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XFX 4890, Mac Pro 1,1--Possibly Dumb Question

So the card was bad. I took it back to the store and it produced that same problem on their test PC.

I exchanged it for version 1.6 (had 2.0 before) so I may be ahead of the game as I think I've seen a modded ROM already for that card.

In any case, I have booted into XP and am using it now to type this. Just now need to figure out how to do it all in Windows.

Thanks for everyone's help.
 
The Rominator said:
You are lucky.

Download GPU-Z and dump a copy of your ROM. There have been MANY people who were sorry when they didn't do this and we hadn't already written the EXACT ROM their card needed.

You can then use HexEdit to look at the ROM and compare to whichever one you were going to flash with. Opening for first 60,000 bytes or so should be identical, you'll be able to see right away if not as Version Number appears in top of page.

I think there is even a Windows flashing utility for ATI cards but I have never used it myself. DOS is my preferred flashing zone, easy to use once you know how.
Click to expand...

I was able to boot into windows (I guess with default drivers--I didn't install anything). I Dl'd GPU-Z, but when I started it up, it gave an "unknown architecture" dialog box, and the app didn't populate with any information.

Any suggestions?
 
lurkingbf said:
I was able to boot into windows (I guess with default drivers--I didn't install anything). I Dl'd GPU-Z, but when I started it up, it gave an "unknown architecture" dialog box, and the app didn't populate with any information.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Have you tried to go through the flash process using Zeus from within OSX yet like you tried last night?

I don't think that GPU-Z is going to work without bios support (none on Mac Pro)
 
GMink said:
Have you tried to go through the flash process using Zeus from within OSX yet like you tried last night?

I don't think that GPU-Z is going to work without bios support (none on Mac Pro)
Click to expand...

I can't. Using either Natit contained in ATI Flash tool, or the more specific kext files I found in another thread dealing with my exact card, I am still unable to get past a blank screen on boot with the 4890 installed.

I think I misunderstood Rominator: I thought I could boot into XP via boot camp and use GPU-Z to dump my ROM. Do I actually need a non-mac PC for this?

I think, however, that I have located my exact original ROM in a file Cindori posted to the main thread. (Of course, for safety, it would always be better to make a backup direct from the card.)

So am I looking at the BootCD method? Perhaps DOS? I was pretty proficient at the DOS command prompt about 100 years ago, so I would not balk at the idea. But can I do it all from the mac? That's all I've got to work with.

Thanks.
 
lurkingbf said:
I can't. Using either Natit contained in ATI Flash tool, or the more specific kext files I found in another thread dealing with my exact card, I am still unable to get past a blank screen on boot with the 4890 installed.

I think I misunderstood Rominator: I thought I could boot into XP via boot camp and use GPU-Z to dump my ROM. Do I actually need a non-mac PC for this?

I think, however, that I have located my exact original ROM in a file Cindori posted to the main thread. (Of course, for safety, it would always be better to make a backup direct from the card.)

So am I looking at the BootCD method? Perhaps DOS? I was pretty proficient at the DOS command prompt about 100 years ago, so I would not balk at the idea. But can I do it all from the mac? That's all I've got to work with.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I think using a boot CD would probably be the best bet if you don't have access to a PC with PCIe slot.

You can use the Mac to flash from boot. I think there is at least one thread on here that gives directions for creating a DOS boot disk.
 
a mac pro booting windows is a PC. ofc you can dump rom. need ati drivers installed though ofc.
 
Cindori said:
a mac pro booting windows is a PC. ofc you can dump rom. need ati drivers installed though ofc.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Cindori.

I'm hunting at the local authorized mac dealer today for a proper power cable. I think the repair guy may be able to dig one up for me. I've got molex wires hanging out of the optical bay now such that I can't close it or use my superdrive should I need it. Hopefully, I'l be up and running with the 4890 within a day or so.
 
Cindori said:
look in my signature for how to wire molex properly
Click to expand...

That's what I was doing. Only problem is that the molex splitter I have is too short, so I end up having to have the optical bay slightly ajar and the case open.

If I have to get something new, it might as well be the "proper" cable--assuming I can find one.

(A couple of the links in that thread you directed me to are dead, by the way.)
 
I've had much success today. I visited the local authorized Mac reseller to see if the repair guy could order me a power cable. As luck would have it, he had just received a video card replacement for a customer that had a new cable contained in the package. He sold me the used power cable for peanuts.

Came home, popped it in, booted into windows, installed XFX drivers from CD (Windows actually runnng blazingly fast), dumped the ROM successfully with GPU-Z. All is good.

Now I just need to create my DOS boot CD and flash the ROM (the card still won't boot into OS X with any Natit version I've found). From what I've heard, there is a Windows ATI flashing utility, but not many seem to recommend it as reliable.

I have attached to this email my original ROM, along with a ROM modded by a forum member (macchrissli) for the exact model and revision of my card (XFX-HD-489X-ZSFC Ver 1.6). I'm not yet knowledgable enough to tell if his is the ROM I should be using (comparing in Hex editor that is), so I'm wondering if an experienced member might be able to take a peek and compare them? I really don't know what to look for. I'd like to use this ROM since macchrissli indicated he modified to properly control fan behavior.

Looks like I'm almost there. Thanks for the help.
 

Attachments

  • RV790.zip
    142.2 KB · Views: 81
I have the same card, zsfc and version 1.6 with the same issues. Osx goes into kernel panic when booting with the 4890 card installed. Let me know how you are able to resolve this. I hate having to yank the card to use osx.
 
Natit did work, I am now able to boot into osx and use the card. I still have the blank screen on bootup and when I try to flash the card zeus says that the rom is already installed or incompatible.
 
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