Sorry it's kinda messy.
Had to drag a PSU out to power all of the PCIE connectors. Other cards won't require this.
Thanks to Cindori for bringing this to attention.
I present .....
First Mac Pro to SLI a pair of GTX285s !!!
I started with a Fresh WIndows 7 Install so sadly I have NOTHING to test with yet so can't vouch for stability.
But using the backup method listed from Cindori's first post, I have enabled SLI !!!
I tried to use our beloved OpenGl Extensions viewer but it is a MUCH messier thing in WIndows. Can't find a "Benchmark" mode.
Also, whoever says "Windows 7 is big improvement over Vista and more like OSX" has been smoking the best Crack imaginable.
Still a clunky, stupid, obtuse OS. And still UGLY !!! Why does all the text look like ASCII from 1983? Why does it come loaded with DirectX 9 from 2004? Why can't I just FIND things with a quick keystroke like I've been doing on Macs since 1995?
Anyhow, here are some images, more info coming.
And to all the people who heckled Cindori for suggesting this might work....run on down to your local restaurant and order up a nice, steaming plate of Humble Pie. Absolutism rarely helps anyone.
So many more things we could do with Macs if more people TRIED things instead of postulating theories based on conjecture and opinion why it can't won't shouldn't ...yadda yadda, blah, blah. Armchair engineers don't invent or discover.
I will next try installing some games...sadly my legit copy of Crysis has been disabled because I have installed it too many times. I HAVE to use a crack on something I paid $60 for. After this I will try 8800GT, 8800GTS, and GT120.
BTW, SLI doesn't actually REQUIRE there be a bridge connector, so Apple cards might work.
Sorry it's kinda messy.
Had to drag a PSU out to power all of the PCIE connectors. Other cards won't require this.
Attachments
Too late..
I DO see it, and I do like it.. as I am a gamer and use windows 7 to play games.. only problem is now I need to get a GTX285.. but have the 24 inch cinema display with MDP.. I wish nvidia would get off their tail and make a card with MDP.. the altoona device that apple sells I heard, is flaky as best.
I DO see it, and I do like it.. as I am a gamer and use windows 7 to play games.. only problem is now I need to get a GTX285.. but have the 24 inch cinema display with MDP.. I wish nvidia would get off their tail and make a card with MDP.. the altoona device that apple sells I heard, is flaky as best.
Meh, I'm an ATI fan. If only OSX would support CrossFireX you could drop a 5970.... oh CrossFireX & the 5xxx series I mean 🙄
You sound like a nice guy..
Why didn't you want me to see it? I have seen much worse before on a PC 🙂 Anyway, I believe OS X has the capability of supporting crossfire, but for some reason the developers won't allow it to work.. our best bet is to use windows 7 or vista for this.
I am also an ATI fan as ATI caters to their customers.. Mini display port is available on most of their cards, esp the eyefinity series. If anything, that card should be Apple's new possibility for any future update(notice I said future, not assigning it a date) of any mac pro..
Take a look at this...
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/reviews/sapphire_radeon_hd_5870_eyefinity_edition
And this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121371
Why didn't you want me to see it? I have seen much worse before on a PC 🙂 Anyway, I believe OS X has the capability of supporting crossfire, but for some reason the developers won't allow it to work.. our best bet is to use windows 7 or vista for this.
I am also an ATI fan as ATI caters to their customers.. Mini display port is available on most of their cards, esp the eyefinity series. If anything, that card should be Apple's new possibility for any future update(notice I said future, not assigning it a date) of any mac pro..
Take a look at this...
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/reviews/sapphire_radeon_hd_5870_eyefinity_edition
And this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121371
Yeah Eyefinity has it's problems and hopefully some will get resolved. I've got a 20x30x20 monitor setup and eyefinity only supports the same resolution on each screen. So unless I want to run my 30 in 1600x1200 I can't do eyefinity. I hope they fix that in the future to allow wing monitors.
Those 6x MDP cards are cool, but most of the 5xxx series cards have at least one MDP on 'em. I've got the asus 5970 and it's got one smack in the middle.
New Era in Bootcamp Gaming !!!
Wow !!!
When I was testing Crossfire on Dual XFX 1 Gig 4870s, I was underwhelmed.
