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Updating to 10.6.3 - now dual monitors don't work

thestrudel, that makes sense and is probably quite accurate. regardless, i'm very happy with my mac pro and the performance i've gained with this video card and SSD. will still probably sell this setup when the 2010 mac pros are released. dunno how much i get for it but i'm quite positive it will get me at least half way to purchasing the new one, at which point i will order the lowest possible bare-bones config and do all upgrades myself to save the $$$.

thanks again for all of the help, especially cindori for getting a fix so fast. this is a great community, and i hope i didn't piss anyone off with my rants, was just not expecting trouble so soon after i *JUST* got everything working (which didn't exactly go smoothly, either)!

will definitely hold off on system updates when i'm in mission critical work phases. this is a rule i generally hold, but i've been spoiled with not having any issues on my previous iMac and this new mac pro in many years.

*knocks on wood...*
 
Have a flashed XFX 4870 (1GB) in my 3,1 Mac Pro.

Both DVI outputs still work in 10.6.3 just like they did on 10.6.2 (running 2 1680x1050 monitors on DVI as we speak)

Hooray for older reference cards (I guess?).
 
I have a 13" Macbook that I have configured to run with the internal screen and an external monitor, with the external monitor "above" the internal screen. Normally, though, I run it with the clamshell closed, so only displaying on the external monitor.

Since I installed 10.6.3, when running with the clamshell closed, (I use Synergy to access it from my Linux system's keyboard/mouse) it's now possible to move the mouse down below the external monitor. That is, the mouse cursor no longer stops at the bottom edge of the external monitor.

Pretty inconvenient when accessing the dock, though I'm getting used to it. Took a bit of "where did the mouse cursor go" before I figured-out what was going on.
 
On a similar note, the 10.6.3 upgrade caused Call of Duty 4 (COD4) to run VERY poorly on my flashed 4870. I reverted back to the previous kexts and everything is working great now!
 
I'm running a flashed XFX 4870 here too - after the update both of my Dell 20" displays are running fine. Again, I have an early reference card, and flashed using windows before Cindori released his OSX flash tool.
 
Sumimasen said:
I'm running a flashed XFX 4870 here too - after the update both of my Dell 20" displays are running fine. Again, I have an early reference card, and flashed using windows before Cindori released his OSX flash tool.
Click to expand...

Have you tried running any games or benchmark utilities? I thought everything was working fine too until I tried to play COD4 and realized it was choppier than running on an integrated video card!

(I too flashed my card in Windoze)
 
I'll run some benchmarks tonight, but I don't have any games installed in OSX - all my games are run under Windows 7.

The only problem is that I have binned the benchmark scores for my mac under 10.6.2, so I won't have a point of comparison anyway.
 
ammon said:
Have you tried running any games or benchmark utilities? I thought everything was working fine too until I tried to play COD4 and realized it was choppier than running on an integrated video card!
Click to expand...
CoD4 works fine for me with a flashed XFX 4870 (ZDFC) and 10.6.3. Tested it yesterday. Didn't run any benchmarks, but it seemed just as fast as before. Nothing like the huge slowdowns you guys are describing.
 
definitely love being able to run Crysis: Warhead on max settings! :D man that game is pretty.
 
Cindori said:
from netkas.org:

radeon 4830/4850 – new framebuffer has same problem as leopard’s – inability to work without dvi2vga dongle in second port, to fix it – use 10.6.2 framebuffer, to do it – make backups of the following kexts before update:

ATI4800Controller.kext
ATISupport.kext
ATIFramebuffer.kext



gonna try a fix
Click to expand...
Thanks Cindori, but reverting to older drivers doesn't look like a durable solution, especially considering the upcoming games from Valve. And who knows what kind of weird bugs this might cause.

I recall that Netkas once released a Natit that fixed dual screen problems with the 4870s on Leopard. Could this be investigated?

Well, I guess that's the kind of surprises to expect when you flash cards. :(
 
As I have pointed out earlier, the software can't tell your card is flashed. Not officially supported, but if the hardware is close enough to the card  shipped, it should work. Earlier XFX cards and a couple Sapphires are behaving great.

And prior to some OS updates, they didn't allow dual monitor use at all. Now they do.

You can't bet for or against a software update being bad for your flashed card. We don't know what 's going to do with OpenGL drivers.

Just back up everything before you update. You should back up anyway.

Reverting becomes trivial, and you're safe.

Also, we don't know that the old kexts would be a problem: what if Valve (for example) supported 10.5? They probably won't, and I wouldn't if I were them, but I merely bring it up as a possibility. Don't make assumptions just yet.
 
Cindori said:
from netkas.org:

radeon 4830/4850 – new framebuffer has same problem as leopard’s – inability to work without dvi2vga dongle in second port, to fix it – use 10.6.2 framebuffer, to do it – make backups of the following kexts before update:

ATI4800Controller.kext
ATISupport.kext
ATIFramebuffer.kext


gonna try a fix
Click to expand...

This actually didn't work for me.. still was getting only single monitor. ( I'm running a flashed 4870 ZWFC )
So tried it again with the kext helper but this time installed only the Framebuffer kext. ...and it worked!
 
Can I please have the 10.6.3
ATI4800Controller.kext
ATISupport.kext
ATIFramebuffer.kext.

I had the dual screen problem and used Cindori's dualdvi and I didn't make a copy of the new 10.6.3 kext's. (incase I go back to single screen in the future)

Where can i possibly get them?

Does Zeus driver update QECI_1063.pkg include the new drivers?

Thanks
 
10.6.3 Update - No Dual Display Capability

On my wonderful Saturday night, I decided to do one of the routine Apple software updates on the internet, which included an OS update from 10.6.2 to 10.6.3. It immediately knocked out my dual display capability (what fun in the middle of two big projects!).

People all over the Apple Discussion forums are reporting the same thing.

I went through procedures with an Apple Tech Support guy today, and still couldn't get the 2nd monitor back up.

I had a Snow Leopard 10.6.0 disc, so I reinstalled to the older operating system, and then updated back up through 10.6.1 and 10.6.2. That did the trick and I have dual monitors again.

But I realized what an "Oh ****" situation it is to be suddenly hobbled like that. Unless you're in Def Leppard, you don't want to be a one-armed drummer!

Mac Pro 8 Core, ATI Radeon 4870 graphic card.
 
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