Didn't add much power but did cost a bunch of money.
This is a different world !!!
Check the two sets of benchies.
3DMark Vantage & Crysis
Crysis was set to "Very High" on all settings and run on the 30" @ 2560x1600.
3D Mark was run on "Extreme" settings @ 1920x1200.
Both scaled nearly identically. The SLi setup was just under 2 times faster than single GTX285 !!!
The Crysis benchmark is the built in one. I have had trouble in past with the GUI ones. The top 3 runs were with SLi, bottom three with single GTX285.
Seriously big news for Mac folks who like gaming in Windows. No longer will it be necessary to buy the BIGGEST most expensive card possible in order to go into Windows with a big gun.
People who already have an 8800GT can just get another one and SLi in WIndows to avoid paying premium for GTX285. There are even enough power connectors to do that with no need for extra supply.
Not sure what I want to test next, and sadly I have guests coming and will need to walk away from the "lab" shortly.
From experience I know that CRUCIAL details on how to do this will be asked for but that Forum posts frequently get buried under mounds of blather. I am going to do a full write up and stick it up on a page somewhere.
Important details for those who want to try ASAP:
The first method from the OP's linked page didn't work. At least not first time I tried. I ended up using a hacked older driver file with an older driver.(190.62 I think) It is quite likely that with some tweaking, this could work in new drivers too. Look further down on linked page for details. It did take some fiddling but that is documented here. I used the app Cindori linked to to "bless" the driver file. Still in "test" mode though, so obviously not a good solution for a crucial Windows enviroment.
Obviously the question of whether this works in the 1,1 and 3,1 machines needs to be answered. I will have answer on 1,1 by tomorrow. And most likely 10thzMac will be able to chime in on 3,1.
Part of Crossfire troubles before likely had to do with me being on 1,1 and thus having to set slots 1 and 2 to 8x lanes, instead of 16x as 4,1 can do.
Also I am sure people will want to know what other Mac EFI cards work with this. I'll get to that.
But for now, just know that you can nearly DOUBLE your Bootcamp horsepower without anteing up for a big gun card. Who knows, might even work with the 7300GT...I seem to recall their being Tri-SLi and Quad SLi. Hmmmm
Wow !!!
When I was testing Crossfire on Dual XFX 1 Gig 4870s, I was underwhelmed.
Didn't add much power but did cost a bunch of money.
This is a different world !!!
Check the two sets of benchies.
3DMark Vantage & Crysis
Crysis was set to "Very High" on all settings and run on the 30" @ 2560x1600.
3D Mark was run on "Extreme" settings @ 1920x1200.
Both scaled nearly identically. The SLi setup was just under 2 times faster than single GTX285 !!!
The Crysis benchmark is the built in one. I have had trouble in past with the GUI ones. The top 3 runs were with SLi, bottom three with single GTX285.
Seriously big news for Mac folks who like gaming in Windows. No longer will it be necessary to buy the BIGGEST most expensive card possible in order to go into Windows with a big gun.
People who already have an 8800GT can just get another one and SLi in WIndows to avoid paying premium for GTX285. There are even enough power connectors to do that with no need for extra supply.
Not sure what I want to test next, and sadly I have guests coming and will need to walk away from the "lab" shortly.
From experience I know that CRUCIAL details on how to do this will be asked for but that Forum posts frequently get buried under mounds of blather. I am going to do a full write up and stick it up on a page somewhere.
Important details for those who want to try ASAP:
The first method from the OP's linked page didn't work. At least not first time I tried. I ended up using a hacked older driver file with an older driver.(190.62 I think) It is quite likely that with some tweaking, this could work in new drivers too. Look further down on linked page for details. It did take some fiddling but that is documented here. I used the app Cindori linked to to "bless" the driver file. Still in "test" mode though, so obviously not a good solution for a crucial Windows enviroment.
Obviously the question of whether this works in the 1,1 and 3,1 machines needs to be answered. I will have answer on 1,1 by tomorrow. And most likely 10thzMac will be able to chime in on 3,1.
Part of Crossfire troubles before likely had to do with me being on 1,1 and thus having to set slots 1 and 2 to 8x lanes, instead of 16x as 4,1 can do.
Also I am sure people will want to know what other Mac EFI cards work with this. I'll get to that.
But for now, just know that you can nearly DOUBLE your Bootcamp horsepower without anteing up for a big gun card. Who knows, might even work with the 7300GT...I seem to recall their being Tri-SLi and Quad SLi. Hmmmm
Attachments
Mac EFI-64 8800GT ROM allows SLi
Yeppers, got 2 of them cooperating in Windows via SLi.
As with GTX285, it nearly doubles performance.
However 2 @ 8800GT still nowhere near GTX285 ballpark.
I left all the res/quality settings same as GTX285 SLi benchies...can you say "Painful"?
I had to reset benchmark config it to just do 1 or 2 runs each on Crysis. At 6 fps it was taking WAY TOO LONG. Take it down to 1920x1200 and medium settings and SLi with 8800GT could be viable, especially for 1st Gen folks who may be running out of other options.
In any case, obvious that adding an extra 8800GT to your Mac Pro can result in 40% faster scores in WIndows....if you go to some bother.
Some other notes:
1. Sadly, there is no Tri-SLi for 8800GT cards.
2. You need to go to some bother to set up, follow guide in Cindori's OP.
3. I tested with FLASHED versions of 8800GT with EFI-64 ROM. As Apple card has SLi connector, no reason to believe that OEM Apple 88GT won't work.
Yeppers, got 2 of them cooperating in Windows via SLi.
As with GTX285, it nearly doubles performance.
However 2 @ 8800GT still nowhere near GTX285 ballpark.
I left all the res/quality settings same as GTX285 SLi benchies...can you say "Painful"?
I had to reset benchmark config it to just do 1 or 2 runs each on Crysis. At 6 fps it was taking WAY TOO LONG. Take it down to 1920x1200 and medium settings and SLi with 8800GT could be viable, especially for 1st Gen folks who may be running out of other options.
In any case, obvious that adding an extra 8800GT to your Mac Pro can result in 40% faster scores in WIndows....if you go to some bother.
Some other notes:
1. Sadly, there is no Tri-SLi for 8800GT cards.
2. You need to go to some bother to set up, follow guide in Cindori's OP.
3. I tested with FLASHED versions of 8800GT with EFI-64 ROM. As Apple card has SLi connector, no reason to believe that OEM Apple 88GT won't work.
Attachments
OMGWTFBBQ
macrumors member
🙂
Hi all,
Are there any updates on the GTX 285 SLi front?
I'm currently in the midst of deciding whether or not to buy the new (soon to be shipping) Radeon HD 5870, and replace my current GTX 285 with it. This thread has me thinking, however, that the right move would be to buy another 285 off of ebay (because its discontinued, right?) and SLi it with my current card.
I don't care if I can only utilize one of the cards in OSX, I only use my windows' bootcamp partition for gaming, and thats where I'd love to see a boost in performance.
So... Anybody have any more updates or useful info?
I really appreciate the graphics trail blazing you guys are doing for n00bs like me.
Cheers
Hi all,
Are there any updates on the GTX 285 SLi front?
I'm currently in the midst of deciding whether or not to buy the new (soon to be shipping) Radeon HD 5870, and replace my current GTX 285 with it. This thread has me thinking, however, that the right move would be to buy another 285 off of ebay (because its discontinued, right?) and SLi it with my current card.
I don't care if I can only utilize one of the cards in OSX, I only use my windows' bootcamp partition for gaming, and thats where I'd love to see a boost in performance.
So... Anybody have any more updates or useful info?
I really appreciate the graphics trail blazing you guys are doing for n00bs like me.
Cheers
Hi,
I'm also interested in updates. I'm ready to give this a try (2x285s in an early 2008 mac pro). However, I run 64 bit Vista and it seems there are some tricks to get Vista to play nicely with the unsigned drivers that are necessary. Has anyone been able to get SLI working in Vista without having to be in test mode?
Thanks
I'm also interested in updates. I'm ready to give this a try (2x285s in an early 2008 mac pro). However, I run 64 bit Vista and it seems there are some tricks to get Vista to play nicely with the unsigned drivers that are necessary. Has anyone been able to get SLI working in Vista without having to be in test mode?
Thanks